In a few short months, Travis Speer will be opening a new door in his athletic career when he steps onto the campus at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Speer concluded his Newtown High School lacrosse career just a couple of weeks ago. He was the fourth-leading scorer for the Nighthawks with 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists) and will be taking those skills onto the field for the Royals.

“Being able to continue my lacrosse career on a collegiate level is a bonus,” said Travis. “The coach has put a tremendous amount of time into developing a good relationship with me before I even get there by calling every week and talking and getting to know me and giving me the opportunity to get to know him.”

But for Travis, picking a school was about more than sports.

“I really like the fact that all students attending Queens participate in a study abroad program,” he said. “Unlike a lot of schools, Queens works with the athletic schedule of the students to enable them to participate in these programs.”

The mandatory internship program and the fact that Charlotte, North Carolina is a growing city with a lot of opportunities for post-graduation employment were also key factors. Learning the benefits of different schools and what he needed to do to prepare himself was something Travis learning through the recruiting process.

“The most important things are grades and SAT scores,” he said. “You are not going to college solely to play a sport; you are going for an education. The school has to be an academic fit and has to offer a program of study that you are interested in – or, at least, enough of a variety of majors for you to find something that interests you.”

Travis spent time on the campus and spent time with the Queens University lacrosse team to get a feel for things.

“When all the components are there,” he said, “you will know which school is right for you. After visiting several schools and meeting with coaches, I knew right away that Queens was right for me. Everything about the school and the lacrosse program feels right to give me the tools and opportunities for success. The rest is up to me.”