SAN MARCOS, Texas - Texas State has 24 student-athletes graduating during commencement exercises on Friday and Saturday in Strahan Coliseum. The student-athletes were honored also at the tri-annual Athletics "T" Ring ceremony on Friday morning. Each of the student-athletes was presented with the Athletics "T" Ring, graduation cords and a Sun Belt Conference Medallion to wear during their graduation on Friday or Saturday in Strahan Coliseum.
The student-athletes include football players
Easy Anyama,
Will Copa, Marcus Ripley and
Gabe Schrade; men's golfer
Xander Basson, baseball player
Jaylen Hubbard, track and field athletes Noe Belmares,
Jordan Janer and
Gilson Umunnakwe,
Abigail Gennero,
Mylana Hearn and
DeAijha Hicks-Boyce; soccer players
Chandler Cooney,
Rachel Grout,
Alyssa Phelan and
Brooke Ramsey; softball's
Alex Cruz and
Paige Williams, women's basketball players
Ericka May and
Ti'Aira Pitts, along with volleyball players
Jaliyah Bolden and
Shelby Vasconcellos-Murphy.
The 24 graduates will receive their degrees in 23 different majors, and combined to participate in four postseason tournaments, qualified as individuals in three NCAA Tournaments, won two Sun Belt Conference championships, and won two individual Sun Belt titles.
The combined honors include being named an All-American one time and Honorable Mention All-American another time. They earned three All-Region selections, were named to All-Sun Belt Conference 16 times and on one Sun Belt All-Tournament team.
Academically, the group included a CoSIDA Academic Third Team All-American, two CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, and one Texas State Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The group received nine Texas State Academic Excellence and 10 Academic Achievement Awards, was named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List a combined 18 times and listed on the Sun Belt's Honor Roll six times.
The "T" Ring symbolizes excellence on the playing field as well as the classroom. The criteria for receiving the ring includes 1) earning a "T" letter from the Athletic Department; 2) completing NCAA eligibility at Texas State and 3) earning a bachelor's degree within one year after eligibility has expired.
Along with their rings, all graduating student-athletes also receive the maroon and gold cords to wear during graduation commencements. A tradition introduced by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in December 2008, the cords serve to recognize student-athletes as a unique group on campus.
Student-athletes were also presented with Sun Belt Conference medallions, which serve to distinguish each student-athlete who has competed in the SBC and a degree. The student-athletes may wear the medallions during graduation to honor their accomplishments and to show their pride in the Sun Belt Conference.
