Click Here For CofC May 2019 Commencement Photo Gallery #1
Click Here For CofC May 2019 Commencement Photo Gallery #2
 
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A total of 92 current and former student-athletes and 29 members of athletic department support groups participated in all three College of Charleston May Commencement ceremonies.
 
A tradition unlike many other colleges and universities, CofC students who complete their undergraduate degrees do not wear robes or caps for the spring commencement ceremony. Instead, women don white dresses and men wear white dinner jackets.
 
For decades, this annual tradition has taken place in front of The College's oldest building, Randolph Hall, with ancient live oak trees draped with Spanish moss setting the stage.
 
This year's scholar athletes included business administration, sociology, psychology, arts management, finance, political science, biology, exercise science, economics, communication, meteorology, marketing, supply chain management, computer information systems, commercial real estate finance, hospitality & tourism management, international business, biochemistry, history, secondary education cognate, computer science, accounting, international studies and studio art majors.
 
The diverse group also hailed from 27 different states that included Alaska, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Illinois, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, Georgia, California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina as well as five countries that included Colombia, Germany, England, Spain and Hong Kong, China.
 
Nineteen student-athletes in the Class of 2019 graduated with honors including Hannah Bentz (Boca Raton, Fla.) of equestrian, Maddy Brill-Edwards (Haverford, Pa.) of women's soccer, Grant Gauthier (Providence, R.I.) of men's cross country, Claire Gerwatowski (Medfield, Mass.) of equestrian, Cornell Holland (London, England) of men's soccer and Sarah Zschunke (Smyrna, Ga.) of women's tennis, who graduated magna cum laude (3.750-3.899 GPA).
 
Bentz and Brill-Edwards were one of three CofC Honors College graduates along with Scotty Frantz (Atlanta, Ga.) of men's soccer, who graduated cum laude in finance.
 
The Class of 2019 was highlighted by Jarrell Brantley (Columbia, S.C.) of men's basketball, who closed out his storied four-year career at The College ranked third all-time in career scoring with 1,914 points and fourth all-time in career rebounding with 967 boards. He helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years in 2018 and was an All-CAA First Team selection during his senior season. Gerald Williams (Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China) of sailing was the runner-up at the 2017 ICSA Men's Singlehanded National Championship and is currently training to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
 
Devon Rachel (Louisville, Ky.) of volleyball was the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Player of the Year and set single-match records for kills during her senior year. She was honored with the prestigious J. Stewart Walker Cup, which is highest award given by the athletics department to a student-athlete. Christi Woodson (Melbourne, Fla.) of women's tennis became the first CAA Women's Tennis Player of the Year in program history, while Jenny Martin (Lansdale, Pa.) of women's track & field earned All-CAA honors with a runner-up finish in the heptathlon at the 2019 CAA Track & Field Championships with a career-high total of 4,719 points.

Former baseball stars Bailey Ober (Charlotte, N.C.) and Carl Wise (Lexington, S.C.) both completed their undergraduate degrees at The College after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 and Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 respectively.

All benefited from the academic support and guidance from the CofC Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) staff headed up by Assistant Athletics Director Kate Tiller, associate director Keri McGee, assistant director Lizzy Lesley and academic coordinator Remy Starker.

The majority of CofC's graduating student-athletes have also benefited from scholarship funding throughout their academic and athletic careers provided by The Cougar Club, the athletic department's fundraising arm. If you would like to become a member to help continue to support student-athlete scholarships, please contact The Cougar Club at: (843) 953-8255.
 
