UT's commencement: A cancer patient honored, a military homecoming, and a posthumous degree

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville awarded nearly 1,900 undergraduate degrees, and honored several special graduates at a winter commencement ceremony full of emotion Friday morning.

Three graduates received special recognition: a graduate who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment received his degree via live stream; the mother of a student who died in February accepted his posthumous degree; and a third graduate was reunited in a surprise visit from her brother who is serving in the Air Force.

UT Knoxville Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis and Gov. Bill Haslam spoke during the ceremony, congratulating the graduates on their degrees.

“This moment marks an achievement and the end of one phase of your life, but it is by no means the end of your education,” Davis said, encouraging graduates to “carry with you the spirit of a Volunteer.”

Haslam, whose father is a UT Knoxville graduate, offered advice to the graduates, encouraging students to stay involved in public education. Haslam said one of the “big problems in our country today…is income inequality.”

“I think the fundamental hope for addressing that situation lies in access to public education,” Haslam said. “I hope you’ll find a way to play a role in that.”

Student undergoing chemo honored

As part of the ceremony, UT honored Paul Whited, a graduating student who could not attend the ceremony because he is currently undergoing his third round of chemotherapy at UT Medical Center.

Whited started at UT Knoxville in the fall of 2011, but was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in January 2016. He underwent treatment and was able to return to classes, but in the fall of 2017, Whited learned the cancer had spread to his bones and lungs, according to a release from the university.

After undergoing more treatment, Whited returned to UT this fall to finish his degree. A few weeks ago, Whited learned the treatment had not worked and skin cancer was found on his leg.

Whited could not attend the ceremony in person, so he, along with his parents, oncologist and Haslam College of Business Assistant Department Head of accounting and information management Anita Hollander, joined the ceremony via live stream.

When Whited’s name was called, he was projected onto the screens in the arena. Hollander presented Whited his degree in accounting, while the commencement crowd at UT cheered.

“They wanted me to start that chemotherapy immediately, to stop school again,” Whited said in the release. “I told them I just wanted to finish school and then focus on the treatment. I’m one of those seven-year seniors. Just getting the degree is what matters to me. I’m just happy to be able to finish the degree.”

Whited's doctors have "devised a new chemotherapy regimen they hope will finally do the trick," and he will spend next year focusing on his health before looking for internships, jobs or applying to graduate school, according to the release.

Posthumous degree given to student who died in February

Joseph “Tanner” Wray, a UT student who died in February during a charity boxing match, received a posthumous degree, which was accepted by his mother.

Wray collapsed between rounds of the Ace Miller Memorial Boxing Tournament at the Knoxville Expo Center on Feb. 23. The annual tournament raises money for the Golden Gloves Gym in Knoxville. Wray, who served as vice president of the Chi Phi fraternity at UT, had been training for the tournament for several months. 

Wray received medical attention during the tournament and was taken to the UT Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Amy Schisler, Wray’s mother, said it was an honor and “it means so very much” to be able to accept Wray’s degree.

"It is kind of like the cap on all his hard work," Schisler said. "He worked so hard to maintain his grades."

Schisler said Wray was planning to get a master’s degree after graduation and wanted to work for NASA or SpaceX. Wray’s degree was in honors aerospace engineering, and he graduated Summa Cum Laude based on his grade point average from February.

Wray was a lifelong Vols fan, and Schisler said she was grateful for the help and support UT had provided since his death.

"Tanner loved, and I can't stress this enough, he loved being a UT Volunteer," Schisler said before Friday's ceremony. "Ever since he was little, he wanted to be a part of that university. It's just amazing to me how wonderful that place has been to us, to me and my family."

Student reunited with brother who's in the Air Force

Graduating senior Amaya Linsey got a special surprise during the ceremony, when her brother, who has been on Air Force assignment in North Dakota, showed up. Linsey had not seen her brother, Airman First Class Jerald Linsey Jr., since last December. 

Amaya Linsey, whose degree is in retail and consumer science, did not know her brother would be attending Friday’s ceremony, and was surprised to see him standing at the end of the stage.

The brother and sister received a standing ovation as they hugged on stage before reuniting with the rest of their family, who traveled from Memphis for the ceremony. 

Nearly 1,900 undergraduate degrees awarded

UT awarded 1,864 undergraduate degrees, 1,133 graduate degrees and certificates and two law degrees on Friday, according to a news release from the university.

Three graduating ROTC cadets were also commissioned at Friday’s ceremonies.

Friday marked the end of the fall semester at UT Knoxville. Classes for the spring semester are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 9.

"To you, as graduates, thank you," Davis said during the ceremony. "Thank you for choosing the University of Tennessee and for giving so much of yourself...you have made UT a better place."