Never Too Late to Graduate
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Originally Published: June 2009 $2.00 PERIODICAL NEWSPAPER CLASSIFICATION C DATED MATERIAL PLEASE RUSH!! M Vol. 28, No. 26 “For The Buckeye Fan Who Needs To Know More” June 2009 Y K File Photo File Photo GRADUATION PHOTOS COURTESY OF OSU ATHLETICS & MICHAEL WILEY WE MADE IT! – Former Ohio State women’s basketball star Katie Smith (above left with university president Gordon Gee) and football star Michael Wiley (right) are recent success stories as participants in the Degree Completion Program. Smith, Wiley and many other former OSU athletes have returned under the program to complete their undergraduate studies and receive their degrees. Never Too Late To Graduate Program Gives Buckeyes Chance To Return, Earn Degree As a result, Ohio State has one of the more active By JEFF SVOBODA Degree Completion Programs in college athletics. Buckeye Sports Bulletin Staff Writer In January 2008, Ohio State was honored as one In This Issue Of BSB of the top two universities offering the program for • A profile of former Ohio State receiver For the past 16 years of her life, Katie Smith has the 2006-07 year, and the 2007-08 NCAS honor Thad Jemison, who took advantage of the uni- been a walking ambassador for Ohio State. roll lists Ohio State at the top of the heap among all versity’s Degree Completion Program to earn She burst onto the scene as a freshman in 1993, universities as far as degrees completed. his diploma more than 25 years after his last leading the Buckeye women’s basketball team to Though fellow Big Ten schools Wisconsin and game with the Buckeyes (Page 7) a berth in the national title game. After ending her Michigan State are also near the top of the nation, • Up-to-date coverage of Ohio State’s career as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, she the program at Ohio State has been a leader at bring- efforts for the 2009-10 football recruiting has become one of the most decorated professional ing back former athletes and making sure they have season, including a spate of new offers (Pages basketball players in history, earning three Olympic the tools necessary to earn their diplomas. 8-10) gold medals and two WNBA titles. “It’s a commitment by (athletic director) Gene • A profile on running back prospect Carlos There was just one thing missing from her Smith and the department of athletics and academic Hyde of Naples, Fla. (Page 11) résumé: an Ohio State degree. affairs to fund this,” said John Macko, a SASSO • A wrap-up of Big Ten spring football “When people would say, ‘Hey, when did you academic counselor who works with those in the including results, quotes and notes from each of graduate?’ I had to say, ‘Well, I haven’t,’ ” she told DCP. “When you see some of the athletes come the other 10 conference teams (Pages 12-15) BSB. “I would have to go into this whole spiel.” back and get their diploma, it’s kind of like this • The latest news regarding the Ohio State Smith rectified that in the fall academic quarter of unfinished business. Once they get that diploma, it’s men’s basketball team (Pages 16-17) 2008, earning a degree in a personal study program something that nobody can take away from them. • Two new commitments for the women’s after taking part in the Degree Completion Program, “It just means so much. We get tickled to see basketball squad (Page 18) which is offered through the athletic department’s the graduations, especially the ones that come back • A recap of Ohio State’s annual Scholar- Student-Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO). after so many years of work. It’s just a tremendous Athlete Recognition Dinner (Pages 20-21) Call (614) 486-2202 Today To Subscribe To Today Sponsored nationwide by the National Consortium feeling of pride.” • Summaries of the OSU baseball team’s for Academics in Sports, an organization of colleges Macko said that eight athletes are part of the regular-season conference championship and and universities that have joined together for this program for the current spring quarter, down from drive to the NCAA tournament (Pages 22-24) cause, the Degree Completion Program at Ohio State 15 that took part in fall classes. Three – football • Plus reports on other Ohio State sports as has helped more than 100 former Buckeyes finish well as all of BSB’s regular briefs, columns and Your Mailing Label Goes Here Your their undergraduate studies since Clark Kellogg features became the first in 1996. Continued On Page 6 Originally Published: June 2009 COVER STORY: NEVER TOO LATE TO GRADUATE DCP Gives Buckeyes Chance To Return For