CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri State Athletics recognized 63 graduating seniors at the 2025 'Student-Athlete Graduation' ceremony on Monday evening at the Show Me Center. The graduates of the Spring Class of 2025 will receive their degrees during the university's commencement program(s) on Saturday.
Associate Director of Academics & Student-Athlete Development, Brooke Hengst, welcome the graduates and those in attendance to begin the ceremony before Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics,
Brady Barke, provided remarks to the graduating class.
Southeast Missouri State's President, Dr. Carlos Vargas, then spoke to the graduating class in his final student-athlete graduation as the university's president.
Graduating senior Sundancer, Jaclyn Sexauer, then provided student remarks to her fellow graduating seniors before the evening's keynote speaker, Bryan Johnson, spoke to the class. Johnson is a member of the Cape Girardeau City Council, Ward 5.
The annual Jewel and Trombetta Awards were given out to the male & female student-athletes with the highest GPAs in the class. Byron Sowerby of SEMO Track & Field was awarded the Jewel Award, while three Redhawk female student-athletes earned the Trombetta Award in Sophia Elfrink (Women's Soccer), Nyah Reader (Gymnastics), and Sarah Russom (Track & Field).
The ceremony concluded in a sashing ceremony with the programs' head coaches administering their student-athletes with their sash to be worn during Saturday's graduation ceremony.
Spring & Summer 2025 Student Athlete Graduates (63)
Baseball
Bryce Cannon, Professional Studies
Caleb Corbin, Business Administration
Haden Dow, Agribusiness: Animal Science
Gunnar Doyle, Business Administration
Alexander Hayes, Professional Studies
Sam Heyman, Professional Studies
Logan Katen, Health Management: Exercise Science
Robert Kern, Professional Studies
Anthony Klein, General Studies
Shea McGahan, Professional Studies
Michael Mugan, Corporate Communications
Ty Stauss, Financial Management (MBA)
Brian Strange, Professional Studies
Cole Warehime, Business Administration
Men's Basketball
TJ Biel, Professional Studies
Teddy Washington, Professional Studies
Women's Basketball
Skylar Barnes, Professional Studies
Sophie Bussard, Communication Disorders (MA)
Lexi McCully, Professional Studies
Dee Reed, Psychology
Football
Chris Daigre, Professional Studies
Bryce Norman, Agribusiness: Agriculture Industry
Trel Riley, Professional Studies
Mitchell Sellers, Health Management: Exercise Science
Dony'e Taylor, Management (Certificate)
Mali Walton, Corporate Communications
Gymnastics
Janelle Lopez, Psychology
Lindsay Ockler, Early Childhood Education
Nyah Reader, Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant
Soccer
Grace Crowden, Agribusiness: Animal Science & Ag Communications
Sophia Elfrink, Psychology
Alayna Jakul, Agribusiness: Animal Science
Katelyn Miller, Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant
Elizabeth Rater: Psychology & Biology: Biomedical Sciences
Emma Tucker, Biology: Biomedical Sciences
Softball
Tori Bradley, Criminal Justice
Sydney Dennis, Business Administration
Tatum Gerwitz, Communication Disorders
Delaney Kell, Professional Studies
Sydney Melton, Nutrition
Zoe Schulte, Physical Education (K-12)
Aubrie Shore, Sport Management
Kynzie Wrigley, Nursing
Sundancers
Jaclyn Sexauer, Health Management: Exercise Science/Dance
Alexis Van Elzen, Criminal Justice
Tennis
Lera Valeeva, Financial Management (MBA)
Track & Field
Clay Alewelt, General Management (MBA)
Tayler Gudde, Agribusiness (MS)
Laila Hardin, Corporate Communication
Luke Hatfield-Jackson, Trauma and Resiliency Studies (certificate)
Kenyon Johnson, Business Administration
Jo Kilgore, Mass Communications: TV & Film
Paden Lewis, Cybersecurity (MS)
Noah Little*, Applied Computer Science (MS)
Erika Mellor*, Health Sciences
Breanna Miles, Corporate Communications
Skylar Prescott, Nursing
Sarah Russom*, Elementary Education
Byron Sowerby*, Mathematics: Actuarial Science
Makenzie Williams, Media for Managers (Certificate)
*Signifies athletes that compete in Cross Country and Track & Field
Volleyball
Kayla Closset, Trauma and Resiliency Studies (Certificate)
Kennedey Johnson, Higher Education Administration (MA)
Abby Johnson, Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Avery Torrey, Elementary Education
