The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Student-Athletes Earn Degrees
12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB will have 18 student-athletes representing seven programs among those who will earn their degrees Saturday as part of commencement ceremonies on the Birmingham campus.
“We are so proud of our graduates,” said Director of Athletics Mark Ingram. “These young men and women have worked extremely hard on the field and in the classroom to achieve great successes while representing UAB. They have won the ultimate championship by earning a college degree and have done so at a world-class institution.”
Blazer football leads the way with five graduates, among them are wide receiver Dequindre Adams (communication studies) and linebacker Tevin Crews (communication studies). Adams totaled 11 career receptions for 145 yards. Crews recorded 60 tackles as a Blazer, including five tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Junior college transfers safety Nathan Weston (communication studies), quarterback Myles McKee (communication studies) and wide receiver Jarvis Wright (finance) will also receive degrees on Saturday.
The men’s and women’s soccer programs combine for five graduates in defender Stewart Abrahart (economics), midfielder Cole Iverson (economics), midfielder Sandy Gbandi (history), defender Ashley Naumoff (communications studies) and midfielder Megan Collins (kinesiology).
Abrahart started 47 matches over his career and tallied five assists. The defender earned Conference USA All-Academic team honors and was named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times. Iverson made 44 appearances on the pitch for the Blazers and joined Abrahart on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2012.
After a stint of playing soccer professionally with FC Dallas, Puerto Rico
Naumoff totaled over 3,200 career minutes while scoring two goals and collecting three assists, good for seven points. The Lenior City, Tenn., native tallied 16 shots over 51 matches. Collins appeared in 69 matches in her career to total over 2,700 minutes on the field. The midfielder recorded 46 shots with 19 landing on goal while adding one goal and four assists.
Representing women’s basketball, Miranda Burroughs will receive her degree in early childhood education, and Lauren McGraw will receive her degree in communication studies.
Burroughs transferred to UAB for her junior and senior seasons, appearing in 62 games during her career. The guard recorded 397 points and 108 rebounds while sinking 124 three-point shots.
McGraw, a transfer student, began her career at UAB during the 2014-15 season. The guard played in 23 games last season, averaging 5.7 minutes per game. The Lauderhill, Fla., native recorded five games with multiple rebounds and scored in 12.
Leslie Ekpe (communication management) and Bethanie Thomas (civil engineering) of Blazer volleyball will earn their degrees Saturday.
Middle blocker Ekpe played her senior season at UAB in 2014, tallying 122 kills and three assists in 25 matches started. The middle blocker also totaled 33 digs that season while ranking second on the squad with 74 blocks.
Thomas played two seasons as an outside hitter for UAB. The Huntsville, Ala., native recorded 498 kills and 484 digs and added 61 assists and 96 blocks over her career. The outside hitter also played three seasons of beach volleyball. Thomas recorded 66 wins on the sand, including UAB’s first win at AVCA Nationals.
Donovan McSeveney of the men’s tennis team will earn his degree in finance on Saturday. Last season, McSeveney combined for 13 singles and doubles wins while defeating two ranked opponents.
UAB softball’s lone graduate is infielder Amy Dennis (kinesiology). Dennis started 155 games and batted .232 to go along with 99 hits, 17 doubles, one triple and nine home runs. The infielder scored 70 runs in her career while delivering 47 RBIs.
Kendra Gipson of the UAB track and field program will receive her degree in health education. As a freshman, Gipson set the UAB freshman record
The rifle team’s Darcy Hyatt will graduate with a degree in marketing Saturday. Hyatt finished second on the squad in two of the Blazers’ events this fall. The Birmingham, Ala., finished eighth overall earlier this year against Wofford with a 515 score.
“Graduation is such an exciting time for our staff,” said Fernandez West, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services. “It represents the culmination of many long days and nights and a dedication by our students and staff to accomplish the goals that they have set for themselves. Watching our students grow and mature to become successful, well-rounded adults is one of the most gratifying aspects of our jobs. We look forward to seeing what opportunities await each of them as they enter the next phase of their lives, and they will forever be part of the UAB family.”
Below is the complete list of graduates, their sport and their field of study:
College of Arts and Sciences (8)
Myles McKee, Football, Communication Studies
Nathan Weston, Football, Communication Studies
Dequindre Adams, Football, Communication Studies
Tevin Crews, Football, Mass Communication Studies
Ashley Naumoff, Women’s Soccer, Communication Studies
Leslie Ekpe, Volleyball, Communication Management
Sandy Gbandi, Men’s Soccer, History
Lauren McGraw, Women’s Basketball, Communication Studies
Collat School of Business (5)
Stewart Abrahart, Men’s Soccer, Economics (Business Honors)
Cole Iverson, Men’s Soccer, Economics
Donovan McSeveney, Men’s Tennis, Finance
Darcy Hyatt, Rifle, Marketing
Jarvis Wright, Football, Finance
School of Education (4)
Miranda Burroughs, Women’s Basketball, Early Childhood Education (Honors in Education)
Amy Dennis, Softball, Kinesiology
Megan Collins, Women’s Soccer, Kinesiology
Kendra Gipson,
School of Engineering (1)
Bethanie Thomas, Volleyball, Civil Engineering
