On Sunday, May 3, the small group of five graduating seniors from the University of Richmond women’s swim team got the surprise of their life.

Seniors Maddy Chao, Eliza Manning, Hannah Gouger, Sydney Weiskopf and Lexie Gilbert logged onto what was to be their final team meeting of the year, a somber goodbye reminding them of robbed swimming championships and graduation ceremonies.

That’s not what they got. The women were stunned to see their meeting unfold into a virtual graduation, with over 200 people in attendance.

The excitement only escalated when they realized US Olympian Maya DiRado-Andrews was honoring their sendoff with a keynote speech written exclusively for them.  

“It was super fun to watch their faces. Just seeing all the people who got on the call, and how much they wanted to make it special for these grads,” says the gold medalist. “Relative to a broader crisis, it was a lovely moment out of unnormal times.”

DiRado-Andrews was given about two weeks’ notice to help prepare for the surprise after receiving a call from her friend Mitch Dalton, the former National Junior Team Director at USA Swimming. Dalton got the request from the Richmond coach Matt Barany, and the three got the ball rolling.

“I’ve never given a commencement speech before, so I wrote out three pages, about five minutes worth,” says DiRado Andrews.

Although kept in the dark, the seniors thought something was up as they all received special boxes with strict instructions to not open until the meeting. Upon opening, they found a graduation cap and gown, courtesy of the school alumnae. And their giddy parents, who were in on the act, dressed up for the call.

Senior Hannah Gouger, who thought It was going to be a regular meeting, was pleasantly surprised after logging in.

“I saw all of my teammates and coaches dressed up and was immediately confused,” Gouger said. “Once I realized that it was a virtual commencement, I felt extremely blessed. There were around 200 people on this call, so I was clicking through to see everyone that joined to celebrate my class.

“I thought I recognized Maya, but her zoom name was “Maya Andrews” so I was a little confused. Once one of our alumni introduced her as our keynote speaker, I was super excited.

“Being a backstroker, it was special to have her join this virtual ceremony and speak for the five girls in my class. Her words were inspiring and gave hope during these uncertain times. Although this wasn’t what I originally had planned for my college graduation, it was more meaningful and a day that I will never forget. I would never have imaged having Maya DiRado as my keynote speaker for my graduation.” 

Weiskopf said the graduation will be something she always remembers, even though she couldn’t be together in person with her teammates.

“It was completely catered to the 5 of us and our college experience as swimmers and divers,” Weiskopf said. “To have Maya DiRado – someone who knows what that experience looked like – as a commencement speaker was amazing and more than we could have ever asked for. It was also so special to be able to have people there who wouldn’t have been able to be at a normal graduation ceremony.

“I was blown away by how many people were there to celebrate us, and by the hard work that our Spider family put into making it happen. For the past four years, this team showed me every day what it meant to love each other well, and the fact that they went above and beyond in the middle of a pandemic to continue to support and care for us is the perfect example of that.”

Chao agreed.

“I was so surprised when I got on Zoom and saw all of my friends and family there to support us,” Chao said. “It was incredible to have Maya there to give us such a wonderful commencement speech tailored to the five of us. I’m so grateful to have been a part of this team, and it will be something I remember forever!”

Joining DiRado-Andrews were coaches, parents, teammates, alumni, and the president and chaplain of the University.

“So many participated and made this super special,” says the Olympian. “It was a very fun surprise and so meaningful,” says DiRado-Andrews. “They were delightful girls, and they all sent me handwritten notes afterward, the sweetest touch.”