University of Oklahoma Athletics
Celebrating OU Student-Athlete Graduates
May 08, 2015 | Athletics
NORMAN – Mother Nature initially forced the University of Oklahoma's general Commencement ceremony from Owen Field to Lloyd Noble Center before the ceremony was cancelled completely because of the forecast of dangerous weather conditions.
While the rest of the Class of 2015 was dealing with the problems caused by the weather, the 126 members of the OU Athletics Department's graduating class were celebrating their accomplishments at the annual Max Weitzenhoffer Student-Athlete Graduation Reception.
Typically held before the University-wide ceremony, the 2015 reception became the graduation ceremony for many of OU's student-athletes. The Sooner class included 113 who were receiving a bachelor's degree, 12 who had earned master's degrees and one DDS. The department honored those who had completed degrees in December 2014 and May 2015 as well as those who will complete degrees this summer.
I never could have imagined a community of people who would be so welcoming ... We can all reach our dreams because of what OU has prepared us to do.”
Danny Berardini, Men's Gymnastics, Class of 2015
In addition to the usual family photos, the graduates were recognized by team by their academic advisors. The top graduates, Ty Darlington of football and Jessica Vest of the Sooner softball team, were recognized. Two graduates, Whitney Ritchie and Danny Berardini, were selected to make comments on behalf of the class.
Ritchie, who played four years for the OU women's tennis team, then joined the OU women's basketball team for her fifth year, spoke first. After recalling her five-year Sooner career as a student-athlete, Ritchie of Oklahoma City challenged her classmates. “Let's go out and do good things and never forget we are Oklahoma Sooners.”
Berardini, a member of the 2015 men's gymnastics national championship team, shared his memories of being a freshman. “I never could have imagined a community of people who would be so welcoming,” Berardini, of Lake Forest, Ill., said. “I will always remember the relationships – those with teammates, coaches, classmates, professors. It was like being a part of a big, caring family.”
He then challenged his classmates, speaking as a member of a national championship team. “It was the perfect ending to a perfect career. My teammates and I decided we needed to dream big after three consecutive runner-up finishes. We were able to do what we set out to do – win a national title. We can all reach our dreams because of what OU has prepared us to do.”
The reception ended with comments by Joe Castiglione, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics. He spoke first to the families, thanking each for “trusting us to work with your sons and daughters, helping them reach goals and bringing us to this celebration of all of their accomplishments.”
Those accomplishments include three national titles, 32 individual national titles, five consecutive seasons in the top 20 of the Learfield Director's Cup standings, 23 conference titles, 25 All-Americans and 20 Academic All-Americans in the five years since many of the graduates arrived in Norman during the 2010-11 academic year.
Castiglione closed the ceremony by asking all student-athletes to stand and toast their families. “Offer a toast and raise your glass in celebration of what you have achieved and how you have grown. Toast your family for all they have done to help you and to help us celebrate your accomplishments.”
Weather and Mother Nature permitting, the Sooner graduates will participate in college convocations on Saturday.
