TicketsJune 13, 2008
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics will graduate 69 student-athletes tomorrow, June 14, at the school's June Commencement in Fifth Third Arena. The number includes 11 student-athletes who will earn cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude accolades.
The Topcat Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners, Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, WV/Parkersburg South) and Evan Sanford (Aurora, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), both will receive their degrees during the two ceremonies which begin at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Stephens, the women's basketball team's 2007-08 Most Valuable Player with 13 points and nine rebounds a game, put in an impressive effort in the classroom as well, earning the BIG EAST/Aeropostale Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Stephens will use her scholarship this fall after graduating a year early from the College of Allied Health with a degree in Communication Science and Disorders. She will use her senior year of athletics eligibility and start graduate school this summer in audiology.
Sanford, a junior reliever on the baseball team, is a finance major with emphasis in real estate. Sanford will be graduating in the June commencement and will use his fifth year of eligibility, not only to help the Bearcats baseball team, but also to pursue another degree in information technology.
Sanford will be joined by senior quarterback Dustin Grutza (Maysville, KY/Mason County) and Natalie Dossman (Indianapolis, IN/Bishop Chatard) from the volleyball team as athletes returning to use their fifth year of eligibility to earn a second degree.