North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: 30 Student-Athletes Receive Degrees
12/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
BY TIM PEELER
“It brought back memories of those days when we weren’t sure how we were going to pay for all the diapers,” said Evans, the former NC State quarterback and current member of the Wolfpack Sports Network radio broadcast team. “We had no idea about college.”
So, Wednesday morning, the Evanses were beaming as they prepared to celebrate the graduation of their two sons, football players Daniel and Andrew Evans, who were among the 30 student-athletes who received degrees Wednesday during NC State’s winter graduation exercises.
“The Lord has truly blessed our family,” said Johnny Evans, whose daughter Quinn and Catherine will graduate this spring and next spring, respectively. “It’s amazing.”
Those sentiments were echoed by many of the parents who joined their new graduates at a 7 a.m. breakfast at
NC State Dean of Undergraduate of Academic Support Programs Thomas Conway, Athletics director Lee Fowler, Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell and Phil Moses, director of the academic support program, and assistant athletics director Tonya Washington all addressed the new graduates, thanking them for representing NC State and reminding them that their association with the school does not end with graduation.
“This is the final stat that you will enter in your athletic record book here,” Dean Conway told the student-athletes. “But it is the beginning of the next phase of your life.”
Softball catcher Miranda Irvin and football tight end Marcus Stone shared what their experiences were like.
Irvin, who has been invited to play professional softball in
Stone, the former quarterback who switched to tight end for his senior season, thanked new football coach Tom O’Brien for giving him the chance to contribute this season.
“I didn’t know if I would be playing or watching,” said Stone, who filled in all season for injured starter Anthony Hill. “So thank you for giving me the opportunity.”
O’Brien and his entire staff were at the breakfast, a stark contrast to last year when the new coach had not yet hired any assistants and only two football players received degrees. This year, he was surrounded by every position coach and 13 football graduates, including Stone, Daniel and Andrew Evans, defensive end Martrel Brown, offensive lineman Kalani Heppe, linebacker Ernest Jones, offensive lineman Luke Lathan, linebacker James Martin, offensive lineman Yomi Ojo, defensive lineman DeMario Pressley, linebacker LeRue Rumph, defensive back Jimmie Sutton III and linebacker Guerlin Dervil.
Other football players who graduated Wednesday but were unable to attend the breakfast were Pat Bedics, Garrett Kline and Miguel Scott.
Other sports with multiple graduates included cheerleading (Jessie Brogden, Jackie Stefano and Lindsay Reitz), men's soccer (Santiago Fussilier, Ernesto DiLaudio), rifle (Jenna Matino, Jennifer Marshall) and wrestling (Jeremy Hartrum, Jainor Palma).
For some, it was an emotional day.
“I can’t believe it,” said
Brown planned to spend the day with his family, going to both his school and the university graduation ceremonies. But, as they planned long ago, he was going to spend Wednesday night hanging out with Stone.
“We have been through a lot together and this is a chance to sit back and relax and think about all the things that have happened over the last several years,” Brown said. “It’s a great feeling.”
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
2007 Winter Graduates
Softball
Miranda Irvin Communications
Men’s Tennis
Andre Irarte, Sport Management
Men’s Golf
Jerry Richardson, Business
Men’s Soccer
Santiago Fusilier, Sport Management
Ernesto DiLaudo, Industrial Education
Football
Pat Bedics, Communications
Martrel Brown, Sport Management
Guerlin Dervil, Sociology
Andrew Evans, Business
Daniel Evans, Business
Kalani Heppe, Sport Management
Ernest Jones, Criminology
Garrett Kline, Sociology
Luke Lathan, Ag. Business Management
James Martin, II, Criminology
Yomi Ojo, Industrial Engineering
DeMario Pressley, Sport Management
Lerue Rumph, Sport Management
Miguel Scott, Sport Management
Marcus Stone, Technology Education
Jimmie Sutton, Sport Management
Men's Basketball
Braxton Albritton, Business-Marketing
Cheerleading
Jessie Brogden
Lindsay Reitz
Jackie Stefano
Rifle
Jenna Matino, Electrical Engineering
Jennifer Marshall, Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Volleyball
Kasey Rhyne, Management
Wrestling
Jeremy Hartrum, Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Jainor Palma, Statistics
