Power · Knowledge · Progress

More than an athlete.
Built different.

S.W.A.A.G. (Student-Athletes with Academic Agility & Grit) is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping student-athletes in Baltimore and beyond excel in the classroom, thrive in their sport, lead, and serve their community, so they leave high school ready for college, a career and life after the last game.

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Two S.W.A.A.G. graduates in caps and gowns, one holding a S.W.A.A.G. medal and his diploma

A smiling S.W.A.A.G. member holding up his S.W.A.A.G. medal

100%Graduation for members who stayed through senior year

588Verified college acceptances

$5.38MIn scholarships to 36 students

99%Of alumni still in college

Why we exist

Short on a plan, not on talent

Baltimore's student-athletes have the talent. Too often, what's missing is an adult making sure the rest of the plan is in place: grades, eligibility, applications, aid and what comes after.

I founded S.W.A.A.G. in September 2023 after years as a high school counselor watching talented athletes lose their shot over a missed class or a missing application. Pamela Romito, Founder & CEO

71.7%

Baltimore City's four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2025, nearly 15 points below Maryland's 86.4%.

~50%

of City graduates enroll in college within 16 months.

2.18

average GPA for Baltimore City non-athletes.

Sources: Maryland State Department of Education; Baltimore's Promise; Under Armour Project Rampart.

Getting in is only half the battle. Students accepted to college, even with athletic offers, sometimes never move in, or come home after one semester, because no one helped them understand the real costs.

What members get

The whole game plan

A S.W.A.A.G. member working on paperwork at a chapter session — Academic check-ins and college prep, every meeting

S.W.A.A.G. members working together in small groups at a leadership workshop — Leadership workshops in small groups

GPA monitoring

NCAA eligibility guidance

College & scholarship coaching

Leadership training

Service learning

2.5Quarterly GPA

75%Meeting attendance

The S.W.A.A.G. Standard

Every member keeps a 2.5 quarterly GPA or better and attends at least 75% of meetings. Students who arrive below it climb to it, and we help them get there.

Programs

From sixth grade to campus and back

Middle school

RISE

Eight workshops that build strong habits before high school.

High school core

S.W.A.A.G.

GPA, eligibility, college applications and leadership.

High school advanced

SELECT

Members selected to lead, mentor and represent.

After graduation

Alumni

54 alumni still involved as mentors, interns and ambassadors.

Middle school RISE students in school uniforms with a S.W.A.A.G. mentor outside their school

School-based chapters

Hosted by your school

Middle and high schools host a S.W.A.A.G. chapter for their own student-athletes, during the school day or after school. Middle schools start with RISE, eight workshops that build strong habits before high school.

Bring S.W.A.A.G. to your school

Community chapter

S.W.A.A.G. SELECT

Hosted in partnership with Next One Up

Any Baltimore high school student-athlete can join, whether or not their school has a chapter. We also support parents and guardians every step of their student-athlete's journey.

Ask about joining

Our chapters

Next One Up Dundalk High Lansdowne High North Brunswick Twp. High SELECT Baltimore Community Chapter

A speaker standing on a chair firing up S.W.A.A.G. members at a Leadership Summit

3Leadership Summits every year

For high school members of every chapter

S.W.A.A.G. Leadership Summits

Three times a year, members from every S.W.A.A.G. chapter across the Baltimore area come together in one room. In a professional-development setting, student-athletes build community and belonging, sharpen their leadership and grow together.

Impact

The scoreboard

Three years of results, with no salaried staff.

