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ter's in higher education administration and worked in the academic support department with the Sun Devils football team. At Virginia, he's helped institute a system that allows student-athletes to maximize success in the classroom and create a successful learning environ- ment despite the rigors of Division I athletics, which can include incredible demands on their time and often involve travel around the country. At UVa, academic coordinators work closely with many on grounds departments to ensure student- athletes receive the best support and resources. Ad- ditionally, Athletics Academic Affairs employs a tutor coordinator to oversee the tutoring program and a learning specialist that assists student-athletes through collaboration with the Student Disability Resource Center (SDAC). "We do everything we can to help our student-ath- letes become successful in the classroom," Harraway said. "It's a system-wide effort of a lot of people." Oftentimes student-athletes who were outstanding students in high school can find the challenges of UVa difficult, particularly while also working to com- pete at the highest level in sports. Melanie Mitchell was a top pitcher for the Virginia softball team and led the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament in her first year on Grounds. But she struggled with the weight of being an athlete and an engineering major. "That first year was tough," former UVa soft- ball coach Eileen Schmidt told VirginiaSports.com. "It's hard if you're an athlete. It's hard if you're an engineer. Then match it up and it's extremely over- whelming. And she was 17 when she got here. She reached a point where she said, 'I'm quitting engi- neering,' and I said, 'No, you'll quit softball before you quit engineering this year.'" Mitchell eventually graduated as both an engineer and one of the most accomplished softball players in school history, setting school records for wins, strikeouts and complete games after Schmidt and the staff helped her find a good balance of sports and studies. "She talked to me and said, 'I know this is really what you want to do. I think you're going to make a mistake if you switch out,'" Mitchell said. "She called me up one day and she really convinced me to stay in it, and I'm so glad she did." Of course, she's not the only Mitchell to make a name as a student and an athlete at Virginia. Recently graduated men's basketball player Akil Mitchell, who chose Virginia in large part for the challenging academics, will spend his summer playing in the NBA Summer League, hoping to make a roster. But if professional basketball doesn't work out, he's got plenty to fall back on with his University of Virginia degree. Mitchell even completed a challenging internship in UVa president Teresa Sullivan's office, working at it even while the Cavs made their NCAA Tourna- ment run to the Sweet 16. "It's been a great experience and an opportunity for me to learn about big business and corporations, how things work, and getting to listen to President Sullivan, who is so smart," Mitchell told reporters. "And to meet the people who run the school has been a great opportunity and I've cherished every moment of it. Hopefully, I will be able to use that experience later on in life." Entering the NFL Draft, Moses found himself going through an intense job interview process, with NFL executives wanting to know about everything from his form coming out of a three-point stance to why he initially had struggles in the classroom. It was tough, but the big man said his time at UVa had him prepared for everything his new career entails, both on and off the field. "I think I've answered a lot of questions for the analysts the last couple of months," Moses said. "One is showing that I can play on a high level, which I did at the Senior Bowl, but also going through the process of meeting teams and other things, I'm giving the coaches and GMs a chance to know who Morgan Moses really is outside of football and football-wise." ◆