Mostly in their late teens and early twenties, amateur athletes typically dedicate years of their life to training both their body and mind for more hours per week than most dedicate to a full-time job. It's no secret that no matter how talented or driven an athlete is, while their peers are off attending college, securing jobs, and building careers, people who compete at the highest levels sacrifice these career-building years in order to stay at the top of their game.

"While the athletes I encounter are focused on the task at hand (training and competing), they are also very in tune with how they envision their life after retiring from competition", says Dr. Nicole Detling Miller, a noted sport-psychology consultant. "The ability to attend college online has become important to many of the athletes I work with. Online schools like Ashworth College give them the opportunity to prepare for future careers with an education that easily integrates with their training and competition schedules."

Ashworth College, along with its subsidiary James Madison High School, is an online school that offers a wide range of diploma, certificate, and degree programs.

"With my training and competition schedule, sitting in a classroom was unrealistic", says Heather Richardson, a member of the U.S. speed-skating team. Richardson is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration online at Ashworth College. "Because I'm studying while I'm training, I'm going to be able to move right into a career as a dental hygienist when I'm finished competing."

Demanding practice and rehearsal schedule, as well as frequent travel, have made traditional schooling challenging for young athletes. Their inability to mesh their sports lives with learning in a classroom setting, however, doesn't diminish their academic aspirations and dedication to earning a diploma or degree from a respected, accredited institution.

"Ashworth is a convenient option for athletes and entertainers who need flexible education that fits within their demanding schedules", comments Dr. Leslie Gargiulo, Vice President of Education for Ashworth College. "Students can study at their own pace, completing a semester course in as little as four weeks or as many as eighteen weeks. Online education offers a convenient way for students to catch up on missed credits, take a subject not offered at their traditional school, solve a scheduling conflict, try a different method of learning, or supplement their learning activities if they are homeschooled or temporarily home bound."