UNO's Record-Setting Student-Athlete Performance in Classroom Recognized (May 6, 2013) |
Spring Commencement Photo Gallery
NEW ORLEANS – A total of 15 New Orleans current and former student-athletes were recognized during University of New Orleans spring commencement ceremonies on Friday night at Lakefront Arena.
Each Privateer listed below competed as student-athletes for at least one academic calendar year during their undergraduate careers at UNO and stood amongst a group of 1,000 students that were awarded degrees.
The 15 student-athletes represent eight different sports – baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's golf, women's golf, men's tennis and women's tennis. The discontinued men's swimming and diving program was also represented.
Degrees were conferred on a group that includes baseball players
Blake LeBlanc,
Jordan Nelson, Daniel Perkins and
Brandon Simon;
Brandon Canady,
Lenny Harmon,
Brandon Knight and
Darrell Williams from the men's basketball program; women's basketball standout
Mirjam Sipos; men's golfer
Joshua Tomblin;
Emily Ziegler from the women's golf team; men's swimmer Ryan Moss; men's tennis player
Vinay Kamineni; and women's tennis players
Fanny Benincasa and
Kristina Martic.
Of the group, both Kamineni and Martic graduated Magna Cum Laude, completing their undergraduate degrees with a cumulative grade-point average between 3.75 and 3.899. Ziegler graduated Cum Laude, reflective of a cumulative grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.749.
"The commencement ceremony was a great opportunity to celebrate the talent and accomplishments of University of New Orleans students," said Dr. Charles Small, UNO Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment. "Particularly, I am proud of our student-athletes' academic accomplishments."
"We have student-athletes who are pursuing a range of professions in a variety of fields. They will be leaders in business, health fields, education and other areas. We are excited about the next chapter of their lives. They have transferable skills, great ambition and are responsible citizens."
Friday's commencement address was offered by UNO alumnus Marcus Eriksen, who earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1993 and a master's degree in education and curriculum in 1995, both from the University of New Orleans. Eriksen presently serves as the executive director and co-founder of the 5 Gyres Institute, which is committed to marine conservation through continued research, education, adventure, studying and lecturing about the plague of plastic waste in watersheds and in the sea.
Five-time Emmy Award winning and Tony Award winning actor John Larroquette received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University. A native of New Orleans, Larroquette most recently served as the voice behind the recent "Heartbeat of the Crescent City" commercial series which debuted last fall.
A complete listing of UNO student-athletes and their degrees are listed below:
Baseball
Blake LeBlanc, Business Administration
Jordan Nelson, Interdisciplinary Studies
Daniel Perkins, Chemistry
Brandon Simon, Business Administration
Men's Basketball
Brandon Canady, Film & Theatre
Lenny Harmon, Sciences
* Brandon Knight, Urban Studies & Planning
Darrell Williams, Interdisciplinary Studies
Women's Basketball
Mirjam Sipos, Business Administration/Hotel Restaurant & Tourism Administration
Men's Golf
Joshua Tomblin, Interdisciplinary Studies
Women's Golf
Emily Ziegler, Film & Theatre
Swimming and Diving
Ryan Moss, Engineering
Men's Tennis
Vinay Kamineni, Business Administration/Management
Women's Tennis
Fanny Benincasa, Business Administration
Kristina Martic, Business Administration/Management
* also competed on the UNO track & field team
