MEETING NOTES

Bill Heffelfinger introduced Linda Wawrzyniak as our program speaker.  Linda is President of Higher Standards Academy.  The Higher Standards Academy was established to meet the needs of sports teams to help their foreign-born players assimilate into American life and an English speaking culture.  In 2015 on opening day, there were 26% foreign-born players on baseball teams.  Linda stated that this is not unique to baseball, as 25% of the NBA, 46% of the NLS, and 75% of the NHL are composed of foreign-born team members.  Higher Standards Academy was established in South Bend to help the players of the Arizona Diamondbacks and is now in 17 states and has partnerships in Latin America.  Higher Standards Academy helps young athletes develop communication skills so that they express themselves, not just in interviews, but also how to order in restaurants.  They are also given help in becoming professional in their dress and manners, and in some instances, completing requirements for their International GED.  Higher Standards Academy also works with the teams’ management and organization in how to engage these young athletes. What has impressed President Wawrzyniak the most about working with these teams is the intense sense of family and friendship;  that in itself is a major contributor to the success of these young athletes on and off the playing field.