Left, NFL and former Buckeye running back Eddie George displays his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture (he was not a participant in the program described on this page).
Melissa Ann Yahle, right, received her B.S. in human ecology and an autograph from George.

OSU reaches out to athletes to help them earn degrees

Buckeye athletes who leave Ohio State without their degrees are encouraged by counselors in Student Athlete Support Services to experience a glory unknown to them, no matter how stellar their sports careers are -- the glory of graduation.

Kate Riffee, assistant director of athletics, said she and the other counselors in her office share a special friendship with the athletes.

"We work with them from the time they come to campus. They come to us with their problems and, over the years, we become a family," she said. "That relationship allows us to be honest with them. We tell them how important an education is, and we urge them to make plans for the times when they're no longer just an athlete."

That's where the Athletic Department's Outreach Program comes in, Riffee said. The Outreach Program gives former student athletes the opportunity to complete their degrees. "They hear about it from us and their coaches," she said. "It's definitely something we want them to be aware of."

To date, 63 former Buckeyes have enrolled in the program, 38 have graduated and six are currently enrolled for summer and/or fall quarter, she said. Spring quarter, there were 12 former student athletes in the program -- seven of whom graduated June 8, including former OSU basketball player Scoonie Penn and professional women's volleyball player Jenn Flynn. But not all of them are professional athletes, Riffee said.

Currently in its sixth year, the program covers the cost of tuition and fees in exchange for athletes volunteering their time in the Department of Athletics. "Since the financial support must be'earned aid,'they must work in the Athletic Department in exchange for their tuition assistance. They help us organize events, work in the athletic communications office, tutor -- whatever best fits for them," Riffee said. "One such athlete is Mike Vrabel. When he wraps up the NFL season, he comes back to campus, takes a few classes and volunteers in the weight room." Vrabel, a fourth-year exercise science major, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997.

To be eligible for the program, former student athletes must meet with their college office to verify the courses necessary to complete the degree and take only those courses. They also must sign a contract agreeing to the conditions of the program and arrange for the volunteer experience, according to Riffee.

Some former student athletes graduate quickly enough to allow Ohio State to include them in its six-year graduation rates, Riffee said. "But that's not the main reason we're doing this," she said. "We're doing it because it's a great program, and we want them to graduate. We care about them, and this is one way we can honor our commitment to them."

Other athletes who have received their diplomas through the program include: former NBA player Clark Kellogg, football players Greg Bellisari, Ty Howard, Tito Paul and Dean Miller, and former women's basketball player Roslyn Barker.

Above, graduates cheer for O-H-I-O.

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