SPIRE Academy recently hosted its first semi-annual Independent Representative (IR) Summit. Professional representatives were welcomed from The Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Australia, Finland and Germany. SPIRE partners with a multitude of agencies and independents across the globe working to place up-and-coming student athletes into the right boarding program. This event gave IRs a glimpse of student life, while they were toured around the latest additions on campus and introduced to key members of SPIRE’s student support community. Seeing the campus for the first time, the representatives were struck by SPIRE’s state-of-the-art facilities and amazed by all that SPIRE does to nurture young talent into high level athletes who are poised for success post-SPIRE.

SPIRE’s goals for the Summit included developing lasting relationships with the visiting representatives and sharing, in person, what makes SPIRE truly special. Attendees engaged with key staff members and coaches to understand SPIRE’s marketing resources and discuss potential future collaborations such as hosting sports camps and clinics. SPIRE was honored to have the Summit’s representatives interact with students, coaches and staff, as this provided them a deeper understanding of the Academy’s uniquely balanced approach to sports and education.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re talking to, everyone who works at SPIRE is just as passionate about what they do, and they all share the same vision.” one IR said in an interview. Another said, “The staff is super welcoming, open to try new ideas and very future-oriented. Students are in the middle of their attention and receive great support from all departments.”

The Summit facilitated meaningful interactions with students, coaches and staff – with students particularly interested in the unique background of each IR. The personal connections created will make it possible for representatives to return home and share SPIRE’s spirit with potential student athletes and their families, furthering the boarding school’s rich diversity and cultural understanding.

Tricia Johnson, Director of Admissions, explained, “Our belief is that in order to understand SPIRE, you need to experience it. By far and away, the highlight of the representatives’ time here was hearing from the student athletes and being able to ask them all kinds of questions about why they’re here. The representatives need to be able to experience the campus and see student life – the realness of it – and that’s why they ask the kids straightforward questions, and the kids are honest. This allows them to go back and share their experiences with families considering enrolling their athletes at SPIRE.”

The IR Summit demonstrates SPIRE’s commitment to building relationships with representatives who can help the boarding school recruit international students. These students will then become members of a diverse community of student athletes looking for a world-class sports education.