< Previous100 OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: MEN’S BASKETBALL AUBURNTIGERS.COM Proceeds from Auburn’s men’s basketball exhibition vs. Florida Atlantic at Neville Arena will benefit Auburn University’s Melton Scholars Program, an initiative close to the heart of head coach Bruce Pearl. “I tell my guys: there are going to be roadblocks, obstacles and detours, but you can navigate them and be anything you want to be,” Pearl said. “Auburn can help you do that. I believe that Auburn is a place where anybody can be successful.” Launched in 2023, the Melton Scholars Program increases access for underrepresented students and supports them throughout their Auburn experience. Named in honor of 1988 Auburn graduate Harold Melton, the former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Auburn’s first Black student body president and the namesake of the university’s Student Center, the program empowers students to thrive academically, socially and personally. The initial cohort of 11 Melton Scholars began in the fall of 2023 with nine students receiving $10,000 annually for four years. “Our basketball student-athletes are on full scholarships. I made sure my players and their families knew we really wanted them, and we were committed to them graduating,” Pearl said. “That’s the way you have to recruit first-generation students or students of color. Recruit, retain and invest in them.” Pearl’s dedication to creating an Auburn student body reflective of a broad array of backgrounds includes the Together We Will scholarship campaign that he co-chaired with Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton, associate provost and vice president. Merging the Together We Will scholarship, which Auburn introduced in 2020, with the Melton scholarships allows Auburn to offer additional resources to more Alabama residents. “Bruce has enthusiastically lent his support and commitment to the effort of making the Auburn experience a reality for more students in our state,” Clayton said. “We have some of the best and brightest minds attending Auburn to pursue an undergraduate degree and engage with a dynamic community of scholars.” Pearl’s contributions and his engagement of others to give has made a huge difference in the advancement of the Melton Scholars and Together We Will scholarship programs, according to Clayton. “I’ve always believed you can’t ask somebody to do something that you’re not willing to do yourself,” Pearl said. “I’ve always invested in the scholarship program and our family is very proud to be a Melton Scholar donor.” Pearl’s devotion to education begins with his basketball team. In Pearl’s first decade on the Plains, an SEC-leading 40 of his players have graduated, including 80 percent who are graduates of color. “To graduate, it takes hard work, discipline, commitment and accountability, and that work ethic and discipline has translated,” said Pearl, who emphasizes to recruits that basketball is only part of Auburn’s appeal. “If it’s about being an Auburn man, being a better teammate, being a better neighbor, loving your country, loving your God and being committed to competing in the classroom as well as the court, this is a great place for you.” Auburn received an NCAA waiver to allow the Melton Scholars Program to be the exhibition’s beneficiary. “I would like to thank the NCAA for their wisdom and willingness to support this game,” Pearl said. “We are going to make a tremendous impact. The visibility and exposure that this game is going to receive; it’s not only going to allow people to buy tickets but also make contributions, or even have a discussion around the kitchen table asking, ‘What do you think about us sponsoring a Melton Scholar?’ We’re going to give them that opportunity on Nov. 1.” OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: MEN’S BASKETBALL BY: JEFF SHEARER ‘A TREMENDOUS IMPACT’: AUBURN EXHIBITION TO BENEFIT MELTON SCHOLARS PROGRAMYellaWood ® brand pressure treated pine stands unrivaled in providing the best available protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Enjoy the uncompromising beauty of a backyard made with high quality natural wood products from YellaWood ® brand pressure treated pine. Visit yellawood.com for more information. THE BEST IS ALWAYS IN DEM A ND . YellaWood® brand pressure treated products are treated with preservatives (the “Preservatives”) and preservative methods, and technologies of unrelated third parties. 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Auburn Sports Properties is the exclusive marketer and producer of Auburn sports programming such as radio and television broadcasts, corporate hospitality, in-venue signage, social media integration, promotional activities, and intellectual property rights. Advertisers and marketers with a statewide, regional, or na- tional interest can utilize Auburn Sports Properties as a “one stop shop” for the following: n Statewide & Regional Radio Network n Statewide & Regional Television n Stadium & Arena Signage n Publications n Promotional Rights n Coaches Endorsements n Event Marketing & Sponsorship n Digital Strategy The Auburn Sports Network is the radio division of Auburn Sports Properties and provides coverage throughout the state of Alabama and portions of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi with its almost 50 station radio network. Fans can also hear the broadcasts nationwide and globally via the Au- burn Tigers gameday app, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and online at www.AuburnTigers.com. For more information on connect- ing your brand with the Auburn Family contact Ben Harling at Ben.Harling@playfly.com TIGER TALK - Hosted by Andy Burcham and Brad Law every Monday from 6-7 p.m. CT, featuring head coach Hugh Freeze as well as other Auburn coaches throughout the season. Submit your questions on Twitter by tagging @AUSportsNetwork. Gameday coverage begins three hours before kickoff on the Auburn Sports Network.AUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES 103 AUBURNTIGERS.COM Town ...........................Affiliate .....Frequency Abbeville........................WESZ .................98.7 FM Albany, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Alexander City ............WKGA .................97.5 FM Andalusia .......................WAAO.................93.7 FM Auburn ...........................WGZZ ................94.