20 Current or Former Huskers to Graduate Saturday

Lincoln ? The University of Nebraska athletic department is pleased to announce that a total of 20 current or former student-athletes will participate in graduation ceremonies this weekend. The summer commencement will take place on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
 
This summer’s graduating class caps a successful year for the Nebraska athletic department, as a total of 108 current or former student-athletes have received their degrees since the start of the 2004-05 academic year.

The class includes student-athletes from 13 of Nebraska’s 23 athletic teams, including senior linebacker Adam Ickes, who will receive his degree in business administration. Ickes was a special teams standout who played in all 11 games last season, scoring on a blocked punt in the win over Missouri. He is the second of the 2005 football seniors to earn their undergraduate degree, joining defensive tackle Jared Helming, who earned his degree in May.

Of the 20 graduating student-athletes this weekend, five earned All-America honors during their Husker careers including gymnast Derek Leiter (pharmacy), wrestlers Travis Shufelt (community health education) and Travis Pascoe (biological sciences) and track and field athletes Shelldon Simpson and Artur Wszelaki. Other standouts in the 2005 summer graduating class in their respective sports include softball captain Liz Lawhorn (psychology), baseball outfielder Brandon Fusilier (sociology), soccer defender Iman Haynes (broadcasting), football quarterback Garth Glissman (football) and bowler Nicole Aleo (business administration).

The group also includes a pair of athletes who continued to pursue their degrees after professional careers. Offensive guard Chris Dishman (sociology) was a starter on NU’s 1995 national title team before beginning an eight-year professional career with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams. Steve Fish (community health education) pitched for the Husker baseball team in the 1996-97 seasons before beginning his professional baseball career.

This summer’s graduating class will join the Hall of Distinction in the Hewit Center, as the name of every graduating Husker student-athlete who has lettered and graduated is featured in the display. Nearly 5,000 letterwinners are featured in the West Stadium display that recognizes men’s programs dating back to 1890 and women’s programs dating back three decades.

In all, 91 percent of Husker student-athletes who complete their eligibility receive their degree from the University of Nebraska, a total that leads the Big 12 Conference. A private graduation reception for student-athletes and their families will be held at Memorial Stadium following Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

To read the words and ideas of one of Nebraska's most recent graduates, view Garth Glissman's speech delivered at the athletic department's graduation reception on Saturday.

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska’s 2005 Summer Graduates
Student Name                    Sport                            Degree
Steve Fish                           Baseball                        Community Health Education

Brandon Fusilier                   Baseball                        Sociology<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Chris Dishman                     Football                         Sociology

Garth Glissman                   Football                         Political Science

Adam Ickes                         Football                         Business Administration

Derek Leiter                         M Gym                         Pharmacy

Patrick Kennedy                  M Tennis                       Biochemisty

Jeff Nabity                           M Tennis                       Fisheries and Wildlife

Shelldon Simpson                M Track & Field             Sociology

Artur Wszelaki                     M Track & Field             Geology

Rose Ketmayura                  W Tennis                      International Business

Karen Aspden                      Rifle                              Criminal Justice

Nicole Aleo                          Bowling                         Business Administration

Iman Haynes                       Soccer                          Broadcasting

Travis Pascoe                      Wrestling                      Biological Sciences

Travis Shufelt                       Wrestling                      Community Health Education

Liz Lawhorn                         Softball                         Psychology

Maggi Escudero                   W Track & Field             Community Health Education

Alissa Koerner                     W Track & Field             Psychology

Elizabeth Fonfara                 Swimming and Diving     Advertising