Twenty-eight current and former student-athletes were among the graduates who earned their degrees at the mid-year Northern Illinois University Commencement Exercises over the weekend (December 14-15).

 

The student-athletes group, which includes both master’s and bachelor’s degree recipients, represent nine NIU sports programs and four of the university’s seven colleges.

 

Fourteen members of the Huskie football team earned their degrees this December, followed by four from the track and field/cross country team. Baseball (2), men’s soccer (2), women’s soccer (2), softball (1), volleyball (2) and wrestling (1) also had December graduates.

 

NIU’s College of Business produced 10 graduates while the College of Education and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences yielded eight graduates each. The College of Health and Human Services saw two graduates from their program, including a master’s degree recipient.

 

 

NIU 2024 December Student-Athlete Graduates Breakdown by College

10 – College of Business

8 – College of Education

8- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

2 – College of Health and Human Services

 

Baseball (2)

Spencer Bartel – Accountancy

Jacob Nelson – Sport Management

 

Football (14)

Cam’Ron Dabney – Sport Management

Mike Florentine – Marketing

Thomas Foley – Accountancy (MAS)

Christian Fuhrman – Sport Management (MS)

Ethan Hampton – Double Major, Management (Leadership and Management) and Marketing

Cyrus McGarrell – Business Administration

Jordan Monroe – General Studies

Ty Myles – Sport Management

Devonte O’Malley – Sport Management

Trayvon Rudolph – General Studies

Tristen Tewes – Sociology (Criminology)

Nate Valcarcel – Communications (Organizational/Corporate)

Gavin Williams – General Studies

Logan Zschernitz – Sport Management (MS)

 

Men’s Soccer (2)

Braeden Beard – Digital Marketing (MSDM)

Diego Maynez – Finance (MSF)

 

Women’s Soccer (2)

Lea-Marie Gruennagel – Business Administration

Reegan Kingpavong – Chemistry (Biochemistry)

 

Softball (1)

Courtney James – SPED (Learning Behavior Specialist I with PEL)

 

Track and Field/Cross Country (4)

Giorgia Fino – Political Science (International Politics)

Christine Irving – Health Sciences (MS)

Kendal Only – Nursing

Emma Vorpagel – Finance

 

Volleyball (2)

Shannon Dunkin – Psychology

Katie Erdmann – Data Analytics (MS)

 

Wrestling (1)

Kenneth Moore – Kinesiology and Physical Education (MS)