Jax State special education major awarded prestigious fellowship

08/26/2025

By Brett Buckner 

Trey'Vionne (Trey) Marshall, a junior special education major from Brantley, Ala., has been awarded the national Jordan Smith Fellowship Award, which recognizes undergraduate students who support first-year student success on their campus. "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." 

Keaton Glass, Director of First- and Second-Year Experience at Jax State, suggested Marshall apply for the scholarship, which is sponsored by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. Each year, five recipients are selected for the fellowship, which provides complimentary registration and hotel accommodations to attend the annual conference on the First-Year Experience. It also offers growth in leadership and professional development. Marshall will receive national recognition, a plaque at the conference, and a feature in the center's publications and social media posts.   

As a first-generation student, Marshall came to Jax State with the goal of making friends and realizing his potential. "I can now say that I have done that and so much more," he said. "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." 

Marshall worked as an admissions student assistant, answering phone calls, emails, scanning in transcripts, and making the admissions process run as smoothly as possible. "The attitude I bring is welcoming and approachable," he said, "making sure everyone feels comfortable asking any type of question, big or small."  

Marshall has also recently served as a 2025 Gamecock Orientation Leader, and this year, he was selected to be one of the 2026 Gamecock Orientation Coordinators. He's in his second year as a Jax State Ambassador, served as a Gamecock Guide, and Vice President of the First Gen Society. 

Marshall's involvement in campus life is driven by a desire to make the most of his college experience. "As a first-generation student, I didn't know anything when applying for college or choosing where I wanted to go," he said. "I chose Jax State because it made me feel at home. No one from my high school came, so I knew I had to get involved and start fresh with making friends and finding my place on campus. Also, being almost four hours away from home, I knew I would be staying here a lot." 

He applied for Freshman Forum, which is where he met some of his best friends. He also worked with athletics media relations and assisted with filming for various Gamecock broadcasts on ESPN+, despite initially knowing little about sports or how best to film the games. "I loved everything about it, from the people to now knowing how to operate a camera," he said. "Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things is what makes the college experience feel so fulfilling."