SAN MARCOS, Texas –The Texas State Athletics Department held its December Academic Ring Ceremony Friday morning to celebrate the accomplishments of 17 Bobcat student-athletes. The ceremony was held in the Warren Reception Room prior to the student-athletes participating in University Commencement Exercises on Friday and Saturday.  
 
The 17 graduates include football players Stephan Johnson, James Sherman, Tommy Simmons and Tyler Watts; volleyball players Erin Hoppe and Halee Brewer; baseball players Theodore Hoffman, Dylan Paul, Braden Pearson and Mickey Scott; men's basketball player Deris Duncan; softball players Randi Rupp, Sara Rupp and Sierra Steimel; and track and field's Esther Oyetunde, Alvin Chikaeze and Jose Angel Gonzalez.
 
The student-athletes were members of six Sun Belt Conference championship teams; two Sun Belt Tournament Championship teams; and competed on teams in four NCAA Regional Tournaments and two other postseason tournaments. The track and field athletes combined to compete as individuals at NCAA Regional Preliminary meets five times.
 
The group also combined to earn NCAA All-Region recognition five times, All-Sun Belt Conference honors 14 times, and Sun Belt Player of the Year honors three times.  They also were named members of Sun Belt All-Tournament Teams four times. They include a two-time NCAA All-American and finalist for the Senior Class Award.
 
The group also includes one CoSIDA Academic All-American a two-time NABC Honors Court member, 42 Bobcat Academic Excellence Award winners and eight Star of Excellence Award recipients. They also were named to the Sun Belt Commissioner's List eight times and Sun Belt Honor Roll 14 times. In addition, they were on the Dean's List at Texas State a combined 28 times.

In addition to the 17 student-athletes honored Friday, five other Texas State student-athletes will graduate this weekend. They include men's basketball player Eric Terry, football players Anthony D. Taylor, Jacob Rowland and Malik Alley, and women's basketball player Zandra Emanuel.
 
Each of the student-athletes was presented with the Athletics "T" Ring, graduation cords and a Sun Belt Conference Medallion to wear during graduation commencement on Friday and Saturday in the University Events Center.
 
The "T" Ring symbolizes excellence on the playing field as well as the classroom. The criteria for receiving the ring includes 1) earning a "T" letter from the Athletic Department; 2) completing NCAA eligibility at Texas State and 3) earning a bachelor's degree within one year after eligibility has expired.
 
Along with their rings, all graduating student-athletes receive the maroon and gold cords to wear during graduation commencements. A tradition introduced by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in December 2008, the cords serve to recognize student-athletes as a unique group on campus.
 
The student-athletes were also presented with Sun Belt Conference medallions, which serve to distinguish each student-athlete who has competed in the Sun Belt and earned a degree. The student-athletes may wear the medallions during graduation to honor their accomplishments and to show their pride in the Sun Belt Conference.