Belcher, a transfer student-athlete, earned his way into the spotlight as a standout sprinter in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 4x100 meter relay. His coach, Duane Ross, describes him as hardworking and competitive—traits that have impacted his academic progress as well.
To maintain eligibility, Belcher put in countless study hall hours and was persistent in using the enhanced academic support services at NC A&T provided through the Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) grant.
Because of his dedication to excel on and off the track, he spent numerous hours with the institution’s learning specialist, Kimberly Burke, to ensure that he would succeed academically first. Through sheer hard work determination, Belcher led the Aggies to their first conference title in 21 years, competed at the USATF Outdoor Championships, and ultimately earned a spot to represent his country in the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
The nurturing and individualized attention Belcher received at NC A&T gave him the academic and athletic confidence he needed to propel him to becoming one of the best sprinters in the world. Despite signing a professional contract with Nike, he is currently enrolled to complete his degree.
Belcher on the impact of the Accelerating Academic Success Program on his success:
“The AASP initiatives absolutely contributed to my success. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. Our learning specialist helped me organize my schedule over a month in advance and I evolved from there to be able to balance classwork and complete assignments before I stepped on the track for competition.”