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and records are meant to be broken to have your name uh you know stand alone for 20 plus years or something that that's that's a great accomplishment. >> Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College, you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is

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time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? where we will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. Did you know that a Manor College men's basketball player is on pace to break Manor College's all-time scoring record? Manny wrote, "A junior guard from Medford, New Jersey, scored his 1,000th point at Manor College on December 17th, 2025 in a game against Central Penn College. He became the second player in Manor history to score all 1,000 of his

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career points with the Blue Jays. As of January 20th, Manny has 1,047 points. He's less than 200 points behind the current leading scorer, Aaron Brown, who scored 1,22 points for the Blue Jays from 2004 to 2006. The 2025 2026 season has been a strong one for Manny Roach, who is posting a career-high 21.9 points per game. He was named the USCAA Division 1 men's basketball player of the week for back-to-back weeks in December. Off the court, Manny is a presidential ambassador, a resident assistant in the

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residence hall, and a member of the deans list. In January, he was named a finalist for the Mother Joseph medal, the institution's highest honor given to a student. Good luck to Manny and the rest of the Blue Jays this basketball season. Today's episode is sponsored by the Manor College Bachelor Degree in Psychology. Are you ready to make a difference? At Manor College, our bachelor's degree in psychology prepares you for a career in social services and counseling. With flexible classes and

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personalized education and a low cost tuition, we'll help you unlock your full potential. Build a meaningful career. Earn your bachelor's degree in psychology at Manor College. Visit manor.edu to learn more. Our guest today is a true product of North Philadelphia, coming from the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. His journey into basketball began with a bit of family creativity. His mother and grandmother actually removed the fence between their backyards just to create a mini court for him to play. He carried that

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homegrown hustle to Manor College from 2004 to 2006 where he became known as a lethal shooter for the Blue Jays. His reputation was not just luck. It was built through a first one in, last one out worth work ethic and the guidance of coaches who pushed him to be his best. After transferring from Manor with a degree in liberal arts, he then took his game to the next level before eventually earning a degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Though a major injury changed his path on the court, it never slowed

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down his momentum in life. Today he is a husband, a father of four, and a dedicated behavioral health technician providing vital care to the elderly in a geriatric nursing home. He is a powerful example of how you can turn a career ending challenge into a lifelong mission of service. Please join me in welcoming to the show Aaron Brown. Hi, Aaron. >> Hi. Thank you for having me. That uh that was a a great intro. I appreciate that. And um I just want to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for

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you know for me being able to be here today and you know to share this time with you guys. I appreciate it. >> Yes. Well, thank you so much. Well, it deserved a big intro. You you've had you've had a great great career and a great life. So, kind of take us to the beginning, Aaron. How did you end up at Manor College back in 2004 to be a student and to be an athlete? >> Okay. So, prior to going, you know, coming to Manor, um I had a scholarship to go to Slippery Rock University and

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uh upon arriving there, I found out that uh I didn't have a scholarship because the coach had got relieved of his duties. So, um I ended up coming back home um meeting up with uh Coach Guy Moore and that's how I was introduced to Manor. >> Okay. So things didn't quite work out at Slippery Rock, which was unfortunate for them, but good for us. Yes. >> And um that coach really was influential in getting you to Manor. >> So to kind of like take us back, what was your Manor experience like as a

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student athlete? >> Um it was it was actually a blessing to come to Manor. um you know I was able to be uh a half an hour from you know from my from my family which able me to focus on you know on my skills uh not only on the basketball court but you know in the classroom as well. Um being able to it just felt like home. I I felt like I was home at Manor like uh teammates that I met there uh helped out with my work ethic uh you know working putting in work prior to practice and after practice. So just the support from

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everybody uh you know from my family and from people that I met at Manor was was very influential. >> I love that. I love um how it felt like home for you and it was also close to home. So it was a convenience but also a little home away from home. That's really cool to hear. What um obviously basketball was a big reason why you wanted to to come to Manor, but what was what was your kind of basketball experience like playing in a in a on a college level and how did that feel different than high school and

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maybe um other leagues that you've been in before? So, my basketball experience was um I felt like that was the first time that I've always worked on my game, you know, as a kid, but when I got to Manor, I I felt like I really honed in on things that I that I wanted to hone in on. And those skills were a, you know, be able to put on display once I put that manager jersey on. Uh everything that I worked for, you know, just came to fruition. Like looking back at some of the stats, you know, that I had in those

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games, I I can't believe that it was me, you know, like seeing 35 plus for like four or five games straight, you know, just those. But it's just uh a testament to the work that I that I that I put in at that time. >> Yeah. What were some of the things that you did that you were like, "This is extra. This is me going above and beyond. this is how you get to be um an all-time record shooter. This is like what you have to do. What were some of the things that you felt you did that

