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Thirty-Three UTEP Student-Athletes Ready to Graduate on Saturday

12/11/2024 11:06:00 AM

EL PASO, Texas — Thirty-three past and present student-athletes will graduate from The University of Texas at El Paso on Saturday.

The list of graduates includes 14 representatives from the football program, 12 from cross country/track and field, three from soccer, and one each from men's golf, softball, beach volleyball and indoor volleyball.

Of the 33 graduates, 20 have earned placement on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 GPA), and 10 have received CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medals (minimum 3.75 GPA) during their time at UTEP.

Biographies follow on UTEP Athletics' December 2024 graduates.

December 2024 UTEP Graduating Student-Athletes

Josiah Allen (Football) Elk Grove, Calif.
Started in 24 of 35 games played for the Miners … totaled 120 tackles with 2.5 sacks, an interception, 11 pass breakups, forced fumble and two fumble recoveries … posted 61 tackles with two sacks, an interception and six breakups during senior campaign … led the Miners with 43 solo tackles in 2024 … tallied a season-high nine tackles against Sam Houston this year … picked off a pass versus Middle Tennessee … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Communications Studies major.

Loubna Benhadja (Track & Field) Blida, Nigeria
Ran in 34 meets in UTEP career … member of the 4x400m relay at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships … set a PR of 57.49 in the 400m hurdles at the 2024 NCAA West First Round … two-time Conference USA champion in the 4x400 (2023, 2024) … two-time silver medalist in the 400m hurdles at the CUSA Championships (2023, 2024)… placed third with a PR of 54.46 in the 400m at the 2024 CUSA Indoor Championships … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Chinique Brown (Track & Field) Polokwane, South Africa
Competed in 26 meets for the Miners … set a PR of 12.60 in the 100m at the 2024 Bobcat Invitational … ran a 25.07 PR in the 200 at the 2021 Masked Rider Open … earned a 56.56 PR in the 400 at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays … placed first in the 4x100m at the 2022 Don Kirby Tailwind Open … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Management major.

Oghenekaro Brume (Track & Field) Ughelli, Nigeria
Ran in 27 meets for UTEP … set a 23.91 PR in the 200m at the 2023 Willie Williams Classic … ran a 400m PR of 55.05 at the 2023 TTU Corky Classic … won gold in the 4x400m at the 2023 Conference USA Outdoor Championships … placed first in both the 4x100m and 4x400m at the 2023 Willie Williams Classic … one-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Management major.

Stefan Cameron (Football) St. Louis, Mo.
Played in 12 games in 2023 … tallied 10 tackles with a forced fumble … posted a season-best three tackles at Sam Houston … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Stephen Carreto (Track & Field) El Paso, Texas
Ran in 27 meets for UTEP … won bronze in the 4x400m at the 2024 CUSA Outdoor Championships … set a PR of 49.04 in the 400m at the 2023 New Mexico Collegiate Classic … ran a 53.16 PR in the 400m hurdles at the 2022 CUSA Outdoor Championships … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Biological Sciences major.

Kory Chapman (Football) Hoover, Ala.
Started in nine of 10 games played during lone season at UTEP … leader in CUSA with 12.5 tackles for loss … finished fourth on the team with 75 tackles and added three sacks, two interceptions, three hurries and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2024 … first Miner to score a TD in the Sun Bowl since 2019 … intercepted a pass during the Miners' victory over Kennesaw State … also picked off a pass in UTEP's win at rival NM State … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Nate Dyman (Football) Missouri City, Texas
Played in all 12 games, starting 11 at linebacker in 2024 … has played in 16 career games … ranked second on the team with 84 tackles this season … added 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three hurries and a fumble recovery … tallied back-to-back double-digit tackle performances, posting 13 against Middle Tennessee and 11 versus Kennesaw State … posted a sack at nationally-ranked Tennessee … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Julio Pacheco Estrada (Track & Field) Chihuahua, Mexico
Competed in 23 meets for UTEP … ran in the 2024 NCAA West First Round … won gold with a 46.41 PR in the 400m at the 2024 CUSA Outdoor Championships … placed third in the 4x400m at the same meet … earned gold in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m at the 2024 CUSA Indoor Championships … placed second in the 4x400 at the 2023 CUSA Outdoor Championships … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Industrial/Systems Engineering major.

