BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the third straight year, the Gulf South Conference is proud to award multiple degree completion grants to financially support student-athletes in their efforts to reach graduation.

"The Gulf South Conference is proud to award these four student athletes these well-deserved scholarships," said Dr. Mark Wickam, Faculty Athletic Representative at Lee University and Chair of the GSC FAR Permanent Working Group, who serves as the selection committee for this award. "Our sincere hope is that they will finish well and be successful in their careers."

This year, the GSC awards $12,000 in total financial aid to four former student-athletes: Zoe Miller (Lee), Sommer Rhea (Auburn Montgomery), Tylor Ring (Montevallo), and Emily Wilson (Shorter).

"The Gulf South Conference strives to Compete, Graduate, Impact," said Commissioner Matt Wilson. "These degree completion grants reflect our desire for student-athletes to reach their educational goals, especially graduation. This group of award recipients represents the best part of the GSC, and that is our people. I am excited for them and thankful to be able to deploy resources from the NCAA and AEB Wealth Management Group of Raymond James to make this a reality."

"We are so honored and proud to continuously support The Gulf South Conference," said Mirela Elliott of AEB Wealth Management Group of Raymond Janes. "Over the years we have developed some great relationships and have seen all of the students flourish. We are truly proud to have been part of this."

Miller is a two-time captain of the Lee softball team and a four-time member of the GSC Honor Roll. She was named an NFCA Scholar-Athlete in 2018.

Rhea was an All-GSC selection for the Warhawks' volleyball team in their first season of eligibility. She was also named to the GSC All-Academic Team and was an CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Ring led the Falcons to the 2019 GSC Women's Soccer Championship as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She was named the GSC Honor Roll each year she was in the league.

Wilson was the starting libero for Shorter in 2019 and led the GSC in digs per set. She is a member of the KDP Honor Society at Shorter and made the Dean's List and the GSC Honor Roll each season.

The degree completion program is an essential piece of the conference's most recent strategic plan and is made possible through funding from the NCAA Foundation for the Future program and the support of the AEB Wealth Management Group of Raymond James.

About The Gulf South Conference

The Gulf South Conference is a charter NCAA Division II member. The GSC has won 53 national titles across 13 sports and has claimed more than 150 regional titles. In 2020-21, the GSC has 13 member institutions and sponsors 19 sports.

About AEB Wealth Management Group of Raymond James

At AEB Wealth Management, we are committed to helping you achieve your personal goals by designing and implementing comprehensive financial and estate plans. Whether you are an individual, family, or business, we can design a personal plan to help you organize, build and preserve your wealth. We have the resources, and the experience on our financial team to develop a plan that is uniquely yours. We believe in taking the time and the care to go beyond the traditional approaches that most advisors offer, and we create a plan that is uniquely yours. At AEB Wealth Management, we will provide advanced financial knowledge, strategies, and use state of the art technology to help you reach your goals. Our success is built on more than a quarter of a century experience. Our goal is to earn your trust, provide strategies; and we are committed to developing and maintaining a long-term relationship.

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