San Francisco, CA -- With the 2013 calendar year coming to a close, the Academy of Art University were able to congratulate another class of graduates who received their diplomas in the December graduation at the Masonic Auditorium. A total of 16 artist-athletes graced the stage, and will move on into the new year with a degree in hand from the only art school in the NCAA.

"It's great to see Academy of Art University athletics continue to grow with our athletes graduating from multiple majors," said athletic director Colin Preston. "We're excited to build upon our alumni group with this class. We wish them the best of luck in the future and they will always remain Urban Knights."

Track and cross country led the way with five graduates, while baseball, softball, men's basketball, and women's soccer each had a pair of graduates. Women's golf, men's soccer, and volleyball also each had a representative among the graduates.
   There were a trio of Fashion Merchandising majors, three graduates from the school of Multimedia Communications, and pairs from Interior Architecture & Design, and Graphic Design. Animation & Visual Effects, Game Design, Web Design & New Media, Motion Pictures & Television, the school of Advertising, and Fine Art were the other majors represented.

Hurdler and jumper Briana Stewart (Fashion Merchandising) was part of the ART U track and field squad that won a pair of NCAA championships last year, and she captured five individual All-American awards before earning her degree. Erik Piedad was part of the strong performance on the men's side in those championships and graduated from the school of Interior Architecture & Design. Sophia Ditty ran cross-country for the Knights and earned her degree in Fine Art - Jewelry.

Niko Leite (MCOM) played two years for the Urban Knights baseball team and played almost every position over his tenure from 2011-12. Edgar Zelaya, who was on the inaugural baseball team for Academy of Art back in 2009, only played a year for the Knights but became one of the pioneering forces behind Urban Knights Radio as a member of the Multimedia Communications department. Master's Multimedia Communications student Jesseka Raymond, the program's first and only NCAA All-American heptathlete, was a major contributor to the Urban Knights' outdoor National Championship as a three-time All-American (heptathlon, 100mH, 4x100m).

Women's cross country alum Kristen Sanzari (Animation & Visual Effects) joined Raymond as the only other Master's degree recipient. A member of the 2011 All-PacWest Second Team and 2011-12 PacWest Academic All-Conference Team, Sanzari led the Academy of Art women's cross country team in all five of their meets in 2011 with her season-best mark earning her ninth overall at that year's PacWest Conference Championships.

Nicole Smith (IAD) and Kimberly Dauer (Graphic Design) represented the softball team. Smith ended her career with various appearances on the top ten lists in ART U's career stats, while Dauer was on the mound the most for the Knights, totaling 36 wins in over 500 innings. Dauer also had a hand in designing the Academy of Art's athletic posters after graduating.

"It was really exciting walking across the stage with students from my major and other athletes who have been here with me for over four years," said Dauer. "I have learned so much since my freshman year here, playing my first year of NCAA softball and beginning as a graphic design student. It was like having a second family while attending the Academy with my team and the athletic department who constantly supported and pushed me. It was really difficult balancing the two lives of being an athlete and artist, but I couldn't imagine or would have wanted to go to college and do it any other way."
    Women's soccer congratulated all-time minutes and assists leader Jasmine Sharpe (Graphic Design) and also ART U's single-season assist leader and a top five career points leader Megan Bucci (Advertising). The men's soccer squad also got to see Grimur Grimsson (Motion Pictures & Television) receive his degree, who graduated as the all-time points leader and the all-time goals leader for ART U.
  "It's a good feeling having finished my BFA in editing," said Grimsson. "I look forward to being part of working world and using my education in a good and a positive way. I felt very proud, having my parents all the way from Iceland and good friends in the audience, celebrating this chapter with me. Being part of the Urban Knight society, with its unity, loyalty, respect, and competitiveness has been a life experience that I will take with me."

Lyra Yoe (Fashion) was part of a squad for the Urban Knights that went all the way to the NCAA Division II Super Regionals, notching two tournaments wins as a junior and numerous top-five finishes for the Knights. Joining her as a member of the Fashion Department was volleyballer Janie Atkinson, who was a defensive specialist in 2010.

For the Knights, it was a continuing congratulations to all of the artist-athletes who received their degrees, as Academy of Art's emphasis on academics still rings true. For the graduates, as they flip the calendar to 2014, it will be with a diploma in hand and the skills that have prepared them for life after competition on the field for the Urban Knights.