May 13, 2011
Sixty-three Vanderbilt student-athletes will walk across the stage and receive their degrees at Friday’s commencement ceremony (available here), which will be held on Alumni Lawn, weather permitting.
On Thursday night, the Department of Student Athletics hosted a reception inside Memorial Gymnasium to honor those Commodores and their families. 
See photos from the event here.
The graduating seniors have left an indelible mark on Vanderbilt while accumulating a number of awards in the classroom and on the playing field. Before the graduating seniors officially become graduates, we caught up with a few of them to discuss their future plans and recall some of their favorite memories.
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Kristine Chaklos – Soccer
Degree: Human and Organizational Development Plans for next year: Graduate school at Georgetown University for a masters in sports marketing. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: On the field playing in the 2010 SEC Tournament. Off the field, living this past year on Morgan 10 with all of my best friends. Favorite class and/or professor you had: Advanced marketing, Art Johnsen One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Winning Favorite place on campus: The soccer field |
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Joe Duffy – Men’s Basketball
Degree: Economics Plans for next year: Working in Chicago for Goldman Sachs. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: On the court, it was beating Kentucky by 41 on ESPN my freshman year. I scored by way of a fast break layup that got goaltended by Patrick Patterson. It was almost a good swat, but I came away victorious. Great memory. Off the court, it was laying on the beach with my boys in Maui during the Maui Invitational. Favorite class and/or professor you had: Sports Economics with John Vrooman. Any time you can write your final research paper on the current economic health of the NFL, you know you did something right. In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet. It was a great ride. |
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Anna Fargo – Swimming
Degree: Civil Engineering Plans for next year: Plan to begin my career as a civil engineer Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: My fondest memory was the excitement I had arriving at Vandy and meeting all sorts of people and friends I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. What she will miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss the satisfaction of completing a tough week of balancing a rigorous schedule. |
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Megan Grehan – Women’s Golf
Degree: Human and Organizational Development Plans for next year: I’m going to work at the Pasta Shop, which is a pasta manufacturing plant in Nashville. I interned there last summer, and I’ve been hired on as an account manager with a focus in marketing. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: On the course, it’s probably this year, most recently at the NCAA East Regional winning the playoff hole. That was pretty awesome. Off the course, there’s a lot off the course, and nothing really sticks out. Favorite class and/or professor you had: I really enjoyed marketing, with Cherrie Clark, she kept it real interesting and I really enjoyed the projects. She’s a great teacher. In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Relieving |
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Molly Kinsella – Soccer
Degree: Cellular and Molecular Biology Plans for next year: Pharmacy school at UT Memphis Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: On the field, beating South Carolina in 2OT with 9 seconds left. Off the field, Rites of Spring freshman year with Colbie Caillat and Lady Antebellum. Favorite class and/or professor you had: Biochemistry In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Nervous Favorite place on campus: The Pub, it has great food and you can sit outside overlooking the lawn. |
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Darshawn McClellan – Men’s Basketball
Degree: Human and Organizational Development Plans for next year: Graduate School Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Off the court, graduating and meeting the people here at Vanderbilt, and on the court, playing in three NCAA Tournaments and beating number one Tennessee. Favorite class and/or professor you had: Sociology with Laurie Woods or Children in Families and Schools with Anita Conn. In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Accomplished. |
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Jennifer Molchan – Swimming
Degree: Medicine, Health and Society Plans for next year: Physical therapy school at the University of Florida. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Going on training trips with the swim team to places like Florida. What she will miss about Vanderbilt: I will miss all of the friends I have made here over the years. |
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Kennard Reeves – Football
Degree: Communication Studies Plans for next year: I am working as a regional account manager at Elavon, a company in Sandy Springs near Atlanta. I plan to continue to follow my corporate career, and eventually my own business venture. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: On the field, the (Music City) bowl experience. It was a lifetime of memories packed into 2-3 weeks leading up to that historic night. Off the field, I loved Quake and Rites of Spring every year. It was like a mini-festival on campus and many alums and friends always returned to campus. Favorite class and/or professor you had: It’s a tie between Laurie Woods’ criminology class and Amelia Winger-Bearskin’s digital media. On what it feels like to be graduating: It feels like a big accomplishment resulting from four years of hard work and focus. I am the first of my family to graduate from such a prestigious institution. I feel good to finish on top and to have concluded my undergrad experience at Vandy while accomplishing many of my personal goals in my final year, such as SEC academic honor roll and becoming a starter on our football team. |
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Jence Rhoads – Women’s Basketball
Degree: Interdisciplinary Studies Plans for next year: I plan on playing basketball overseas. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: The people I have met and the times spent with them. Favorite class: Sports ethics In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Unreal |
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Kayla Rhoades – Bowling
Degree: Child Development Plans for next year: Attend Marian University School of Nursing and continuing to plan my wedding to my wonderful fiancé Jimmy. Favorite class: Hospitalized Child. It was my favorite class because, besides coursework, we were given volunteer opportunities that involved working with children that were fun, heart-warming, and life-changing, and the bonus was getting to add these to our resumes. One of these volunteer opportunities was working as a playroom volunteer at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, and I loved it so much I continued to volunteer until my last day on campus. Favorite professor: My favorite professor hands-down is Jamie Pope. She is so sweet, extremely helpful, and is a fantastic instructor. She goes out of her way for every student, and is very enthusiastic about teaching. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Bowling on TV for a chance to win a National Championship. Even though it didn’t turn out quite the way we wanted it to, it was so much fun and felt so good to make it that far when we weren’t expected to. |
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John Stokes – Football
Degree: Medicine, Health and Society Plans for next year: I will be attending medical school at Vanderbilt. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Beating Auburn on ESPN College GameDay. Favorite class and/or professor at Vanderbilt: Medical Ethics taught by Professor Russell (Rusty) McIntire (also my favorite professor). Favorite place to study on campus: I love studying in the athletic study hall at 3 AM when no one else is there. I plan to sneak in there during medical school. |
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Hannah Tuomi – Women’s Basketball
Degree: English and History of Art Plans for next year: Pursue my professional basketball career and play overseas. Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Winning the 2009 SEC Tournament title. Favorite class and/or professor you had: Portable and media art. In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet. |
