Pitbull Opens Second SLAM! Charter School Near Las Vegas
Pitbull recently opened a second SLAM! charter school near Las Vegas.
The recording artist, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, graced a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday morning, Oct. 2, held in Henderson, Nevada for the Sports Leadership and Management Academy (SLAM!), Billboard reported.
The first SLAM! school opened in Miami in 2013, Latin Times wrote. The school near Las Vegas is available for students from 6th to 9th grade, with expectations to enroll over 1,500 students from 6th to 12th grade in the future.
SLAM! offers education for those who wishes to have a career in sports medicine, marketing, business, and management, and is expected to open in time for the 2016 school year, Billboard listed.
According to the school's official website, SLAM! aims to open 5 new charter schools within South Florida by 2015. It is also currently collaborating with sports franchises and educational leaders to bring its program to school districts all over the U.S.
Pitbull, 34, is "a celebrity ambassador for the schools overseen by the SLAM Foundation," and is "not a financial donor," Billboard noted.
All the way through 12th grade, SLAM! students will have lessons in all subjects -- from Algebra to English -- turned into sports for examples and anecdotes, The Washington Post wrote. As they advance, students will take electives in the three areas: "Care and Prevention of Sports Injuries" in the medicine curriculum, "Sports Business Administration" on the business side, and "Digital Media and Multimedia Design" in broadcasting.
Alex Tamargo, the school's principal, said that students should be looking for internships once they reach 9th grade, the news outlet added. By college, "they should have some hands-on experience and education" directly correlated to sports.
"If they decide that sports isn't what they want, they've still got an education that serves them in any college experience," Tamargo said in 2014, as quoted by The Washington Post.
Pitbull Says Mariah Carey Inspires Him
Pitbull is currently in his seven-date tour, Time of Our Lives, in Las Vegas, Belfast Telegraph reported. The concert series is named after his hit song with Ne-Yo.
Pitbull is one of the well-known artists globally. But when asked which track propelled him to reach for his dreams, the "Como Yo Le Doy" singer credited Mariah Carey's "Hero" for helping him get through plenty of challenges, the news outlet noted.
"To this day, it still motivates me to find that there's a hero inside me every day," he said, as quoted by Belfast Telegraph.
The rapper released a new album titled "Dale" on July 17. The record featured other artists, such as Yandel, Fuego, Osmani Garcia, and El Micha, among others, Billboard listed.