Fourteen Student-Athletes Have Early Commencement

Early Graduation Photo, 2016-17 Athletics

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Apr 25, 2017 | Baseball, General, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Track and Field

Ceremony held for those with athletic competition conflicts on May 6.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It's a spring rite of passage for college students across the nation: commencement. A time for families to see their children, brothers and sisters – and yes, even some mothers and fathers – walk proudly across the stage and receive their diplomas.

Like many colleges and universities across the country, families and friends flock to campuses to watch the annual commencements. That will be the case for much of the University of Memphis' Class of 2017 that will go through graduation ceremonies at FedExForum May 6.

However, in years past, there have been a few seniors and graduate students that have been unable to attend commencement as a result of commitments to athletic competition, primarily those student-athletes in baseball, softball and track and field. Those graduates missed out on commencement. No graduation walk. No handshakes from the University's president. No turning of the tassels.

That all changed for the Tigers' student-athletes in baseball, softball and track and field this year. On Monday, 14 student-athletes from those three sports were given an early commencement. The early graduation ceremony – an event put together by the University's commencement office, the Center for Athletic Academic Services (CAAS) and the Memphis athletics department – was only for those student-athletes whose athletic competition directly conflicted with the University's regular graduation ceremony.

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share this exciting moment with my family, friends, and teammates," said Lindsey Stickrod, who plays first base for the softball squad. "A big 'Thank You' to CAAS and the athletics department for their efforts in putting this together. This is a special moment that we seniors strived for, and to be able to celebrate it as a Tigers family, makes it mean so much more."

Bob Baker, Director of CAAS, added, "This is something I worked on with the commencement office at the previous institution where I worked. We had the same issue there. We had student-athletes that worked for four years to earn their degrees, and they're excited. But, because of their athletic competitions, they miss out on the ceremony and their families don't get to see them turn their tassels and accept their degrees from the president.

"President Rudd, (Director of Athletics) Tom Bowen and the deans were there Monday in all of their regalia. It was a great event. I'm happy we were able to do this."

So, with Monday's early commencement ceremony, 14 Tigers student-athletes in the Class of 2017 were honored at the campus' University Center. They marched in. They walked across the stage. They received handshakes from President M. David Rudd. They turned their tassels. They – and their parents – proudly smiled. They got the recognition they deserved.

"It's a great feeling to be recognized for all the hard work I've – and those other student-athletes honored – done the past four years in earning a degree from the University of Memphis," said Christopher Walker, a sprinter on the track and field squad and a Memphis native. "I'm so appreciative of the academic services office and athletics department putting together this special graduation ceremony. I wish all the former Tigers student-athletes that missed previous graduations had this opportunity. This makes me feel like I'm even more part of the Tigers family."

Walker's head coach, Kevin Robinson, agreed, "This is the first graduation ceremony I've been able to attend, and I'm in my 17^th year here as a coach at Memphis. My hat is off to Bob Baker for helping put on that event. It was a phenomenal event. It was a great opportunity to recognize the success of these student-athletes earning their degrees. For them to receive this recognition is a great moment.

"In years past, student-athletes weren't able to enjoy graduation ceremonies because we're traveling to competitions. To put this event on and allow the student-athletes' families and friends see them graduate is a special moment. My hope is we continue to do this annually and build on it."

And that's the plan, according to Baker.

"This is an event that we'll plan on having each spring due to the conflicts of those student-athletes that have athletic competition and will miss the University's commencement," said Baker. "Our biggest obstacle to hold the ceremony this year and in future years will be finding a time to do it for the student-athletes, so it doesn't conflict with final exams, competition travel and games or meets.

"The unsung hero in helping put this together is Vanessa Muldrow, who works in the University's commencement office. We had several meetings on this, and she put together the script for the ceremony. I'm thankful for Vanessa and Dr. Dan Bureau in the University commencement office for all of their assistance in making this a special night for those student-athletes."

The hard work from the commencement office, CAAS and athletics department did not go unnoticed by the 14 grateful and appreciative student-athletes.

"I had several of the student-athletes come to me before we had the ceremony Monday to thank me and tell me they were so excited about it," Baker said. "It's really gratifying to see the campus, commencement and athletics all come together to support these student-athletes for what they earned and accomplished."

2017 University of Memphis Early Commencement Graduates

Student-Athlete	Sport	Major
Meghan Christensen	Women's Track and Field	Nursing
Lindsay Crowdus	Softball	Professional Studies
Chardae Greenlee	Women's Track and Field	Sport and Leisure Management
Brandon Grudzielanek	Baseball	Sport and Leisure Management
Rebeka Holt	Women's Track and Field	Criminal Justice
Calli Irvin	Softball	Physical Education Teacher Education
Alex Klatt	Men's Track and Field	Computer Science
Drew Martinez	Baseball	Business Management
Yannik Schaly	Men's Track and Field	Master of Business Administration
Zach Schritenthal	Baseball	Sport and Leisure Management
Lindsey Stickrod	Softball	Accounting
Trent Turner	Baseball	Business Management
Luke Vaughn	Men's Track and Field	Business Management
Christopher Walker	Men's Track and Field	Interdisciplinary Studies