NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Two Franklin & Marshall student-athletes were in attendance for the annual NCAA Convention, held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Emily Albert of the F&M women's swim team and Carly Campbell of the Diplomats' volleyball team had the opportunity to participate in educational workshops, celebrate student-athlete achievements, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at the NCAA's governance structure.

Albert and Campbell, alongside Director of Athletics & Recreation Lauren Packer Webster, arrived at the convention on Wednesday. The day started with an activity with Division III student-athletes and the Special Olympics, followed by the NCAA State of College Sports and Honors, and Women Leaders in Sports PowHER Hour. A busy Wednesday was wrapped up with the Division III Student-Athlete Social Mixer.

Thursday morning, Albert and Campbell attended the Division III Issues Forum where the group went into detail about proposed legislation. Following the Division III SAAC/Student-Athlete lunch, the duo attended the Centennial Conference meeting to conclude the second day of the convention.

The final day of the convention was spent at the NCAA DIII Business Session, where voting for key legislation took place.

When asked about her takeaways from the convention, Albert replied, "This convention was a great experience and allowed me to gain insight into the legislative voting process as well as the issues that face DIII athletics. Division III focused on legislative items designed to support the overall student-athlete experience, including eligibility definitions and transfer-related policies that protect athletes' opportunities. Division III is a dynamic and evolving division that continues to grow in meaningful ways and deserves greater attention and appreciation for the opportunities it provides student-athletes."

"Our school, our conference, and division truly care about the athlete's voice, which was refreshing and exciting. I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring back what I learned and help strengthen the voice of our athletes here at F&M," Albert said.

Campbell responded, "I loved this experience because it allowed me to meet so many new people who play an important role in how both our conference and NCAA Division III operate. Being able to see how the NCAA functions behind the scenes, especially the logistical process of implementing change one step at a time, gave me a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into improving the student-athlete experience. Throughout the convention, we spent a lot of time in meetings listening to concerns, supportive feedback, and new ideas being shared, which highlighted how collaborative and thoughtful the process truly is."

"One of my favorite moments was attending a conference that included representatives from every Division III school, where legislative proposals were discussed and voted on for the betterment of student-athletes and athletic department operations. As the NCAA's largest division, having over 400 schools and more than 1,000 people gathered in one room was incredibly impactful and reinforced how much Division III values the athlete voice. This experience showed me how much our conference and division genuinely care about making meaningful changes, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring what I learned back to our campus and help continue advocating for our student-athletes," Campbell added.