Indiana University Athletics
Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration
6/4/2019 3:03:00 PM | General, Academic Services, Student-Athlete Services
When Mark Deal led the 2018-2019 graduating class in their final chorus of "Indiana, Our Indiana", a sense of poetic closure permeated the room. It seems not fifteen minutes ago that these confident, poised, seasoned seniors began their journey as anxious freshmen and learned the words of the Indiana fight song for the first time in their IU Freshmen Induction.
Though the past four years have brought numerous tests of patience, determination, and heart, these graduates have excelled valiantly. The student-athletes from this class have competed in 81 NCAA championship events, earned 81 All-American awards, won 54 Big 10 individual events/titles, received 28 1st Team All-Big 10 honors, earned 7 NCAA titles, and made 4 appearances in the Olympics (with 1 gold medalist). Adding to their feats in competition, these students thrived in the classroom earning a number of academic accolades and recognitions.
The event began with each student-athlete crossing the front of the room, one by one, to be recognized by the I-Association and members of the Senior Athletics Administration. With each name, boisterous applause echoed off the walls of Henke Hall. After the commencement walk, current NFL star and Hoosiers for Life grad, Jordan Howard, spoke on the importance of retaining the habits of hard work learned during college and using these tools to battle for future dreams. Following Howard's words and moving introductions by Lisa Winters, our two 2019 Indiana Athletic Director Award recipients, Maddie Pierce and James Connor, addressed the group.
The graduates were then asked to stand for the traditional pinning ceremony. With the pins placed by loved ones, and concluding remarks by Mattie White, the 2019 Graduation Celebration came to a celebratory close. As voices joined together for the last lines of "Indiana, Our Indiana", an era of excellence came to a joyous end, with hopes of glorious beginnings on the horizon.
Though the past four years have brought numerous tests of patience, determination, and heart, these graduates have excelled valiantly. The student-athletes from this class have competed in 81 NCAA championship events, earned 81 All-American awards, won 54 Big 10 individual events/titles, received 28 1st Team All-Big 10 honors, earned 7 NCAA titles, and made 4 appearances in the Olympics (with 1 gold medalist). Adding to their feats in competition, these students thrived in the classroom earning a number of academic accolades and recognitions.
The event began with each student-athlete crossing the front of the room, one by one, to be recognized by the I-Association and members of the Senior Athletics Administration. With each name, boisterous applause echoed off the walls of Henke Hall. After the commencement walk, current NFL star and Hoosiers for Life grad, Jordan Howard, spoke on the importance of retaining the habits of hard work learned during college and using these tools to battle for future dreams. Following Howard's words and moving introductions by Lisa Winters, our two 2019 Indiana Athletic Director Award recipients, Maddie Pierce and James Connor, addressed the group.
The graduates were then asked to stand for the traditional pinning ceremony. With the pins placed by loved ones, and concluding remarks by Mattie White, the 2019 Graduation Celebration came to a celebratory close. As voices joined together for the last lines of "Indiana, Our Indiana", an era of excellence came to a joyous end, with hopes of glorious beginnings on the horizon.
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