Lizbeth Fierro (Track & Field) El Paso, Texas
Competed in 21 meets for the Miners … threw a 49.69m (163-0) PR in the hammer throw at the 2024 CUSA Outdoor Championship … earned a PR of 14.77m (48-5.5) in the weight throw at the 2023 New Mexico Collegiate Classic … placed first in the shot put with a PR of 12.43m (40-9.5) in the shot put at the same meet … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Criminal Justice major.

Leslie Gutierrez (Soccer) El Paso, Texas
Appeared in 45 matches with 12 career starts for the Miners … racked up 1,407 minutes … scored the game-winning penalty kick against Texas Southern during the 2024 campaign … registered one goal while tallying 16 shots, including six on goal … nearly half of her career shot attempts came during senior season (seven, three on goal) … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Criminal Justice major.

Jake Hall (Football) San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Saw action in nine career games … posted six tackles with a half TFL … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Kevin Hewitt (Track & Field) Queens, N.Y.
Saw action at 20 meets during career … clocked in with a personal-best 23.64 in the 200-meter dash at the 2024 Pacific Coast Invite … captured gold in the 4x400 at the 2021 CUSA Championships … advanced to the 2021 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene … four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Political Science major.

Madison Hill (Volleyball) El Paso, Texas
Began her career as a team manager before working her way onto the roster and into the starting libero role ... played in 70 matches, tallying 40 aces and 184 digs, while making significant contributions during the program's 2023 run to the NIVC finals and 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance ... as a member of UTEP's inaugural beach volleyball program, she earned Conference USA All-Academic Team honors in 2023 and 2024 ... recognized with the prestigious Thomas Howard Walk-On Student-Athlete Award in 2023 ... two-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Mechanical Engineering major.

Jayce Hunter (Football) Mission Viejo, Calif.
Played in eight games in 2023 … posted five tackles … recorded two stops at FIU … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Maxwell Kipkosgei (Track & Field) Eldoret, Kenya
Competed in 47 meets for the Miners … placed second in the 800m at the 2024 CUSA Outdoor Championships … ran a PR of 31:22.4 in the 10k at the 2022 NCAA DI Mountain Region Cross Country Championships … set a 1:51.17 PR in the 800m at the 2022 Desert Heat Classic … also PR'd in the 1500m at the same meet with a time of 3:50.37 … ran a 4:19.49 PR in the mile at the 2022 Don Kirby Open … Industrial/Systems Engineering major.

Jaxon Langford (Golf) Fredericksburg, Texas
Competed at the GolfWeek Collegiate Kickoff during the 2023-24 season … shot a season-low 68 in the third round … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Amaya Lee (Softball) Concord, Calif.
Transfer from Marshall who appeared in 48 games for the Miners with four starts ... recorded a .233 batting average with 10 hits, two doubles, seven RBI, and her first career home run, which came as a pinch hitter at FIU in 2024 ... also excelled academically, earning the prestigious Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honor in 2024 ... one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.

Summer McDonough (Beach Volleyball) Tucson, Ariz.
Now an assistant coach for the Miners following her lone season at UTEP … played in 25 matches during the 2024 season … finished 14-11 during her time with the Miners … recorded a five-match winning streak during the season … named to the 2024 Conference USA All-Academic Team … one-time recipient of a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … one-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … receiving her Master's of Business Administration degree.

Denae McFarlane (Track & Field) Clarendon, Jamaica
Competed in 33 career meets … claimed silver at the 2023 CUSA Championships in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.34 … clocked in with a PR of 23.68 in the 200-meter dash at the 2023 Desert Heat Classic … posted a personal-best 7.37 in the 60-meter dash prelims and followed that performance with a first-place finish in the finals at the Don Kirby Elite Invite … four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Biology major.

