How Mike Panaggio and DME Academy are helping young athletes with the guidance of NBA player, Bismack Biyimbo
On July 31st, Mike Panaggio, co-owner of DME Academy in Daytona, Florida, set off to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa for a 2 week stay. The DME co-founder was accompanied by Bismack Biyombo, who plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns and Xabi Zusperreguy from France. The purpose of the trip was to change the lives of young athletes by helping Bismack organize and execute a basketball camp for the youth of the Congo, in which two lucky athletes would be selected to attend DME Academy for the 2022-23 season on a full scholarship.
On what motivated Panaggio to award two full scholarships to DME Academy he explains, “Whoever gives, needs to feel as good as the person receiving the gift of a scholarship. We are looking for two fortunate athletes who want to come to America, have a high degree of respect for education, will put their all into trying something new, and have a certain discipline of family culture.”
The two students who will be attending DME Academy on a full scholarship will be learning benchmarks in English, physicalities on the court, how to adapt to American style of basketball, and how to make lifelong friends with other student-athletes in the US.
For the last two years, The Biyombo Family Foundation has not been able to host any camps due to the sweeping Covid-19 pandemic. Panaggio acted as an assistant counselor to Bismack to make sure that the first year back was an unforgettable experience for the young hopeful athletes.
On the first day of camp on August 2nd, almost 120 kids ventured across the Congo, some traveling as far as 4 hours, to show off their skills to their nation’s hero, Bismack Biyombo. The next 3 days were filled with drills, shooting, working on physical benchmarks and playing pick up games against each other. The last day of camp, August 6th, held the most excitement. The team held an all stars skills competition consisting of a slam dunk contest and 3 point shooting competition to test their accuracy. Both girls and boys competed in the cutthroat competition.
“The final day of the basketball camp in Lubumbashi, with over 3,000 locals watching, was incredibly powerful and touching,” says Mike Panaggio. “It is amazing how everyone shares the same love I have for basketball. We always felt safe and very welcome by the people of Lubumbashi, even though we were the only foreigners”
After exploring the cities of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma, completing a successful three day basketball camp, and making countless memories, Bismack brought Mike and his crew to his mother’s house for a true, homestyle Congolese dinner to wrap the trip up.
Mike was the only one to make the trip from DME Academy this year, but he is hopeful that his son, Matt Panaggio, will accompany him next year to appreciate the Congo and find the next two future DME Academy attendees.
Each year moving forward, DME will sponsor 2 new athletes from the Congo in partnership with the Bismack Biyombo Foundation to give them a chance at a better life.
During the trip, Panaggio, Biyombo and Zusperreguy were accompanied by a video crew. They will be releasing a documentary in the coming months of their experience in the Congo and will name it “The Spirit of Congo”. Watch out for it on the DME Academy social channels!
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DME Academy hires new Student-Life Director, Haley Toler
DME Academy is thrilled to announce the hiring of Haley Toler, a Coral Springs, FL native for the new role of Student-Life Director. She played college volleyball at Daytona State College and Auburn University at Montgomery.
(Fun Fact: She actually played her two years of volleyball at Daytona State College for DME Athletic Director, Laura Stegall from 2015 to 2017.)
After completing college with a sports management degree from AUM, Haley interned with the Montgomery Biscuits AA Baseball Club, affiliate of Tampa Bay Rays. She fulfilled many roles for the Biscuits, but primarily focused on in-game promotions and corporate sales and partnerships. After her time with the Biscuits, Haley served in multiple capacities, both as a residential supervisor at a behavior health center and as a volleyball coach at her local school and club.
“Haley will connect well with our students. As her former coach, I witnessed her impressive leadership skills and I am confident she will harness those competencies to mentor and direct the students at DME Academy,” remarked Laura Stegall on the recent hire of Haley Toler.
Toler has been added to the DME Academy staff to provide supervision to the students at DME Academy. She will enhance the student-life element of DME Academy through the development of activities and programs. She will also be responsible for the student-athletes’ lives outside of the gym and classroom. This will allow DME Academy to further enrich the student experience.