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ATHLETICS MAY 2019 GRADUATES (in alphabetical order by last name)
Temi Adesodun, Men's Soccer, Columbia, S.C., Business Administration
Payton Alexander, Sailing, Rye, N.Y., Sociology
Laura Arciniegas, Women's Tennis, Bogota, Colombia, Psychology, Cum Laude
Justin Baker, Baseball, Huntersville, N.C., Sociology
Raymara Barreto, Women's Soccer, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Exercise Science
Jordan Barcus, Softball, Jackson, N.J., Exercise Science
Sammie Barton, Equestrian, Colbert, Ga., Hospitality & Tourism Management
Hannah Baylis, Sailing, Tiburon, Calif., Arts Management
Allison Beckman, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Apex, N.C., Exercise Science, Cum Laude
Hannah Bentz, Equestrian, Boca Raton, Fla., Finance, Magna Cum Laude, CofC Honors College
Jermaine Blackmon Jr., Men's Basketball, Charlotte, N.C., Business Administration
Caroline Bracken, Sailing, Bridgewater, Mass., Political Science, Cum Laude
Jarrell Brantley, Men's Basketball, Columbia, S.C., Business Administration
Riana Brennan, Volleyball, Los Gatos, Calif., Arts Management
Maddy Brill-Edwards, Women's Soccer, Haverford, Pa., Biology, Magna Cum Laude, CofC Honors College
Courtney Brooks, Women's Track & Field, Rogersville, Tenn., Exercise Science
Madi Brown, Softball, Irmo S.C., Business Administration
Anna Buchanan, Women's Golf, Athens, Ga., Business Administration
Jake Budde, Men's Golf, Austin, Texas, Sociology, Cum Laude
Carter Cameron, Sailing, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Economics
Annabel Carrington, Sailing, White Stone, Va., Communication
Tori Churchill, Women's Track & Field, Greensboro, N.C., Exercise Science, Cum Laude
Kelly Cole, Sailing, Houston, Texas, Business Administration
Augie Dale, Sailing, Pewaukee, Wis., Meteorology
Paige Davis, Women's Soccer, Danbury, Conn., Exercise Science, Cum Laude
Sara Deutsch, Women's Soccer, Ashburn, Va., Marketing
Mac Dickson, Sailing, Alexandria, Va., Communication
Brooke Dudley, Women's Track & Field, Plano, Texas, Exercise Science
Taylor Foley, Beach Volleyball, Agoura Hills, Calif., Business Administration
Scotty Frantz, Men's Soccer, Atlanta, Ga., Finance, Cum Laude, CofC Honors College
Ali Freitas, Women's Soccer, Rehoboth, Mass., Biology
David Furst, Sailing, New York, N.Y., Supply Chain Management, Cum Laude
Grant Gauthier, Men's Cross Country, Providence, R.I., Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Claire Gerwatowski, Equestrian, Medfield, Mass., Computer Information Systems, Magna Cum Laude
Nick Harris, Men's Basketball, Dacula, Ga., Finance
Dupree Hart, Baseball, Rock Hill, S.C., Business Administration
Genevieve Henderson, Women's Soccer, Jacksonville, Fla., Political Science, Cum Laude
Benedikt Henning, Men's Tennis, Bad Hersfeld, Germany, Psychology, Cum Laude
Noah Hinzman, Baseball, Greenwood, S.C., Exercise Science, Cum Laude
Cornell Holland, Men's Soccer, London, England, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude
Darien Huff, Women's Basketball, Elizabethtown, Ky., Sociology
William Hundahl, Sailing, Marblehead, Mass., Computer Information Systems
Clay Hunt, Baseball, Fort Mill, S.C., Business Administration
Avery Jackson, Equestrian, Mechanicsbury, Pa., Finance
Dirk Johnson, Sailing, Newport, R.I., Finance
Ryan Kahn, Men's Tennis, Weston, Fla., Exercise Science
Treston Kederer, Men's Soccer, Apple Valley, Minn., Business Administration
Shane Kilberg, Sailing, Baltimore, Md., Commercial Real Estate Finance
Jace Kosiorek, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field, Boiling Springs, S.C., Marketing
Nicole Lane, Women's Track & Field, Brookfield, Conn., Hospitality & Tourism Management/International Business
Ana Lesmes, Women's Soccer, Cordoba, Spain, Biochemistry
Maura Lonergan, Sailing, Marion, Mass., Marketing
Kennedy Madison, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Evansville, Ind., History/Secondary Education Cognate
Luke Manzo, Baseball, Marietta, Ga., Computer Science
Jenny Martin, Women's Track & Field, Lansdale, Pa., Business Administration/ Hospitality & Tourism Management
Jenna McIntosh, Equestrian, Ojai, Calif., Psychology
Rachel McNeely, Women's Tennis, Westminster, S.C., Master of Science In Computer and Information Sciences
Logan McRae, Baseball, Florence, S.C., Marketing
Sophia Meserve, Equestrian, Portsmouth, N.H., Exercise Science
Elizabeth Mignon, Sailing, Bay Head, N.J., Business Administration
Charlie Morano, Sailing, Edgartown, Mass., Business Administration
Megan Morris, Beach Volleyball, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Accounting
Joey Mundy, Baseball, Huntington, W.Va., Sociology
Matt Nozedar, Men's Soccer, Kingston Up Hull, England, International Studies
Bailey Ober, Baseball, Charlotte, N.C., Business Administration
Nathan Ocker, Baseball, Middletown, Pa., Exercise Science
Laura Ortega, Women's Soccer, Aranjuez, Spain, Exercise Science, Cum Laude
Curren Page, Men's Soccer, Waxhaw, N.C., Sociology
Elizabeth Pemberton, Sailing, Osterville, Mass., Computer Information Systems
Lauren Percy, Beach Volleyball, Charleston, S.C., Biology
Clare Perry, Sailing, Wilmette, Ill., Studio Art
Marquise Pointer, Men's Basketball, Jonesboro, Ark., Studio Art
RJ Porter, Sailing, Fontana, Wis., Finance
Devon Rachel, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Louisville, Ky., Exercise Science
McKala Rhodes, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Charleston, S.C, International Business, Cum Laude
Shannon Rice, Equestrian, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Business Administration
Trent Robinson, Men's Basketball, Columbia, S.C., Communication
Franny Schulte, Sailing, Birmingham, Mich., Communication
Kelly Sinclair, Softball, Marietta, Ga., Supply Chain Management
Bri Sullivan, Women's Basketball, Fredericksburg, Va., Sociology
Meredith Tunney, Women's Soccer, Naperville, Ill., Psychology
Ben Tweedie, Men's Soccer, Naples, Fla., Finance
Brittany Violette, Softball, Montclair, Calif., Finance
Seth Wall, Baseball, Georgetown, S.C., Sociology
Sarah Wilkinson, Sailing, Mystic, Conn., Marketing
Lawson Willard, Sailing, San Francisco, Calif., Computer Science
Gerald Williams, Sailing, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China, Business Administration
Carl Wise, Baseball, Lexington, S.C., Exercise Science
Danny Wondrack, Baseball, Wall, N.J., Sociology
Christi Woodson, Women's Tennis, Melbourne, Fla., Communication
Turner Yates, Women's Tennis, Ridgeland, Miss., Business Administration
Sarah Zschunke, Women's Tennis, Smyrna, Ga., Communication, Magna Cum Laude
 
