Five Huskers Earn Degrees

Lincoln - Five former Husker track and field and cross country runners were part of 45 University of Nebraska student-athletes who earned degrees Saturday, Dec. 22 during winter commencement ceremonies at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.

Included in the group are two NCAA champions in Arturs Abolins and Dace Ruskule, who graduated with degrees in economics and psychology. Both natives of Latvia, Abolins won the 2006 men’s indoor long jump national title, while Ruskule was the 2006 women’s outdoor discuss national champion.

Former thrower Bubba Kramer, who finished third in the shot put at the 2005 Big 12 Indoor Championships, earned an industrial art degree.

Also among the group were two men’s cross country runners in Bryce Dickmeyer and Alec Maduza. Both former captains for head coach Jay Dirksen, Dickmeyer received a degree in mechanical engineering, while Maduza graduated with a history major. Dickmeyer was the 2007 Lincoln Marathon champion in May.

 

“I congratulate all of these Nebraska student-athletes for the way they have balanced classwork, community involvement and competition,” Nebraska Associate Athletic Director for Academic Programs and Student Services Dennis Leblanc said. “These 45 graduates come from a diverse background from around the country and the world and have represented Nebraska at the highest level in academics and athletics.  The athletic department, the University and the state of Nebraska are proud of their accomplishments.”

 

Nebraska continues to feature one of the highest graduation rates in the nation with a Big 12-leading 94 percent exhausted eligibility graduation rate.

 

December 2007 Nebraska Track & Field/Cross Country Graduates (5)

Student-Athlete            Hometown                               Major

Arturs Abolins                Riga, Latvia                               Economics

Bryce Dickmeyer           Fremont, Neb.                           Mechanical Engineering

Bubba Kramer               Atkinson, Neb,                           Industrial Arts Education

Alec Maduza                 Shorewood, Wis.                       History

Dace Ruskule                Vecumnieku Pagasts, Latvia       Psychology