HAMMOND – Twenty three Southeastern Louisiana University student-athletes were among the 1,300 graduates to have degrees conferred at the university's fall commencement exercises on Saturday in the University Center.
 
The Lion football team led the way with 11 graduates – a list that include some of the top players to don the green and gold since the program's return in 2003. All-Americans Robert Alford and Felton Huggins were joined by Devan Walker, Paul Roppolo, Brian Young, Nathan Stanley, Tramaine Lucas, Rogers Mueller, Michael Chaney, Kevin Roberts and Zach Albin.
 
Three members of the Southeastern baseball program completed their studies this semester. The Lion trio is led by Academic All-Southland performer Cody Gougler and also includes Michael Rutland and Chris Province.
 
The Southeastern volleyball, track and field, men's golf and women's basketball programs each had two graduates on Saturday. DeShawn Patterson (men's basketball) and Pavol Derkay (tennis) were the lone representatives from their respective sports.
 
Southeastern Athletic Graduates – Fall 2012
Zach Albin, Football, Finance
Robert Alford, Football, General Studies
Chelsea Barr, Volleyball, Kinesiology
Michael Chaney, Football, General Studies
Pavol Derkay, Men's Tennis, MBA
Sebastian Garcia, Golf, Finance
Cody Gougler, Baseball, Sport Management
Tamra Grayson, Volleyball/Track and Field, General Studies
Latoria Holder, Women's Basketball, General Studies
Felton Huggins, Football, General Studies
Horacio Leon, Golf, Management
Tramaine Lucas, Football, General Studies
Rachel Mackie, Women's Basketball, Nursing
Rogers Mueller, Football, Management
Michelle Ogashi, Track and Field, General Studies
Deshawn Patterson, Men's Basketball, General Studies
Chris Province, Baseball, Accounting
Kevin Roberts, Football, General Studies
Paul Roppolo, Football, General Studies
Michael Rutland, Baseball, General Studies
Nathan Stanley, Football, General Studies
Devan Walker, Football, Industrial Technology
Brian Young, Football, General Studies