Hoops Trio Among 34 Gator Student-Athletes Receiving Undergrad Degrees This Weekend

This Saturday, 34 University of Florida student-athletes will participate commencement ceremonies at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Three of those are women’s basketball letterwinners, with Brooke Copeland, Tyshara Fleming and Haley Lorenzen completing all requirements for their undergraduate degrees.

Fleming and Lorenzen are scheduled to walk during Saturday’s ceremonies, while Copeland participated in Spring commencement in anticipation of her wedding which is today.

Fleming has completed her eligibility and will aim to continue her basketball career overseas as a professional, while Lorenzen will return to the court with the Gators for her fourth and final season while taking coursework toward a master’s degree.

“We are very proud of Brooke, Tyshara and Haley for all of their hard work and dedication in obtaining their degrees,” UF head coach Cameron Newbauer said. “First and foremost, these young ladies are students before being athletes and on Saturday they will wear the most important uniform (cap and gown) of their careers as Florida Gators. This a special day for us to help them celebrate their graduation. Having a degree from the University of Florida is a powerful tool that they will have to take with them wherever they go in life.”

Three were part of multiple NCAA title teams during their careers:

Claire Boyce        2014 & 2015 NCAA Gymnastics

Najee Glass         2013 & 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field

Justine McLean  2014 & 2015 NCAA Softball

More Summer Gator Grad Notables:

• Two were part of NCAA champion track relay teams – Destinee Gause (2015 NCAA Outdoor 4×100 and 4×400 relays) and Glass (2013 4×400 relay).
• Both Maria Torres (golf/2016) and Alex Holston (volleyball/2014) were the Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year for their sport.
• Two finished their degrees while also playing professional soccer – Claire Falknor and Adriana Leon.
• Seven will graduate cum laude – Boyce, Falknor, Ben Kennedy (swimming), Haley Lorenzen, Blake Manganiello, Morgan Mannweilerand Jessica Thielmann.
• Cristian Garcia (football) was honored in October of 2016 by former Vice President Joe Biden with one of the administration’s inaugural “It’s On Us” Courage Awards.
• Two will be receiving master’s degrees this weekend – Rebekah Greene (women’s track & field) and Valerie Tysinger (soccer).
• Five graduates will compete for UF in the 2017-18 season – Kristen Cardano and Gabby Seiler (soccer), Garcia (football), Lorenzen (women’s basketball) and Ben Kennedy (men’s swimming).