Oscar Moore (Football) Fort Worth, Texas
Started in 14 of 23 games played in two years at the safety position … totaled 86 tackles with one TFL, two interceptions, two breakups and two fumble recoveries … posted an interception in back-to-back weeks during the 2023 season … recorded six tackles and a forced fumble during the Miners' victory at rival NM State … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Ashton Nickelberry (Football) Brandon, Miss.
Saw action in 10 games, making one start … caught five passes for 56 yards … returned four kickoffs for 65 yards … recorded a season-long 29-yard reception at Colorado State … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

AJ Odums (Football) Houston, Texas
Started all 16 games played in … tallied 51 tackles with an interception and 13 pass breakups … posted eight breakups in 2023 while starting all 12 games … picked off a pass at Colorado State earlier this season … posted a career-high seven tackles at Nebraska … tallied a career-most three pass breakups against rival NM State last year … Communications Studies major.

Victoria Ovalles (Cross Country/T&F) El Paso, Texas
Competed in over 30 meets during her cross country and track & field career … clocked in a personal-best 23:14.2 in the 6k at the prestigious 2023 Arturo Barrios Invite … turned in a personal-best 19:35.4 in the 5k at the 2023 Lori Fitzgerald Open … notched a first=place finish in the 3000 at the 2023 Don Kirby Tailwind Open … three-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll … Biological Sciences major.

Maia Rodriguez (Soccer) San Diego, Calif.
Appeared in 32 matches with 12 starts across a four-year UTEP career … amassed 1,244 minutes … was team co-captain during the 2023 season, playing 840 minutes in 16 matches … registered four shots on goal in final campaign with the Miners … was a 2023 CUSA second team All-Academic and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team honoree … two-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Nursing major.

Zach Rodriguez (Football) El Paso, Texas
Served on the scout team the last four seasons … played prep ball locally at El Paso High School … Kinesiology major.

Osaiasi Taueli (Football) Mesa, Ariz.
Played in 22 career games … tallied five tackles with a tackle for loss … posted a pair of tackles at New Mexico … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Marketing major.

Tionna Taylor (Soccer) Chandler, Ariz.
Played in 20 matches with 18 starts at the goalkeeper position during a two-year career with the Miners … logged over 1,600 minutes … tallied 72 saves and was credited with four wins … recorded 41 saves and a pair of shutouts during all 12 starts in 2023 … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … one-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … receiving her Master's of Business Administration degree.

Zacarias Velasquez (Track & Field) El Paso, Texas
Competed in 14 career meets … saw action at the 2024 CUSA Indoor and Outdoor Championships … leaped a personal-best 6.84 meters in the long jump at the 2024 Beach Invitational … competed in the 100-meter dash, clocking in with a personal-best 11.21 at the New Mexico Spring Invite … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.

Karen Villa Medina (Track & Field) El Paso, Texas
Competed at 29 career meets … posted personal bests in the 400 hurdles at the Bobcat Invite, and in the 400 at the Arizona Spring Break Fiesta this past season … one-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.

Maurice Westmoreland (Football) Houston, Texas
Stated 24 of 36 career games played … finished sixth on UTEP's all-time sacks list with 15.5 … tallied eight sacks in 2024 and 7.5 in 2023 … added 100 career tackles, including 46 in 2024 … had 20 tackles for loss, four breakups and two forced fumbles … set career best with 2.5 sacks in the Miners' win at FIU last season … tied career best with 2.5 sacks in UTEP's win at rival NM State … recorded at least a half sack or more in four consecutive games this season … racked up a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss at FIU last season … Kinesiology major.

Emari White (Football) Antelope, Calif.
Played in 23 career games … tallied 20 yards rushing on two carries and 239 receiving yards on 23 catches … posted a career-long 54-yard reception against Liberty in 2023 … recorded a season-most 45 yards on a trio of receptions in UTEP's win over Kennesaw State … two-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.

Jaleal Williams-Evans (Football) Berkeley, Calif.
Played at City College of San Francisco for two seasons prior to UTEP … totaled 48 tackles and four interceptions in 21 career games … Multidisciplinary Studies major.

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