STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS CONTINUES

BY JOSH KESSLER ’04, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Katie Escobedo’s final two visits to the graduation stage during Saint Michael’s College’s 116th Commencement on May 14 were on her agenda that day. After all, the soccer star had been chosen by her peers to deliver the undergraduate address, and her diploma later awaited in President D. E. Lorraine Sterritt’s hands.

As winner of the prestigious Katherine Fairbanks Memorial Award, however, Escobedo’s first opportunity to greet Sterritt was an unscheduled trek to the stage, and continued a trend of student athletes garnering major attention for themselves and the athletics community at recent Commencement ceremonies.

Escobedo wasn’t alone. Women’s volleyball standout Beth Syverson was among a quartet of seniors with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, and men’s ice hockey alumnus Jay Bellissimo ’87, a member of the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame and chief operating officer of Vonage, delivered the keynote address to the graduating class as Commencement returned to the Ross Sports Center for the first time since 2019.

During a speaking engagement that elicited a standing ovation, Escobedo joined Julia Colasanti ’18 (volleyball), Winston Jones II ’19 (basketball) and Gabriella Dicomitis ’22 (ice hockey), as the fourth student athlete in the past five Commencements selected to deliver the undergraduate senior address.

Escobedo, Roxy Withers ’18 (cross country), Emily Ferreri ’19 (basketball), and Ashley Turner ’21 (lacrosse) have all won the Fairbanks Award in recent years, while Alex Mendez ’21 (baseball) and James Downs ’22 (cross country) earned the Father Prevel Memorial Award at their graduation ceremonies. The Fairbanks and Prevel accolades each honor a graduate who has demonstrated commitment and achievement related to the intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social values of Saint Michael’s College.

Syverson, who will return in the fall to complete her athletic career, is the fourth top scholar in six years to hail from the student-athlete population. Withers and Ferreri were valedictorians in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Turner was one of five 4.0 students in 2021. Like Withers, Ferreri, and Turner before her, Syverson earned the Department of Athletics’ Roger F. Keleher ’15 Award as a standout scholar athlete in the senior class.

Commencement capped an eventful four-day stretch of award winning for Escobedo, who was recognized with the Donald Sutton Community Service Award at a senior brunch for her contributions to Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue. The next day, she landed the institution’s NCAA Woman of the Year accolade at the Department of Athletics’ 76th annual Block ʻM’ Senior Awards Banquet. By claiming the latter, Escobedo was also put forth as the College’s nominee for the national NCAA Woman of the Year award.

A Psychology and Sociology double major, Escobedo carried a 3.94 GPA into the spring semester. On the soccer pitch, the captain was 16th in NCAA Division II in goals-against average (0.60) and 18th in save percentage (.864) last fall, setting a school record in GAA while leading the Northeast-10 Conference with eight shutouts, tying Trish Hannan ‘90’s 33year-old program record. In addition to landing NEWISA All-New England and NE10 All-Conference laurels, Escobedo graduated first in program annals in career GAA (0.93).

Escobedo’s impact was felt significantly in her local communities, as she was an advanced EMT while serving Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue, the UVM Medical Center, and Our Lady of Providence in Winooski. She was an admission intern and tour guide, recently completed a Peace Corps Prep certificate program, and helped raise nearly $30,000 for children facing cancer through last year’s St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving fundraiser. Escobedo also covertly worked as Saint Michael’s mascot Mike the Knight for the past three years. She will return to the College in the fall to coach soccer and continue serving the community as a medical professional.

Aglorious Reunion 2023 (June 2-4) saw 950 alumni return “home.”

Class of 1973 members (50-year Reunion) became Golden Knights. The 3’s and 8’s classes enjoyed evening class events from Winooski to Burlington.

A brunch on Saturday showcased seven Alumni of the Year and a posthumous award of the Fr. Michael Cronogue Award for Service for Chris Lee ’93. Trustees presented President Sterritt with a check for just over a half million dollars from all Reunion classes. The P-Knight party on Saturday hosted 600 attendees on the 300s field with food trucks, games, and Craig Mitchell ’93 fronting the band Purple, bringing down the house. Alumni packed the townhouses, enjoying chicken patties at a late-night grill. A farewell breakfast and Mass sent alumni on their way with full bellies and hearts.

See more Reunion photos at smcvt.edu/ magazine

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