Twenty-Six Student-Athletes Receive Degrees

Dec. 20, 2007

Clemson, SC – Twenty-six student athletes, including 10 members of the Clemson football program, received academic degrees from Clemson University on Thursday during graduation ceremonies at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The list of graduates from Tommy Bowden’s football program included All-America offensive linemen Barry Richardson and Chris McDuffie. Richardson’s graduation was especially noteworthy because he earned his degree in health science in just three and a half years. He is the first Clemson All-America football player to graduate in just three and a half years. He also graduated from Wando High School in Mount Pleasant in just three years.

Richardson was named a first-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and was a second team selection by the Walter Camp Foundation. McDuffie was a second-team All-American this year according to The Sporting News. Both McDuffie and Richardson were first-team All-ACC this year as well.

The list of graduates also included 2006 All-America offensive lineman Tommy Bowden’s who have remained at Clemson until their senior year have earned a degree.

Other members of the 2007 Tiger team who earned degrees on Thursday were Bradley Flowers, Alex Pearson, Chris Russell, Brian Sorrells and Kwam Williams. Pearson and Robinson also graduated in just three and a half years. Former Tiger defensive lineman Damonte McKenzie, who served as a student assistant coach with the Clemson program this year, also graduated on Thursday.

Vernon Hamilton, a four-year starter on the Clemson men’s basketball team who finished his eligibility last year, earned his degree on Thursday as well.

The Clemson soccer programs had seven graduates, four by the women and three by the men. The Lady Tigers who earned degrees included Courtney Foster, Elizabeth Jobe, Kelly Schneider and Amber Funk. The men’s soccer graduates were Jarrett Lewis, Mica Usry and Greg Burana. Another graduate was former Clemson All-American tennis player Jermaine Jenkins.

Clemson Student-Athletes Who Graduated on December 20, 2007
Name	Sport	Major
Nathan Bennett	Football	Sport Management
Greg Burana	Men’s Soccer	Biological Sciences
Catie Cornett	Rowing	Psychology
Chris Fidrych	Baseball	Accounting
Bradley Flowers	Football	Health Science
Courtney Foster	Women’s Soccer	Sociology
Amber Funk	Women’s Soccer	Health Science
Vernon Hamilton	Men’s Basketball	Sport Management
Jarmaine Jenkins	Men’s Tennis	Management
Elizabeth Jobe	Women’s Soccer	Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Helen Kirkland	Women’s Track	Therapeutic Recreation
Nicole Kroeger	Women’s Swimming	Travel and tourism
Jarrett Lewis	Men’s Soccer	Political Science
Itay Magidi	Men’s Track	Civil Engineering
Chris McDuffie	Football	Community Recreation Management
Damonte McKenzie	Football	Sport Management
Alex Pearson	Football	Marketing
Sean Reilly	Men’s Track	Management
Barry Richardson	Football	Health Science
Akeem Robinson	Football	Sociology
Chris Russell	Football	Sociology
Kelly Schneider	Women’s Soccer	Food Science
Brian Sorrells	Football	Marketing
Micah Usry	Men’s Soccer	Management
Jayme Vanerden	Women’s Swimming	Graphic Communications
Kwam Williams	Football	Sport Management