SPRINGFIELD -- A total of 33 current and former Missouri State University student-athletes, including 18 football players, will receive their degrees Friday, Dec. 12 during fall commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena on the Springfield campus.
 
Men's soccer also has five graduates in the 2025 fall class. All told, the graduating student-athletes represent nine different sports.

Also of note, 2025 National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony. He was slated to walk in the May 2025 ceremonies but was called up to the Atlanta Braves en route to a stellar Major League debut season. Likewise, emeritus Director of Athletics Bill Rowe will receive the prestigious Bronze Bear Award during the 1:30 p.m. ceremony.

Eight graduating student-athletes earned academic honors. Two student-athletes earned summa cum laude (3.90 to 4.00 GPA) academic honors, including volleyball player Kate (Owen) Haney, and men's soccer standouts Ollie Bate and Alex Matthews. Likewise, magna cum laude distinction (3.75-3.89 GPA) will be bestowed on former football linebacker Caleb Bouldin and STUNT athlete Peighton Powell. Finally, pole vaulter Chelsey Brown, football wide receiver Liam O'Reilly, and women's soccer player Gabbi Schlapper all earned cum laude (3.50-3.74 GPA) honors.
 
Eleven Bears are also completing post-graduate degrees.
 
All told, Missouri State will confer 937 bachelor's degrees, 416 master's degrees, and 15 doctorate degrees on Friday. The university will recognize 14 students for their work with a more rigorous curriculum in the school's Honors College in addition to 78 students who will graduate summa cum laude, 99 magna cum laude and 171 cum laude honorees.

By sport, here are the student-athletes completing their degrees in December 2025:

Baseball (1): Drake Baldwin (General Business)*.

Football (18): Khalil Anderson (General Studies); Ethan Barnett (M.O.T. Occupational Therapy); James BlackStrain (Supply Chain, Logistics and Operations Management); Caleb Bouldin (Economics)**; Jalen Brooks (Finance Graduate Certificate); Erick Cade (Communication Studies); Jacob Clark (Management Graduate Certificate); Gary Clinton (Nonprofit Leadership Undergrad Certificate, Essentials of Hospitality Management Undergrad Certificate); Anthony Frederique (Marketing Grad Certificate); Hayden Hagler (M.P.S. Professional Studies, Sports Management Grad Certificate); Cash Hudson (Psychology); Dash Luke (Communication Studies); Kaden McMullen (Marketing Management); Harrison Menke (Defense & Strategic Studies DDSS); Deamikkio Nathan (Management and Leadership); Liam O'Reilly (Hospitality Leadership)*; Antonio Robinson (General Studies, Relationship Selling Undergraduate Certificate); Tavier Williams (M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling).

Men's Golf (1): Owen Swearingen (Corporate & Investment Finance).

Men's Soccer (5): Ollie Bate (Exercise Science, Sports Nutrition Undergrad Certificate)***; James Jennings (Exercise & Movement Science); Harry Jolley (M.B.A. Business Administration); Alex Matthews (Journalism)***; Michael Peck (M.B.A. Business Administration).

Men's Swimming & Diving (1): Simeon Sabev (M.B.A. Business Administration, Finance Grad Certificate).

STUNT (2): Destiny Matysik (Elementary Education); Peighton Powell (Nursing)**

Volleyball (2): Kate Owen Haney (Psychology)***; Rossana Papa (Physics).

Women's Track & Field (2): Chelsey Brown Totten (Marketing Management, Basic Spanish Communication Undergrad Certificate)*; Katie Griffin (M.B.A Business Administration, Management Graduate Certificate).
KEY
*cum laude
**magna cum laude
***summa cum laude
# Honors College