Wolfpack Honors 88 Student-Athletes At Graduation Breakfast

RALEIGH- The NC State athletics department celebrated its 88 graduating student-athletes on Saturday inside Vaughn Towers at Carter-Finley Stadium at the Academic Support for Student-Athletes (ASPSA) annual graduation breakfast.

Parents, coaches, advisors and friends came together to celebrate the accomplishment, as each graduating student-athlete was presented with a special sash to wear with their red cap and gown by their head coach or a representative of their sport.

Your NC State student athlete graduate class of 2016! ?????? #STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/aGc76lllzW
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) May 7, 2016

Eight of those graduates that were honored are a part of the university's Reconnect Program- a program that helps former student-athletes that left to pursue professional careers to reenroll in the university and earn their undergraduate degree.

Andrew Brackman, Trevor Ferguson, Logan Jernigan, Desmond Lee, Pratt Maynard, Rodman Noel, Lacy Shuman and T.J. Williams make up the largest number of students to graduate from the program in a given year.

Brackman is a former member of the men's basketball and baseball programs, while Ferguson and Lee were a part of the men's hoops team. Jernigan and Maynard were also members of the Pack's baseball squad, while Noel and Williams are alums of the football program. Shuman was a member of the track and field team.

Through the Reconnect Program, students have the opportunity at any point after leaving the university to receive funding to take the final classes on a full or part-time basis one needs in order to graduate. If a student was on any form of aid while they competed at NC State, they have the chance to receive it again.

Once reenrolled an academic coordinator assists those returning students to create a plan for graduation, including providing help to navigate the re-admission process, connecting program participants with their campus advisor and assisting as needed with course selection. Students involved in the Reconnect Program also have access to tutoring services at Case Academic Center.

"I think it gives former student-athletes an opportunity to come back and earn their degrees without the financial burden that one could have when going to college," said ASPSA Associate Director Megan Albidrez.

The program was established in January of 2008, and has evolved into a curriculum that accommodates those that wish to return to earn their degree. Student-athletes used to have to earn their aid due to NCAA policy, but now if they want to reenroll their aid is granted. As a result the number of graduates is much higher.

"I think that every student that participates has a unique story. Its' one of the best parts of our department because they've all gone out to pursue a professional career in athletics or a job that didn't require a degree, and now have a desire to come back," said Assistant Dean and Director for ASPSA Katie Sheridan Graham.

"These student-athletes that come back are incredibly hard-working and focused with a renewed sense of drive. One important piece to the program is that we bring them back to campus when they're ready, because if we force them when they're not ready they're not successful."

Wolfpack Honors 88 Student-Athletes At Graduation Breakfast

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