“I am thrilled to be taking on this new position at DME Academy as the Student-Life Director. DME recognized an opportunity to elevate their students’ experience on campus by adding this position. I am honored to be selected for this role and am looking forward to enhancing the students’ daily lives through new initiatives, programs, and opportunities,” commented Haley.
About DME Academy: DME Academy is an elite, multi-sport training and educational institution designed for student-athletes who are looking to reach their ultimate potential, harness their strengths and achieve their goals. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the academy offers a wide variety of programming, servicing 6th-12th grade students. DME is a co-ed boarding school that offers post-graduate programs, year-round camps, tournaments, team events, including collegiate and professional training.
To learn more about DME and to follow along with what Haley is doing on campus, connect with one of our Student-Athlete Advisors by booking a one-on-one call here!
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After the initial success with the first ever Virtual Open House on May 18th, 2022, DME Academy will hold two more on Wednesday, June 15th 2022. The first will be held at 12 PM EST and the second will be held at 8 PM EST, giving people from all around the world the opportunity to tune in to obtain more information.
Join us again as Laura Stegall, Athletic Director, Anna Gonzalez, Head of School, Matt Panaggio, Director of Basketball, Alex Richard, Director of Sports Performance and Will Carpenter, Student-Athlete Advisor do a deep dive into all things DME Academy. They will cover everything from academics, to sports, to location, extracurriculars and so much more.
The open houses will be held by the knowledgeable staff mentioned above who are at the forefront of reimagining the way student-athletes learn, compete, engage and grow. They will cover key topics explaining DME Academy’s flexible, fully accredited program and their approach to teaching kids in grades 6-12 how to balance their exceptional athletic abilities and maintain top grades in the classroom. At the end of the Open House, there will be time carved out to answer any questions you may have on your mind about attending or sending your student-athlete to DME.
During our virtual open house event, we will :
DME Academy offers 127 courses with 41 electives and 10 AP courses, a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, and 99% college acceptance rate. The best part? DME is located 7 miles away from The World Famous, Daytona Beach in Florida.
We have two times available for these open houses to cater to our international audience and to people who may be busy during the day.
Find out if DME Academy is the right fit for your student-athlete by reserving your spot for our Virtual Open House! We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday, June 15th!
Do we have your attention?
At DME Academy, we’re reimagining the way student-athletes learn, engage, and grow. With a flexible, fully-accredited program, students in grades 6-12 are taught to balance academic expectations with their unique athletic skill sets. Our diverse student body represents more than 25 countries and sets the stage for collaboration and shared learning.
Join us at 8pm on May 18th for our first ever Virtual Open House event, where we’ll give you the rundown on what it takes to succeed at DME Academy. Want to learn about how we’re addressing the unique needs of our student-athletes by providing them with elite-level guidance, curriculum, and facilities? Here’s your chance.
During our virtual open house event, we will :
The best part? You can join us from the comfort of your own home!
Find out if DME Academy is right for your student-athlete by reserving your seat at our Virtual Open House. We’ll see you on Monday, May 18th!
1. Rigorous Curriculum
Xceed DME offers a full suite of Honors, Advanced, and A.P. classes. DME’s diverse course offerings are imperative to make sure each student is successful in the classroom as well as on the field or court.All of the programs at DME are accepted by Florida’s graduation requirements for college enrollment. We offer over 120 courses and 41 electives so we have something for every student!
2. Individualized Instruction
At DME, our Xceed program has Personalized Learning Programs (PLP) for each individual student. These are heavily thought out with each student in mind to meet their individual goals. Our top priority is making sure every student is learning in a way that works best for them. Our accomplished educators provide one-to-one and small group instruction that helps capitalize on each students’ unique learning styles and strengths.
3. Flexible Schedule
At DME, we focus on athletics and academics in the same capacity. We are able to provide students a balanced schedule that includes their academics and their sports. We build out their schedules with training, classes and practices in mind so it all works seamlessly together.
