Forty student athletes walked the stage in part of UTEP’s graduation commencement on Saturday.
UTEP’s all-time rushing leader and Green Bay Packer running back Aaron Jones was among the graduates, returning to UTEP for his bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies.
Out of the athletes graduating, 28 earned recognition on the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, which including having a 3.0 GPA or better, and nine receivedC-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medals, which requires a minimum 3.75 GPA. Softball’s Courtney Clayton, soccer’s Jeanna Mullen and tennis’ Lois Wagenvoort are four-time C-USA Academic Medal recipients.
Below is a list of the graduates, courtesy of UTEP athletics:
Chad Ahn (Men’s Golf) – Marketing major
Richardson, Texas
- Competed in 12 tournaments as a Miner
- His tie for 35th at the 2017 Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational was a career best
- Was the only Miner to post two eagles at the Price’s tournament
Raven Bennett (Tennis) – Biological Sciences major
Mesquite, Texas
- Played in 63 singles and 67 doubles matches in three years, notching 33 singles wins
- Named the 2017 team MVP
- Recorded back-to-back seasons with 15 singles wins in 2016 and 2017
- President of UTEP’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016, 2017, 2018)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2016)
Yanique Bennett (Track & Field) – Kinesiology major
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
- Was a part of the women’s track & field team that won three consecutive C-USA indoor titles, and also a member of the Miners’ first conference outdoor championship team
- Finished her career with two conference titles in the 400m hurdles
- Ranks No. 2 in school history in the 400m hurdles with a career-best 58.27 seconds
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016)
Jerrod Brooks (Football) – Criminal Justice major
Dallas, Texas
- Will be a senior on the 2018 squad
- Played in 28 games, making eight starts at right tackle
- Was used in multiple run-blocking schemes as a sophomore
- His efforts helped Aaron Jones gain a program-record 1,773 rushing yards in 2016
Sofia Castiello (Women’s Golf) – Communication Studies major
Guadalajara, Mexico
- Played in 29 tournaments for the Miners over three seasons
- Ranked second on the team in scoring average as a sophomore and junior
- Picked up a pair of top-10 finishes
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015)
Daniel Cheruiyot (Track & Field) – Biochemistry major
Eldoret, Kenya
- Scored 15 points, helping the Miners to a second place finish at the 2015 Conference USA Outdoor Championship
- Earned a career-best fourth-place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Texas Relays with a personal-best time of 9:01.61
- Scored a career-high 17 points at the 2016 C-USA Outdoor Championships, finishing with two bronze medals and a fifth-place finish
Courtney Clayton (Softball) – Health Promotion major
Cornelius, Ore.
- Started all 210 games during her four-year career, second-most in program history
- Ranks second on UTEP’s all-time hits list with 251, while setting the school record with 386 assists
- Named the 2016 C-USA Player of the Year
- 2018 “Golden Miner” award winner as UTEP’s top all-around senior student-athlete
- Leads all UTEP seniors with 56.5 community service hours
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Charles Corner (Men’s Golf) – Finance major
Cayuga, Ontario, Canada
- Two-time Conference USA Second Team selection, 2018 InTouch Credit Union All-Academic team member and two-time conference Golfer of the Week recipient
- Part of the 2017 Conference USA Championship lineup
- NCAA Regional selection as an individual in 2018
- Led the Miners with a 71.5 scoring average and was the team’s top finisher in four of five spring tournaments in 2018
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015)
Luke Elsner (Football) – Management major
Seymour, Wis.
- Defensive lineman played in 14 games for the Miners
- Was a three-year letterwinner
- Notched a total of 15 tackles
- Participated in six contests as a true freshman, seeing action on special teams and defense
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Kaitlin Fifield (Softball) – Education major
El Paso, Texas
- Tied for third on the school’s all-time wins list with 24
- Ranks third with 445 innings
- Made 68 starts and 107 appearances in the circle during her four-year career
- Won a career-high 11 games in 2016, while helping the Miners advance to the C-USA Tournament
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Derron Gatewood (Football) – Kinesiology major
Odessa, Texas
- Will be a senior on the 2018 squad
- Has played in 28 games, making 23 starts at center and right guard
- Started all 12 games in 2016 and helped pave the way for Aaron Jones to rush for a program-record 1,773 yards
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2017, 2018)
Erika Harrawood (Softball) – Financial Analyst major
El Paso, Texas
- Started 34 games in the circle and made 66 appearances during her four-year career
- Threw over 170 innings with 86 strikeouts
- Won a trio of games during her senior season and registered a career-high 53 K’s
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2014, 2015)
Omega Harris (Men’s Basketball) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Bethany, Okla.
