IMG Academy Celebrates Extraordinary Academic Achievements

BRADENTON, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2023) - IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, continues to display its academic prowess with recent remarkable achievements by its student-athletes.

Zecheng ‘Jason’ Pan, a senior soccer student-athlete, earned a perfect score on the Advanced Placement (AP) Macroeconomics exam. Pan received the top score of five out of five and became one of only 35 students in the world to earn every point possible on the exam – collecting the maximum score on each portion. The AP Macroeconomics exam is renowned for its complexity, demanding a deep understanding of economic principles, applications, and critical analyses. Achieving a perfect score is rare and commendable, showcasing an outstanding grasp of the subject matter.

Three IMG Academy student-athletes were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, including returning basketball student-athletes Michael ‘Gerard’ O’Keefe and Giorgio Vittorio Garuzzo. O’ Keefe and Garuzzo were selected for this honor based on their outstanding performance on the October 2023 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and are among the highest scoring entrants in the state and the nation. The National Merit Scholarship Program is a highly regarded academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Being named a finalist not only recognizes exceptional academic ability but also the potential for success in rigorous college studies.

These accomplishments reflect the student-athletes’ commitment to academic rigor, elite athletics, and holistic personal development which IMG Academy has integrated into its overall curriculum.

“IMG Academy prides itself on nurturing the holistic and intentional development of our student-athletes,” said Dr. Michael Lehan, Senior Vice President, and Head of School of IMG Academy. “While we are recognized for our unparalleled approach to sports and personal development, we have developed a highly competitive academic environment at IMG Academy. The recent recognition of our student-athletes on a global stage stands as a testament to the dedication, hard work, and intellectual ability of our students, and the unwavering commitment of our educators.”

These accomplishments follow IMG Academy being named into the top-three for T4 Education’s World’s Best School Prizes in the Supporting Healthy Lives Category, and come as a beacon, emphasizing that IMG Academy is a comprehensive center for holistic development and prepares student-athletes for college and for life. In the coming weeks, IMG Academy will have two college preparation events that include a College Counseling Week (Sept. 25-29), where student-athletes will learn about the college application process, and a College Fair with over 60 colleges and universities (Oct. 6), which gives student-athletes invaluable insight and exposure into academic majors, minors, and additional programs at several public, private, and specialized institutions nationwide.

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is the world's leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:

• Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
• Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches

To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.