Leslee Ball celebrates after receiving her diploma Sunday.

Courtesy: GoMocs.com

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Twenty-seven Chattanooga student-athletes walked across the stage at the McKenzie Arena on Sunday, May 3 participating in UTC’s 227^th Commencement Ceremony. These student-athletes represent the University’s commitment to a solid education and strong athletics program.

“It is our mission to prepare our student-athletes for productive and meaningful lives,” said Rick Hart, UTC Director of Athletics. “Seeing them leave UTC with a degree – and hearing about the role their athletics experience played in the achievement of that goal – is truly inspiring. It is the reason we come to work each day; and it is comforting to know that they are equipped to enter the next phase of their life.”

Among those student-athletes receiving their degrees were Dayle May Award winners Amy Mohr, women’s basketball, and Michael Mentz, cross country and track.  The May Award is presented to the senior with the top grade point average on the year.

Mohr maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her career with the Lady Mocs who claimed nine consecutive Southern Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third straight time this season. Mentz, a native of Bloemfontein, South Africa, earned All-Region honors this season in cross country placing 22^nd in the South Region race and is an outdoor track region qualifier this season in the 1500m run.

Several All-conference student-athletes received their diplomas Sunday including runners Katie Williams, Amanda Alexander and Nettie Halcomb, tennis players Razvan Axente and Lindsey Ballard along with volleyball player Leslee Ball and wrestlers Javier Maldonado, Aaron Martin and Lloyd Rogers. Halcomb was named the Southern Conference Indoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2005 and Rogers was the league’s top wrestler in 2008.

Also joining the graduates were 2006-07 men’s golfer Bryce Ledford, 2007 soccer players Stacey Matthiessen, Maya Peel and Melyna Valdez along with former softball standouts Brittney Whittier and stolen base leader Jeannie Cochran.

UTC STUDENT-ATHLETES RECEIVING DEGREES AT 227^TH COMMENCEMENT

Football

Brandon Bellamy*

Neil Brown*

Craig Gilbeaux*

William Giles*

Justin Matherson

Jason Vincent*

Jonathan Wright*

Women’s Basketball

Amy Mohr*

Wrestling

Nick Lorenzano

Javier Maldonado*

Aaron Martin

Lloyd Rogers*

Wesley Taylor

Men’s Tennis

Razvan Axente*

Women’s Tennis

Lindsey Ballard*

Volleyball

Leslee Ball*

Julianna Martinez*

CC/Track

Michael Mentz*

CC/Track

Amanda Alexander*

Nettie Halcomb*

Katie Williams*

Softball

Jeannie Cochran

Brittney Whittier

Soccer

Stacey Matthiessen

Maya Peel

Melyna Valdez

Men’s Golf

Bryce Ledford

* Active in 2007-08