•  Recent graduation recaps

     NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics produced 42 graduates Saturday — its most in the 10 years the department has tracked the numbers — during XULA's 93rd annual commencement.
     The total number of athletic-related degrees included 35 student-athletes.
     The ceremony was online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in late March, XULA completed its spring semester via online instruction.
     "It was a once-in-a-lifetime finish to the school year," said Jason Horn, XULA's assistant vice president for student affairs/director of athletics and recreation, "and we hope it remains a one-time occurrence. Nevertheless our graduates are prepared to make real and powerful differences in their communities and beyond."
     During the baccalaureate Mass Friday, volleyball's Adili Rikondja received one of XULA's major honors: the Sister Beatrice Jeffries Student Life, Leadership and Service Award.
     Men's basketball assistant coach Ryan DeRousselle received a doctor of education degree. DeRousselle played for the Gold Rush from 2006-10.
     Student-athletes graduating (with high schools in parentheses where available) were:
     •  Ayinde Abanu, Minneapolis, Minn. (DeLaSalle), men's track and field/cross country, bachelor of science.
     •  Ghassan Alansi, Sana'a, Yemen (Alhussan National), men's tennis, track and field/cross country, bachelor of science . . . University Service Key.
     •  Lacee Ancar, Harvey, La. (John Curtis Christian), women's tennis, bachelor of arts.
     •  Chris Anders, Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist), men's tennis, bachelor of arts.
     •  Donovan Armstrong, Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock), men's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Farah Baklouti, Sfax, Tunisia (Lycée Sportif d'El Menzah), women's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Samir Chikhaoui, Lille, France (St. Remi), men's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Lyndsey Clark, Jacksonville, Fla. (Stanton College Preparatory), women's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Brittanie Cockrell, Port Arthur, Texas (Ozen), women's volleyball, bachelor of science.
     •  Ryan DeRousselle, Marrero, La. (Archbishop Shaw), men's basketball, doctor of education . . . with honors.
     •  Terri Drake, Baton Rouge, La. (University Lab), women's volleyball, bachelor of science.
     •  Adriana Fernandez, Sont Quirze del Valles, Spain (Institut Sont Quirze del Valles), women's basketball, bachelor of science . . . summa cum laude.
     •  Brion Flowers, Lafayette, La. (St. Thomas More), women's tennis, doctor of pharmacy . . . cum laude.
     •  Cara Ford, Birmingham, Ala. (Jefferson County International), women's volleyball, bachelor of science . . . magna cum laude.
     •  Jerry Gibson, Alexandria, La. (Alexandria Senior), men's basketball, bachelor of science . . . cum laude.
     •  Charlene Goreau, Toulouse, France (Raymond Naves), women's tennis, bachelor of science.
     •  Quiana Harrell, Marksville, La. (Marksville), women's track and field, bachelor of science . . . cum laude.
     •  Jalyn Hodge, Plano, Texas (Plano West), women's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Timothy Jordan, Oakland, Calif. (Freedom), men's basketball, bachelor of arts.
     •  Johnell Lane, Gonzales, La. (East Ascension), men's basketball, bachelor of arts.
     •  William Loyd, Baton Rouge, La. (Madison Prep), men's basketball, bachelor of science . . . . . . University Service Key.
     •  Ky'Reon McBride, Lafayette, La. (Lafayette), women's track and field/cross country, bachelor of science.
     •  Alexis Milton, Opelousas, La. (Westminster Christian Academy), women's track and field/cross country, bachelor of science.
     •  Yi Chen Pao, Taichung City (Taiwan National Shan-Hua), women's tennis, bachelor of science . . . summa cum laude, University Service Key.
     •  Amanda Perry, Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook), women's volleyball, bachelor of science.
     •  Nahrie Pierce, San Francisco, Calif. (St. Ignatius), women's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Justyce Riggs, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Choctawhatchee), women's track and field/cross country, bachelor of science . . . cum laude.
     •  Adili Rikondja, Inglewood, Calif. (Culver City), women's volleyball, bachelor of science . . . cum laude, Sister Beatrice Jeffries Student Life, Leadership and Service Award.
     •  Ry-Anne Riley, New Orleans, La. (Lusher Charter), women's track and field, bachelor of science.
     •  Hasani Salaam, New Orleans, La. (Lusher Charter), women's volleyball, bachelor of science.
     •  Tamia Scott, Lafayette, La. (Carencro), women's track and field, bachelor of science.
     •  Gina Smith, Atlanta, Ga. (Mays), women's basketball, bachelor of science.
     •  Maya Trench, Edgard, La. (West St. John), women's basketball, bachelor of science . . . cum laude.
     •  Maliya Vaughan, Elk Grove, Calif. (West Campus), women's track and field/cross country, bachelor of science.
     •  Essence Wells, Irving, Texas (MacArthur), women's basketball, bachelor of science.
     Also graduating were:
     •  Shannen Lawson, men's basketball manager, bachelor of science . . . summa cum laude.
     •  Daja Brooks, women's basketball manager, bachelor of science.
     •  Breanna Jones, spirit group (Gold Star dance), bachelor of science.
     •  Eden Keller, women's basketball manager, doctor of pharmacy . . . cum laude.
     •  Megan Littleton, spirit group (Gold Star dance), bachelor of science.
     •  Imanee Ryan, spirit group, bachelor of science.
     •  Meagan Walker, student worker, bachelor of science
     XULA has been regularly described in recent years as a "Best Buy School" in the Fiske Guide to Colleges. XULA's intercollegiate teams compete in the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. XULA in 2019-20 won six GCAC championships and produced three NAIA top-10 teams.