26 Huskers Receive Diplomas at December Graduation

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Lincoln - A distinguished collection of 26 University of Nebraska student-athletes earned their degrees during  winter commencement ceremonies on Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

 

The 2008 December class of graduates included four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans from their respective sports, including Jordan Larson and Tracy Stalls from the Nebraska volleyball program, Todd Peterson from the Husker football program, and Stephen Tetrault from the NU men’s gymnastics program. Larson, Stalls and Tetrault, who was also Nebraska’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2007-08, were also All-Americans in competition in their respective sports joining track and field’s Ray Scotten and women’s gymnast Vanessa Meloche in that category.

 

The Husker graduates come from 10 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and include one graduate from South Africa. The class also enjoys a rich Nebraska flavor with 11 graduates from the Cornhusker State.

 

Coach Bo Pelini’s Nebraska football program had nine student-athletes graduate on Saturday. Joining Peterson in the class of graduates was fellow senior wide receiver Nate Swift and quarterbacks Joe Ganz and Beau Davis. On the defensive side, Ty Steinkuhler and Clayton Sievers earned their degrees, along with special teams standouts Dan Titchener, Jake Wesch and T.J. O’Leary. Offensive guard Mike Huff previously earned his degree in May of 2008, giving NU 10 football players who will head to the Jan. 1, 2009 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl with degree in hand.

 

Coach John Cook’s volleyball program sent All-Americans Larson and Stalls to the stage to receive their diplomas. Both players helped the Huskers to the 2006 NCAA title while earning multiple All-America honors during their NU careers. Larson helped lead the Huskers to three NCAA semifinal appearances in her four years at Nebraska and was an All-American on the court and in the classroom in 2008.

 

Coach Mike Anderson’s baseball program produced three graduates, including Jeff Christy, Bryce Nimmo and Jeff Tezak, while Coach Francis Allen’s men’s gymnastics team featured two graduates, including Tetrault and Eric Daigle.

 

Coach Gary Pepin’s men’s and women’s track and field program was honored with three graduates, including Scotten, a three-time All-American, Peter van der Westhuizen and Tamara Solari. Coach John Walker’s women’s soccer team also sent three across the stage for commencement, including Tanya Dennis, Sari Raber and Brigid (Kenny) Woodhead.

 

Coach Pablo Morales added a pair of swimmers to the class in Michelle Criss and Adrienne Goodman. Coach Dan Kendig added the All-American Meloche, while Coach Robin Krapfl’s women’s golf program rounded out the class with the addition of Elli Brown, an All-Big 12 selection both on and off the course for the Huskers.

 

“I admire each of these student-athletes for the way they balanced school with competition,” Nebraska Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academics, Compliance and Planning Dennis Leblanc said. “These graduates add to Nebraska’s great tradition of academic and athletic excellence. These student-athletes have come from different parts of the country and the world to receive the highest quality of education while competing in athletics at the highest level. The athletic department, the University and the entire state of Nebraska are proud of them.”  

 

Nebraska’s 2008 December class of graduates helped build on the Huskers’ great student-athlete tradition, which includes an NCAA-leading 268 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports. Nebraska continues to feature one of the highest graduation rates in the nation with a Big 12-leading exhausted eligibility graduation rate of 93 percent.

 

December 2008 Nebraska Student-Athlete Graduates (26)

• Student-Athlete, Sport, Hometown, Major
• Elli Brown,Women’s Golf, Meridian, Idaho, Business Administration
• Jeff Christy, Baseball, Lincoln, Neb., Accounting
• Michelle Criss, Swimming & Diving, Omaha, Neb., Dietetics
• Eric Daigle, Men’s Gymnastics, Omaha, Neb., Industrial Technology Education
• Beau Davis, Football, Venice, Calif., Sociology
• Tanya Dennis, Soccer, Brampton, Ontario, Psychology
• Joe Ganz, Football, Palos Heights, Ill., Business Administration
• Adrienne Goodman, Swimming & Diving, Ballwin, Mo., Marketing
• Jordan Larson, Volleyball, Hooper, Neb., Communication Studies
• Vanessa Meloche, Women’s Gymnastics, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science
• Bryce Nimmo, Baseball, Cheyenne, Wyo., Finance
• T.J. O’Leary, Football, Omaha, Neb., Communication Studies
• Todd Peterson, Football, Grand Island, Neb., Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science
• Sari Raber, Soccer, Richmond, B.C., Canada, Psychology
• Ray Scotten, Track & Field, Indianapolis, Ind., Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science
• Clayton Sievers, Football, Elkhorn, Neb., Communication Studies
• Tamara Solari, Track & Field, Seattle, Wash., Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science
• Tracy Stalls, Volleyball, Denver, Colo., Individualized Program of Studies
• Ty Steinkuhler, Football, Lincoln, Neb., Criminal Justice
• Nate Swift, Football, Hutchinson, Minn., Construction Management
• Stephen Tetrault, Men’s Gymnastics, Lincoln, Neb., Mathematics
• Jeff Tezak, Baseball, Poway, Calif., History
• Dan Titchener, Football, Cheyenne, Wyo., Accounting
• Peter van der Westhuizen, Track & Field, Kempton Park, South Africa, Dietetics
• Jake Wesch, Football, North Bend, Neb., Communication Studies
• Brigid (Kenny) Woodhead, Soccer, North Platte, Neb., Elementary Education