Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech held its spring commencement ceremony Friday, and more than more than 70 Virginia Tech student-athletes received their diplomas, with several receiving a second undergraduate degree and several earning master's degrees in their various fields of study.
The graduating contingent consisted of 14 football players, including Steven Peoples (human development), Connor Kish (building construction), Kevin Kish (finance), Matt Christ (accounting), Bradley Parcell (business information technology), Sean Daniel (consumer studies), Sam Denmark (consumer studies), Zack Treser (biology), and two players who will be returning in the fall – offensive lineman Zachariah Hoyt (accounting) and tailback Deshawn McClease (human development). Also, Chris Cunningham (property management), Josh Jackson (psychology), Eric Kumah (property management) and Trevon Hill (property management) participated, though all have made the decision to transfer out of the program.
In the men's basketball program, Ty Outlaw, who graduated last year with a degree in criminology, earned a second degree in sociology, while former player Chris Clarke graduated with a degree in sociology. In addition, Ahmed Hill is expected to earn his master's degree in agriculture and life science this summer.
In the women's basketball program, both Rachel Camp and Regan Magarity earned master's degrees. Also, Erinn Brooks (human nutrition, foods and exercise), Taylor Emery (creative writing), Kaela Kinder (criminology), Michelle Berry (sociology) and Erin Garner (communications) graduated.
In the track and field and cross country programs, Jack Joyce (economics), Peter Seufer (finance) and Andrew Goldman (master's in computer science) graduated from the men's team, while Shannon Quinn (finance), Amanda Swaak (human nutrition, foods and exercise), Lauren Berman (mechanical engineering), Jennifer Fleming (mechanical engineering) and Kacia Vines (sociology) graduated from the women's team.
In the wrestling program, All-American Zack Zavatsky graduated (packaging systems and design), along with Ryan Blees (agribusiness), Brooks Wilding (aerospace engineering) and Ryan Haskett (business information technology).
On the baseball team, Luke Horanski (economics), Jack Owens (sociology and criminology), Nick Owens (business information technology) and Nick Menken (criminology) graduated, along with Cole Kragel (management) and Grant Maiorana (real estate).
Two men's swimmers/divers graduated – Ben Schiesl (management) and Michael Craddock (professional and technical writing) – while Danielle Griggs (aerospace engineering), Ashlynn Peters (finance) and Leah Rogers (finance) graduated from the women's team. In the men's tennis program, Jason Kros (human nutrition, foods and exercise), Frederick Mesmer (multimedia journalism) and Abraham Asaba (finance) graduated.
In volleyball, All-ACC honoree Jaila Tolbert graduated with a degree in international studies, while men's golfer Joey Jordan graduated with a degree in management and women's golfer Anne Hough Taylor graduated with a degree in (multimedia journalism).
Also, numerous members of the Hokies' spirit squads graduated, including Alex Parker Caitlin Lorch, Hamid Hafiz, Jay Hirl, Jordan Hagee, Kellie Hogan, Nicholas Rhinesmith, Alexa, Villaflor, Becky Krashin, and Sarah Fitch.
On Monday, the Virginia Tech Athletics Department held a special graduation ceremony for student-athletes who missed the university's commencement ceremony because they were competing in various venues. Those honored included: women's golfer Amanda Hollandsworth (master's degree in applied nutrition and physical activity), softball players Carrie Eberle (biology), Kinsey Johnson (marketing), Emma Strouth (animal and poultry science), and Sierra Walton (public relations), and baseball players Menken and Owens.