Character Development

Champions are not defined
by their scores,
but by their character.

At IMG Academy, we strive to develop student-athletes who will become the leaders and role models for future generations to come. We believe academics and athletics are only the beginning of training the champions and leaders of tomorrow. Our revolutionary methodology includes mental conditioning, leadership development and life skills to prepare student-athletes for life’s challenges after graduation.

Mental Conditioning

Builds the mental skills - including confidence, focus and determination - that help athletes reach their goals and compete at their best every day.

Leadership Training

Develops the skills to be an effective leader, including personal presence, communication skills, character building and accountability.

Life Skills

Instills the high-performance habits and characteristics of successful leaders in sports and life.

Student Government

The Student Government is a student input group for activities, programs and new ideas for extracurricular involvement. Students will meet once a week and may discuss any aspect of life within IMG Academy’s community. This group will be expected to make recommendations to IMG Academy’s Administration.

Student Council

The IMG Academy Student Council serves as the leadership group to provide a voice for the student body, while promoting self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and dedication. The Student Council:

Works as a liaison between administration, faculty, department heads and fellow peers in an effort to make positive change and improvements to the campus
Serves as an ambassador in welcoming new and prospective students
Meets weekly with the Director of Student Services, Community Service Coordinator, Activity Coordinator and other department leaders to discuss upcoming projects, events, community outreach services, campus life and problem solving

Residential Advisors

Student-athletes are interviewed and selected for the honor to supervise student residences, participate in some staff meetings, run residence house meetings and be given leadership opportunities that will be highlighted on their college applications.

Student Ambassadors

Ambassadors not only act as an extension of the staff on campus, but also act as representatives of the student body. Through their involvement with the Ambassador program, students will learn to live to a high standard and push themselves to be the best in all areas of campus life. The Student Ambassador program was designed with the purpose of allowing students to be an extension of the staff through their involvement with various projects on campus and become leaders for the student body. The various projects in which an ambassador may help range from being a member for a panel discussion during open house weekends to acting as a liaison for campers during their stay.

“The experiences and opportunities I had while I was at IMG Academy shaped me into the person and athlete I am today. IMG Academy took me from a national stage to a global mindset and I am truly sincere when I say that IMG Academy changed my life. However, the best part of my IMG Academy experience was the wonderful friendships and memories I made. As an IMG Academy alumnus, I will always treasure the time I spent as a student-athlete and I feel blessed to call IMG Academy home.”
-Mallory Cecil - Class of 2009, Tennis - Duke University graduate and NCAA tennis champion

Josie Traberg
Class	2014
Hometown	Oslo, Norway
College	Regis University

Josie Traberg, a native of Oslo, Norway, and current freshman at Regis University,was one of 34 participants selected by the United Nations Office on Sport Development and Peace to take part in the annual International Sport & Social Impact Summit. During the two-week event, Traberg attended presentations and participated in discussions revolving around an impressive goal: using sports as a tool to foster worldwide social improvement and peace building.

“I was granted the opportunity to take part in the International Sport & Social Impact Summit for the Americas led by Mr. Lemke, head of the UN Department on Sport for Development, and Ban Ki-Moon’s right hand in facilitating worldwide development and peace building, using sport as a key tool to foster change and social improvement. From the beginning until the end, we were challenged to step out of our comfort zone and think creatively. The event was the perfect segway into the start of my college career.”

Cat Leibbrandt
Class	2009
Hometown	Northport, FL
College	University of Arizona

Cat Leibbrandt, originally from Northport, Fla., graduated from IMG Academy in 2009. Leibrandt served as team captain of her soccer team her junior and senior years while maintaining membership in the National Honor Society. She attended and played for the University of Arizona before transferring to the University of South Florida in 2010, where she also served as team captain her senior year. However, her biggest career achievement was when she returned to the field to play soccer after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness and fatigue. In 2014, she became one of only five student-athletes nationwide to win the Wilma Rudolph Achievement Award. The Award is given to student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics.

“IMG Academy grounded me and played a huge part in helping me overcome everything because it was a no-nonsense and no-excuses atmosphere. Even though I moved on, I still carried that mentality.”

Alex Abelson
Class	2008
Hometown	Redondo Beach, CA
College	University of California, Riverside

Alex Abelson, a native of Redondo Beach, Calif. and a 2008 graduate of IMG Academy, has a vision to make college more affordable for all students. His major in business economics at the University of California Riverside and his passion for social development, led him to create a new way for students to pay for college. He developed a tuition funding algorithm that would allow students to attend college for free and repay the school through a percentage of their eventual salaries.

“At IMG Academy, I was an athlete, I was a student, and so many other things. Within that model I had to manage my time. With the added element of mental conditioning, I was given the foundation to succeed, and so adpating to college and beyond was easy.”