588Verified college acceptances, earned by 82 students

$5.38MIn scholarships to 36 students, plus $411K in Guaranteed Access Grants

99%Of alumni still in college (89 of 90 on file)

100%Graduation for members who stayed through senior year

377Student-athletes served all-time

3.03Average member GPA; 81% raised their GPA after joining

56College athletes, at schools like Maryland, Elon, Towson and Bowie State

2,365Service hours

S.W.A.A.G. members on a college tour inside the University of Virginia football facility — College tours put campus life within reach, like this visit to the University of Virginia

A program that's growing

New members by school year

211

108

2023–242024–252025–262026–27 so far

Where our alumni go

Top schools by number of S.W.A.A.G. alumni enrolled

Towson University 6
UMES 4
Bowie State University 5
Coppin State University 3
Morgan State University 5
McDaniel College 3
CCBC 5
Elon University 3

Alumni in the game

S.W.A.A.G. alumni competing in college today, from the Big Ten to the CIAA

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in his Rutgers football uniform — **Rutgers University**D1 Big Ten Football

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in her Bowie State basketball uniform — **Bowie State University**Women's Basketball

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in his Elon football uniform — **Elon University**Football

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in his East Stroudsburg University football uniform — **East Stroudsburg University**Football

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in her Mount St. Mary's University flag football uniform — **Mount St. Mary's University**D1 Flag Football

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in his Bowie State football uniform — **Bowie State University**Football

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in her Goucher College volleyball uniform holding two volleyballs — **Goucher College**Volleyball

A S.W.A.A.G. alum in his St. Mary's College of Maryland basketball uniform — **St. Mary's College of Maryland**Basketball

A S.W.A.A.G. alum running cross country for Bowie State — **Bowie State University**Cross Country

Source: S.W.A.A.G. Impact Report, as of October 23, 2026.

S.W.A.A.G. helped me prepare for the person I needed to become once I got there.

Tristian Wallace-SmithPaul L. Dunbar High School, Class of 2026 · First-generation student, University of Maryland

Tristian Wallace-Smith in a library wearing a University of Maryland Terrapins shirt

For schools & athletic directors

Host a chapter at your school

S.W.A.A.G. partners with middle and high schools across Baltimore City and County. Pick the model that fits your building.

The Lansdowne High School S.W.A.A.G. chapter in their school library with alum Joshua Blackston — Lansdowne High School chapter, 2025–26, with founding S.W.A.A.G. member and alum Joshua Blackston (left), now playing D1 Big Ten football at Rutgers, back as a guest speaker

Option 1

Led by S.W.A.A.G. staff

Our team runs your chapter from start to finish, with GPA checks, eligibility reviews, workshops and family nights.

Option 2

Led by your staff during the school day

A counselor, coach or teacher leads the chapter during the day with our curriculum, training and support.

Option 3

Led by your staff after school

A staff member leads the chapter after school on a school-sponsored stipend, backed by S.W.A.A.G. training and materials.

Middle schools can start with RISE, our eight-workshop program. School-based chapters arrange their own buses for college tours and trips.

Request partnership info

Support S.W.A.A.G.

Pick your position

$100 covers one student-athlete's full year of college and career support. S.W.A.A.G. is a 501(c)(3), so your gift is tax-deductible.

Teammate

$500

5 students supported for a full year

Starter

$1,000

10 students, or one graduate's dorm move-in

All-Star

$2,500

25 students, or one Leadership Summit

Captain

$5,000

50 students, plus college nights for families

MVP

$10,000

100 students supported for a full year

Home Team

$12,000

Host a chapter at one high school for a full year

Game Changer

$25,000

Fund our paid college and career team for 250 students

Every tier flexes

Any amount

Monthly or in installments, cash or in-kind

Back the game changers

Give online →

Name a scholarship

$500 and up, awarded to a senior at our year-end Summit.

Give in kind

Team apparel, event meals or dorm supplies count toward your tier.

Open your doors

Host a campus or workplace visit, or join a career panel.

Rally your people

Join an online giving campaign or ask about your employer's gift match.

Scholarship spotlight

Omer Reshid x S.W.A.A.G. Leadership Scholarship

A $3,000 leadership scholarship awarded to one S.W.A.A.G. member chosen through an application process. Our 2026 recipient received the award on April 28, 2026, in front of their S.W.A.A.G. teammates.