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ATHLETICS SUPPORT GROUPS
Meagan Ballard, Sports Medicine, Lancaster, S.C., Athletic Training
Courtney Beckham, Chucktown Sound, Lancaster, S.C., Mathematics, CofC Honors College
Alison Boyd, Charleston Sports Network, Moncks Corner, S.C., Arts Management
Charles Boyd, Sports Medicine, Darlington, S.C., Athletic Training, Cum Laude
Jade Brady, Dance, Scottsdale, Ariz., Biology
Mercedes Cain, Sports Medicine, Rock Hill, S.C., Athletic Training
Maggie Camp, Sports Medicine, Aiken, S.C., Athletic Training
Allie Davis, Chucktown Sound, Anchorage, Alaska, English
Jake Epperson, Sports Medicine, Memphis, Tenn., Athletic Training, Magna Cum Laude
Will Friedman, Men's Basketball Manager, Ann Arbor, Mich., Business Administration/Hospitality & Tourism Management
Dari Goldman, Charleston Sports Network, Oceanside, N.Y., Public Health/Women's & Gender Studies, Cum Laude
Emily Goodwin, Dance, Columbia, S.C., Exercise Science
Lawrence Hickson, Marketing & Promotions, Orangeburg, S.C., Marketing
Nicole Howell, Sports Medicine, Chelmsford, Mass., Athletic Training
Jacqueline Jensen, Cheerleading, Pinehurst, N.C., Economics
Autumn Jordan, Sports Medicine, Fort Lawn, S.C., Athletic Training, Summa Cum Laude
Danielle Lampert, Sports Medicine, Atlanta, Ga., Athletic Training, Magna Cum Laude
Rachel Maher, Sports Medicine, Eldersburg, Md., Athletic Training, Magna Cum Laude
Tori Neiderer, Sports Medicine, Hanover, Pa., Athletic Training
Jessica Pearce, Marketing & Promotions, Staten Island, N.Y., Communication
Javier Polo Jr., Chucktown Sound, Elgin, S.C., Biology
Madeline Reagor, Charleston Sports Network, Charleston, S.C., Communication
James Riggs, Chucktown Sound, Sumter, S.C., Biology, Cum Laude
Tristein Singleton, Charleston Sports Network, Greenville, S.C., Arts Management
Khana Smith, Sports Medicine, Columbia, S.C., Athletic Training
Brett Tilley, Men's Basketball Manager, Baltimore, Md., Marketing
Ashantai Waugh, Athletics Communications, New York, N.Y., Communication
Hannah Marie Wayne, Sports Medicine, Spartanburg, S.C., Athletic Training
Aleksei Wilhelm, Chucktown Sound, Charleston, S.C., Biology