CSU Athletes Honored Among Graduates in 2005

Amanda Ekberg received the Myrtle E. Hamrick Award

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The athletic department beamed on Saturday as 34 Buccaneer athletes crossed the stage to receive their degrees.

Among those graduating was women's basketball player Amanda Ekberg, who was this year's recipient of the Myrtle E. Hamrick Award.

The Hamrick award is presented annually to the "Charleston Southern University graduate who exemplifies the highest virtues of womanhood."

The award is named after the first president's mother, and is voted on by the student life committee.

Along with Ekberg, women's soccer players Kelly Keown and Elizabeth Uczekaj were honored as members of the Alpha Chi Honor's Society, meaning that they were selected by their outstanding character, and have a GPA of 3.5 or better.

The following is a list of all of the CSU athletes who graduated Saturday.

BACHELOR OF ARTS:

Michael Blankenship (Baseball) - Majored in Business w/ management emphasis. Minoring in Economics.

Daniel Bryant (Men's Basketball) - Youth Ministry with a minor in Art.

Bowe Butler (Football) - Majored in religion with a minor in business

Clint Chappell (Football) - Majored in business with an emphasis in management, and a minor in communications.

Bill Dalton (Baseball) - Majored in Religion with minors in psychology and sociology.

Aaron Ellison (Football) - Majored in Youth Ministry with a minor in communications.

Jordan Haar (Baseball) - Majored in business with a management emphasis and a minor in economics.

Thomas Harrison (Men's Basketball) - Majored in communications with a minor in sociology.

John Muller (Football) - Double majored in communications and business with a management emphasis and completed the pre-law program.

Melton Roper (Men's Cross Country) - Majored in Religion with a minor in Spanish.

Sofia Said (Women's Tennis) - Majored in communications with a minor in psychology and kinesiology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING:

Audrey Jackson (Women's Track and Field)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE:

Alan Bontya (Baseball) - Majored in Athletic Training with a minor in psychology.

Lakeshia Bryant (Women's Basketball) - Majored in psychology and sociology with a minor in criminal justice.

Erica Donovan (Women's Golf) - Majored in kinesiology with a minor in sociology.

Trent Drafts (Men's Basketball) - Majored in business with an emphasis in finance, and a minor in communications.

* Amanda Ekberg (Women's Basketball) - Majored in business with an emphasis in finance and a minor in psychology and religion.

Paul Gagliardi (Men's Golf) - Majored in business with an emphasis in finance and a minor in economics.

Bryce Gregory (Football) - Majored in criminal justice with a minor in sociology.

Drew Grosse (Baseball) - Majored in biology with a professional emphasis and a minor in business. Grosse also completed the pre-medicine program.

* Sarah Hook (Women's Soccer) - Majored in sociology with a minor in biology.

Connie Johnson (Women's Cross Country) - Majored in Athletic training with a minor in kinesiology.

Melanie Johnson (Volleyball) - Majored in psychology with a minor in sociology.

*Cheryl Jones (Women's Cross Country and Track) - Majored in elementary education content with an emphasis on psychology and sociology.

* Kelly Keown (Women's Soccer) - Majored in psychology and sociology.

Chris Lanoue (Football) - Majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology.

Jacqui Mines (Softball) - Majored in biology with a professional emphasis and a minor in business and completed the pre-medicine program.

Jesse Oliver (Baseball) - Majored in kinesiology with a minor in biology.

Rachel Petrillo (Women's Soccer) - Majored in psychology with a minor in sociology.

Paul Reed (Men's Golf) - Majored in psychology with a minor in business.

Jay Reynolds (Baseball) - Majored in Kinesiology with a minor in biology.

Harry Seabrook (Football) - Majored in athletic training with a minor in kinesiology.

Stephanie Simmons (Women's Basketball) - Majored in athletic training with a minor in biology.

Sonya Taylor (Women's Track) - Majored in European History with a minor in biology.

* Elizabeth Uczekaj (Women's Soccer) - Majored in Athletic Training and biochemistry and completed the pre-medicine program.

*- denotes the athlete graduated cum laude

MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING:

Eric Gambrell (Football) - Gambrell recieved his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and American History from CSU in May 2002.

SPECIAL RECOGNITON:

- Amanda Ekberg received the Myrtle E. Hamrick award.

- The Myrtle E. Hamrick Award is given annually to the female graduate possessing the most ladylike character.

Amanda Ekberg

Kelly Keown

Elizabeth Uczekaj