A total of 28 past and present UTEP student athletes will graduate from the university on Saturday, May 18. Including the 22 December graduates, a total of 50 UTEP student athletes will walk across the commencement stage during the 2018-19 athletic year.
The list of spring graduates includes 10 representatives from the football program, five from volleyball, three from softball, two each from soccer and women's track and field, and one each from men's basketball, women's basketball, men's golf, women's golf, tennis and men's track and field.
Highlighting the list of graduates are All-Conference performers Imani Adams (women's track & field), Macey Austin (volleyball), Antony Kosgei (men's track & field), Lucia Mokrasova (women's track & field) and Taylor Sargent (softball).
Of the 28 spring graduates, 23 earned a spot on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average) during their collegiate careers, and five received C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medals (minimum 3.75 cumulative GPA).
UTEP's graduating student-athletes hail from the United States, Canada, Kenya, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Taiwan and Thailand.
Biographies follow on UTEP's May graduating student athletes.
UTEP May 2019 Graduating Student Athletes
Imani Adams (Women's Track & Field) – Chandler, Ariz.
Helped the Miners claim four Conference USA team titles … was a member of the 4x400m relay that took silver at the 2017 C-USA Outdoor Championships … also a member of the silver-medal winning 4x400m relay team at the 2017 C-USA Indoor Championships … Criminal Justice major.
Jordan Alexander (Women's Basketball) – Dallas, Texas
Started all 61 games after arriving as head coach Kevin Baker's first recruit … amassed more than 500 points (540) and 350 rebounds (358) in her two seasons at UTEP … one-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Macey Austin (Volleyball) – Keller, Texas
Only the 10th player in program history to amass over 1,000 kills (1,005) … two-time C-USA All-Conference second team selection … 2018 C-USA All-Academic Team honoree … three-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.
Kalon Beverly (Football) – New Orleans, La.
Saw action in 45 games and made 39 starts for the Orange and Blue … registered 24 career pass breakups, rating tied for second all-time in the UTEP record book … in four seasons with the Miners recorded 172 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, four interceptions and a fumble recovery … Digital Media Production major.
Ariel Blair (Softball) – El Paso, Texas
Tied for third all-time in school history with 23 stolen bases … only player in program history to lead the team in steals for four consecutive seasons … named the 2019 UTEP Athletics Unsung Hero at the Golden Pick Awards … played in 168 games and made 143 starts … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Health Promotion major.
Jayson Boyd (Football) – Riverside, Calif.
Helped the Miners to 16 wins and back-to-back bowl games from 2004-05 … had 42 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns in 2004 … finished 2005 with 12 receptions for 222 yards, with 126 of those yards coming at Memphis ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Erik Brown (Football) – Fontana, Calif.
Saw action in 17 games and made seven starts at wide receiver for UTEP … registered 24 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns … notched a career-long 43-yard reception versus WKU … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Jerrell Brown (Football) – Perris, Calif.
A three-year letterwinner at UTEP … saw action in 16 games for the Miners … registered 16 tackles and a tackle for loss … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Jodie Enokson (Soccer) – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Saw action in 2016 and 2018 as a defender ... converted a penalty kick for her first collegiate goal in a 5-0 win over NM State ... finished her career with two goals and one assist for five total points ... one-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Business major.
Jason Filley (Football) – El Paso, Texas
Former walk-on has seen action in 17 games for the Orange and Blue … the placekicker has registered a total of 55 points … he notched a career-long 50-yard field goal versus Middle Tennessee … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … finance major.
Keynan Foster (Football) – Lake Stevens, Wash.
Has seen action in 16 games and made eight starts for the Miners … has registered 21 receptions for 336 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his career … last season he tallied career highs in receptions and receiving yards and hauled in a 25-yard touchdown catch at LA Tech … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Linda Garcia (Softball) – Fontana, Calif.
Only the third player in UTEP history to catch more than 30 runners stealing (40) … started 159 games at catcher … has hit 15 home runs throughout her career … posted a career-high four RBIs against Charlotte in her senior season … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Criminal Justice major.
