A total of 81 Tennessee student-athletes are celebrating graduation this weekend, signaling the successful completion of their academic pursuits as Vols and Lady Vols.
And for the first time in the university’s history, commencement ceremonies are taking place at Neyland Stadium—mere months before the historic venue’s centennial season.
“There are so many moments I’m grateful to be a part of as an AD, but the graduation of our student-athletes has always been one of my favorite achievements to celebrate,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “Having been forced to adjust their academic routines through the pandemic—while also balancing the demands of training and competition—this year’s new grads have navigated challenges no one could have ever predicted. I’m thrilled that they get to commemorate their accomplishments with their families in such a unique way at Neyland Stadium.”
Student-athletes completing their degrees this spring and/or summer are taking part in this weekend’s ceremonies. That includes nine student-athletes earning master’s degrees for completing graduate programs.
In addition to their academic achievements, this collection of 81 new grads set school records, earned All-America honors, captured SEC and NCAA championships and features past and future Olympians.
Once again, Tennessee’s graduates include student-athletes from coast to coast—California to New Jersey—who chose to chase their dreams on Rocky Top. The list also includes numerous international student-athletes from nations such as Australia, Canada, England, Germany and Slovenia.
The list of degree programs is equally as varied, with Vols and Lady Vols earning diplomas in Accounting, Aerospace Engineering, Business Analytics, Forestry, Physics, Neuroscience, Industrial Engineering and many other disciplines.
Also among the newest crop of UT student-athlete graduates are two former standout performers who put their degree progress on hold to pursue careers in professionals sports. They recently re-enrolled in the SouthEast Bank Renewing Academic Commitment (RAC) Program to complete their degree requirements. This semester’s RAC graduates are men’s basketball player Bobby Maze (2008-10) and baseball player Julio Borbon (2005-07).
BASEBALL (8)
Julio Borbon, Recreation & Sport Management – RAC
Pete Derkay, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications (Master’s)
Will Heflin, Recreation & Sport Management (Master’s)
Sean Hunley, Recreation & Sport Management
Jackson Leath, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications
Luc Lipcius, Aerospace Engineering
Evan Russell, Finance
Redmond Walsh, Aerospace Engineering
MEN’S BASKETBALL (4)
E.J. Anosike, Agricultural & Resource Economics (Master’s)
Victor Bailey Jr., Political Science
Bobby Maze, Communication Studies – RAC
Yves Pons, Recreation & Sport Management
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3)
Keyen Green, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications (Master’s)
Kasiyahna Kushkituah, Communication & Information (Master’s)
Jaiden McCoy, Communication Studies
FOOTBALL (11)
Paxton Brooks, Kinesiology
James Brown, Kinesiology
Brent Cimaglia, Management
Tanner Dobrucky, Supply Chain Management
Grant Frerking, Supply Chain Management
Cheyenne Labruzza, Supply Chain Management
Ollie Lane, Kinesiology
Riley Locklear, Kinesiology
J.T. Siekerman, Business Analytics
Jacob Warren, Kinesiology
Toby Wilson, Finance
MEN’S GOLF (5)
Spencer Cross, Marketing
Tyler Johnson, Communication Studies
Rhys Nevin, Sociology
Chase Roswall, Finance
Chip Thomas, Finance
WOMEN’S GOLF (2)
Mariah Smith, Kinesiology
Waverly Whiston, Accounting
ROWING (12)
Abbi Altman, Supply Chain Management
Allie Asbury, Animal Science
Ashley Ball, Finance
Rebecca Caruso, Kinesiology
Mikayla Dutton, Psychology
Gia Hodges, Neuroscience, Psychology
Taylor Jones, Business Analytics
Emma Long, Psychology
Ana Pelic, Psychology
Brenna Randall, History, Political Science
Ashley Van Roon, Kinesiology
Sarah Warner, Food Science
SOCCER (2)
Erin Gilroy, Recreation & Sport Management (Master’s)
Charli Pogany, Political Science
SOFTBALL (4)
Amanda Ayala, Kinesiology
Ashley Morgan, Accounting
Treasuary Poindexter, Recreation & Sport Management
Chelsea Seggern, Kinesiology
SWIMMING & DIVING (12)
Tess Cieplucha, Geology & Environmental Study, Geography
Alec Connolly, Forestry
Owen Devine, Kinesiology
Bailey Grinter, Biological Sciences
Kaitlin Harty, Communication Studies
McKenna Morello, Kinesiology
Amanda Nunan, Nutrition
Tjasa Pintar, Kinesiology
Nikol Popov, Psychology
Megan Sichterman, Food Science
Emily Sykes, Recreation & Sport Management
Braga Verhage, Psychology
MEN’S TENNIS (5)
Giles Hussey, Recreation & Sport Management (Master’s)
Andrew Rogers, Interdisciplinary Programs
Mark Wallner, Finance
Adam Walton, Kinesiology
Luca Wiedenmann, Finance, Business Analytics
WOMEN’S TENNIS (2)
Tenika McGiffin, Kinesiology
Johanna Silva, Industrial Engineering
TRACK & FIELD (11)
Max Barbour, Supply Chain Management
Nick Brey, Physics (Master’s)
Alexis Duncan, Communication Studies
Conner Hawkins, Neuroscience, Biological Sciences
Hannah Jefcoat, Kinesiology
Joseph Maxwell, Marketing
Maia McCoy, Communication & Information (Master’s)
Sarah Reeves, Kinesiology, Chemistry
Kiara Rhodes, Journalism & Electronic Media
Abigail Smith, Kinesiology
Rachel Ware, Industrial Engineering
-UT Athletics
