Iowa Lakes Community College's softball team saw seven of their athletes walk across the stage to receive their diplomas last Friday. They had four student-athletes graduate with summa cum laude honors (3.75-4.0 GPA), one student-athlete graduate with magna cum laude honors (3.50-3.74 GPA), and one student-athlete graduate with cum laude honors (3.25-3.49). In addition, Kaitlin Roundy sang the national anthem with her fellow choir graduates, and Mackenna Otte delivered one of the commencement speeches.
Otte had a very successful career as an Iowa Lake Softball player. During her time as a Laker, Otte helped propel her team to an overall record of 62-34-1. She played shortstop both years for a team that made it to back-to-back region XI championship games. This past season, Otte compiled a .953 fielding percentage. She had just seven errors in 149 total chances and turned four double plays. Otte's fielding percentage is among the highest of any shortstop in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.
Otte has also been very influential at Iowa Lakes Community College and within the Estherville community. At Iowa Lakes, she was a Presidential Scholar and President of the Student Senate. Through her position as Student Senate President, Otte had the opportunity to organize numerous community service projects. Some of these included a pop can drive for the local Humane Society, a canned food drive for Upper Des Moines, and a toy drive for local youth during the holiday season. Through the softball team, she volunteered time at a Mobile Food Pantry, cleaned ditches for Adopt-A-Highway, assisted with local softball clinics, and assisted with a youth carnival with different Estherville organizations.
"Mackenna was the ideal choice to speak to her peers Friday afternoon because she is an example of the many different ways success can be achieved at Iowa Lakes Community College. I have been honored to witness her leadership skills as her coach and student senate advisor and have enjoyed hearing from faculty and staff about her positive presence on campus. I am confident Mackenna will be an ambassador of Iowa Lakes as she continues her education at Minnesota State University-Mankato and throughout her life. We have been fortunate to have her as part of our history as a softball program and as part of our institution. She will be greatly missed at Iowa Lakes next year!" commented Head Softball Coach Katie King.
Photo ID: Photos of Mackenna Otte giving the commencement speech on Friday afternoon attached.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.