ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University Athletics recently participated in the university's Academic Progression and Proactive Persistence Program, a campus-wide initiative led by Dr. Jarrod Benjamin, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. As part of the university's broader student success efforts, three sessions were coordinated specifically for student-athletes, connecting them with resources to support academic progression, financial aid eligibility, career readiness, and degree completion.
Carrie Wilder, Director of Financial Aid, facilitated all three sessions, providing guidance on credit-hour requirements, add/drop deadlines, financial aid eligibility, and additional scholarship opportunities. Tod Devoe, Interim Director of Career Services, also participated in the initial session, sharing career readiness resources with student-athletes.
The sessions have already produced tangible results, with several student-athletes receiving DREAM Scholarships after learning about available opportunities and following through with the application requirements. Beyond providing financial assistance, these opportunities can help reduce the financial burden of attending college and support students in remaining enrolled and progressing toward graduation.
"This is what the Power of We looks like in action," said Dr. Kristene Kelly, Director of Athletics. "I'm grateful to Dr. Benjamin for his leadership, to Carrie Wilder for facilitating all three sessions, and to Tod Devoe for sharing his expertise. Student success is a shared responsibility, and it's about more than simply providing resources. It's making sure our students understand what's available to them, how to navigate the challenges they may encounter, and what it takes to stay on track toward graduation. Seeing our student-athletes take what they've learned, follow through, and benefit from those opportunities is especially rewarding. At the end of the day, our goal is not just to help them remain eligible to compete, but to persist and earn their degrees."
Men's Basketball Head Coach Rodney Mayes emphasized the importance of reinforcing information that directly impacts student-athlete success.
"This was a great refresher for our student-athletes, particularly regarding add/drop deadlines, maintaining credit hours, and understanding how academic progression impacts financial aid," said Mayes. "For some of our guys, it was a wake-up call. They also learned about additional scholarship opportunities that are still available, which was extremely beneficial."
The program supports Albany State University's broader student retention and persistence efforts, including its goal of achieving at least 80 percent completion of the 2027–2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Through initiatives like this, Albany State continues to demonstrate the Power of We by connecting students with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to overcome barriers, remain on track academically, and successfully complete their degrees.

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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 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).