Fall graduation ceremonies take place on the University of Florida campus this weekend, with four Gator student-athletes participating in commencement events. UF’s fall commencement ceremonies take place Saturday, Dec. 20.
Sebastien Rousseau (courtesy of Mike Lewis)
Brad deBorde (Longwood, Fla.), Sebastien Rousseau (Cape Town, South Africa), Connor Signorin (East Windsor, N.J.) and Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.) will participate in this tomorrow’s commencement, as they finished their eligibility last spring.
Beisel was a 2008 and 2012 Olympian and was the 2012 SEC Swimmer of the Year. She also picked up the 2013 Capital One At-Large Academic All-American of the Year award. Beisel won NCAA individual titles in 2012 (200 backstroke) and 2013 (400 individual medley). Beisel and Gator Great Tim Tebow are the only Gators to earn Capital One Academic All-America first-team honors each year eligible for the honor. She was joined on the 2013 and 2014 Capital One Academic All-America teams by deBorde and they both received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships in May.
At Saturday’s commencement, deBorde will be recognized as the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Senior Leader.
Rousseau, a member of South Africa’s 2008 and 2012 Olympics teams, was part of Florida’s NCAA champion 800 freestyle relays in 2011 and 2013. Meanwhile, Signorin was a five-time All-American during his time in the Orange & Blue.
In addition, 23 other student-athletes will be walking across the stage on Saturday. Athletically, the 2014 Fall class has had five Gators who have been a part of nine NCAA title teams and 14 on 17 SEC Championship squads.
I love Beisel.
Congrats Liz! You’re the best! Never stop working! Don’t ever be satisfied! And keep smiling because that’s what we all love about you!
Awesome that she and Brad Deborde can be world class swimmers and still finish their education.
Beisel is one of the class acts, if not the classiest act, for USA Swimming. Hope to see her a top a podium in an individual event in Rio.