Dec. 18, 2006
Congratulations to all the Georgia Tech student-athletes who earned their degrees as the Institute held its fall semester Commencement Saturday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Two current football players graduated Saturday – starting tight end Michael Matthews and backup Wayne Riles.
Also among the graduates was former football standout Andy Tidwell-Neal, a two-year starter on the offensive line and team captain in 2004. After pursuing professional football, Andy returned to school and finished his degree this semester.
During his Tech career, Andy and his parents, Carol Tidwell and James Neal, became friends with long-time Tech supporter Robert Tidwell, who is no relation but became Andy’s biggest fan because of the common name.
Robert is a 1965 Georgia Tech graduate, but he was not able to attend his own graduation. At that time, the Institute held one commencement each year at the Fox Theatre, but Robert was in school in Biloxi, Miss., studying Electronic Aircraft Navigation Equipment for the U.S. Air Force.
So four decades later, Robert Tidwell attended his very first Georgia Tech commencement as Andy’s guest.
Also graduating Saturday was Eddie Ivery, Jr., the son of Tech’s legendary running back, Eddie Lee Ivery. The younger Ivery came to Tech on a football scholarship but his career ended prematurely after three major knee injuries.
Fall, 2006 GraduatesJared Hyatt, baseball, BSMGTWayne Riles, football, BSMGTEddie Ivery, football, BSMGTAjenavi Eziemefe, football, BSMGTAndrew Tidwell-Neal, football, BSMGTMichael Matthews, football, BSMGTTeemu Kettunen, men's swimming, BSIEAshley Guerrant, women's basketball, BSINTACheytoria Phillips, women's basketball, BSMGTJessica Williams, women's basketball, BSMGTChristine Sheridan, women's softball, MSECONLaura Heiser, women's swimming, MSMGTAndriane Lapsley, women's track, BSINTAAlexandra Van Heuven, women's track, BSMGTKelly Anderson, women's tennis, BSMGTKacie Anson, women's tennis, BSHTSChase Sasser, men's track, BSMGTLynnette Moster, volleyball, BSMGTJennifer Randall, volleyball, BSMGTSuzanne Nelson, cheerleading, BSMGT
