Student-Athletes Top The Class At 200th Commencement

Football stars D'Angelo Durham (left) and D'Vonn Gibbons (right) pose after earning their degres. [Photo by Sarah Peacock]

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Nearly two dozen student-athletes earned their degrees at the 200th Savannah State Commencement on Friday at Theodore A. Wright Stadium, with several graduating at the top of the class.

Korbin Allan from men's golf was recognized as the top undergraduate of the entire class. Allan earned his undergraduate degree in biology with a 3.93 GPA, graduating with the highest honors possible, Summa Cum Laude.

"We are always proud to see our student-athletes earn their degrees," Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki said. "Our mission as a department is to graduate student-athletes and win championships. We have done both this year, and I am very proud of all the hard work our student-athletes have put into this incredibly successful academic and athletic year."

Baseball outfielder Cameron Diaz earned Summa Cum Laude honors, graduating with his degree in accounting. Track star Toni Pellington earned her degree in biology, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Marcus Scott from the men's basketball graduated Magna Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in middle grades education. From the football team, Jerich Givens earned his undergraduate degree in mass communications, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Taityana Pittman, who played on the tennis and women's basketball teams, graduated Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in mass communications. Offensive lineman Connor Vasher earned his undergraduate degree in engineering and technology education with Cum Laude honors.

A total of 23 student-athletes were conferred degrees this year, two earning graduate degrees. The ceremony was presided over by President Kimberly Ballard-Washington with retired U.S. Navy Captain Donne L. Cochran giving the commencement speech.

Savannah State University conferred its first degree in 1898 to Richard R. Wright, Jr., the son of the founding president. In Friday's commencement, the school awarded over 300 degrees.

Savannah State is the first public historically black college or university in the state of Georgia and the first institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. The school established the city's first master's degree program in 1968 and has built upon that rich legacy of academic excellence for the last 132 years.

Savannah State Athletics began in 1902 with a football game on Thanksgiving Day. Over the last 119 years, the Tigers have earned championship titles in multiple divisions and conferences across several of its programs. Savannah State has produced professional baseball players, basketball players, football players and multiple Olympic athletes. Today, the Tigers field 15 men's and women's sports competing at the NCAA Division II level. Twelve programs are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Women's golf competes in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC).

Gallery: (5-6-2022) 200th Commencement May, 2022

Master of Mathematics
Kayla Jones, Women's Golf
Biology
Korbin Allan, Men's Golf *Summa Cum Laude
Marcela Foley, Softball
Le'Andrea Gillis, Women's Basketball
Jocelyn Lozano, Softball
Toni Pellington, Women's Track, Cross Country *Magna Cum Laude
Master of Business Administration
Cailtyn Schultz, Women's Tennis
Accounting
Cameron Diaz, Baseball *Summa Cum Laude
Computer Information Systems
Amaiya Green, Softball
Engineering and Technology Education
Connor Vasher, Football *Cum Laude
Middle Grades Education
Marcus Scott, Men's Basketball *Magna Cum Laude
Interdisciplinary Studies
D'Angelo Durham, Football
D'Vonn Gibbons, Football
Trey Murray, Football
Daryl Richardson, Men's Basketball
Justice Stanley, Men's Basketball
Criminal Justice
Jackson Hickox, Baseball
Casey Sims, Softball
History
Triston Bourne, Baseball
Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Salik McRae, Football
Dameien Rodgers, Football
Mass Communications
Jerich Givens, Football *Magna Cum Laude
Taityana Pittman, Tennis, Women's Basketball *Cum Laude

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