""I am very impressed and happy that I took this step. I have learned a lot about myself since I arrived on the university campus. I enjoy my friends, my studies, and football - together it is the ideal combination for me."
Shai Sadeh, a former Israeli women's soccer captain and a Youngstown State University college player in the United States, is the founder and CEO of FIRSTEAM.
Throughout her career, Shay knew she wanted to combine her love of football and academic studies. After military service, she chose to pursue a one-time dream of flying to the U.S. Collegiate League, where she played soccer at the same time as her undergraduate studies — all on a full sports scholarship that allowed her to finance her studies.
The process to find a suitable institution of study was not simple: Shi went through it alone, without prior experience, while making significant decisions that shaped her path forward. The experience in the United States gave her the tools, perspective, and experiences for a lifetime.
With this understanding, in 2016, Shi established the FIRSTEAM — A company that specializes in accompanying athletes and female athletes in the process of obtaining scholarships at colleges in the United States. Thanks to her rich knowledge and personal experience in the American sports system, Shi and the team provide athletes with personal and professional accompaniment, with the goal of enabling them to find the right place for them, both academically and athletically.
AT FIRSTEAM, THE GOAL IS CLEAR: TO GET TO KNOW EVERY ATHLETE IN DEPTH, TO ACCOMPANY THEM ON THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEY, AND TO OPEN DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.
Former Volleyball player for the Israeli national team, outstanding athlete at Stetson University, an A-League college in the US. Dawn manages the volleyball department and also serves as a mentor accompanying the athletes in the preparation process for U.S. colleges.
