Commencement Weekend for Gator Student-Athletes
Friday, August 6, 2021 | General, Otis Hawkins Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. –The University of Florida Athletic Association celebrates the accomplishments of 26 Gator student-athletes who will walk across the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center commencement stage this weekend.
Summer commencement ceremonies are Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7.
Four were part of NCAA title teams during their careers:
More Summer Gator Grad Notables:
Summer commencement ceremonies are Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7.
Four were part of NCAA title teams during their careers:
- 2018 and 2109 (indoor) NCAA Track & Field – Thomas Mardal.
- 2021 NCAA Men's Tennis – Brian Berdusco and Johannes Ingildsen.
- 1998 NCAA Soccer – Meredith Flaherty
- Thomas Mardal – 2021 NCAA Indoor weight throw and 2021 NCAA Outdoor hammer throw.
More Summer Gator Grad Notables:
- Deanne Rose won a gold medal with Canada earlier today in the Olympic final.
- Ten earned All-America honors – Alyssa Baumann (gymnastics, Leah Clapper (gymnastics), Lauryn Ghee (track & field), Thayer Hall (volleyball), Johannes Ingildsen (men's tennis), Brandee' Johnson (track & field), McCartney Kessler (tennis), Thomas Mardal (track & field), Savannah Schoenherr (gymnastics) and Patric Young (basketball).
- Leah Clapper (gymnastics) and Thomas Mardal (track & field) were named the 2021 Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for their sport. Patric Young is the only three-time recipient of the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's basketball (2012, 2013, 2014). Clapper (2021) and Young (2014) both picked up College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors.
- 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year award went to Patric Young.
- Meredith Flaherty was the 1998 NCAA College Cup Defensive MVP and goalkeeper for Gators' NCAA title team.
- Eight graduate with honors.
- Summa Cum Laude: Leah Clapper (gymnastics)
- Cum Laude: Alyssa Baumann (gymnastics), Brian Berdusco (tennis), Jazmyn Foberg (gymnastics), Kinsey Goelz (softball), McCartney Kessler (tennis), Savannah Schoenherr (gymnastics) and Liz Watts (swimming).
- Four receive master's degrees this weekend – Carina Baltrip-Reyes (soccer), Johannes Ingildsen (tennis), Emily Sullivan (basketball) and Patric Young (basketball).
- Nine will wear the Southeastern Conference graduate patches in the 2021-22 season – Alyssa Baumann (gymnastics), Leah Clapper (gymnastics), Kinsey Goelz (softball), Thayer Hall (volleyball), Chris Howard (football), McCartney Kessler (tennis), Nick Pogue (baseball),Savannah Schoenherr (gymnastics) and Kiki Smith (basketball).
| 2021 University of Florida Student-Athlete Summer Graduates | ||
| Name | Sport | Degree |
| Nick Pogue | Baseball | Psychology |
| Patric Young | Men's Basketball | Master's Management |
| Kiki Smith | Women's Basketball | Sociology |
| Emily Sullivan | Women's Basketball | Masters – Mass Communications |
| James Houston | Football | Education Sciences |
| Chris Howard | Football | Sport Management |
| TJ Moore | Football | Education Sciences |
| Clifford Taylor IV | Football | Graphic Design |
| Alyssa Baumann | Gymnastics | Sport Management |
| Leah Clapper | Gymnastics | Advertising |
| Jazmyn Foberg | Gymnastics | Family, Youth & Community Sciences |
| Savannah Schoenherr | Gymnastics | Sport Management |
| Carina Baltrip-Reyes | Soccer | Master's Sport Management |
| Lauren Evans | Soccer | Sociology |
| Meredith Flaherty | Soccer | Doctoral – Sports Management |
| Deanne Rose | Soccer | Sociology |
| Kinsey Goelz | Softball | Sport Management |
| Jordan Matthews | Softball | African American Studies |
| Liz Watts | Women's Swimming | Health Education & Behavior |
| Brian Berdusco | Men's Tennis | Economics |
| Johannes Ingildsen | Men's Tennis | Master's - International Business |
| McCartney Kessler | Women's Tennis | Health Education & Behavior |
| Thomas Mardal | Men's Track & Field | Business Administration |
| Lauryn Ghee | Women's Track & Field | Family, Youth, & Community Sciences |
| Brandee' Johnson | Women's Track & Field | Family, Youth, & Community Sciences |
| Thayer Hall | Volleyball | Sport Management |
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