- Ranks second in school history in three-point field goals (174), fifth in minutes (3,767), eighth in three-point percentage (.388), ninth in scoring (1,407 points) and 10th in steals (126)
- Scored in double figures 74 times with fourteen 20-point games
- Started 100 games for the Miners … third team All-Conference USA as a junior
- Team MVP as a senior
Devyn Hunley (Soccer) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Tucson, Ariz.
- Two-year letterwinner who appeared in 36 games, including eight starts, for the Miners
- Vice President of UTEP’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2017, 2018)
Aaron Jones (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
El Paso, Texas
- UTEP’s all-time leading rusher (4,114 yards) and ranks seventh on the Conference USA all-time rushing list
- Broke John Harvey’s 28-year old school record, rushing for 1,773 yards as a senior
- Earned Associated Press All-American third team and All-C-USA first team honors
- Currently plays for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, rushing for 448 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie last season
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014)
Terry Juniel (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Surprise, Ariz.
- Will be a senior on the 2018 squad
- Has played in 24 games for UTEP
- Has seen the field as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner
- During his career has returned 35 punts for 254 yards with 30 kickoff returns for 697 yards
- Returned six punts for 104 yards versus NM State in 2016
Amanda King (Volleyball) – Kinesiology major
Boynton, Fla.
- Played in 204 sets and 56 matches in two years as a Miner
- Finished her career ranked third on UTEP’s all-time assist list with 1,129
- Added 87 kills, 23 service aces, 350 digs and 42 total blocks
- Recorded five double-doubles in her senior season while also registering a career-high 55 assists against Rice
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2017, 2018)
Dylan Kittrell (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Carrollton, Texas
- Wide receiver played for the Miners for two seasons
- Saw action in three games and made one start
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016, 2017)
Lilian Koech (Track & Field) – Biological Sciences major
Eldoret, Kenya
- Was a part of the women’s track & field team that won three consecutive C-USA indoor titles, and also a member of the Miners’ first conference outdoor championship team
- Named the 2015 Conference USA Outdoor Freshman of the Meet
- Holds the fourth-fastest time in program history in the 800m with a career-best 2:04.68
- Has eligibility through the 2019 season
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016)
Dante Lovilotte (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Port Arthur, Texas
- Registered 161 tackles in two seasons, second most by a Miner during that span, after transferring from Kilgore College
- Started all 24 games at the linebacker position
- Added five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 1.5 sacks
Prescott Mann (Men’s Golf) – Entrepreneurship major
Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Played in 28 tournaments for the Miners
- Registered two top-10 finishes during his senior year, including tying for fourth place at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate
- His collegiate best was a third-place showing at the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational in 2016
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014, 2015)
Ryan Metz (Football) – Math major
El Paso, Texas
- Will be a senior on the 2018 team
- Has played in 26 games and made 17 starts at quarterback
- Has 23 career touchdown passes, needing only one to crack the program’s top-10 list
- Led the Miners to a five-overtime victory at UTSA in 2016 and came on in relief at NM State, leading UTEP to a come-from-behind OT victory over the Aggies as a freshman
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Lawrence Montegut (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
La Marque, Texas
- Played in 38 games for UTEP, seeing action on defense and special teams
- Notched 56 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one blocked kick
- Posted a season-best 24 tackles as a junior
Jeanna Mullen (Soccer) – Accounting major
San Antonio, Texas
- Four-year letterwinner for the UTEP soccer team who started in her final three seasons for the Miners
- Picked up eight goals and seven assists for a total of 23 points
- Three of her goals were match winners, including one to upset second-seeded Rice at the 2016 C-USA Championships
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Elijah Perales (Football) – Kinesiology major
El Paso, Texas
Member of the UTEP football roster during the 2017 season, working with the scout team
C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2017, 2018)
C-USA Academic Medal (2017, 2018)
Nicklas Pihl (Men’s Golf) – Finance major
Ringsted, Denmark
- Competed in 42 tournaments for the Miners
- Part of the 2017 Conference USA Championship lineup
- Topped the Miners’ scorecard at the 2018 conference championship, tying for sixth place
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Warren Redix (Football) – Multimedia Journalism major
El Paso, Texas
- Will be a senior on the 2018 team
- Has played in 35 games for UTEP, making seven starts at wide receiver
- Has registered 49 catches for 414 yards and five touchdowns
- Last season, registered a career-long 44-yard scoring reception against Rice
- Hauled in a game-winning six-yard touchdown reception during five-overtime victory at UTSA in 2016
Alisa Rodriguez (Women’s Golf) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Austin, Texas
- Appeared in 39 tournaments for UTEP
- Team leader in scoring average as a junior and posted a career-low 75.8 average as a senior
- Recorded 10 top-10 and 13 top-20 finishes
- Tied for second at the Aggie Invitational as a senior
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Kaitlin Ryder (Softball) – Criminal Justice major
Chatsworth, Calif.
