Ella Ashley, a standout athlete at Southwest Georgia Academy, has signed with Georgia Military College to further her academic and athletic pursuits. Ashley has had an impressive high school career, marked by a softball state championship and scoring a thousand points in basketball. Reflecting on her achievements, Ashley expressed her excitement and gratitude, saying, "It means a lot because I’ve worked so hard and as a little kid I always wanted to play college ball and I’m really excited and I’m just really proud of myself." Her current basketball team is also on a winning streak, with a 14-2 record, setting the stage for a potentially successful playoff season [1].

Sawyer Franklin, another senior from Southwest Georgia Academy, has chosen Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to continue his sports journey. Franklin admitted that his decision to pursue college sports came later in his high school career, but he is thankful for the opportunity and the support he has received from fans and family. "I didn’t really know until a couple of years ago that’s what I really wanted to do but I’m thankful to have the opportunity to go play," Franklin said. His choice was influenced by the college's proximity to home and the familiar environment it offered [1].

Both Ella Ashley and Sawyer Franklin emphasized the importance of choosing a college that felt like home. For Ashley, Georgia Military College reminded her of the small-town atmosphere of SGA. "There are a lot like home, there more like how we do things here at SGA," she said. Similarly, Franklin found comfort in Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, stating, "I was looking for somewhere close to home and all my visits that I went on it was the place that felt the most like home." Their selections highlight the athletes' desire to maintain a sense of familiarity and community as they transition to the next phase of their lives [1].