The University of Mississippi Athletics
Special Day for Ole Miss Student-Athletes
5/9/2015 | Academic Support
OXFORD, Miss. -- While achieving plenty of success on the fields and courts during their careers, Ole Miss student-athletes excelled in the classroom, and Saturday was a special day for them, as they participated in graduation ceremonies.
Student-athletes gathered in the morning for a special breakfast at the FedEx Academic Student Success Center with their families, coaches and athletics staff, before heading to Tad Smith Coliseum for the morning ceremony followed by the individual school ceremonies. Athletics Director Ross Bjork congratulated the student-athletes on their accomplishments and told them they were Rebels for life.
Football had 21 members walk Saturday, including two-time Chucky Mullins Award winner Deterrian Shackelford, who earned his master's degree in higher education. Shackelford's accomplishments are numerous and his latest includes being named to the 2015 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
It was also a special day for two former football players. All-American Terrence Metcalf and Cordera Eason came back to Ole Miss and finished their degrees.
Prior to taking the field for the final game of the series against Mississippi State, six members of the diamond Rebels graduated, including catcher Austin Knight, pitchers Scott Weathersby, Christian Trent and Sam Smith and first baseman Sikes Orvis.
Men's basketball made its second NCAA appearance in the last three years, and four Rebels received their degrees, including Jarvis Summers, Ladarius White and Aaron Jones.
Women's basketball made a return to the postseason, and Saturday, four members of the team walked across the stage, including Gracie Frizzell, who has decided to forego her final year of eligibility to enroll in physical therapy school, and All-SEC honoree Tia Faleru.
Volleyball set numerous team and individual records in head coach Steven McRoberts first year, and three Rebels who helped lead the resurgence of the program earned their degrees. It was a family affair on Saturday, as Rachael Weathersby, wife of baseball pitcher, Scott Weathersby, earned her degree. She is set to begin a bachelor of science in the accelerated nursing program at Ole Miss in the fall.
Three members of the soccer team graduated including goalkeeper Kelly McCormick, who will begin veterinarian school in the fall. Softball had four graduates, including Allison Brown, who started all 55 games and hit .301.
Two-time NCAA pole vault champion Sam Kendricks headlines a list of athletes from track and field who graduated. Also among the list of 13 men and women, Jonathan Redding, who received a Taylor Medal.
On Monday, Joe Lewis and Blake Morris will head to San Diego with their teammates in preparation for the NCAA Men's Golf Regional, but Saturday they donned a cap and gown for graduation. Women's golf was represented by Taelor Rubin.
A special ceremony for those student-athletes who are competing for the Rebels during Saturday's commencement will be held Monday, May 11 at 4 p.m. at the FedEx Academic Success Center. Women's tennis seniors Julia Jones, Erin Stephens and Iris Verboven will be part of the ceremony, as the Rebels are currently in Coral Gables, Florida competing in the NCAA Championships. Men's tennis senior Nik Scholtz will also be honored in Monday's ceremony as he was busy Saturday helping the men try to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
