Ten Student-Athletes Awarded Degrees During 2010 Commencement Exercise
Among the 575 degrees awarded the 2010 graduates of the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday, May 8, were those to 10 former student-athletes. The University of the District of Columbia’s 2010 Commencement Exercise was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, DC, before several thousand on-looking parents, spouses, relatives and other supporters.
UDC Athletics Director Patricia Thomas was elated to see these former student-athletes receive their diplomas. Thomas said, "Graduation is the ultimate victory for student-athletes. At the cornerstone of our mission and goals lies academic achievement. I am proud of the student-athletes who have succeeded in both academics and athletics."
Three former student-athletes were among those cited for superior academic achievement. Nersa Looky Djobo (Lome, Togo/Military College of Tchitchao), a former member of the men’s soccer team, graduated magna cum laude. Two former members of the men's tennis team graduated cum laude. They are Daniel Gourdine (Silver Spring, Maryland/James H. Blake High School), and Adrian Wyllie (Kingstown, St. Vincent/St. Joseph Convent).
The former student-athletes who graduated are:
Janae Burt (women’s volleyball)
Nersa Looky Djobo (men’s soccer) magna cum laude
Myron Douglas (men’s soccer)
Ian Garner (men’s cross-country)
Daniel Gourdine (men’s tennis) cum laude
Devaughn Hailey (women’s basketball)
James Kichwen (men’s cross-country)
Ann Sanchez (women’s volleyball)
Stella Sang (women’s cross-country/track & field)
Adrian Wyllie (men’s tennis) cum laude
The student-athletes in the class of 2010 came from different backgrounds, and played a variety of sports, but they were all clearly focused on one common goal: to obtain a quality higher education. Nersa Look Djobo, a former men’s soccer player, who hails from the continent of Africa, Lome, Togo, earned two academic degrees from the University. Djobo graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, cum laude. He returned for a fifth year and this year earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, graduating magna cum laude.
Daniel Gourdine, a former member of the men’s tennis team, graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with honors (cum laude). A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, and graduate of H. Blake High School, Gourdine spoke fondly of his new alma mater, saying, “ I found my experience at UDC to be very challenging, and like the real world it made me wiser, more cautious, aware of what I am doing, and proactive. It was a great learning experience.”
Gourdine, whose career goal is to become a major player in the field of hospitality management or event planning, credits his experience as a UDC athlete for enhancing his communications, team playing, and group working skills. “It helped me to learn about different cultures and become more understanding of other cultures.
Adrian Wyllie (Kingstown, St. Vincent/St. Joseph Convent), another former member of the men’s tennis team, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors (cum laude). A native of Kingston, St. Vincent, Wyllie plans to enroll in medical school in August, to pursue a doctor of medicine degree. He hopes to become a pediatric surgeon.
Wyllie credits UDC with opening many educational doors to him, including giving him the opportunity to do research at the National Institutes of Health, with the Genome Research Institute, where he published his first research paper. The title of the paper was Genotype Phenotype Correlation in Human Holoprosencephaly (HPE). The paper presented the outcomes of his study of baryonic brain malformation.
He is grateful to UDC for helping him to develop a better appreciation for people in general. Wyllie said, “UDC provided the opportunity for me to learn with mature students from different cultures. My UDC professors inspired me and encouraged me to study harder. I always felt the need to assist people, and knew since high school that I wanted to become a doctor. Sports was the avenue that led me to UDC and started me on my journey to reach my goal to become a medical doctor.”
One of the things of which he is most proud was the opportunity to work as volunteer consultant for the National Coalition of Black Civic Associations. While volunteering with them he had the opportunity to do some work with the National Council of Negro Women and Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, chairman of their board of directors and noted civil rights leader.
Stellah Sang, a native of Kenya (Eldoret, Kenya/Eldoret Senior High School for Girls) graduated with an Associate in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy. Stellah had a stellar sports career at UDC, winning the 2007 NCAA Southeast Regional Women’s Cross- Country Championship, competing in the 2007 NCAA National Cross-country Championships and becoming a two-time All-American in track in 2009.
A few credit hours short of a degree in public health, Stellah plans to earn a bachelors degree in that field within the next year or two and eventually return to Kenya to practice her profession. She spoke of her struggles at home as she prepared to pursue her education. Running was her ticket to study in the United States and she had to endure three years of training camp in order to qualify to receive a scholarship.
About her trips to the NCAA Nationals, Sang said, “My trips to the Nationals were a great experience. Not everyone can go and compete against the top athletes in the country. Although injured, I ran in the 800 meter race in the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and finished to become a two-time All-American. I credit UDC for opening doors for me and making me believe that I could do it.”
Sang said, “I will always carry with me the memory that through my interning at Howard University Hospital, I had the opportunity to serve on the health care team that was responsible for treating Dr. Dorothy I. Height. I will always cherish that.”
Devaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ/Palm Beach CC), a former member of the women’s basketball team, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Education. Devaughn was an important member of the team that won a berth in the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lester L. Butler, Jr., said, “"Devaughn was a major piece of what we accomplished during her two years playing for me. Forty five wins, a Top 25 National Ranking and a NCAA Tournament appearance are just some of the achievements to which Devaughn contributed in her time here. But what I will remember most about Devaughn is that she was someone who always looked out for teammates and looked out for their best interest. I wish Devaughn Hailey nothing but continued success."
Hailey credits UDC with helping to expand her horizons. “In addition to the fine education I received at UDC, it gave me the opportunity to travel and contribute significantly to the women’s basketball team’s qualifying for the NCAA Tournament”, said Hailey. “My greatest disappointment, however, was sustaining an injury just before the NCAA Tournament that prevented me from playing and helping the team to advance.”
Hailey also stated that she “planned to attend graduate school and enroll in a 3 year combined masters/doctoral program. All along the way, I will never forget UDC and will gladly refer future player prospects to the coaching staff.”
James Kichwen (Kapsabet, Kenya/South Western CC) is another native of Kenya, who chose to attend UDC and contribute significantly to its athletic program. Coming from a well know Kenyan family of cross-country runners, he is the first cousin of UDC two-time All-American Stellah Sang. Kichwen graduated with an Associate in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy degree. He plans to return to Kenya to become a therapist.
Among his athletic achievements at UDC was finishing just two points below the qualifying number for the 2007 NCAA National Cross-country Championships, coming in 7th place out of a field of 128 at the NCAA Southeast Regional. He also broke course records at several cross-country meets during his UDC running career.
Kichwen said, “UDC was an exciting place to be. It has been good to me, very supportive and encouraging. I am grateful for the opportunity that UDC gave me to study and learn my profession. Health care is a very important area and having a major in that field is very rewarding, because it enables me to interact with people on a more personal level, which I enjoy doing.”
UDC student-athletes: achieving in all venues.