Jacksonville, AL – As originally reported by Brett Buckner of JSU’s Media Department, Trey’Vionne (Trey) Marshall, a junior special education major from Brantley, AL, has been awarded the national Jordan Smith Fellowship Award, a recognition given to undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding support for first-year student success on their campus.
Marshall, a first-generation student, expressed gratitude for the honor. “Being a recipient of this fellowship means so much to me,” he said. “Because it shows that if I can do this, so many others can too.”
The fellowship, sponsored by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, selects five recipients each year. Fellows receive complimentary registration and hotel accommodations to attend the annual First-Year Experience conference. The award also provides leadership and professional development opportunities, along with national recognition, a plaque presented at the conference, and a feature in the center’s publications and social media platforms.
Keaton Glass, Director of First- and Second-Year Experience at Jacksonville State University, encouraged Marshall to apply for the award.
Marshall has been active across campus in numerous leadership roles. He has served as an admissions student assistant, Gamecock Orientation Leader, and 2026 Gamecock Orientation Coordinator. He is also a Jax State Ambassador, Gamecock Guide, and Vice President of the First Gen Society. Additionally, he worked with athletics media relations, assisting with ESPN+ broadcasts.
Reflecting on his experience, Marshall said that his decision to attend Jax State was about finding a place that felt like home. “The faculty and staff have been so encouraging and so caring. They have pushed me to become the person I am today, and I know I still have more room to grow,” he said.
Marshall credits his involvement on campus, from Freshman Forum to athletics media, with helping him form lasting friendships and step outside his comfort zone. “Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things is what makes the college experience feel so fulfilling,” he said.
