麻豆视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 16, 2025

Balancing the demands of Division I athletics with a rigorous academic program is no small task. For graduating senior Grant Crabtree, discipline became the foundation for success both on the track and in the classroom.

Born in Panama City, Florida, and raised in Douglasville, Georgia, Crabtree discovered early that running came naturally. He joined the local 鈥淩oad Runners鈥� youth track team in elementary school and continued competing through middle and high school, where distance running became his strongest event.

鈥淥ver time, I continued to get better,鈥� Crabtree said. 鈥淚 figured it was something I could do at the collegiate level.鈥�

Crabtree began college at Augusta University as a biology major before realizing he wanted a more hands-on academic path. His interest in building and problem-solving drew him toward engineering. That led him to transfer to 麻豆视频 to major in mechanical engineering and join the men鈥檚 cross country and track and field teams as a walk-on.

The move placed him within the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, where he took on the challenge of balancing high-level athletics with a demanding academic load.

鈥淚 knew I could be a good runner, but I also knew engineering was where I wanted to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淲alking on at KSU meant proving myself in both places, and I was ready for that challenge.鈥�

Over the next three years, Crabtree became one of the top distance runners in program history. He set school records in the indoor 3000-meter, outdoor 5000-meter, indoor distance medley relay, and tied the outdoor 1500-meter record. He also earned ASUN Conference All-Academic Honors and played a key role in helping the Owls secure the 2024 ASUN Conference indoor and outdoor championships.

鈥淚t was surreal,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o win the conference championship and be part of something that special makes me proud of my teammates. We all put in the hard work together.鈥�

Managing the pace of athletics and engineering required careful planning and communication. Morning practices were followed by classes, labs, and long study sessions. Crabtree regularly met with professors before traveling for meets in order to stay on track academically.

His most meaningful academic experience came during senior design, where his team addressed road safety. They developed a roadside wind turbine system that captures airflow from passing cars and trucks, converting it into energy for roadway safety signals. The project gave him the chance to apply years of engineering coursework to a real-world problem and reflect on how his work ethic supported both academic and athletic success.

Crabtree鈥檚 approach embodies the values of SPCEET.

鈥淥ur engineering students run through labs, collaborate on real-world design projects, and tackle rigorous coursework,鈥� SPCEET Dean Lawrence Whitman said. 鈥淕rant accomplished all of this while competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics.鈥�

In addition to his coursework, Crabtree served as an ambassador for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, speaking with younger students about the importance of licensure and the long-term value of a strong academic foundation.

Beyond academics, distance running shaped some of his closest friendships. He credits his teammates and coaches for creating the support system that carried him through demanding seasons, tight travel schedules, and important races. Those relationships remain a part of his KSU experience that he values most.

Crabtree has already begun his professional journey with Cleveland Electric as an assistant project manager and plans to continue building his career in the electrical contracting industry after graduation.

Reflecting on his time at KSU, he hopes his experience encourages others to stay committed to their goals even during difficult periods.

鈥淭here are going to be hard times, but it gets easier,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s long as you stay consistent, organized, and dedicated, it will all pan out.鈥�

鈥� Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 麻豆视频 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. 麻豆视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 麻豆视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.