SAN FRANCISCO – In a grand finale to the 2015-16 academic year, Academy of Art University's commencement ceremonies graduated a diverse collection of artist-athletes as the Class of 2016. Out at the Cow Palace in late May, a total of 39 Urban Knights from 14 different fields of study crossed the stage to join the growing alumni contingent from the only art school in the NCAA.

For the second consecutive year, men's soccer led the way with seven graduates, women's basketball had six, softball added five, baseball featured four, and both women's tennis and volleyball bid farewell to three apiece. Duos came from men's and women's track & field, women's soccer, and men's basketball while degrees were conferred to lone individuals from men's golf and men's cross country.

One day prior to the undergraduate commencement, three master's degree candidates completed their collegiate careers. Track & field All-American jumpers Racquel Jones (Multimedia Communications) and Edgar Panford (Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media) were among the names called and Kunkanda "Cartoon" Phukchampa accepted her diploma from the School of Motion Pictures & Television. At 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Nationals, Jones and Panford scored points for Academy of Art in the long jump and triple jump respectively while Phukchampa competed at the number one singles position for ART U in just its third and fourth years of existence.

Nina Gajdosikova, who worked alongside Phukchampa on the tennis court in 2013, was among the 35 undergraduate degree recipients in the May 27 graduation event. Academic All-PacWest each of her three years in the School of Graphic Design, Gajdosikova closed her senior year as the program's first All-PacWest First Team selection in singles and a two-time All-PacWest Team honoree in doubles.

With Gajdosikova in Graphic Design were men's golfer Cody Moore and softball outfielder Haily MacDonald. Moore wrapped up his most successful campaign as senior on the links this past season while MacDonald finished a brilliant four-year college career on the softball field last spring. In addition to being named All-West Region, MacDonald earned the title of All-PacWest First Team, Capital One Academic All-District, and ARTYs Urban Knight of the Year in 2015 after setting career records in triples and stolen bases as well as single-season marks in steals and runs scored.

"Walking out into the ceremony was pretty amazing," said MacDonald. "I remember looking in the stands and seeing my family; I was so excited seeing them all wave and cheer - it reminded me of my senior game and the last time I got to be in a uniform for the Urban Knights. Being an artist-athlete has been such a big part of my life and I am so thankful I was able to graduate with a degree I am passionate about. I was so happy and thankful to see Coach Garnett at graduation. Softball was such a big part of my college experience so I was overjoyed to be able to share a moment with Coach that day and thank her for all she did for me during my senior season."

From the School of Photography and former teammates of MacDonald on ART U's 2015 softball squad, infielder Jasmine Dickenson and outfielder Andrea Gill each celebrated their collegiate careers as well. Both were fixtures in the lineup as seniors and had the unique opportunity to serve as fan photographers for the Oakland Raiders last fall. MacDonald also spent much of the 2015 fall season working gamedays in Oakland as a member of the the National Football League's Player Participation Crew.

"It was so crazy thinking how fast four years went by, but I wouldn't have traded my experience for anything else," said MacDonald. "I had a smile on my face the entire time and was happy to have my family there to share the moment with me. I was very proud to walk with all my fellow artist-athletes and wish them all the best of luck with their future endeavors."

The second half of MacDonald and Dickenson's senior class, Taylor Thurman and Kamyle Glover were both among the graduates from the School of Fashion. Thurman, who remains the softball program's career leader in games played and runs batted in, and Glover, one of ART U's two NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes in 2015, both followed their passion, emphasizing in Fashion Merchandising. Finishing from the soccer programs were goalkeepers Rachael Rempe, the Knights' saves leader, and Joshua Leader, owner of the lowest goals against average on the men's side, in Fashion Design and Menswear respectively. From the Fashion Styling arm, women's basketball graduated guard Sherelle Williams and one of four 1,000-point club members in guard Sha'Nice Storey.