Antony Kosgei (Men's Track & Field) – Eldoret, Kenya
Helped the men's cross country team claim back-to-back Conference USA team titles in 2015 and 2016 … has captured one gold, four silver and two bronze medals at the C-USA Championships … earned NCAA Cross Country All-Region honors as a sophomore … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Industrial Engineering major.
Lucia Mokrasova (Women's Track & Field) – Trencin, Slovakia
Helped the Miners claim three Conference USA team titles … holds the school record in the heptathlon and pentathlon … earned All-American second team honors in 2016 and All-American honorable mention accolades in 2017 … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Health Promotion major.
Maddie Morgan (Volleyball) – San Rafael, Calif.
Recorded more than 180 total blocks as a Miner … hit a four-set record of .700 with 14 kills and no errors against San Diego State … one-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.
Dania Orozco (Volleyball) – El Paso, Texas
Appeared in 48 matches and 128 sets for UTEP … registered a career-high 20 digs against Marshall … two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Mechanical Engineering major.
Settavut Paradee (Men's Golf) – Bangkok, Thailand
Participated in 10 tournaments and registered the third-best scoring average on the squad this season … fired a season-low score at the GCU Invitational … overall in his career, competed in 26 tournaments and 77 rounds … four-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Finance major.
Milou Pietersz (Tennis) – Arnhem, The Netherlands
Piled up a combined 34 wins during the 2016-17 season, including being a part of the Miners' first ITA Doubles Regional Championship team … sidelined the past two years with an injury but has remained involved with the athletic department and tennis program … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Media Advertising major.
Robert Pufahl (Football) – Westlake Village, Calif.
Entering his fourth season with the Miners in 2019 … father, Robert Sr., was a member of the only 10-win squad in school history in 1988 … Robert Jr. saw action in a 2016 game against North Texas … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Management major.
C.J. Reese (Football) – San Antonio, Texas
Saw action in 10 games and made nine starts for the Miners after transferring from Kansas State … registered a total of 24 tackles, three tackles for losses, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup … member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … graduating with his Masters in Leadership Studies.
Jake Sammut (Football) – Mohave Valley, Ariz.
Has seen action in 14 contests as the Miners' long snapper … as a junior, played in all 12 games and earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors … one-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Taylor Sargent (Softball) – Albuquerque, N.M.
Played in 198 games, making 185 starts for the Orange and Blue … hit .288 during her career with 71 RBI, 30 doubles and 74 runs scored … wowed Miners fans with spectacular plays in the outfield … finished her career ranked fifth in school annals with 766 putouts … two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Erika Sianez (Volleyball) – El Paso, Texas
Saw action in five matches, and played in 10 sets last season … one-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Accounting major.
Carleigh Simmons (Soccer) – Van Alstyne, Texas
Four-year letterwinner, appearing in over 70 games and starting 54 as a defender for the Orange and Blue ... scored three goals and made 12 assists for a total of 18 points ... helped the Miners equal the program single-season standard for shutouts (11) in 2016 ... four-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Mechanical Engineering major.
Kahani Smith (Football) – Los Angeles, Calif.
Saw action in 24 games and started in 19 contests for the Miners … during his career notched 126 total tackles, 15 pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for losses, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries … two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
Paul Thomas (Men's Basketball) – Houston, Texas
Played in 114 games, making 88 starts at UTEP … averaged career highs in points and rebounds during his sophomore campaign … hit the game-winner at Charlotte during his junior season … scored over 790 points (798) and grabbed over 560 rebounds (569) during his career … two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Marketing major.
June Ting (Women's Golf) – Taipei City, Taiwan
Four-year letterwinner, playing in 41 tournaments ... posted a career-low 75.4 scoring average as a senior ... helped the Miners to a second-place finish at the 2018 C-USA Championships ... three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Operations & Supply Chain Management major.
Ali Vidali (Volleyball) – Pacifica, Calif.
Played in 49 matches and 104 sets for the Miners … posted a career-high 13 kills against UT Arlington during her freshman season … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Organizational & Corporate Communication major.
