NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State Athletic Department has secured one of the NCAA's Accelerating Academic Success Program's grants for the fourth straight year.
 
The $100,000 grant is the largest amount available through the AASP grant program, which is open to schools that compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) or are classified as an HBCU (Historically Black College and University).
 
Established in 2012, the AASP assists Division I schools working to meet the NCAA's academic standards. The NCAA annually awards more than $1 million in grants to colleges and universities with limited resources to support the academic success of student-athletes with the goal of increasing graduation rates.
 
"We are incredibly grateful to receive the AASP Single-Year Grant and the opportunity to be able to continue investing in the academic success of our student-athletes," Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development Bryn Dill said. "This funding will allow us to expand academic support services, enhance professional development and improve our academic center, strengthening the resources and environment available tour student-athletes.
 
"These initiatives will help us build on our recent academic momentum while supporting retention, eligibility, progress-toward-degree requirements and sustained APR success. We are excited for what this grant will allow us to accomplish for our student-athletes and our program."
 
As per the grant, Northwestern will add $20,000 to its grant total, making the investment total $120,000.
 
Dill and her staff will utilize the grant to add additional tutoring services, physical improvement to the Johnnie Emmons Academic Study Center and continued assistance for the Summer Bridge program, which helps introduce freshmen student-athletes to college academic and athletic life.
 
This year's grant marks the fifth time Northwestern has received an AASP grant, including a multi-year grant from 2014-16.
 
"As one of the pillars of our department's success, our academic staff has helped establish a high standard for our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. "These grants have helped them build an environment that has produced some of the highest GPAs in Northwestern athletic history. I feel certain Bryn and her staff will continue to mold these grants into even more successful academic achievements."