72 Georgia Tech Athletes Set to Graduate

This weekend, Georgia Tech will celebrate its Spring 2014 commencement. As with every semester, those ceremonies will include a number of students who have spent a lot of time away from their studies, instead on a practice field, in a weight room, in a film room, on a bus or plane, or, most importantly, on the field of play.

What's interesting, though, is that not everyone gets there on the same path. Some leave and come back, like T.J. Barnes, Gary Guyton, or Joshua Nesbitt. Others have their athletic careers cut short, but are able to stay and finish the drill, such as Denzel McCoy. Some put themselves through the gauntlet of athletics and school, all without a scholarship as motivation to keep playing, like Matt Connors or Ben Keith. Others play sports where most fans have never seen them. Still others don't actually play the sports at all, but play a crucial role in supporting them.

Whatever the journey has consisted of, they now join an elite family that they've been dreaming of joining since signing their letters of intent. They'll get a diploma that will open more doors than most any other diploma would. Whether the pros are in their future or not, they'll end up successful in one way or another -- a guarantee that very few institutions can offer, and one ours is proud to profess.

For a list of those athletes graduating this weekend, see below. Please help in congratulating these men and women (one of whom I know to be a member of this community) as they join me alongside the ranks of Georgia Tech Alumni everywhere!