Fisher Celebrates Graduating Student-Athletes During Special Commencement

With games and competitions keeping them busy throughout Commencement weekend, student-athletes at St. John Fisher University had the opportunity to enjoy all the pomp and circumstance of this important rite of passage during a special Athletics Commencement, held on Wednesday, May 7.

Representing women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s track and field, these graduates not only excelled in the classroom, but on the sports fields.

At the ceremony, Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the University, addressed the graduates before conferring their degrees.

“You have all been a part of Fisher’s growth, successes, and new beginnings. You have enlivened the good, smart, and talented motto of our athletic department. You have triumphed both on and off the field. Today, as we reflect on our institution’s storied past and look ahead to a great future, we proudly celebrate you,” he said.

Tori LoPresto, an inclusive education and chemistry major and the co-president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, delivered remarks on behalf of her class.

“This room is filled with student-athletes who have balanced 6 a.m. lifts, late-night bus rides, missed holidays, and mountains of homework. And yet here we are. Still standing, still smiling and now, graduating,” she said. “We have been more than just athletes. We have been leaders, friends, and roommates. We have left it all on the field, and now we are ready to take on the world.”

A day earlier, on Tuesday, May 6, Fisher Athletics  honored its graduating seniors at a celebratory banquet.

Student-athletes were given stoles to wear during their graduation ceremony as well as a certificate recognizing their athletic contributions to the University. Students who were recently inducted into the University’s Chi Alpha Sigma chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society, also received cords to wear during Commencement.

Rooney offered remarks to the student-athletes and their families.

“You have committed to your studies and to your sport, which makes for a unique and demanding journey. You have embraced what it means to be a student-athlete, and you have done so with remarkable dedication and success,” he said. “The lessons you have learned as student-athletes are not just skills for the game; they are life skills that will serve you well in whatever path you choose to follow in your life after Fisher. As you move forward, carry with you the spirit of competition, the camaraderie of your teammates, and the pride of being a St. John Fisher University graduate.”

Jen Granger, interim athletics director, also praised the student-athletes for their successful careers at the University.

“Each of you embodies our Fisher Athletics motto: good, smart, and talented. You have demonstrated good sportsmanship, smart dedication to your academics, and undeniable talent in your respective sports,” she said. “It has been a privilege to witness your growth, both as athletes and as individuals, during your time here at Fisher.”

The University then announced recipients of two special awards: the Scholar-Athlete and Athlete of the Year Awards.

The Scholar-Athlete Award is given to athletes with the highest cumulative grade point averages (GPA). This year, three students were given the honor.

Emma Cooper was a four-year member of the field hockey program, and a four-time Division III Scholar of Distinction. She earned a 4.0 GPA while at Fisher and plans to attend graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree in biochemistry.

A four-year member of the baseball program, Mario Cubello majored in biology and minored in chemistry, earning a 3.99 GPA. He plans to apply to medical school.

A three-year member of the tennis program, biology major Abby Garvey also achieved a 4.0 GPA during her time at Fisher. She was named her team’s Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year this past fall.

The Athlete of the Year Award honors athletes for their athletic achievements and overall contributions to Fisher Athletics and to their sport.

Sydney Carpenter was named Female Athlete of the Year. Arguably the best player in Fisher women’s lacrosse history, Carpenter has her name stamped all over the Cardinals’ record book. Entering the NCAA Division III Tournament, Carpenter holds the Fisher record for assists with 126 and the Empire 8 record for draw controls with 503. She has 300 career points, five shy of breaking the Empire 8 record currently held by former Fisher star Taylor Hughes.

Christian Burkhart was named Male Athlete of the Year. He cemented himself as one of the best players in program history this fall when he set the single season record and led all of Division III with 13 shutouts in 2024. He also led the Empire 8 in saves (81) and placed eighth in the country in save percentage (87.1%) and ninth in goals against average (.565). He was named Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year and became the men’s soccer program’s second-ever All-American and first since Vito Sciscioli ’65.