Elizabeth Hightower graduated with her bachelor's in Anthropology Friday evening.
Hightower Graduates Magna Cum Laude
Friday, December 17, 2021 | Softball, Otis Hawkins Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Elizabeth Hightower of the Florida softball team graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor's degree in Anthropology. The senior's graduation ceremony was held Friday evening inside Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
"Graduating magna cum laude from a top five public institution is an incredible achievement and I couldn't be more excited for Elizabeth." Head Coach Tim Walton said. "Her commitment to her academics compliments her drive to excel on the field and I look forward to being able to witness her continued growth both academically and athletically throughout the rest of her career."
Hightower, a 2021 NFCA All-American, is entering her senior season as a right-handed pitcher for the Gators and is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and 2019 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll member.
In 2021, the Monticello, Fla. native also hurled the first no-hitter of her career against USF in the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship game. It was only the fourth complete-game no-hitter thrown by a Florida pitcher in NCAA tournament play.
She finished the season with a 1.61 ERA that included 11 complete-games, seven complete-game shutouts, and six additional combined shutouts with three saves.
Academically, Hightower will pursue her master's in Sport Management, while also contributing to an independent study that focuses on analyzing the diets of inhabitants that lived in St. Augustine during the 17th century.
Elizabeth Hightower – Anthropology – Monticello, Fla.
"Graduating and receiving a degree from the University of Florida has set me up to become successful in the future." Hightower said. "Without UF and Tony (Meacham), I would have never found a career path that I am so passionate about. The University of Florida breeds excellence and I am proud to continue that tradition in the classroom and for the rest of my life."
"Graduating magna cum laude from a top five public institution is an incredible achievement and I couldn't be more excited for Elizabeth." Head Coach Tim Walton said. "Her commitment to her academics compliments her drive to excel on the field and I look forward to being able to witness her continued growth both academically and athletically throughout the rest of her career."
Hightower, a 2021 NFCA All-American, is entering her senior season as a right-handed pitcher for the Gators and is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and 2019 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll member.
In 2021, the Monticello, Fla. native also hurled the first no-hitter of her career against USF in the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship game. It was only the fourth complete-game no-hitter thrown by a Florida pitcher in NCAA tournament play.
She finished the season with a 1.61 ERA that included 11 complete-games, seven complete-game shutouts, and six additional combined shutouts with three saves.
Academically, Hightower will pursue her master's in Sport Management, while also contributing to an independent study that focuses on analyzing the diets of inhabitants that lived in St. Augustine during the 17th century.
Elizabeth Hightower – Anthropology – Monticello, Fla.
"Graduating and receiving a degree from the University of Florida has set me up to become successful in the future." Hightower said. "Without UF and Tony (Meacham), I would have never found a career path that I am so passionate about. The University of Florida breeds excellence and I am proud to continue that tradition in the classroom and for the rest of my life."
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ SoftballFlorida Men's Basketball | Head Coach Todd Golden Postgame Press Conference | Providence
Saturday, November 29
Florida Men's Basketball | Xaivian Lee Postgame Media Availability | Providence
Saturday, November 29
Florida Men's Basketball | Xaivian Lee BREAKS DEFENDER'S ANKLES and Drains the Three-Pointer 😨😤
Friday, November 28
Florida Women's Baskteball | Gators ON SITE in the Cayman Islands 🌊
Friday, November 28
