LARAMIE, Wyo. (May 17, 2019) -- On the evening of Friday, May 17, the University of Wyoming Athletics Department held a special reception for its student-athletes who are graduating during 2019 spring commencement ceremonies this weekend. A total of 56 Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes are scheduled to graduate this spring, plus eight graduate students for a combined total of 64 undergraduate and graduate students earning degrees.
     
Of the 56 graduates: 15 were members of the Wyoming cross country and track and field teams, 10 were members of the Wyoming Football team, eight were members of the swimming and diving team, six were from women's basketball, five from women's soccer, four from the Cowboy wrestling team, three from the men's and women's golf teams and spirit squad, one each from Cowgirl tennis and volleyball and eight graduate students in the UW Athletics Department.


Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes are earning degrees in 31 different majors and six different graduate programs. The combined cumulative grade-point average entering the 2019 spring semester for the UW student-athletes graduating this spring was an impressive 3.28.  The group also combined for a total of 988 A's during their academic careers.
     
"To see our student-athletes receive their college degrees is very rewarding, because we know all the hard work that they put into achieving this goal," said Tom Burman, University of Wyoming Athletics Director.  "It is exciting to see them reach this milestone in their lives, but it is also sad to see their college careers come to an end.  This class has provided Cowboy and Cowgirl fans with many memories through their athletic careers.  We will miss them, but we wish them well as they move forward into their professional lives."
     
Spring graduates, members of their families, UW faculty and UW Athletics coaching and administrative staffs were in attendance at Friday's reception, which was held in the Wildcatter Stadium Club and Suites.
 
"With all the successes that our student-athletes have enjoyed during their time here at the university, earning their college degree is truly the accomplishment that carries the most meaning," said Burman.  "This is the accomplishment that will set them on their way into their future careers.  There have been so many memorable moments that this graduating class has provided us during their playing careers.  I know that these graduates will go on to achieve many more great things as they enter the next phase of their lives."
     
Graduating senior women's basketball student-athlete Bailee Cotton from Denver, Colo., was asked to represent the graduating student-athletes by speaking at the reception.
     
The tradition of presenting UW student-athlete graduates with graduation stoles at a special reception began with the spring semester of 2014 and has been held every semester since.  The graduation stoles are provided to wear along with the graduation stole from each student-athlete's college during graduation.
     
The UW Athletics' graduation stole is white with the familiar Steamboat Bucking Horse and Rider emblem on the right-hand side of the stole and a W-Club emblem on the left.  Each graduating student-athlete will also receive a free W-Club membership for the coming year. The W-Club is the official organization for former Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes and coaches.

The 2019 spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at various venues on campus.  Detailed information on the 2019 University of Wyoming winter commencement ceremonies may be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/commencement/
 
2019 University of Wyoming Athletics Spring Graduates
Cross Country/Track and Field
Calbi Ausmann, Speech Lang & Hearing Science
Allegra Carson, International Studies & Political Science
Jerayah Davis, Social Science (2nd Bachelor's Degree)
Michael Downey, Chemical Engineering
Ricky Faure, Social Science
Ja'la Henderson, Social Science
Jonah Henry, Chemical Engineering
Holly Huber, Physiology, Neuroscience (minor)
Sam Kirkeide, Kinesiology, Human & Animal Physiology (minor)
Kiah Leonard, Nursing
Emily Person, Physiology, Neuroscience (minor)
Karlin Rufenacht, Physiology, Neuroscience (minor)
Phillip Thomas, Management
Ashley Urman, Criminal Justice
Regan VanDePol, Elementary Education
 
Football
Conner Cain, History
Josiah Hall, Communication
Kaden Jackson, Social Science
Austin Lopez, Biology
Sidney Malauulu, Criminal Justice
James Price, Management
Kevin Prosser, American Studies
Pahl Schwab, Management/Marketing
Jaylon Watson, American Studies
Ben Wisdorf, Finance
 
Golf
Megan Knadler, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
John Murdock, Management
Caitlyn Skavdahl, International Studies, Spanish &Honors Program (minor)


Soccer
Annika Clayton, International Studies
Charlotte Hume, Kinesiology & Health Promotion
Alyssa Murray, Kinesiology & Health Promotion
Laurel Ramer, Doctor of Pharmacy, Honors Program & Aging Studies (minor)
Brittney Stark, Elementary Education
 
Spirit Squad
Tays Dyer, Biology
Brenna McGuinness, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Human & Animal Physiology (minor)
Allison Searls, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education (minor)
 
Swimming and Diving
Ryan Ball, Elementary Education
Maria Harutjunjan, International Studies
Laine Johansen, Psychology
David Murphy, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Human & Animal Physiology (minor)
Loren Sether, Computer Science, Management (minor)
Slade Sheaffer, Architectural Engineering, Sustainability & International Engineering (minor)
Connor Tarver, Microbiology (2nd Bachelor's Degree)
Kyle White, Mathematics/Science
 
Tennis
Elisa Koonik, Marketing
 
Volleyball
Reed Copeland, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
 
Women's Basketball
Bailee Cotton, Architectural Engineering, Mathematics (minor)
Marta Gomez, Communication, Marketing Communication & Public Relations (minor)
Tijana Raca, Family and Consumer Sciences: Human Nutrition and Food
Sladjana Rakovic, Economics
Clara Tapia, Molecular Biology & Chemistry
Rachelle Tucker, Animal & Veterinary Science: Pre-veterinary Medicine
 
Wrestling
Branson Ashworth, Criminal Justice, Sociology (minor)
Montorie Bridges, Criminal Justice
Brock George, Criminal Justice
Andrew Gomez, Criminal Justice
 
Graduate Students
Joey Davey, MA in Education, Higher Ed Administration
Nick Dillinger, MA in Environment/Natural Resources,and JD in Law
Jennifer Ferden, MS in Health Services Administration
Anna Gibilisco, MS in Health Services Administration
Jaclyn McMillen, MA in Communication
Patrick Shelby, MS in Education - Instructional Technology
Nick Smith MS in Finance
Ryan Wallen, Master of Business Administration- Executive