North Carolina State University Athletics
26 NC State Student-Athletes Receive Degrees
12/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Dec. 18, 2010
RALEIGH, N.C. - Bona Jones had a great beginning to her NC State athletics career, earning the 2006 ACC Rookie of the Year, All-ACC and All-America honors as a freshman on the Wolfpack's traditionally successful women's cross country program.
Saturday morning, as she spoke to her fellow student-athletes on at the annual fall-semester graduation breakfast, she recalled an academic career that turned out better than she expected, even as her athletic career was derailed by multiple injuries.
Jones suffered through seven stress fractures, two surgeries, two medical redshirt seasons and seemingly countless comeback attempts as she tried to replicate the success of her freshman season. Along the way, though, she went through a couple of different majors before deciding on communications.
"In the end, I found the perfect career path for me, even though I wasn't able to continue with my career as a runner," said the native of Ft. Myers, Fla. "It's been a wonderful experience for me."
Jones was one of 26 student-athletes who received their degrees from NC State Saturday during fall graduation exercises. She was also the featured speaker at a breakfast attended by 16 graduating student-athletes, hosted by the athletics department at the Dail Club at Vaughn Towers in Carter-Finley Stadium.
Each was presented with a white student-athlete sash to wear during graduation ceremonies, which were held later in the morning at the RBC Center.
A total of eight football players, including first-team All-America linebacker Nate Irving, received their degrees Saturday. The team will leave Thursday for Orlando, where they will play West Virginia in the Dec. 28 Champs Sports Bowl.
Executive senior associate athletics director David Horning spoke to the group, which included student-athletes, their families, coaches and academic support personnel. The group also heard from Phil Moses, the executive director for academic support for student-athletes, and former student-athlete Chris Combs of the Wolfpack Club.
- Tim Peeler,mailto:tim_peeler@ncsu.edu 
2010 Fall Semester Graduates
Bill Edwards Baseball
Jonathan Thomas Basketball
Greg Dame Men's cross country
Audi Augustin Football
Josh Czajkowski Football
Darrell Davis Football
Nate Irving Football
Jeff Ruiz Football
Corey Tedder Football
Javon Walker Football
Jarvis Williams Football
Amar Brkic Men's soccer
Alex Dambly Men's swimming & diving
Nick Brittis Men's swimming & diving
Frideric Prandecki Men's tennis
Cindel Gwyn Women's golf
Kristine Bechtholdt Softball
Nadia Aboulhosn Women's soccer
Chantell Dugas Women's soccer
Kendall Irby Women's soccer
Kaitlin Westcoe Women's soccer
Daria Petrovic Women's tennis
Bona Jones Women's cross country
Allison Davis Volleyball
Arlee Tamietti Volleyball
Lisa Kretchman Volleyball
