Chambana Sun

During the 2024-25 academic year, a total of 132 current and former student-athletes from the University of Illinois will earn degrees. This includes 95 individuals who are set to graduate this weekend during the May commencement ceremonies at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

The university has reported that a total of 142 degrees will be awarded throughout the academic year. The breakdown by semester is as follows: 97 degrees in May 2025, an expected 21 degrees in August 2025, and 24 degrees were awarded in December 2024.

Graduates come from various sports teams, including baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swim & dive, tennis, track & field/cross country, volleyball, and wrestling. Each team has athletes graduating with diverse majors ranging from finance to kinesiology to communication.

For example, among the baseball team graduates are Gavin Bennett with a degree in Finance (May 2025) and Evan Clark with a degree in Agricultural and Consumer Economics: Financial Planning (August 2025). In men's basketball, Ben Humrichous will receive a Master's degree in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism (May 2025), while Shay Bollin from women's basketball is graduating with a degree in Communication (May 2025).

The football team sees a large number of graduates this year. Among them is Luke Altmyer who will complete his studies with dual credentials: Communication and Health Communication (Graduate Certificate) by May 2025.

This significant milestone highlights the academic achievements of these student-athletes alongside their commitments on the field or court. Their accomplishments reflect both their dedication to their sport and their education at the University of Illinois.