Three S.W.A.A.G. seniors holding $500 DTLR scholarship checks in front of a DTLR scholarship slide

A S.W.A.A.G. senior smiling and holding a $500 DTLR scholarship check

Sponsor spotlight

DTLR scholarships

This year DTLR funded four $500 scholarships for graduating S.W.A.A.G. seniors, presented at our year-end Summit, plus 110 Summit lunches. Want to put your name on a scholarship? Named scholarships start at $500.

Fund a scholarship

Sponsors & donors

DTLRFour senior scholarships and 110 Summit lunches

WalmartDorm move-in shopping for graduates heading to college

Our BoardMembers committing $27,500 through a give-or-get pledge in 2027

Partner organizations

TWK "Train With Ken"Coach Ken leads sports performance for S.W.A.A.G. At the TWK gym, he trains current members, alumni and collegiate members three times a week at a special S.W.A.A.G. monthly rate, and offers special training opportunities.

Next One UpS.W.A.A.G. brings our programming to Next One Up program members, and Next One Up is home to our S.W.A.A.G. SELECT Community Chapter.

ShakeoutBuilding our career readiness programming and a pipeline to tech internships and opportunities for S.W.A.A.G. alumni and collegiate members. This April, Shakeout is covering travel and lodging for 100 members on a two-night trip to North Carolina: a Tech Tour of careers in Raleigh and the Athletes Unite Conference at Elizabeth City State University.

S.W.A.A.G. Gear

Rep the game changers

Tees, hoodies, quarter zips, outerwear and beanies across our collections, including Selected for More for our SELECT members. Every purchase supports our student-athletes, and each order is printed and shipped straight to you.

Shop the store →

The Game Changer Collection Selected for More S.W.A.A.G. Season Beanies

S.W.A.A.G. Season Anorak from S.W.A.A.G. Season

S.W.A.A.G. SeasonS.W.A.A.G. Season Anorak$54.99Charcoal

Premium Unisex Tee from Selected for More

Selected for MorePremium Unisex Tee$25.994 colors

Comfort Colors Quarter Zip from The Game Changer Collection

The Game Changer CollectionComfort Colors Quarter Zip$51.99Pepper, crimson

BeaniesPrinted Cuffed Beanie$22.995 colors

Classic Long Sleeve Tee from Selected for More

Selected for MoreClassic Long Sleeve Tee$29.993 colors

Organic French Terry Zip-Up Hoodie from The Game Changer Collection

The Game Changer CollectionOrganic French Terry Zip-Up Hoodie$51.99Heather gray, black

Printed Stripe Pom-Pom Beanie from Beanies

BeaniesPrinted Stripe Pom-Pom Beanie$22.994 colors

Women's Flowy Cropped Tee from The Game Changer Collection

The Game Changer CollectionWomen's Flowy Cropped Tee$31.99Black, white

Comfort Colors Unisex Tee from Selected for More

Selected for MoreComfort Colors Unisex Tee$32.992 colors

Pullover Hoodie from The Game Changer Collection

The Game Changer CollectionPullover Hoodie$35.994 colors

Premium Cotton Tee from The Game Changer Collection

The Game Changer CollectionPremium Cotton Tee$25.995 colors Shop all S.W.A.A.G. Gear→

Our team

The coaching staff

High School Programs

Pamela RomitoFounder & CEOOversees all high school programming

Middle School Programs

Dr. Joshua EppsStudent Success & Player Development SpecialistLiaison for all middle school programming, including RISE

Sports Performance

Coach KenSports Performance TrainerStrength, speed and athletic development

College & Career

Quincy BarnesProgram Development, College & Career Readiness SpecialistProgram growth and life after high school

Contact

Ready to suit up?

Families, schools, sponsors and volunteers: reach out, and we'll bring you to a chapter meeting to meet our student-athletes.

Mailing address

822 Guilford Avenue #1852
Baltimore, MD 21202