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Lincoln - Nebraska women's basketball players Jelena Spiric, Jessica Gerhart and LaToya Howell earned their bachelor's degrees from the University of Nebraska during commencement exercises at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, May 6.
Spiric, the 2005 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, earned her degree in biochemistry in just two years after transferring from Colby (Kan.) Community College. The native of Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro missed all of the 2005-06 season because of a knee injury and will return to lead the Huskers on the court in 2006-07.
Gerhart, a junior from Fenton, Iowa, also claimed her degree from Nebraska with eligibility remaining in her Husker career. The 6-2 forward completed her undergraduate studies in just three yearsat NU, majoring in nutrition and dietetics.
A two-year starter and two-time first-team academic All-Big 12 selection, Gerhart has chosen to forego her senior season at Nebraska to pursue advanced schooling in her chosen career path.
Howell completed the trio of NU women's basketball graduates. The native of Chicago earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Nebraska, after transferring from the Air Force Academy prior to the 2003-04 season. Howell was the starting point guard as a senior in 2005-06, leading NU to a 19-13 record and the third round of the Postseason WNIT.
Nebraska's three women's basketball players joined an impressive list of 54 Husker student-athletes across all sports who earned their degrees in May of 2006. NU's class of student-athlete graduates is made up of student-athletes from 17 U.S. states, including 20 Nebraska natives, three athletes from two Canadian provinces, one student-athlete from Puerto Rico, and one athlete from Serbia & Montenegro. The class also includes 17 student-athletes who graduated with eligibility remaining in their respective sports.
The class included nine student-athletes who combined for 24 All-America awards during their careers, including two athletes who combined for three individual national titles.
Overall, 84 Husker student-athletes have graduated this academic year before summer commencement exercises in August. Nebraska continues to lead the Big 12 and rank among the top schools in the nation with an exhausted eligibility graduation rate of 93 percent.