MACOMB, Ill. - Twenty-one members of the Leatherneck Family will walk across the stage toward future opportunities and careers with undergraduate or graduate diplomas in hand Saturday (December 17) at Western Illinois University winter commencement.
Capital One/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American and Division I FCS ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recipient Kyle Glazier (Football) was chosen to serve as Commencement Marshal at the ceremony. Sixteen Commencement Marshals are selected based on their cumulative grade point averages.
Glazier upheld a 3.849 cumulative grade point average in his pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a Bachelor of Business in Management.
He also earned many honors for his time on the field. The linebacker was awarded All-America honors, named 2010 MVFC 'Defensive Player of the Year' and finished runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award (National Defensive Player of the Year) in 2010.
"Kyle Glazier is one of many student-athletes who have achieved a high level of academic and athletic success," Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine said. "The fact he is serving as a Commencement Marshal is a capstone to his overall academic and athletic accomplishments. Kyle, and the other 20 student-athletes who are graduating this semester, are a direct reflection of our coaches recruiting the very best student-athletes to Western."
Other Leathernecks receiving academic recognition include Honors College Scholars Claire Gursh (Women's Golf) and Kevin Ross (Men's Soccer). Both achieved a grade point average of at least 3.4, completed a set of honors requirements and were Centennial Honors College members.
Ross was awarded again as the College of Business and Technology's Departmental Scholar. Jenny Green (Women's Soccer) was also chosen as the College of Education and Human Services' Departmental Scholar. Recipients are considered outstanding degree candidates and are selected by faculty within the student's major department.
Western Illinois University's Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award recipient, Laura Lins (Women's Soccer), will also be recognized for her overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities in the ceremony.
The following Leatherneck student-athletes will receive their diplomas during winter commencement:
Undergraduate Degrees
Terriun Crump (Football): Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
Teague Dentino (Football): Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Teacher Education
Kelly Diershow (Soccer): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Kyle Glazier (Football): Bachelor of Science in LEJA and Bachelor of Business in Management
Jenny Green (Soccer): Bachelor of Science in Special Education
Claire Gursh (Golf): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Myers Hendrickson (Football): Bachelor of Business in Supply Chain Management
Nerissa Hetzel (Golf): Bachelor of Business in Management
Bryan Jordan (Baseball): Bachelor of Business in Management
Anthony Kaskadden (Baseball): Bachelor of Business in Management
Chris Matthews (Baseball): Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
Nikki Marinec (Softball): Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Teacher Education
Jessica Ortega (Track): Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Francisco Ortiz (Tennis): Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
Carlos Pinedo (Baseball): Bachelor of Business in Finance
Rick Richardson (Football): Bachelor of Science in LEJA
Kevin Ross (Soccer): Bachelor of Business in Management
Erin Schlotfeldt (Softball): Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Teacher Education
Graduate Degrees
Stefan King (Soccer): Master of Science in Kinesiology
Stephanie Lovingood (Basketball): Master of Science in Sport Management
Kenny Price (Baseball): Master of Arts in Sociology