Degree personal relationships with Macko and Meeker to Ohio State for his three quarters necessary but education is something you always can fall Continued From Page 1 for bringing them back into the fold if they when the Arena Football League, in which back on,” he said. “The other thing I tell kids players Winfield Garnett, Rob Kelly and Nick didn’t already know about the opportunities he had played since 2004, canceled its season is that I remember when I was a freshman and Patterson – are set to graduate in mid-June, provided by the Degree Completion Program. because of financial difficulties. Smith was able sophomore, I thought practicing football was joining an illustrious list of former Buckeyes “That plays a tremendous part because at an to find 10 weeks in her schedule in fall to finish tough. Now I told some of those kids that I am a who have taken part. early age in your time at Ohio State you really up after fitting in some schooling over the past father of two, married, have a full-time job and Some of the names from past years to start to develop a close relationship with those decade of trotting the globe to play basketball. I’m going to school full time. Imagine trying graduate include Smith and Kellogg, numer- guys in that department,” said former defen- For some, it’s still not that simple. Tom to balance that rather than playing something ous football stars such as Butler By’not’e, sive end David Patterson, a history major who Askey played hockey at OSU from 1993-96 you love.” Mike Nugent and Michael Wiley, and baseball graduated in March. before embarking on a pro career that ended in Patterson was one who extended his work player Christian Snavely. Football stalwart Once the former student-athletes find out early 2008. He settled in Kalamazoo, Mich., but to outside of Ohio State, taking on a number of Pepe Pearson is on track to finish soon, and about the program, many of them like what needed to finish his degree in sociology, so he speaking engagements and staying active with current Columbus Blue Jacket R.J. Umberger they see. The DCP provides free tuition as well spent two quarters driving the five hours back Athletes in Action. has shown interest in taking part. as tutoring and academic advising. and forth, spending weekdays in Columbus and “It gives you a chance to be active in the “We are blessed to have this program at Stipulations include that the athlete is within weekends in Michigan. community so while you’re helping yourself Ohio State,” football head coach Jim Tressel 45 credit hours of graduating, has exhausted his “That was the most difficult part,” said you can help other people,” he said. said. “It has made a difference for many.” or her athletic eligibility, was on a grant-in-aid Askey, who graduated in March. “That’s a In addition to manning the study tables at Those who have been through it raved at OSU and compiled at least a 2.00 cumulative lot of travel, a lot of time away from the wife SASSO and volunteering with the hockey pro- about the help the Degree Completion Program grade-point average. and kids, but we figured it was going to be a gram, Askey earned service hours by helping gave them in their efforts to become Ohio State The prospective enrollees into the program short period of time in the larger scheme of out as a goaltending coach for the high schools graduates. then must complete an application and obtain things, so it was important that I get my degree in the Columbus suburb of Dublin. “The program was excellent,” said football an approved academic plan, all aspects that finished.” “It was great,” he said. “It’s always good to player Thad Jemison. “I’ve recommended to have been tightened over the years since the Macko said that 90 percent of the athletes help young people and help people develop on some of the guys I played with to look into mid-1990s when Ohio State first started offer- who do come back find that they are more and off the ice.” coming back and finishing.” ing the program. serious about their schoolwork than the first “It’s formalized,” Macko said. “We hold time around. For The Future, For Life Spreading Word Is Key them to what they need to graduate. There are “You’re truly a grown man, not a kid Wiley is one of the success stories of the Macko, who has been with the department some parameters out there that we hold onto anymore,” said Garnett, who is finishing a DCP. He returned to Ohio State in 2006 and of athletics for 25 years as an academic coun- pretty tight.” degree in education. “It’s a different atmo- finished up in winter of 2008 with a degree selor, and fellow DCP and SASSO counselor sphere.