AUBURN, Ala. – In conjunction with PNC Bank and the PNC Achievers program, Auburn has named DJ Bennett (Women’s Tennis) and Carson Bedics (Track & Field/Cross Country) as the winners of the Spring 2025 PNC Achievers Awards this week.
“DJ and Carson exemplify what it means to be an Auburn student-athlete,” athletics director John Cohen said. “They excel athletically and academically while also demonstrating servant-leadership on campus and in our community. DJ and Carson are most deserving of this recognition as PNC Achievers.”
Bennett is one of the representatives for Women’s Tennis on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Auburn and served as one of the leaders for the CONNECT program this past year. She earned a spot on the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2023 and made the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll last year (2024).
On the court, Bennett has been one of Auburn’s more decorated players in recent history with 75 career singles victories. She’s earned All-SEC honors in each of the last three years, including First Team All-SEC this season. She was named an ITA All-American in Singles and Doubles in 2025 after finishing as a finalist in the NCAA Singles Championship and a semifinalist in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Like Bennett, Bedics has been a standout in competition and in the classroom while at Auburn. The senior distance runner has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll six times and also earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and in Chi Alpha Sigma, the National Student-Athlete Honor Society. He currently serves as one of the Track & Field/Cross Country representatives for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
As a runner, Bedics is a nine-time performer at the SEC Championships. He was named All-Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following his cross country campagin this past fall. He’s also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors each of the past three seasons.
The PNC Achievers program celebrates achievement among student-athletes and showcases student success through its honors and recognition program. A male and female student-athlete are recognized each semester for their well-rounded achievement through leadership, academic success, community engagement and in competition.
Bennett and Bedics were both recognized as PNC Achievers on the field at Plainsman Park prior to the Jacksonville State baseball game on Tuesday night.