- Played in 198 games and made 181 starts during her four-year career
- Became the eighth Miner to join the 100-RBI club and finished her career with a .335 batting average, ranking sixth on the program’s all-time list
- Also connected on 18 career long balls, tied for eighth in the record book
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Duda Santos (Tennis) – International Business & Finance major
Curitiba, Brazil
- Played in 66 matches in three seasons as a Miner
- Notched 32 singles and 39 doubles wins
- Owns the best single-season doubles win percentage in program history (.769) in 2015
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015, 2016, 2017)
Rachael Schoenrock (Rifle) – Kinesiology major
Beatrice, Neb.
- Four-year competitor in both disciplines for the UTEP rifle team
- Paced the Miners in aggregate average in each of her final three seasons
- Boasts two of the top-five aggregate totals in school history, in addition to four of the top-10 smallbore records
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2017)
Tamara Seda (Women’s Basketball) – Management major
Maputo, Mozambique
- Three-year starter in the post who ranks second in school history for double-doubles, fourth in field-goal percentage, fifth in rebounds, sixth in blocked shots and tied for ninth in rebounding average
- Second team All-Conference USA as a senior when she averaged 14.9 points and 9.6 boards
- Helped the Miners win the 2016 C-USA regular-season championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the WNIT
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016, 2017, 2018)
Michael Sota (Football) – Criminal Justice major
Placentia, Calif.
- Defensive lineman is entering his final season in the Orange and Blue
- Has played in 22 games and made nine starts
- Has recorded 62 tackles, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and four tackles for loss
Truphena Sum (Track & Field) – Microbiology major
Kitale, Kenya
- Was a part of the women’s track & field team that won three consecutive C-USA indoor titles, and also a member of the Miners’ first conference outdoor championship team
- Clocked a personal-best 4:47.23 in the 1,500m at the 2015 C-USA Outdoor Championships, scoring four points for the Miners
Florence Uwakwe (Track & Field) – Kinesiology major.
Aboh Mbaise, Nigeria
- Was a part of the women’s track & field team that won three consecutive C-USA indoor titles, and also a member of the Miners’ first conference outdoor championship team
- Finished 25th in the 400m at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships
- Garnered two C-USA individual titles in the 400m
- Holds the second-fastest 400m time in school history (51.94 seconds)
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2016, 2017)
Sarah Villa (Volleyball) – Education major
El Paso, Texas
- Played in 369 sets and 107 matches in four years as a Miner
- UTEP’s all-time leader with 1,369 digs and 3.71 digs per set
- Notched a career-high 45 digs against Southern Miss in 2015
- Finished her career with 216 assists, 35 service aces and 15 kills
- Was a 2016 All-Conference Second Team selection
Daphne Visscher (Tennis) – International Business & Management major
Elst, Netherlands
- Played in 117 matches in four years as a Miner, posting 50 singles and 53 doubles wins
- Tied for fourth on UTEP’s singles wins list and rates fourth in doubles wins
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Lois Wagenvoort (Tennis) – International Business major
Arnhem, Netherlands
- Competed in 102 singles and 101 doubles matches, notching 37 singles wins and 41 doubles victories
- Recorded a 16-win season in 2016
- Ranks in the program top-10 for most singles wins
- C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- C-USA Academic Medal (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Josh Weeks (Football) – Multidisciplinary Studies major
Show Low, Ariz.
- Tight end has two seasons of eligibility remaining
- Played in seven games last season
- Recorded six receptions for 68 yards (11.3 avg.) and a touchdown
- Scored first collegiate touchdown and recorded season-highs in receptions (two), receiving yards (43) and long reception (41 yards) at UAB
Tatum Winter (Volleyball) – Marketing major
Gilbert, Ariz.
- Played in 175 sets and 53 matches in two years as a Miner
- Registered 226 kills and 145 blocks
- Ranks fifth on UTEP’s all-time blocks list
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