110 Student-Athletes Eligible For Commencement

San Jose, Calif.-----One-hundred-ten (110) current and former San Jose State University student-athletes can participate in the University’s commencement and department convocation ceremonies taking place May 21-24. San Jose State University’s annual Commencement ceremony is in Spartan Stadium, May 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Students who received a baccalaureate or master’s degree from San Jose State during the 2008 summer and fall terms or anticipate receiving a degree or credential upon completion of the spring semester may participate in the Commencement that annually confers academic degrees to 6,000 students and attracts 20,000-plus friends and family members.

“San Jose State athletics congratulates the student-athletes, coaches and staff members who earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the last year,” says Tom Bowen, director of athletics, who also references 15 current and/or former coaches or staff members completing their current educational objective. “We are proud of their academic accomplishments and achievements to date, thank them for their athletics participation and wish them the best as they move on to the next stage in their life.

“Our department also thanks the professors, instructors, counselors and tutors who have educated and guided our student-athletes academically to this point in their lives. The last two years, we have shown at least a 20 percent increase year-over-year in the number of student-athletes who are eligible to participate in the ceremony.”

Football has the most student-athletes listed in the University’s 2009 Commencement booklet with 22, the second year in a row the program has had at least 20 eligible for commencement exercises. Women’s soccer (13) and softball (11) are two more sports programs with a double-figure total.

At the May 23 ceremony, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (Dem.-Calif.) will deliver the commencement address.

More information on the University’s Commencement ceremony is available at www.sjsu.edu. Click on the link above for a list of student-athletes and current and past coaches and athletics staff who qualify to participate in Commencement.