RICHMOND, Ky. – At the end of the spring semester, 36 Eastern Kentucky University student-athletes earned their college degrees.
 
The university suspended on campus instruction in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  All EKU students spent the remainder of the semester receiving instruction remotely at home.  The university will hold virtual celebrations for spring 2020 graduates on Saturday and an in-person ceremony in early August.
 
These student-athlete graduates majored in such fields as biomedical sciences (pre-medicine), communication disorders, computer information systems, criminal justice, dietetics, education, economics, exercise and sport science, finance, marketing, physics, psychology and special education teaching.
 
The 2020 spring graduates included:  Hannah Sawyers (cheer), Nate Beavers (baseball), Jaxson Blair (baseball), Chance Bodine (baseball), Nick Howie (baseball), Brennan Kelly (baseball), Nick Laster (baseball), A.J. Lewis (baseball), Darren Williams (baseball), Mason Cooper (men's basketball), Lachlan Anderson (men's basketball), Zach Stewart (men's cross country, men's indoor and outdoor track), Conor Blount (football), Nick Cavinee (football), Dillon Denault (football), Taquan Evans (football), Quinton Locklear (football), Austin Scott (football), Adam Valiga (football), Tyler Lippert (men's golf), Branden Brookfield (men's indoor and outdoor track), Lauren Ossege (women's cross country, women's indoor and outdoor track), Mikayla Groonwald (women's golf), Melissa Jacobsen (softball), Jaqueline Mercado (softball), Mollie Paulick (softball), Sam Eastes (soccer), Rachele Manfre (soccer), Hailey Lacy (women's indoor and outdoor track), Katelyn Richard (women's indoor and outdoor track), Chynna Savoy (women's indoor and outdoor track), Katelynn Caserma-Kloeble (volleyball and beach), Clairissa Hankinson (volleyball), Kaylin Johnson (volleyball and beach), Kennedy Wilson (volleyball and beach) and Rachel Woody (volleyball and beach).
 
In addition, these student-athletes are expected to complete their degree requirements this summer:  Nick Borek (baseball), Fredrick Kanda (men's indoor track), Catie Kaifes (women's basketball), Kristina Lagoda (women's tennis) and Jeptoo Kiborus (women's indoor track).
 
EKU has an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 88 percent.  Representatives from 15 of Eastern's 16 varsity sports received degrees this month.