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were extra and just putting in that extra work? >> Um I'm going start with faith uh with my faith. Uh just believing in Jesus um that you know that I was capable of doing the things that I set my mind to. Um, so you know, just the repetition of shooting, uh, hundreds of shots in the morning, uh, shooting after practice, but it was really just the the mental aspect for me, just believing believing in myself, you know. So, uh, I I think the belief is what really carried me, you know, and

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the work was able to show through the belief. So, >> yeah, you had kind of like both both sides going for you. you actually had >> you had the belief, but then you also like were putting in the work, putting in the the repetitions, you know, those kind of things. Um, for our listeners who are tuning in today and watching this episode, Aaron Brown is the all-time scorer in Manor College men's basketball. He um most career points, 1,22 I believe is the exact number of points

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that he scored in 44 games over the course of two seasons. So Erin, um, to keep talking basketball a little bit, we have a current student, his name is Manny Roach. He's on our men's basketball team. He is getting very close to breaking your record. Um, he's currently at 1,047 points and he's averaging, I think, around 22 points a game right now. Um, now he's a junior and he's had three years of playing and he'll probably have one more year of playing when he's a senior because Manor

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now offers bachelor degrees. So, he has a bit of an advantage to this, but um, what do you think about someone getting close to your record? I mean, no one's really touched it in uh, about 20 years. Um, how does it make you feel? >> Well, I'll just give an early congratulations to him, you know, uh, for for breaking the record. Um, and records are meant to be broken to have your name uh, you know, stand alone for 20 plus years or something. That that's a great accomplishment. And like

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I said, his records are meant to be broken. So, congratulations to him. And I'm also glad to hear that Manor is offering, you know, a bachelor's program and people be able to stay there for four years because, you know, I really believe it's a great program. So, congratulations to him and, you know, whoever else may come after him to break the record, you know. >> Exactly. Yeah. And it's a good thing. We want our Blue Jays to keep scoring buckets. So, it's a good thing that

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they're doing that. Um, and Manny's a great he's a great student. He's an ambassador. He um was one of our RAS in our residence hall and he's studying sport management. So, um I'm looking forward to watching his career flourish in the future, but it's been fun to watch him in basketball as well. So Erin, let's pivot a bit to your career and you got you went on from Manor after studying liberal arts here, you went on to get a degree in psychology.

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What about psychology made you um interested and wanted to study that as a as a topic and as a you know what you're going to have your career in? >> Um just the growth in people in general. um not focusing on where somebody may be at, you know, at the present moment, you know, uh going in with fresh eyes every day and seeing improvement in people is something that I I've always like to say, even within myself, you know what I mean? So, it just doesn't apply to work. It applies to you as well. So, you know,

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uh through my experiences with work, um I'm able to to give those seeds to my children, you know, uh to see them flourish. Uh my oldest son um is currently a freshman at Drexel. Um so I'm very very very proud of him. Uh I'm very proud of all my children, but you know just the everyday growth um of a human being is just something that always um enticed me. So >> that's what that's awesome. >> Yeah, that's awesome. We currently have um we offer a bachelor's in psychology

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degree now at the college and it seems to be quite popular. Um, and we're currently expanding into offering a master's degree coming soon in psychology. So, it's really neat to see that there's so much interest out there for young people, for college students to study behaviors and the mind and really understand um human connections and and so many things about it. So, it's been really cool to see that. So, tell us what do you do um as a behavioral health technician? kind of

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give us the synopsis or like what what does your day-to-day look like for that? >> Um, so currently I work with the uh geriatrics population um at a day program. So uh the typical day uh we start off with uh a community meeting, you know, just to see where everybody's everybody's day is at, where their mind is at, um anything they may want to accomplish, any goals they may have. Uh we do groups uh you know simple exercises, mind exercises, just things to get you know to get you to get your

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mind going uh exercising uh you know so you don't become lethargic you know just anything any day-to-day exercise that you can imagine that we go through uh Monday through Friday. So, and um also like I'm thankful for everybody that I come across. Um because a lot of people stigmatize mental health and think it looks a certain way. Um I've been doing this for a long time and I've seen it look many ways, you know, uh regardless of financial situations, wherever, regardless of where you live at. Um it

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looks all kinds of ways. So, you know, just give people grace and um and listen to that story. You know, everybody needs uh companionship and guidance throughout their life. So, I'm just happy to be able to provide that u no matter where I work. >> Yeah, I love that. Giving grace is always important no matter where you are in life, whether you're talking to a 2-year-old toddler or, you know, an 88-year-old person. Um, that that's great to hear that that's part of your

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philosophy. Um, and what a what a cool way to serve others. Obviously, the geriatric population is one that like you need to have a special heart for, I feel like. So, it's so cool and I just want to encourage you to keep doing that work that you're doing because it's needed. It's um it's unique and it's not something that everyone has like the patience and the skill set for. So, major kudos to you for doing that for so long. >> Thank you. I appreciate it.

