Making an impression during a group date on “The Bachelor” is difficult, but Auburn University graduate Charity Lawson made it look easy Monday night, leaving with a rose — and in tears.

The 26-year-old child and family therapist from Columbus, Ga., graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from AU. She currently lives in Charlotte, N.C.

Three weeks into the 27th season of the ABC reality dating series, Lawson looks like a good match for lead Zach Shallcross, who has given her a rose in each of the first few episodes. On Monday, we didn’t have to wait for a ceremony to find out her fate.

Lawson drew the group date card, sending several women to compete in a “Bachelor Bowl” football game, coinciding with Super Bowl week. Lawson competed on the blue team, which won the game. At a cocktail party later, Lawson shared some one-on-one time with Shallcross. She said living in a house full of women competing for the same man’s heart has its challenges, but that she had felt a sense of peace during the group date.

Shallcross told her he loves her laugh and that her effort on the date made him feel special. “I was giving it my all,” she said, before he reassured her, “I’m a big fan.” The pair kissed, as he later told the cameras he feels he can let his guard down and relax around Lawson. “It’s pretty clear to me I feel really comfortable with Charity,” he said. “That’s how you can really form a meaningful connection. It feels great.”

After sending contestant Bailey Brown home, Shallcross gave Lawson the group date rose, further solidifying their potential to go the distance this season. “I feel in my heart and my gut that there’s something here,” he said.

But before she could even enjoy the moment, contestant Christina Mandrell expressed disappointment when she didn’t get it, drawing the ire of some women and a few tears from Lawson, who left the room. Later at a pool party, Shallcross confronted Mandrell after some women expressed concern about her behavior.

In the end, Mandrell did not receive a rose, perhaps removing a bit of drama from the house as the season presses on. So that’s it, right? No more drama during the rest of season 27? Sure…

One of 30 women vying for love this season, Lawson received a rose during the season premiere and made a strong impression on Shallcross from the moment they met, specifically about her professional life. “I literally love what I do,” she said during a brief segment before her arrival at the mansion. “It definitely is rewarding, I would say.”

“I am so ready for love,” she said during the premiere. “I want to find my partner. I want to be engaged. I want to start a life with that person. I want someone who treats me good. And definitely someone who can make me laugh.

“I am very eager to get married. I’m confident in what it is that I want, and I am excited for what’s to come.”

Lawson was one of the first few women to appear from the limo and meet Shallcross outside the mansion, and you could hear that Southern accent immediately. “I’m a little nervous, I’m not gonna lie, but I feel a little bit better now that I’m finally here,” she said to the new Bachelor. “My name is Charity and that also means ‘love,’ and I figured what better place to find love than at the Bachelor mansion? And I could not be more excited that it’s you who is the Bachelor, and I hope we get to chat a little more inside.”

She even stole a little time (and a kiss) with Shallcross during the premiere, when she revealed her professional and educational background, something she has in common with his mother, whom he said is a special education teacher. “It’s very difficult,” he said about the field. “There’s only a certain type of person that can do it and keep a smile on their face and treat them great. And you’re like that. I see that in you. You seem like an incredible, awesome woman, and you are absolutely stunning.”

Looking ahead at the full season 27 trailer, Lawson appears to factor prominently as the story plays out, but we will not seek out or divulge spoilers.

READ: 15 times Alabama took over ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’

Here is what ABC shared about Lawson in her official show bio:

“It’s easy to see what makes Charity such a great catch! With a smile that lights up the room, a great career and a sweet personality to match, Charity is the total package! The Georgia beauty takes her name as a call to love and care for people and has built her life on that purpose. Charity is a mental health therapist and is extremely passionate about helping people live their best lives. Now, she is ready to receive the love she gives to so many others! Charity hopes her future husband is honest, loyal and shares similar morals. She says she is really excited to meet Zach and thinks the two of them could be a perfect match on paper. Time will tell if they’re also a perfect match in person!”

The ABC bio also shares three “fun facts” about Lawson:

• Charity’s all-time favorite movie is “The Notebook.”
• Charity wants to move to Walt Disney World one day.
• Charity throws a mean axe.

Ahead of the Jan. 23 premiere, Lawson posted her official show photo on Instagram and wrote, “my best kept secret is out … if you didn’t know, well now you do.” Last week, she posted again, this time sharing a photo of her receiving a rose during the premiere. She wrote, “and so it begins…” with a rose emoji.

After receiving her master’s degree on the Plains, Lawson posted a graduate portrait on Instagram and wrote, “The past 6 years at Auburn, has been an experience of a lifetime, one that I don’t take for granted. I’ve been challenged, pushed and molded into the woman I am today. Looking back on my journey, I’ve met the most incredible people, professors, created the BEST memories, but most importantly, unconsciously, I walked right into my calling.”

She finished with a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling. “The joy that comes with obtaining a degree the second time around is so much sweeter when you gain confirmation that it is exactly one of the things God has called you to do,” she wrote. “The last two years has challenged me every single day in the areas of personal growth, but also in my professional identity as a therapist. I get the great opportunity as a therapist to love people as Jesus loved. This field of work is so beautiful, and I’m passionate about always advocating for mental health in today’s society.

And yes, she also dropped a “War Eagle!” Will we hear the famous AU catchphrase on the show this season?

From villainous contestants to lovable leads, Alabama personalities have dominated certain seasons of the long-running reality show, giving the state some well-earned airtime that keeps viewers coming back for more. We ran through Alabama’s biggest connections to “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” which turned 20 last year.

Lawson marks the first Auburn connection since Madison Prewett, a foster parent recruiter and AU graduate (and oldest daughter of Auburn’s director of basketball operations, Chad Prewett), who appeared during season 24 with Bachelor Peter Weber.