Among the eight undergrads from the School of Multimedia Communications were fellow women's basketball guards Regina Camera, Vianai Austin, and Molly O'Brien. Camera, who entered the 1,000-point club with Storey this past year, contributed to the winningest season in program history along with Austin in 2015-16. The men's teams had infielders Daniel Skinner and Lyle "Kalani" Brackenridge represent baseball, Shaquille Howard from track & field, and defender Patrik Haley of men's soccer. Going out with the honor of "Best Undergrad On-Camera" as announced at the 2016 Spring Show, men's basketball guard Alexis Moore embodied an artist-athlete as he remains the ART U's career leader in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals average.

"Graduation was amazing," said Moore. "It was the culmination of all the hard work and support of so many people who have helped me get here. To be part of such a creative class is inspiring. Everyone is very talented and dedicated to their craft so it's cool to see and hear about their great artwork. I have to thank Coach Barnes and the rest of the staff and athletic department for the opportunity to be an Urban Knight. Every time I stepped onto the court, I gave everything I had and my only goal was to win with the brothers I had out there. I feel blessed to have lived in San Francisco for the last three years and attend and graduate from Academy of Art."

One of Moore's "brothers" was men's basketball guard Aaron Anderson who completed his time in the School of Game Development. Moore and Anderson shared their Senior Day together in 2015. Alongside their Multimedia Communications teammates were Matt Cesca from men's basketball as well as catcher James Singzon (Acting) and pitcher Ryan Donahoe (Fine Art) from baseball.

In addition to Leader and Haley, men's soccer graduated talented individuals from a variety of disciplines including midfielder Kristof Urbanyi (Motion Pictures & Television), goalkeeper Luca Theis (Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media), defender Runar Gudbjartsson (Web Design & New Media), forward Frederik Nagel (Architecture), and defender Lennart Fleschhut (Advertising). Both Urbanyi and Fleschhut were on the All-PacWest Third Team this past fall and Fleschhut himself earned the distinct honor of Best Individual GPA at the department's end-of-the-year ARTYs ceremony.

"For me, graduation day was the first time I actually had some sort of realization that this chapter of my life is now over," said Fleschhut. "So much has happened over the course of the last four years and I will always look back at it with joy. It has been an outstanding time and I want to thank all who shaped my experience."

Joining Fleschhut in the School of Advertising was center Aleigh Krug from women's basketball as well as volleyball alumni setter Rachael Smith and middle blocker Brittany Ulmer.  Smith ended an impressive career as a senior in 2015, becoming the first Urban Knight (and second PacWest Conference athlete) ever to reach 4,000 career assists, while Ulmer's senior finale saw her break into the triple digits for career service aces.

Also finishing from the volleyball program and the School of Fine Art was outside hitter Isabel Emrich. The epitome of an artist-athlete, Emrich exits Academy of Art University with one of the most accomplished portfolios to date after having five paintings on display in her third consecutive Spring Show and being featured in a local San Francisco gallery last summer.

"I worked more closely with several teachers this semester to learn and absorb as much as I could to feel more confident in my skills moving forward after graduation," said Emrich. "It has been an incredible three and a half years being an Urban Knight! I was a life-changing experience of tremendous learning and growth that I will cherish forever. Being recognized for the five paintings at the Spring Show was a perfect ending to my experience at Academy of Art and a great start to the next chapter of my life."

Adding to the Class of 2016 with Gudbjartsson in the School of Web Design & New Media were women's soccer midfielder Louise Fillingham and women's tennis artist-athlete Amal Ben El Hadj. One of the most durable players in program history, Fillingham played in all 18 matches as a senior to finish with 68 of 70 matches played in four years and crossed the stage in style. Ben El Hadj still has the program's highest singles winning percentage (.800) to her name after going 36-9 in three seasons.

Entering an exclusive group of ART U graduates from the School of Industrial Design, men's cross country/track & field distance runner Jack Nevins walked the stage while his former track & field teammate Vashti Thomas accepted her diploma from the School of Illustration to complete an incredible collegiate career. Thomas, who scored more than 70 points combined to the Urban Knights' two 2013 NCAA Division II National Championships, was an 11-time All-American, PacWest Women's Athlete of the Year, still holds school records in nine events, and went on to claim a gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2013 World University Games.

With yet another class entering the workforce with sophisticated portfolios, Academy of Art University Athletics continues to place emphasis on value of academics and the opportunity for post-graduate artist-athletes in their respective industries.