Fernando Mendoza took a accidental connected himself, transferring to Indiana and winning a nationalist title aft 3 seasons astatine Cal — but determination are nary hard feelings successful Berkeley.
Since being drafted No. 1 overall, Mendoza has embraced the demands of the job. He missed a White House visit with his Hoosiers teammates earlier this period and besides his commencement ceremonial for his undergraduate grade astatine Cal past Wednesday due to the fact that helium had signifier with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Haas School of Business Dean Jenny Chatman made an exception.
At the school’s MBA commencement ceremonial connected Saturday, Chatman took a intermission during the ceremonial to marque country for Mendoza to locomotion the signifier for his undergraduate degree.
But not without an appraisal of Mendoza’s archetypal negotiations coming retired of college.
“We person 1 Haas undergraduate pupil who couldn’t marque it to commencement connected Wednesday. So, I anticipation you don’t caput I invited this idiosyncratic to our MBA commencement,” Chatman said. “He really had a truly bully excuse for missing commencement. He utilized his Haas skills and coursework to negociate an fantabulous occupation and an fantabulous comp package.
“But helium wasn’t capable to alteration his commencement day erstwhile helium needed to study to his caller job, truthful tin you delight assistance maine successful welcoming Las Vegas Raider, Heisman Trophy winner, Haas postgraduate and Cal Bear forever, Fernando Mendoza.”
It becomes afloat ellipse for Haas postgraduate and erstwhile Cal QB Fernando Mendoza
The Raiders QB and No. 1 wide draught pick, who got his UC Berkeley undergrad grade astatine Haas, was yet capable to locomotion astatine today's commencement astatine the Greek Theater pic.twitter.com/4HkDQipcTK
— Thomas Dunn (@Thomasdunn24) May 23, 2026
Applause erupted from the assemblage arsenic Mendoza walked crossed the signifier to person his bachelor’s grade successful concern medication and management, which helium finished successful 2025 portion enrolled and on-campus successful Indiana for his master’s degree.
The Miami autochthonal led the Hoosiers to an unbeaten play and a nationalist rubric en way to becoming the Raiders’ hopes for a aboriginal franchise quarterback.
But it each started successful Berkeley.
“To my Cal family, acknowledgment for being the archetypal to judge successful my future,” Mendoza said astatine his Heisman ceremony. “Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for educating me, giving maine the instauration that enabled maine to turn into the idiosyncratic I americium today.”
Contact Trevor Squire astatine tsquire@reviewjournal.com Follow him astatine @trevordsquire connected X.
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