EWING, N.J. –  Through the NCAA's Strategic Initiatives Conference Grant Program, TCNJ women's soccer's Alyssa Alfano and men's tennis' Curt Gruber were able to represent The College of New Jersey at the 2026 NCAA Convention hosted at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. earlier this month.
 
The convention allowed student-athletes across all divisions to gain firsthand experience in the national governance and student-focused initiatives that shape the landscape of collegiate athletics.
 
"Attending the NCAA Convention was truly one of the most impactful and unforgettable experiences of my collegiate career," Alfano said. "As the Vice President of TCNJ SAAC and a member of the women's soccer team, I felt incredibly honored and grateful to represent TCNJ student-athletes on a national stage… Being surrounded by so many passionate, driven individuals who care deeply about improving the student-athlete experience was both inspiring and empowering."
 
Student-athletes were able to engage with their peers as well as athletic administrators throughout the four-day convention, beginning the week by attending the State of the Association Address delivered by NCAA President Charlie Baker before taking part in both the NCAA Division III Issues Forum and NJAC administrative meeting. Proceedings concluded with the Division III Business Session in which student-athletes observed while representatives from across the country voted on a number of legislative proposals for the upcoming year.
 
Student-athletes were also given the opportunity to attend educational sessions throughout the week, several highlighting the well-being of the student-athlete in the ever-changing world of collegiate athletics.
 
"The NCAA really seemed to focus and care about mental health as it kept appearing in both the sessions I attended and conversations with others…" Gruber said."Talking with other athletes from around the country and sharing our stories was very impactful and made me realize we are not alone."
 
"The connections I made, the perspectives I gained and the knowledge I took away will stay with me far beyond this week," Alfano added. "I'm leaving this experience feeling extremely thankful, motivated, and excited to bring everything I learned back to our campus to better serve and advocate for TCNJ student-athletes."