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>> What is um I love asking this next question to all of our guests, but like what's like a myth or misconception about your work that you want to debunk? something that you think people get wrong or that they assume about the work that you do? >> I hate to even say it, but you know, uh people, oh, you work with, you know, people that may be uh crazy or whatever, but so I I I hate to even, you know, even have to say that, especially in in 2026, you know what I mean? So, um, so that's just one thing that I would want

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people to just, you know, erase from their thoughts when they when they hear that, uh, you know, hear that, uh, population. >> Right. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. That's good, though. That's a good thing to We're debunking. That's what it's all about. So, that's good to know. Um, and so now you are a father of four, which congratulations. That's wonderful. Um, what is some like dad advice that you want to make sure your kids, but also to other young people out

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there who are starting their their college searches and their own little, you know, journeys and their careers, what what would be some dad advice that you would have for kind of young people today? >> Um, dad advice I'll say just to be present in the moment. You know, don't try to overlook, you know, everybody thinks about their future, but try to be present. You know what I because you don't want these years, some of the best years of your life to go by worrying about what's going to happen in the

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future. So, I would just say be present and uh you know, just be present where you stand. You know what I mean? So, that's that's my advice. Be present. >> Yeah, that's a good one. Be present. Um, so many of our college students, frankly, you know, they get stressed out really easily and they get all worked up and um, and you know, those of us who've been through college and are on the other side of it now, look back at those days and you're like, what were you

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stressing about? This is this is fun. you get like I always say to college students, I always say um enjoy eating lunch and eating meals with like your friends because once you become a working adult with families, it is so hard to go go have a meal with your friends, you know what I mean? Without little ones on you and whatever. So, just like sit in the cafeteria and eat lunch with your friends because those are like some of my favorite college memories and those are like the hardest ones to like replicate now, you know, in

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your 30s or 40s or whatever. So be present is solid advice for anyone, particularly young people. >> Yeah. You know, it's as simple as it sounds, it's very it's very pivotal to be there. Yeah. >> Yeah. So how is your basketball game today? Do you still play? Are you >> Oh, man. >> walking up to a local court and you know, how's it going today? I haven't played in a a very long time, but um I may be playing in this alumni game in

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April um with my high school. I was asked to play a few weeks ago. Um it's supposed to be April uh Strawberry Mansion High School alumni versus Chester uh high school alumni. So, we'll see. You know, man, >> I'm a little nervous about that because it's been a while. But once again, I don't I have zero expectations on myself when it comes to playing baseball right now. So just just to get some, you know, just to run up and down, you know, with some of my former teammates would just

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be a blessing that in itself. So that's all. H >> Did you ever turn in to coach to coaching your kids or any of your kids show any interest in basketball or they have their own kind of thing going on? >> Um my two older boys, they played in middle school. Um but you know, that was pretty much it as far as basketball for them. uh >> you know they like watching but you know just as far as playing they really didn't uh really didn't take to it but I don't mind because they're great

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students so >> playing basketball I I could care less if any of them touch the basketball as long as you know they go through life with faith in God and you know and taking care of their kids when they have them >> that that's that's all that matters to me. >> Yeah. Exactly. Oh that's great. Well Erin, thank you so much for being with us today. It has been such a joy getting to know you more and hearing your story and talking to you. You know, something that I I often say to alumni

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when it feels appropriate. Um, and I just I just thank them and I want to thank you for being such a living embodiment of the Manor College mission. You know, we here in administration, we talk a lot about our mission and making sure that everything that we're doing aligns with our mission. And a lot of students don't even know what our mission is and those kind of things. But it's always so cool to me when I see an alum who's out in the world. You know, you graduated 20 years ago from

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Manor, but you are doing exactly what our mission says. Our mission says that we want graduates to be prepared to serve others professionally and compassionately. And I think the work that you're doing, you're certainly doing that in your geriatric work with your family, with your faith, in your community. So, it's really encouraging to see um that that the mission of Manor, which was, you know, only a couple years in your in your life, in your story, is still playing a part in your in your um you

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know, everything about you. So, thank you so much for doing that. >> Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. >> Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up-to-date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. That's a wrap on another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always.