Student Athlete from a Broward Private School Spends Two Weeks in Russia on Goodwill Mission

Weston, FL, September 05, 2011 --(PR.com)-- It’s a pretty sure bet that when basketball player Jeff Coby attended the first day of school, he had the most interesting story of what he did during the summer. Coby, a senior at The Sagemont School in Weston, traveled to Russia as part of a two week sports exchange program. Twenty young American athletes and four coaches traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia on July 7. This is the fifth exchange under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. While in Russia, the student athletes traveled and learned about Russian culture, and participated in basketball clinics with local athletes. The visiting American participants were hosted by the Russian Ministry of Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policy and the Russian Basketball Federation.

Since 2010, several groups of youth athletes have traveled between Russia and the United States, with a goal of enhancing people-to-people relations under the Bilateral Presidential Commission. During the first exchange in May 2010, 24 young Russian basketball players visited the Washington, D.C. area, where they played basketball with President Obama.

The criteria for the kids that represented USA Basketball in Russia this summer were a minimum of a 3.5 GPA and an extensive basketball resume. Jeff was the MVP of the state Final 4 in Florida where his team, The Sagemont Lions, won their first ever basketball state championship. Jeff is being recruited by schools such as Holy Cross, Columbia and Princeton. There were hundreds of names submitted to join this mission and only 10 boys were selected.

According to Coby, one of the most important things he learned from his trip is “to never take for granted what I am blessed with, and no matter what the circumstance is, never get complacent.” He is looking forward to the 2011-2011 basketball season and hopes to bring another state championship back to Sagemont.

Adam Ross, head coach of The Sagemont Lions Boys Varsity Basketball team said, "I'm not sure that there's a greater honor in sports than being selected to represent your country. Jeff is an incredibly hard worker on and off the court. He deserved that honor and I'm extremely proud of him.”

The Sagemont School offers a college prep curriculum and operates two campuses in Weston, Fl. In Pre-K through Grade 5, The Sagemont School provides core concepts in a creative environment combined with weekly specials that include science, art, music, Spanish for non-native & native speakers, swimming, PE and media and technology. From middle school through high school graduation, Sagemont students choose from a variety of regular, honors and AP course work. In addition, students share in a networked wireless laptop environment and participate in a comprehensive guidance program for college entrance. Visit The Sagemont School Web site at http://www.sagemont.com/.

For more information on The Sagemont School contact Dr. Brent Goldman, President at (954) 389-2454 ext, 305, or email to bgoldman@sagemont.com.

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