4. International Community
Our students come from all over the world. We host students from more than 25 countries so there is a very strong international community on our campus. In fact, DME’s population is 70% international. This sets the stage for advanced collaboration and gives each student an opportunity to participate in shared learning from people from all walks of life.
5. Community Service
At Xceed DME, our graduation requirements include 40 hours of community service. We offer a wide variety of service opportunities, including tutoring and coaching younger kids, participating in beach cleanups and food and clothing drives, and volunteering at our local animal shelter.
6. Immersion Programs
DME Summer Immersion Programs help our international student-athletes get up to speed in the classroom and the community, preparing them for our rigorous academic curriculum and acclimating them to the DME culture.
Are you ready to reimagine your student-athlete experience?
Connect with one of our recruitment specialists to learn more.
DME Academy is proud to add to our roster, a fully-branded bus, which will serve as the main transportation source for DME student-athletes to and from games and competitions.
“There are no mistaking DME student-athletes when they’re on the field or court,” said Dan Panaggio, co-owner of DME Academy. “Their work ethic and talent speak for themselves, but we also wanted to make sure their presence was felt before the games even started. The project is the result of close collaboration and partnership between DME Academy and IOI Ventures, a Bradenton, Florida-based marketing firm. Panaggio and his staff worked with the team at IOI Ventures to translate their vision into an actionable plan, and IOI took it from there, finding the right bus, developing and designing the brand assets, and sorting out the logistics of getting the bus wrapped.
“This was a project that we needed to get absolutely right,” said Jared Antista, CEO of IOI Ventures. “DME Academy’s reputation and presence in the youth sports arena is growing. You only get one first impression, and we’re excited that we played a small role to help DME’s student-athletes make one heck of a first impression when traveling to competing schools and events.”
Panaggio said that Daytona Beach, Florida residents should be on the lookout for the DME Academy bus throughout the area, and jokingly warned opposing teams to stay on their toes.
“If you see our bus pull into your school’s parking lot, be ready,” he said. “That means that you’re playing against a DME Academy team, and our student-athletes mean business.”
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DME VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS: SPRING CLUB VOLLEYBALL We have Spring Club Volleyball tryouts coming up! Our success as a girls’ volleyball club starts and ends with our experienced, talented and dedicated coaches and training staff. Club Director Dawn Moses says, “I coach because I had great coaches that made a difference in my life. Coaches get the opportunity to help mold young people into adults and I cannot think of a better profession in the world today.” Within our amazing Daytona Field House facility, home to DME Sports, our 6 regulation volleyball courts are made to National Basketball Association hardwood floor quality standards. Our strength and training options are the best around. The Field House makes for an exciting atmosphere for our players to learn, train, and compete . OCTOBER 15TH 5:00 – 6:30pm / 11 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm / 13 year olds OCTOBER 16TH 5:00 – 7:00 / 12 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm / 14 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm 16 year olds OCTOBER 17TH 10 – 11am / 11 & 12 Day 2 11:30 – 1:00pm / 14 year olds Day 2 1 – 2:00pm / 14 year old Day 2 2:00 – 3:00pm 15 & 16 years old Day 2 SIGN UP HERE: DMESPORTSACADEMY.COM/SPRING-TRYOUTS |
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DME ACADEMICS SEEING IS BELIEVING! CLICK HERE TO WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4xqnDgFOA Xceed Prep at DME is excited to partner with Your College Concierge for our college counseling program. Our college guidance programs go beyond just helping your child get into college.
From day one, your high school student will receive an individualized college plan, one-on-one counseling, and digital tools that will help prepare students for admission to a great college and for a successful and largely debt-free post-collegiate life. With Your College Concierge, your students get immediate help finding, getting into, and paying for college!
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| DME SOCCERBe on the lookout for some exciting news we have coming up concerning DME Soccer! |
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LEARN TO SKATE! Want to learn to skate? Or improve your current skills? We have started but you can still sign up here. |
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DME HOCKEY ACADEMY
We have different programs and schedules that you can choose from for our Hockey Academy! Take a look at what skills we work on for a Tier I Plan! Tier I: Full-Time Hockey Academy Students: Hockey Fundamental Skills Development Training.
