The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn graduates presented with student-athlete stoles
05.18.2018 | Football
On Thursday and Friday, Texas Athletics celebrated graduating student-athletes, including 16 from football.
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Approximately 10,000 students will graduate from The University of Texas this weekend. They'll receive their diploma from not only one of the best academic institutions in the country, but frankly, one of the best in the world. Just seventy-eight UT graduates will be distinguished as they walk across the stage, as they'll don a white stole with burnt orange lettering that reads "Student Athlete."
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"For the rest of your life, you'll be a Longhorn," Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte told the graduates on Thursday night. "You'll go places around the world and you'll have that T-Ring. When you're walking across the stage this weekend, I want every single person to know that you represent The University of Texas (as a student-athlete). There's only going to be 78 of you that have this."
While UT Athletics has annually celebrated its graduates, Thursday night's event was the first of its kind. The student-athletes had the opportunity to come together as a graduating class to enjoy an evening with their families, fellow graduating student-athletes, coaches and administrators.
"This was special because it was a culmination of all of the students' hard work, both on the field, off the field and academically," Dr. LaToya Smith, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services, said. "All of their blood, sweat and tears paid off. This was a way to show that Texas Athletics celebrates students just as much as we celebrate the athlete. It was a wonderful event that really does culminate into how excellent our Longhorns are."
The evening began with a reception for student-athletes and their families before the formal program started. It was an opportunity for the 78 graduating student-athletes to come together, not only with their teammates, but their fellow Longhorns who have competed in the burnt orange alongside them for the past several years.
"It's a special night," Soccer's Mikayla Flores, who is graduating with a degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry, said. "I was just over there taking pictures with other athletes. It brings you together and makes you feel like family. Having everyone here to see all of our accomplishments is very special."
Following brief introductions from both LaToya Smith and a welcome from Chris Del Conte, head coaches were brought up on stage to present the graduating student-athletes with their stole one by one. After the event, student-athletes were taken down to the field of Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium for a group photo with all of the graduates and also family photos.
"It's a great event to show that we aren't just athletes, but we are students also," Football's Lorenzo Joe, who graduates with a degree in physical culture & sports, said. "A lot of people just see the work that we put in on the field, but they don't see how hard we work off the field. To be recognized in front of our coaches and families is really awesome."
While being a student-athlete at UT puts you in the spotlight on the field, what many people don't see are the long hours, early mornings and late nights spent in study hall, with tutors and in dorm rooms studying for exams, writing papers and preparing for presentations. Despite the many accomplishments that Longhorn student-athletes achieve on the field, UT Athletics was proud to celebrate the ultimate accomplishment - graduation - on Thursday night.
"I think it's a terrific move by UT Athletics to celebrate graduation," head Men's Basketball coach Shaka Smart said. "Student-athletes get a lot more affirmation from the athlete side of it than they do the student side. But as we know, the student side of it is so very important, and graduating - getting a degree from UT - is so unbelievably critical for these guys and young ladies. For them to get their degree is something we need to celebrate, promote and shine a spotlight on. It shows our younger student-athletes that this is a big deal and when we do it, we will celebrate it."