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............99.3 FM Bainbridge, GA ...........WMGR ..............930 AM Birmingham .................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ................100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ...................990 AM Columbus, GA ............WVRK ..............102.9 FM Cullman..........................WKUL .................92.1 FM Demopolis .....................WZNJ ...............106.5 FM Dothan............................WESP ...............102.5 FM Eufaula ...........................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Evergreen .....................WPPG ................101.1 FM Flomaton .......................WPFL ................105.1 FM Florence .........................WMSR ...............94.9 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................92.5 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................1310 AM Fort Payne .....................WZOB .............100.9 FM Fort Payne .....................WZOB ..............1250 AM Gadsden ........................WGAD ...............99.3 FM Gadsden ........................WGAD .............1350 AM Greenville ......................WQZX ................94.3 FM Gulf Shores ...................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Guntersville ..................WTWX ...............95.9 FM Hackleburg ...................WFMH ...............95.5 FM Huntsville ......................WQRV ............100.3 FM Jasper ..............................WJBE ..................88.5 FM LaGrange, GA .............WELR ...............102.3 FM Macon, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Mobile .............................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Montgomery ................WLWI .................92.3 FM Moulton .........................WALW ................97.9 FM Ocean Springs, MS....WAVH ..............106.5 FM Oxford.............................WTDR ................92.7 FM Pensacola, FL ..............WPFL ................105.1 FM Roanoke.........................WELR ...............102.3 FM Scottsboro ....................WWIC ..............1050 AM Selma ..............................WHBB ..............1490 AM Spartanburg, SC .........WASC ..............1530 AM Sylacauga ......................WYEA .............100.3 FM Sylacauga ......................WYEA ...............1290 AM Thomasville ..................WJDB .................95.5 FM Troy ..................................WTBF ..................970 AM Tuscaloosa ....................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Vernon ............................WVSA ..............100.7 FM Vernon ............................WJEC ..............106.5 FM Auburn Mobile App & AuburnTigers.com 2024 AUBURN FOOTBALL RADIO AFFILIATES AUBURN FOOTBALL EVERYDAY SHOW BEN HARLING General Manager ANDY BURCHAM Play-By-Play RONNIE BROWN Sideine Analyst BRAD LAW Pre/Postgame Host WILL HERRING Sideline Analyst BRIT BOWEN Producer JASON CAMPBELL Color Analyst PATRICK TISDALE Engineer GENE DULANEY Spotter/Stats ASHLEY AARON Director, Partnership Development TELLY STRATAS Director, Partnership Development JACOB HILLMAN Manager, Partner Services STEPHANIE SNELL Director, Partner Services The Auburn Football Everyday television show features Coach Hugh Freeze. Check your local listings for show airings. Market ..........................................................................................................................................................Station Alexander City ..............................................................................................................................................................WAXC-TV 3 Auburn/Columbus ................................................................................................................................................WLTZ NBC 38 Birmingham ................................................................................................................................................................WAMB My68 Huntsville .....................................................................................................................................................................WAAY31 ABC Mobile ..........................................................................................................................................................................WJTC UTV-44 Montgomery .............................................................................................................................................................................WCOV Rainsville ....................................................................................................................................................................................FTC TV Regional ......................................................................................................................................................Bally Sports Southeast Auburn Tigers.com, YouTube and WarEagle+Next >