UCLA Graduate Gets Degree Posthumously

UCLA handed out nearly 450 master of business degrees Friday, but one face was missing among the graduates--that of Gregory Bolin.

The 31-year-old man was killed riding his bicycle June 6, the last day of classes for business students at UCLA’s John E. Anderson School of Management.

Bolin, who was engaged to be married, would have started in August as an investment banker with Lehman Brothers in San Francisco.

“He was real upbeat, someone always able to laugh at himself,” said Eric Mokover, assistant dean and director of the Anderson School’s MBA program.

UCLA awarded Bolin’s degree posthumously and honored the former student during the graduation ceremony with a minute of silence.

The Anderson School also worked with federal student loan authorities to ensure that Bolin’s $39,000 in school loans would be forgiven.

Although his academic achievements were highlighted Friday, Bolin was perhaps better known for his athletic prowess. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the UCLA football team for four years and played in three Rose Bowl games. In high school, Bolin played football and basketball.