A huge group of 54 student-athletes earned degrees at the 247th Commencement Ceremonies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga today. The Mocs had one of its biggest classes in school history take part in the spring celebration at McKenzie Arena.
Not only was this a big class, but it was also a well-accomplished one. Of the 54 to walk across the stage, 36 won at least one Southern Conference title in their careers. There was an All-American, four SoCon Athletes of the Year and the second-leading scorer on UTC's 1997 Sweet 16 men's basketball squad.
Of the 11 members of the cross country & track programs, 10 were Latin Honors Candidates.
Once grades are finalized, they will earn summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude recognition. In fact, of the 54 who graduated, 21 were Latin Honors Candidates.
Cross Country's Katie Ray earned the highest honors in the Biology department. Department honors are bestowed upon students who have maintained high academic standards in their coursework, completed an acceptable two-semester, four-hour honors project and passed an oral examination.
Volleyball's Sarah Batterton also stood out among the group after being selected to the Alpha Society. This group is chosen from graduates with at least a 3.75 cumulative grade-point-average.
The SoCon Champion men's basketball team had seven grads walk today, led by Eric Robertson, who is a Latin Honors Candidate in Political Science. Also earning his degree was Willie Young. Young was one of the top players on the Mocs' historic 1997 Sweet 16 team. He came back and completed his degree after a long career of playing and coaching overseas.
Some other notables among the grads are two-time SoCon Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year Alicia Payne. She is an honors candidate with a degree in Social Work.
SoCon Women's Golf Player of the Year Emily McLennan is competing in the NCAA Tournament, but is also an honors candidate in Communications. The same goes for Cross Country All-American Teghan Henderson in Business Administration.
Two-time SoCon Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year Justin Tuoyo wrapped up his Health & Human Performance degree. He is one of three men's basketball players, and 11 Mocs overall, who graduated today but still have one more eligibility remaining.
Be sure to check out the full list of graduates below. Also take a look at the attached photos gallery to see pics of nearly all of the graduates.
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Men's Basketball
Alex Bran - Health & Human Performance
Duke Ethridge – Integrated Studies
Casey Jones – Business Administration
Tre' McLean – Integrated Studies
Dee Oldham – Criminal Justice
Eric Robertson – Political Science – Latin Honors Candidate
Justin Tuoyo - Health & Human Performance
Willie Young – Integrated Studies
Jordan Clark (GA) – Master of Public Administration
Women's Basketball
Queen Alford – Criminal Justice
Alicia Payne – Social Work – Latin Honors Candidate
Sydney Vanlandingham - Health & Human Performance
Jonathan Goldberg (GA) – Master of Health & Human Performance
Cross Country – Track & Field
Oluwatosin Ayotunde – Biology – Latin Honors Candidate
Marquis Carter – Psychology – Latin Honors Candidate
Austin Casassa – Psychology – Latin Honors Candidate
Makala Diggs - Health & Human Performance
Austin Ethridge – Business Administration – Latin Honors Candidate
Teghan Henderson – Business Administration – Latin Honors Candidate
Kiaana Howard – Health & Human Performance – Latin Honors Candidate
Helena Kis – Biology – Latin Honors Candidate
Geoff Nelson – Electrical Engineering – Latin Honors Candidate
Katie Ray – Biology – Latin Honors Candidate - Honors in Biology
Nicole Sumida – Integrated Studies – Latin Honors Candidate
Football
Ryan Bossung - Health & Human Performance
Drae Bowles – English, American Language & Literature
Toyvian Brand – Business Administration
A.J. Hampton – Environmental Science
Jeremiah Hay – Criminal Justice
Robert Hill – Health & Human Performance
Tommy Hudson – Engineering
Sema'je Kendall – Business Administration
Jesse LoScudo – Master of Engineering Management
Brandon Morgan – Integrated Studies
Nikolay Timoshchuk - Health & Human Performance
Josh Toon - Health & Human Performance
Men's Golf
Wes Gosselin – Psychology – Latin Honors Candidate
Kory Webb – Business Administration
Women's Golf
Emily McLennan – Communications – Latin Honors Candidate
Soccer
Logan Higgins – Health & Human Performance
Clare Latham – Early Childhood Education – Latin Honors Candidate
Alanna Warrick – Health & Human Performance
Hannah Wyatt – Business Administration
Softball
Cricket Blanco – Health & Human Performance
Katie Henderson - Health & Human Performance
Kaiti Kelley – Master of Secondary Education
Anyssa Robles – Health & Human Performance – Latin Honors Candidate
Amanda Ross – Criminal Justice
Alyssa Taylor – Business Administration – Latin Honors Candidate
Sam Taylor – Middle Grade Education – Latin Honors Candidate
Men's Tennis
Luke Saunders – Communications
Roberto Vieira – Master of Engineering Management
Women's Tennis
Kayla Jones - Biology
Katie Polk – Political Science
Alison Storie – Business Administration – Latin Honors Candidate
Volleyball
Sarah Batterton – Nursing – Latin Honors Candidate – Alpha Society
Lauren Gainer – Integrated Studies
Wrestling
Trevor Humes – Biology
Jared Johnson – Chemical Engineering – Latin Honors Candidate
Sean Mappes – Health & Human Performance
Austin Sams – Business Administration
Administration
Alyssa Allen (Athletic Training) – Master of Health & Human Performance
Tyler Baker (Athletic Training) – Master of Health & Human Performance
Zack Kirby (SID) – Communications
Angela Moening (Athletic Training) – Master of Health & Human Performance
Jessica Roseberry (Marketing) – Master of Business Administration