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FIGURE SKATE WITH US!
We have 1 more Summer Figure Skating clinic on Monday, August 24th at 12:45pm – 2:00pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm Open Freestyle! Our figure skating teachers and coaches are in compliance with US Figure Skating and PSA rules and regulations. For the safety and ensured protection of our clients, each coach meets the required continuing education requirements (CER’S), proper insurance coverage, and annual background screenings. |
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OLD DOGS, NEW STICKS IS BACK!
Old Dogs New Sticks is for the adult who has never ever played hockey before or is returning from an extended absence. The program is co-ed, non-checking, for people over 18 years of age and is set in an insanely positive, judgment-free atmosphere. No ice skating or hockey experience is required in order to participate. We will have a “free day” to try the Old Dogs New Sticks on September 13th from 4:15- 5:15 pm. If the participants would like to borrow equipment from the arena (that is part of the program), they will need to arrive an hour prior to the session (at 3:15). REGISTER FOR FREE SESSION: CLICK HERE |
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DIA FALL HOUSE LEAGUE
Our next (Fall) House League session will start on Tuesday, September 1st. There will be a total of 8 practice/development sessions and 8 games included. The cost of the session is $225. The dates are:Tuesdays 7:15-8:15pm: 9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20 and 11/3Sundays 8:15-9:15am: 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 11/8 |
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DME BASKETBALL POST GRAD UPDATE
The DME Sports Academy team is very excited about our upcoming 2020/21 postgrad basketball season. In order to properly prepare for and adjust to the US and International related health initiatives, we have decided to modify our post-grad program timeline. We want to assure all that our program dates and game schedules are all set for the upcoming season and we look forward to welcoming all our players on campus and into our new dorms! START DATE: October 1 – 4, 2020 (Thursday – Sunday) Athlete Flight Arrival (Check-In Days)October 4 (Sunday) Post Grad Program OrientationOctober 5 (Monday) Pre-Season Combine Starts ENDING DATE: April 1 – 4, 2021 (Thursday – Sunday) Athlete Flight Departure (Check-Out Days) Please note that the game and tournaments schedule has not been changed! Do not hesitate to contact our coach Will Carpenter at will.carpenter@dmesports.com for any additional questions or concerns. Looking forward to seeing you here at DME soon. |
COME TRAIN WITH US!
DME SUMMER EVENTS
We are so sad to say goodbye to our Summer Superstars Campers but we want to thank all of our campers, staff, and parents for their efforts and contributions that made this experience one of the best yet! We hope to see you again next Summer! You can check out some of our favorite memories on our DME Superstars Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dmesuperstars
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LET’S STAY SOCIALDon’t forget, our inbox is always open! Ask us any questions through any of our social media platforms! Have a certain question for a specific coach? Just let us know when you message us! Twitter: @DMESportsAcadInstagram: @dmesportsacademy YouTube: @DMESportsAcademy Facebook: @DMESports Check out our videos here:https://youtu.be/GVUhz8r-X3ghttps://www.instagram.com/p/B-dBII-BKVy |
As DME Sports Academy slowly reopens, we would like to share our Covid-19 protocols going forward.
Dear DME Sports/Daytona Field House Community,
Based on the current status of the coronavirus (Covid 19), DME Sports and Daytona Field House owners and managers have made the decision to close our facility and suspend our programs at the end of today and will stay closed until further notice.
We firmly believe that this is in the best interests of everyone.
If you are involved in a current program, we will be in touch about next steps as soon as possible.
As of March 16, 2020, there are NO KNOWN CASES of this virus among the DME Sports Academy community. In addition, there is no indication that our campus is under any immediate risk, but we are taking proactive steps to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe and healthy.
While we are closed, our staff will be cleaning and sanitizing the entire facility from top to bottom so that when we are able to reopen, we will be ready to go.
We will continue to keep you updated with the latest Academy/Field House related information, always doing what’s in the best interest of our DME community.
Sincerely,
Owners/Management
DME Sports Academy
. READY TO MAKE THE SWITCH? 
