15 FAMU student-athletes cross stage during summer commencement

Terrence Woods receives his B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies

Last weekend, 15 FAMU student-athletes crossed the stage of the Alfred Lawson Teaching Gymnasium and Multipurpose Center to receive their degrees.

One of the graduates was quarterback Damien Fleming, who is second all-time in passing yards for FAMU.  Fleming completed his degree in four years while starting on the field for four season.

Kicker Chase Varnadore, also of the Rattler football team, earned his master’s degree in political science.  Varnadore was an All-American, who also holds the FAMU record for the longest field goal (53 yards).

Sprinter Jasmine Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work.  The Georgia native was an All-American track star for the Lady Rattlers.  She was a part of the FAMU women’s 4x100m relay team that qualified for the national championship in Eugene, OR in 2013, and was declared an All-American for her efforts.  She was the senior leader of the Lady Rattlers team that broke a decade-long drought of MEAC Outdoor Track Championships.  Smith graduated with honors and did it all in just four years.

Women’s track Head Coach Darlene Moore, whose team had a perfect APR score and whose team has an overall G.P.A. of 3.12, felt that Smith’s accomplishment was a major one. 

“Jasmine was a great athlete coming in, but we knew that she needed to focus on her studies as well.  She fought through every obstacle in front of her and through determination, she graduated with honors.  As a lifelong educator, I express academics to my young ladies and Jasmine is an example of what I expect out of all my athletes.  I expect them to perform in the classroom as well as on the track,” Moore said.

Another high-profile athlete who earned his degree was Terrence “Trey” Woods.  Woods led the National Collegiate Athletic Association in three-pointers for two years as a Rattler. He spent several years overseas playing basketball before returning to his home in Tennessee.  Last year, Woods decided to finish up the remaining hours of his degree, for his own satisfaction. 

“My daughter is starting to flourish as a high school basketball player and I wanted to set the example that a college education was the standard,” he said. “I couldn’t just say…I had to do it.  I came back and did an evaluation with Dr. (Janet) Sermon and she told me that I wasn’t far off. She said there was nothing stopping me from graduating except me.  With that, I am so proud to cross this stage today.”

FAMU student-athletes who received degrees during 2015 Summer Commencement:

Clarricia Golden (Women’s Track) B.S. Health Physical Education/Fitness

McDaniel Olivier (Men’s Track) B.A. Philosophy & Religion

Damien Fleming (Football) B.A. Criminal Justice

Jamie Foreman (Women’s Basketball) B.A. Criminal Justice

Dennis Hall (Women’s Basketball) B.A. Criminal Justice

Demont Buice (Football) B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies

Tera Gainer (Softball) B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies

Casey Glines (Football) B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies

Terrence Woods (Men’s Basketball) B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies

Jasmine Smith (Women’s Track) B.S. Social Work

Brittany Brown (Women's Track) B.S. Health Science - Pre-Physical Therapy

Taylor Thomas (Softball) B.S. Health Science – Pre-Occupational Therapy

Derrick Connor (Football) B.S. Business Administration

Damarius Carroll (Men’s Track) M.S. Education-Sport Management

Chase Varnadore (Football) M.S. Applied Sicence-Political Science