When given the choice to compete in the 2028SummerOlympics or pursue an undergraduate degree, Gracen Fletcher said,“Why not both?”

Theathlete fromBoonville,Indiana,grew up around archery, but her recent success in the sporthasbeen gamechanging.On March 8, 2025,Fletcherbecame the only woman to shoot a perfect900score overthree daysatthe2025Vegas Shoot,placing first inthechampionshipcompoundwomen’scategory.The Vegas Shoot, a prominent indoor archery competition, allows both professional and novice athletesto compete against one another.Fletcher’s score has only been achieved by eight other women in theevent’sseven-decadehistory.

With The Vegas Shoot behind her, Fletcher has turned her gaze to a bigger target:the2028Summer Olympicsin Los Angeles.In spring 2025, the International Olympic Committee announced that compound archery would be included in thegames.

“That announcement changed my trajectory,” saidFletcher.

But beforethe Summer 2028 Olympicsappearedon her radar,Fletcher applied toCedarville Universityas a full-timeaccountingstudent.

“I chose Cedarville because itchallenges students tofocus on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ andhelps themglorify Godthrough the pursuit of academic excellence,”saidFletcher."I believe Cedarville will help me prepareme for a career and every area of life.”

The opportunity totry out for the Olympics, however, was notone Fletcherwanted to miss.

“I’ve embraced the challenge oftrying out for the U.S. team,”said Fletcher,“but the training requires a lot oftime andcommitment.”She was awareher Olympic trainingcoulddelay her college enrollment.

ThenFletcher heard aboutCedarville Online,the university’s newfullyonline undergraduate program.The program offers popular undergraduatedegreesin a flexible format, allowingstudents like Fletcher to pursue a college degree alongside nonacademic pursuits.

After learning about the program,Fletcher said, “I realized I’d found the link that would allow me tokeep competing and earn my degree.”

Cedarville Online was createdtogivenontraditional studentstheopportunity to experiencetheuniversity'sacademic community.Witha flexible schedule, online studentscanpursue opportunitiesthatmightotherwise conflict with aresidentialcollege schedule.In addition, the programisonly $375 per credit hour, making itmore affordable thanon-campus programoptions.Online students still receive the same commitment to quality,integrityand communityason-campus students.Fletcherisamong the first class of studentsinthe program.In addition to accounting, Cedarville Onlinecurrentlyoffersundergraduate onlinedegrees incommunication,finance,IT managementandmanagement, and has plans toadd moreacademic programs in 2026.

Fletcher knows that juggling Olympic training with Cedarville academicswon’tbe an easyassignment,butshe’sexcited tolearn how tobalance trainingandacademicsas sheembraces every opportunity.

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christianinstitution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized byThe Wall Street Journalas being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more atcedarville.edu.