TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Northwestern State senior Andrea Nedorostova has achieved great success on the tennis court throughout her four seasons with the Lady Demons and will play in her second NCAA tournament on Friday but she has made sacrifices as well, including missing out on the chance to walk in her graduation ceremony, which took place on Friday morning.
 
Nedorostova has had an exceptional academic career while at NSU, being named to the Dean's List, President's List and the Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll on several occasions. She has maintained a GPA of 3.918 and is graduating with honors in communications.
 
Nedorostova was able to watch the commencement ceremonies via online streaming and as she did so she was surprised to hear the President of NSU, Dr. Randall J. Webb, give her recognition, citing her accomplishments in both academia and athletics.
 
Little did she know that her coach, Patric DuBois, NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke and Vice President of External Affairs Jerry Pierce had been planning this surprise since they found out 10 days ago that she would not be able to attend the commencement exercises.
 
As she watched with her parents, who flew in from the Czech Republic on Wednesday night, it was clear just how much the surprise meant to her.
 
The most emotional part came at the end when President Webb announced that Coach DuBois, who was standing directly behind Nedorostova, would be presenting her with the diploma she had worked so hard for over the past four years.
 
There were hugs all around as Nedorostova's parents, coaches and friends from the university congratulated her on her achievement.
 
Nedorostova has been accepted into the prestigious graduate school of communications at the University of Texas and will begin her studies there in the fall. She will return to NSU in December to formally receive her diploma and march at the winter commencement exercises.