Race Swami’s Enrichment Programs encourage and engage our swimmers in a number of academically based activities to enhance their educational paths. The Enrichment Programs are designed to assist our student-athletes so their success in the classroom is consistent with their success in the water. It is Race Swami's mission to enrich the academic, athletic, and life skills of our participants, developing "character first" among all our swimmers. Read below about our Enrichment Programs.
One-on-One Tutoring
Each student receives tutoring on an “as-needed” basis. Volunteer tutors — many of whom are graduates from schools including Duke, Virginia, Princeton and Utah — work closely with Swami staff to learn how best to address the specific needs of the student-athlete. Besides helping Swamis master math, writing, language, and tackle other subjects, tutors also serve as positive role models and mentors. We’ve seen that having a caring adult and mentor in a child’s life can shift his/her trajectory. Additionally, research shows that trust can be an antidote to stress, which is often present in our students’ lives.
Campus Days at the U
With the help of University of Utah professors and campus volunteers, Race Swami has been able to host several Campus Days at the U for our swimmers. The day is filled with speakers from various campus departments, activities for the kids to get involved in (computer science, computer animation, art, science, etc.), and the day typically ends with a campus tour. The Day at the U allows our Swamis to get a taste of the college life and what it’s like to be on a world class university campus. We feel this exposure is an integral part of getting our Swamis excited about going to college. In the past, Race Swami has attended team travel meets in Santa Barbara, California and Fort Collins, Colorado and visited those respective campuses (UCSB, CSU) as well.
Summer Book Club
Every summer, Race Swami hosts a book club, averaging between 30-40 attendees of all ages. This six week activity is led by Swami board members and University of Utah student volunteers, providing Swamis with age-appropriate stories to get involved in. We believe the Book Club has helped contribute to keeping our children reading throughout the summer and allows them a fun and enlightening activity away from the pool. Some years, the kids are treated to meeting the authors of some of the books they’ve read. In summer 2019, author and climber Jordan Romero spoke to the kids about his experiences based on the book, “No Summit Out of Sight” and in 2020, New York Times best-selling author Julie Checkoway ("The Three-Year Swim Club") treated our SWAMIs to an in-depth two-hour session.
Swami Speaker Series
Each spring, Race Swami hosts the Swami Speaker Series, which involves prominent local “success stories” from people in the community. Many of the speakers grew up in homes and neighborhoods similar to our swimmers. Former speakers have included best-selling author (The Three Year Swim Club) Julie Checkoway, Johnnie Bryant (Assistant Basketball Coach, Utah Jazz), former NFL and Ute quarterback Alex Smith, Dr. Ed Muñoz (Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies and Sociology, University of Utah), Ashley Hagensick (Intermountain Healthcare's TOSH Sports Nutrition Center), Nona Richardson (Sr. Associate Athletic Director, University of Utah), Linh Tran Layton (Managing Partner of JLJ Law Group, PLLC), and Amelia Morán Ceja (President, Ceja Vineyards), to name a few. The Speaker Series is held at the Mestizo Coffeehouse in the Rose Park neighborhood.
ACT Prep Course
This is a special six-week course offered to all our high school-aged swimmers to prepare them for the ACT exam. Headed by a volunteer with ACT Prep experience, this course takes them through a step-by-step approach to preparing for the exam and has helped improve the scores for those who have already taken the exam previously.