July 22, 2016

Panthers player gets front-row seat to graduation

A series of injuries were the driving force behind rugby league star Jeremy Latimore’s foray into tertiary education.

Rugby league has such a short career span as it is and it can be quite consuming… riding the rollercoaster that is the NRL,” Latimore said.

A front-rower for the Penrith Panthers, Latimore has spent the better part of five years completing a Bachelor of Business at the University of Wollongong (UOW). Commencing his studies in 2012 while contracted to the St George Illawarra Dragons, Latimore celebrated his graduation this week with his wife and two young children by his side.

“It has been a long journey from when I first started to now… It was definitely a feeling of relief finishing that final exam,” Latimore said.

A change of football clubs, becoming a dad for the first (and second) time and a wedding weren’t going to stop Latimore from completing his studies, with a weekly commute to Wollongong to attend classes a regular part of his training schedule.

“There were plenty of trips [from Penrith to Wollongong] where I was doubting what I was doing, but with the support of my wife, the University and the Graduates of League team I got through it,” he said.

Latimore is the eighth UOW success story from the acclaimed Graduates of League (UOW) program, which aims to support athletes through a peer mentoring program and academic support.

“Now that I’ve done my exams and spent some time with my family I’m looking to get some real world experience and build for my career post-rugby league,” Latimore said.

“But for the moment I enjoy playing rugby league and spending a few days here and there in the real world.”

Latimore was a member of the 2014 NRL Academic Team of the Year and in 2015 was the Panthers nominee for the prestigious Ken Stephen Medal, in recognition of his significant contribution to charity and community initiatives.