Former NFL Player Provides Motivational Program at District Schools to Emphasize “No Place for Hate”

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2024

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – No Place for Hate is more than an initiative; it is a commitment. The Washington Township Public Schools has continued its dedication to celebrating one another for the uniqueness that brings all of us together as a school community.  

Recently, Washington Township High School, all three middle schools, and all six elementary schools welcomed Devon Wyman, a motivational speaker and retired NFL football player, to speak to our students.  His message is about understanding that we are all different, but we share more in common than one might think. He also focused on the importance of being true to oneself, embracing the differences in all of us, and being a leader instead of a follower in the areas of social justice and valuing the beauty of the differences among us.   

Mr. Wyman challenged our students with two words: choices and voices, stressing that “we have the power to make choices in our lives, but it is important that we are focusing on the positive voices around us and not the negative ones that cloud our vision.” He emphasized our No Place For Hate themes themes by having students be reflective of their own biases, having students understand all of the roles in bullying situations, incorporating activities that show diversity and differences between others, and teaching upstanding and resilient behavior to our students. 

Mr. Wyman’s message encouraged students to dream big and never let go of those dreams, no matter who tries to take them away. He encouraged everyone to work hard, stay focused, and never fall into a path that leads us away from success. As he provided this message, he also put on quite a show, bending a steel rod with his teeth and using several students as living weights for lifting during the presentation, which led to laughter and their full attention.  

The presentations at each school were made possible thanks to donations from the individual school PTOs and Home and School associations.

- WTPS -