A total of 22 WKU student-athletes representing 10 separate sports graduated on Saturday in commencement ceremonies at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The 22 graduates obtained degrees in 17 different majors in diverse programs including accounting, anthropology, business informatics, architectural science, elementary education, technology management, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality management/dietetics.
Lady Topper Softball player Shannon Smith has also been awarded the prestigious Ogden Foundation Scholar Award. The Ogden Foundation Scholar is WKU's top academic honor presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement.
Smith was recognized as the top student in the College of Business based on her 4.0 GPA. She will carry the WKU Banner to the stage in the Grand March during Saturday’s Commencement Ceremony. She will then be presented with a plaque, receive a $1,000 monetary award, and deliver a short speech during the ceremony about receiving the award. Upon graduation, Smith will start work with Ernst & Young, LLP in Nashville, Tenn., in January as an assurance associate doing audit work.
For all 412 WKU student-athletes, the overall cumulative average GPA is 2.95 and 207 student-athletes (50.2%) are maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In the last decade, 85 percent of WKU’s student-athletes who have fulfilled their eligibility have graduated.
WKU graduated 60% of its student-athletes from the 2002-03 freshman class, the most recent class measured by the NCAA. The 60% graduation rate by WKU student-athletes was the second-highest in the Sun Belt Conference and also exceeded the 47% graduation rate posted by all WKU students.
A total of 105 student-athletes will have graduated in the last calendar year, as 23 graduated in December of 2009, 60 graduated in May of 2010, and 22 graduated on Saturday.
22 WKU STUDENT-ATHLETES GRADUATING ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18
Student-Athlete – Sport - Major
Corteze Armstrong – Baseball - Interdisciplinary Studies
Evan Teague – Baseball – Recreation Administration
Kareem Garibaldi – Football - Interdisciplinary Studies
Ralph Alexander – Football – Technology Management
Paul Millay – Football - Advanced Manufacturing
Cosmas Sigei – Men’s Cross Country – Business Informatics
Benjamin White – Men’s Track – Architectural Science
Andrew Bloink – Men’s Swimming – Physical Education
Bryan Mell – Men’s Swimming – Geography
Bradley Magnuson – Soccer – Accounting
Patrick Rickman – Soccer – Social Studies
Kristen Lefler – Women’s Track – Communications
Miaie Williams – Women’s Track - Interdisciplinary Studies
Morgan Thomas – Soccer – Marketing
Katherine Walker – Soccer – Exercise Science
Kellie Walker – Soccer – Elementary Education
Bailey Rolfs – Softball - Interdisciplinary Studies
Rachelle Boucher – Softball – Exercise Science
Ashley Contreras – Softball – Anthropology
Shannon Smith – Softball – Accounting
Stephanie Terrell – Women’s Swimming – Visual Arts
Lindsey Gould – Volleyball – Hospitality Management and Dietetics
