Athletics / May 8, 2014

Graduation Day for 70 Canes Student-Athletes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Seventy University of Miami student-athletes participated in Spring Commencement exercises Thursday and Friday at the BankUnited Center.

More than 50 student-athletes received their bachelor’s degrees Friday. Some student-athletes, who will complete their degree requirements this summer, were given the opportunity to walk during ceremonies Thursday and Friday.

All 18 Miami teams were represented with at least one spring graduate. Track & Field led the way with 15 graduates, followed by football with eight.

AJ Highsmith (football) received his master’s degree Thursday evening, while Donnavan Kirk (men’s basketball) will complete his master’s degree this summer.

Among the graduates were Javi Salas (baseball), AJ Salcines (baseball), Rion Brown (men’s basketball), Erik Swoope (men’s basketball), Maria Brown (women’s basketball), Jon Feliciano (football), Breanna Hayton (rowing), Zac Nees (diving), Omar Aly (men’s tennis), Gabriel Flores (men’s tennis), Monique Albuquerque (women’s tennis), Lindsi Arrington (track), Bassim El-Sabawi (track), Alyssa McClure (track), Alex Johnson (volleyball) and Emani Sims (volleyball).

Earlier this week, Five University of Miami teams were publically honored for being among the top 10 percent in Academic Progress Rates (APR), the NCAA announced Wednesday.

Men’s basketball, men’s diving, women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s cross country were recognized with APR Public Recognition Awards. It marks the third straight year that women’s cross country received an APR Public Recognition Award and the second straight for men’s basketball. It was the first honor for women’s swimming.

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 http://www.miami.edu/commencement, where the ceremony will be webcast live and archived.

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MAY 2014 STUDENT-ATHLETE GRADUATES
Baseball (4)
Sam Abrams, John Lawroski, Javi Salas, AJ Salcines

Men’s Basketball (3)
Rion Brown, Donnavan Kirk, Justin Heller, Erik Swoope

Women’s Basketball (3)
Maria Brown, Jassany Williams, Krystal Saunders

Football (8)
Asante Cleveland, Tyrone Cornileus, Jon Feliciano, AJ Highsmith (Master’s), Kacy Rodgers II, Jordan Tolson, Jared Wheeler

Golf (1)
Carina Cuculiza

Rowing (3)
Katie Guest, Breanna Hayton, Courtney Keller

Soccer (3)
Tara Schwitter, Blake Stockton, Jesse Shugg

Swimming & Diving (4)
Zac Nees, Katherine Nicholson, Susan Smiddy, Thea Vock

Men’s Tennis (2)
Omar Aly, Gabriel Flores

Women’s Tennis (2)
Monique Albuquerque, Brittany Dubins

Track & Field (15)
Connor Adams, Lindsi Arrington, Brooke Dovell, Bassim El-Sabawi, Luke Fontaine, Davin Johnson, Jasmyne King, Alyssa McClure, Garrett Nygren, Sean Petty, Sean Pezzulo, Alaine Tate, Taylor Votek, William Waldon, Kadeem Walker