Three Canes Rowers Earn UM Degrees

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Three members of the Hurricanes rowing program earned their undergraduate degrees and will participate in the University of Miami Commencement ceremonies this weekend.

Seniors Katie Guest, Breanna Hayton and Courtney Keller will walkacross the stage and accept their diplomas as part of the Spring Commencement exercises from May 8-10 at the BankUnited Center.

Guest has rowed on the Varsity 8+ since her freshman year at Miami. A native of Toronto, Canada, Guest helped the Hurricanes win the Cal Cup at the 2013 San Diego Crew Classic. She also was part of the 1V8+ that finished fourth at the 2013 ACC Championships. Guest graduates with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Hayton has established herself as an excellent student-athlete and ambassador for both the engineering and rowing communities. The Victoria, British Columbia native has earned distinction on the Dean’s List (3.5 GPA), Athletic Director Honor Roll (3.2 GPA) and the Provost’s Honor Roll (3.75 GPA). She has also been named to the ACC Honor Roll three times in her career and was selected as a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete following her junior year. Hayton is a two-time All-ACC selection in rowing and earned second team All-Region honors following the 2012-13 season. The senior is also heavily involved in Miami’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as one of the ACC representatives for the Hurricanes’ student-athletes. Hayton projects to graduate with cum laude honors, earning her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering.

Keller has been a contributor on multiple boats throughout her career at Miami. As a freshman, she helps the Varsity 8+ place fourth at the ACC Championships. Her sophomore year, she helped Miami excel at the Dad Vail Aberdeen Regatta, while she helped the 2V8+ placed third at the 2013 ACC Championships. As a senior, Keller helped the Canes win the Open 8+ race at the 2013 Head of the Hooch. A native of Effingham, Illinois, Keller graduates with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.

This spring more than 3,500 University of Miami undergraduate and graduate students will begin a new chapter in their lives by graduating to new careers or graduate school, among other adventures. During Commencement ceremonies, which mark the launch of a new era in the lives of students, graduates from all of UM’s schools and colleges will be recognized by name and will walk across the stage to be congratulated by President Donna E. Shalala and their academic dean. With research papers, labs and final exams completed, these students will go on to embark on new journeys. According to a survey conducted by the UM Toppel Career Center on graduating students from last year (May 2013), 62 percent had full-time job offers within six months of graduation, with an average base annual starting salary of $47,700. Roughly 28 percent of that same graduating class enrolled in graduate school. The UM Commencement ceremony is open to graduates and their guests. For more information, visit www.miami.edu/commencement, where the ceremony will be webcast live and archived.

For official updates and information please visit our website at HurricaneSports.com or “Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/canesrowing. You can also “Follow” Miami rowing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/canesrowing. The program is also on Instagram.