Chambana Sun

During the 2023-24 academic year, a total of 126 current and former Fighting Illini student-athletes are set to earn degrees from the University of Illinois. This includes 90 individuals who will participate in this weekend's May commencement ceremonies at Memorial Stadium.

The breakdown of degree completions is as follows: 90 degrees in May 2024, an expected 12 in August 2024, and 23 in December 2023.

Among those graduating are athletes from various sports teams. The baseball team sees graduates such as Asher Bradd with a graduate certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management, Korey Bunselmeyer with a degree in Crop Sciences, and Joe Glassey with a master's degree in Management. The men's basketball team has five graduates including Dain Dainja majoring in Communication and Terrence Shannon Jr. studying Sociology.

Women's basketball also celebrates four graduates including Genesis Bryant who studied Communication and Makira Cook who majored in Community Health. In football, notable graduates include Keion Battle with a degree in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Dennis Briggs Jr., who earned a graduate certificate in Health Communication.

Men's golf sees four members graduating, while women's golf has two. Men's gymnastics boasts eight graduates including Ashton Anaya majoring in Information Sciences. Women's gymnastics features five graduates such as Kaitlyn Ewald studying Kinesiology.

The soccer team has nine players earning degrees this year, while softball celebrates eight new alumni. Swim & Dive has eleven student-athletes completing their studies this year.

Men's tennis will see four players graduating, while women's tennis adds two more to the list of alumni. The men's track & field/cross country team has seven students earning degrees, whereas the women's track & field/cross country team features six new graduates.

Finally, volleyball will have five athletes finishing their academic journeys alongside nine wrestlers earning their diplomas this year.