Student Athletes Graduate at CCC Track/Field Championships

5/15/2014 6:00:00 AM

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Many spring sport student athletes in their final year of school and competition are faced with the difficult decision of whether to take part in commencement on their campus or participate in post season athletic competition. Both represent the fulfillment of lifelong dreams in academics and athletics.

For three Warner Pacific College student athletes the decision to take part in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Track/Field Championships didn’t mean that they would necessarily have to miss out on the pomp and circumstance of their college graduation.

Christi Avery, Jessica Kepfer and Ka’imi Scott, members of the WPC track and field team, took part in a “commencement ceremony” during the CCC championships on Saturday May 10^th. The ceremony included The College of Idaho President Dr. Marv Henberg, dressed in his full regalia, bestowing the three with their diplomas. It also included an impromptu tunnel formed by the WPC track team that the graduates walked through with their families, volunteers, officials and other competitors helping them celebrate.

Avery, from Boise, Idaho, earned her degree in Psychology. She is a three- time recipient of Cascade Conference All-Academic Honors and a two time NAIA Scholar Athlete. Avery competed all four years in track and field for WPC and participated in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 400 relay at the championships.
 
 Kepfer, from Auburn, California, earned her degree in Biological Sciences with a Human Emphasis. She has been named Academic All Conference and an NAIA Scholar Athlete in 2014. Keper competed in track and field for WPC the past two years and participated in the 10k during the championships.
 
Ka'imi Scott, from Hilo, Hawaii, earned his degree in Health and Human Kinetics. He has been a member of the track and field team the past four years and participated in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 400 relay during the championships.
 
“I cherished the graduation ceremony on the track,” stated Avery. “For me choosing between my conference championships and commencement was no problem and I saw it as more symbolic.”  “I started on the track in elementary school and now I am ending on the track in college with a very rewarding feeling as an athlete,” added Avery.
 
The conference had several other individuals receiving their degrees during the championships that were able to return to campus after competing for the official ceremony. Those competing on Friday and able to return included:
 
Northwest University
Sigrid Thoreson
Snohomish, WA.
Primary Education
 
Jake Doty
Seattle, WA.
Communication
 
Warner Pacific College
Deborah O'Dell
Casper, WY.
Human Development
 
Simeon Jacob
Portland, OR.
Urban Studies/Sociology