Aayushi Chouhan of Delaware State and Javen Morrison of Alcorn State are the recipients of the 2019 Accelerating Academic Success Program Career Development Award.
Student-athletes from all schools eligible for the Accelerating Academic Success Program can be nominated for the award, which is given to support the professional development of student-athletes who are planning to pursue a career in athletics. This is the third year of the awards program.
The Accelerating Academic Success Program was developed to offer grants to Division I schools that need assistance in creating programming and systems that will further academic success.
Chouhan, a women’s tennis player and sports management major, and Morrison, a football player and sports management major, will receive travel awards to attend the 2019 NCAA Career in Sports Forum set for June 6-9 in Indianapolis and the 2019 Accelerating Academic Success Program Conference from July 31 to Aug. 1 in New Orleans.
The award recipients also will participate in the first Leadership Enhancement and Academic Development Academy on the same dates in New Orleans. Attendees will have networking opportunities and take part in community service.
“We are excited to continue this award, which gives our student-athletes two key things, exposure and opportunity,” said Tiese Roxbury, NCAA assistant director of research, assessment and academic success. “We hope that they walk away with tangible skills that they can use as they navigate their career path.”
Aayushi Chouhan
Chouhan’s career goal is to someday work for the International Olympic Committee. To help make this dream come true, she is interning in the compliance office at Delaware State.
In January, Chouhan was on the winning team in the first Business Case Study Competition at the NFL Careers in Football Forum. The winning presentation focused on how the Carolina Panthers could market to fans to increase attendance.
Chouhan hopes to earn a full-time internship with the NFL team after graduation. She is currently competing in her senior season for Delaware State, where she is a two-year letter winner.
Hometown: Raipur, India
School: Delaware State
Major: Sports management
Sport: Women’s tennis
GPA: 3.94
Javen Morrison
Morrison’s long-term career goal is to attend law school and eventually become a sports attorney. He is a junior defensive back on the Alcorn State football team and was named first-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference last season.
Morrison has integrated himself on campus and is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He said being a member of the organization has helped him recognize the importance of community service and helping others.
Before law school, Morrison hopes to have an opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster. Morrison has 10 career interceptions, including four during the 2018 season.
Hometown: Corinth, Mississippi
School: Alcorn State
Major: Sports management
Sport: Football
GPA: 2.87
