| HEADS OF THE CLASS! STUDENT-ATHLETES RANK 1-2 IN RECORD MVSU GRADUATING CLASS OF '07 Roderick Mosley May 14, 2007  ITTA BENA, Miss. -- A record number of students graduated from Mississippi Valley State University on Saturday, 507 to be exact. At the top of the class were two student-athletes, Deanna Baker, a softball player who was class valedictorian, and Gerard Endres, a football player who garnered class salutatorian honors. Baker (5-7, P, Paducah, KY), a three-year letter winner on the Devilettes’ Southwestern Athletic Conference championship softball team, garnered a 3.95 grade point average en route to earning a bachelor of science degree in Biology. In November 2006, Baker was named a NFCA Academic All-American for the second consecutive year. She has chosen to further her studies at the University of Illinois Veterinarian School. “It’s kind of weird to think that four years ago I was in high school and now I’m an adult having to find my own way,” Baker said. “Playing sports, we know we have to make good grades. Coach Smith (Lee Smith, head softball coach) really works hard making sure we do our work, go to class and take care of our responsibilities. He definitely pushed us as hard off the field as on.” Endres (5-10, 215, LB, San Diego, CA) a two-year member of the Delta Devils’ football program, finished with a 3.93 GPA while receiving a bachelor of science degree in Public Administration. Endres is a recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award (2006), Presidential Scholar Award (2007) and Outstanding Scholar Award (2007) and has been accepted into the MBA program at the University of Southern Mississippi. “I’m excited for all that God has for me and pleased to have completed this season of life. I’m really, really happy with the experience that playing football gave me. Sports teaches discipline and how to stay focused on and off the field,” said Endres. “Accomplishing what Deanna and I have not only breaks stereotypes that student-athletes are just jocks, but it shows the emphasis that Mr. Hardy (Lonza Hardy, Jr., MVSU Athletics Director), the coaches and other athletics administrators put on academics.” Along with Baker and Endres were 43 other former and current student- athletes receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in various disciplines. "We applaud Deanna and Gerard for their academic accomplishments and we also congratulate all of the other student-athletes who received their degrees this year," said Hardy. "It's a testament to their tenacity as student-athletes and it's proof of our commitment to ensuring the total success of the students in our athletics program." -MVSU- A complete list of the graduates follows: Baseball (6): Andrew Cunha Timothy Biles Johnathan Stovall Neal Belmonte Rudy Casias Corey Littleton Men’s Basketball (6): Kadrian Bryant Richard Cannon Hosea Butler Jesse Taylor Jeffery Price Willie Neal Women’s Basketball (6): Cassandra Shotwell Karita Overstreet Ashley Robinson Falon Holinaty Angela Howard Coleettra Milhouse Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field (1): Dominique Gloster Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field (2): Owen Thomas Al Durham Football (11): Monroe Golden Ro’Shaun Bailey Barron Pullum Gerard Endres Trey Butts Charles Vaughn Chavin Johnson Brian Smith Cleyton McDonald Christopher Wilson Tyrone Timmons Soccer (4): Patricia Hemstreet Nicole Karsay Sonia Curvelo Sheena Cussen Softball (5): Deanna Baker Nicole Henderson Amber Stewart Cristal Holmes Jalana Brown Volleyball (2): Jolene Brennan Falon Holinaty |