Laramie, Wyo. (Dec. 10, 2021) -- On the evening of Friday, Dec. 10, the University of Wyoming Athletics Department held a special graduation stole ceremony for its student-athletes who are graduating during 2021 fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 11.  A total of 28 Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes are scheduled to graduate.
     
Of the 28 graduates: 15 are current or former members of the Wyoming Football team, three are members of the Cowgirl Volleyball team, two are members of the Men's Track and Field team, one is a Cowboy Basketball player, one is a member of the Cheer team, one is a member of the Women's Swimming and Diving team, one is a Cowgirl Tennis player, one is from the Women's Track and Field program and three are graduate assistant coaches.
           
"It was great to bring our student-athletes back together for an in-person ceremony this year," said Tom Burman, University of Wyoming Athletics Director.  "To have so many of their family and friends join together with our athletics staff in honoring them made for a special event.
 
"This is the culmination of many years of hard work by our student-athletes.  They have now reached what we see as their primary purpose for coming to the University of Wyoming and that is to earn their college degrees. 
 
"These young men and women have provided us with many memorable moments during their playing careers.  We are happy to be able to honor them for this memorable accomplishment in each of their academic careers."
     
Fall graduates, members of their families and UW Athletics coaching and administrative staffs participated in Friday night's in-person stole ceremony.
     
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. 
A year ago in 2020, those stoles were provided to the graduates but the ceremony itself was a virtual event due to Coronavirus restrictions.
     
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 2021 fall commencement ceremonies for the University of Wyoming are scheduled for a Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 9:00 a.m., Mountain Time in the Arena-Auditorium.
 
Detailed information on the 2021 University of Wyoming Fall Commencement Ceremony may be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/commencement/
 
2021 University of Wyoming Athletics Fall Graduates
Men's Basketball
Hunter Thompson
 
Cheer
Nick Anderson
 
Football
Eric Abojei
Solomon Byrd
C.J. Coldon
Claude Cole
Keegan Cryder
Esaias Gandy
Logan Harris
Ravontae Holt
Victor Jones
Cameron Murray
Rudy Stofer
Xazavian Valladay
Alonzo Velazquez
Zach Watts
Wyatt Wieland
 
Women's Swimming and Diving
Kristen Covello
 
Women's Tennis
Maria Oreshkina
 
Women's Track and Field
McKenzi Davison
 
Men's Track and Field
Will Nolan
Jerald Taylor
 
Volleyball
Kaitlyn Gehler
Jackie McBride
Faith Waitsman
 
Graduate Assistant Coaches
Eric Amoako, Football
Ethan Nichol, Football
Erin Sargent, Women's Golf