SAN ANTONIO (May 12, 2020) – Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) celebrated the spring graduating student-athlete class of 2020 with a special Mass broadcast on Facebook on May 7. The Mass was held in recognition and thanksgiving for graduates whose commencement ceremonies had to be postponed until December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Father David Garcia offered blessings for all the graduates, and he blessed graduation symbols such as rings and other jewelry. OLLU President Diane E. Melby, PhD, addressed graduates and their families and friends during the Mass.
Spring graduates will be included in commencement ceremonies in December.
Upon the conclusion of the Saints' 13th season of NAIA athletics, 27 student-athletes graduated from OLLU.
Athletic Director Shane Hurley said, "The ultimate goal of our student-athletes is to not only excel in their sport but to earn their degree. We are proud of all of those who sacrificed so much to put in hard work and dedication to be able to achieve this great feat. I, along with our coaches and staff, are proud of everyone for their success."
Of the 27 athletes graduating, two played multiple sports, including Andrew Moczygemba (Cross-Country / Track and Field) and Patience Okpe (Track and Field / Basketball). Two softball alumni members, Tiffany (Stritz) Subia and Brooke Vasquez, earned their MBAs.
Here is a list of who received their degrees this spring 2020, their sport and their degree:
BASEBALL
Mick Hernandez
BBA MARKETING
BASKETBALL
PJ Escobar
BS KINESIOLOGY
Irma Jean Ealy
BA CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Brandon Joseph
BBA MANAGEMENT
Ryan Otis
BA CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Michael Saladin
BS KINESIOLOGY
Kasey Saldana
BS BIOLOGY
Lena Wilson
BS KINESIOLOGY
CHEER
Lauryn Castro
BA COMM DISORDERS
Juliana Guerrero
BBA MARKETING
Jazlyn Hernandez
BA CDIS
CROSS-COUNTRY / TRACK AND FIELD
Andrew Moczygemba
BBA MARKETING
SOCCER
Adam Bieker
BS BIOLOGY
Ilaina Brenes-Rodriguez
BS KINESIOLOGY
Matheus Campos
BBA MANAGEMENT
Giovanni Cardenas
BS KINESIOLOGY
Maryssa Garza
BS BIOLOGY
Nick Genthon
BS CHEMISTRY
Joel Gonzalez
BA CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SOFTBALL
Tiffany (Stritz) Subia
MBA HEALTH CARE
Brooke Vasquez
MBA MANAGEMENT
TRACK AND FIELD / BASKETBALL
Patience Okpe
BA MULTIDISCIPLINARY
TRACK AND FIELD
Aundrea Culliver
BS KINESIOLOGY
Miki Romain
BS BIOLOGY
Clayton Townsend
BS BIOLOGY
VOLLEYBALL
Natalie Fazio
BA MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Anyssa Rivera
BA POLITICAL SCIENCE
Special Note: Some listed will finish out their studies in the summer, but would have been able to walk the stage in the spring.