For the last four years, encountering Mason Monheim was risky. You might lose a tooth trying to scamper past the hard-hitting linebacker. But in the future, you’ll want to see Doctor Monheim for your dental problems.
This weekend, Monheim will earn a degree in Community Health, and then it’s off to dental school at Ohio State. Thursday, the Big Ten Conference awarded him a $7,500 scholarship toward that degree.
Two student-athletes from each B1G school received the $7,500 postgraduate scholarship awards from the conference. Recipients
Swimmer Stephanie Hein is Illinois’ other recipient. She’ll pursue a Master’s degree in Teaching & Learning at the University of Michigan, with a focus in STEM Education.
All-in-all, 119 Illini athletes will walk this weekend. 24 of them are football players, former and current. When including last December and this coming August’s commencement ceremonies, 42 football players will have matriculated with a degree or two.
Illini Football Graduation Facts
• 42 football players will earn degrees in 2015-16
• 10 of the 42 are on the current 2016 roster, meaning they’ll already have degrees when they play in 2016
• 9 of the 42 earned a master’s degree or second bachelor’s degree
• 3 of the 42 played pro ball and came back to finish their degrees
» Michael Hoomanawanui (Illinois 2006-09) – current New Orleans Saint
» Kyle Hudson (Illinois 2005-08) – Illini dual-sport star and former Baltimore Oriole
» Corey Liuget (Illinois 2008-10) – current San Diego Charger
• All 6 new Illini in the NFL will have at least one degree
» Geronimo Allison (Packers)
» V’Angelo Bentley (Patriots)
» Josh Ferguson (Colts)
» Clayton Fejedelem (Bengals)
» Ted Karras (Patriots)
» Jihad Ward (Raiders)
• In the last two years, 80 football players have earned degrees
» 42 in 2015-16
» 38 in 2014-15
• Football degrees by year (since 2012)
» 2012 – 15
» 2013 – 16
» 2014 – 21
» 2015 – 38
» 2016 – 42
2015-16 Illinois Football Graduates
| December 2015 (7) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Major |
| Geronimo Allison | Communication |
| Rob Bain | Communication |
| Martize Barr | Communication |
| Josh Ferguson | Kinesiology |
| Eric Finney | Human Development & Family Studies |
| Michael Martin | Mechanical Engineering |
| Cameron Tucker | Political Science |
| May 2016 (24) | |
| Name | Major |
| Taylor Barton | Communication |
| B.J. Bello | Community Health |
| Jesse Chadwell | Communication |
| Ryan Frain | Kinesiology |
| Justin Hardee | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Zach Hirth | Kinesiology |
| Michael Hoomanawanui | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Kyle Hudson | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Ted Karras | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Jevaris Little | Sociology |
| Corey Liuget | Sociology |
| Nelson Lugo | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Wes Lunt | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Mason Monheim | Community Health |
| T.J. Neal | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Chris O’Connor | Agricultural Leadership & Education (2nd degree) |
| Leslie Poole | Accountancy (Master’s) |
| David Reisner | Advertising |
| Joe Spencer | Finance |
| Tyrin Stone-Davis | Communication |
| Mike Svetina | Finance |
| LaKeith Walls | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Sean White | Civil Engineering |
| Taylor Zalewski | Technology Management (Master’s) |
| August 2016 (11) | |
| Name | Major |
| Raphael Barr | Communication |
| V’Angelo Bentley | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Tim Clary | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Cedric Doxy | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Henry Enyenihi | Communication |
| Joe Fotu | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |
| Davontay Kwaaning | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Marchie Murdock | Communication |
| Kenny Nelson | Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Master’s) |
| Teko Powell | Sociology |
| Jihad Ward | Recreation, Sport and Tourism – Sport Management |