ALBANY, GA – Albany State University Athletics celebrated its student-athletes' success beyond the playing field with the second annual Academic Parade of Champions on February 17, 2025. The event, created by Director of Athletics, Dr. Kristene Kelly, highlights student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
 
This year, 151 student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher in Fall 2024, including 29 who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA. ASU also recognized student-athletes who achieved a 3.0 or better in Spring 2024, further emphasizing the department's commitment to excellence in the classroom. Collectively, Albany State's athletics department posted a 3.02 GPA for the Fall 2024 semester, reinforcing the culture of academic success.
 
Taking place just before the women's basketball game, the event drew support from Interim President Dr. Lawrence Drake, II, faculty, deans, and fans, all celebrating the academic accomplishments of ASU's student-athletes.
 
"Academic success is just as important as athletic success," said Dr. Kristene Kelly, Director of Athletics. "Our student-athletes continue to prove that they can balance their sport and their studies at a high level. We want them to know that their hard work doesn't go unnoticed and we celebrate their success just as much as we do on game day."
 
"I thought the Academic Parade of Champions was great, said junior quarterback Isaiah Knowles. "It gives us athletes an opportunity to not only be recognized on the field, court, track, but also allows us to feel appreciated as a student as well. It feels good to know that people pay attention to the hard work we put in all around."
 
"I'm so proud of my athletes and how they work to be successful not only on the court, but in the classroom as well," said veteran head volleyball coach, Verniece Graham. The Academic Parade of Champions is an excellent way of displaying the hard work of our student-athletes! Thanks to our administration for always going above and beyond for our athletes!"
 
The Academic Parade of Champions has quickly become a proud tradition at ASU, reinforcing the message that success starts in the classroom. With another strong showing this year, the department looks forward to continuing to raise the bar for academic achievement.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.