Valeria Cherfus ’25 named Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Business
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A champion’s spirit — driven by passion, perseverance, and pride — guided Valeria Cherfus ’25 to on-court success at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a member of Islanders Women’s Tennis. Off the court, that same drive helped her earn the College of Business Spring 2025 Outstanding Islander Graduate honor as she completes her Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analytics and Information Systems. She will earn her degree on Saturday, May 17, during the university’s largest commencement ceremony in history.
“Maintaining a 3.96 GPA while being a student-athlete came through hard work and resilience,” Cherfus said. “My mindset was to not make excuses and work through complications along the way.”
A native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, one of the greatest complications Cherfus faced was the ongoing conflict following Russia’s invasion of her home country in 2022. At the time, Cherfus was attending junior college in Florida, but soon transferred to TAMU-CC. Watching from thousands of miles away as her family was forced to flee their home, she credits the Island University with helping her regain focus on the things she could control, rather than letting what she couldn’t control define her.
“With the enthusiasm and work ethic from my coaches Steve Moore and Olga Bazhanova, it felt like I was surrounded by family and an environment that always made you push yourself to become the best version of yourself,” she said. “Coach Olga comes from Ukraine as well, and it was such a blessing to have someone from my home country help through my journey here. She could understand me better than anyone else.”
In just two seasons with the Islanders, Cherfus compiled an impressive 38-3 singles record, including a perfect 26-0 mark in Southland Conference play. She also went 28-10 in doubles, including 12-1 in the SLC. In total, she won six conference championships, two each in singles, doubles, and team competitions.
Cherfus found a community beyond the court among the university’s international students — a key factor in her decision to become an Islander. It’s no surprise she points to international scholar Dr. Chuleeporn “Nikki” Changchit, Professor of Information Management Systems, as one of her biggest faculty influences.
“Dr. Nikki shares her real-world knowledge when guiding us through a project,” Cherfus said.
One standout project from Changchit’s class involved developing a database for the Texas State Aquarium to better track animals’ diets. It was during this collaboration that Changchit saw Cherfus’ leadership on full display.
“Valeria took the initiative to serve as her team’s leader, a role in which she truly excelled,” Changchit said. “I was highly impressed with her leadership, organization, and ability to foster collaboration. Although the team faced initial challenges, she guided them into a cohesive, well-prepared unit. Their presentations were confident, enthusiastic, and professional, and their final project met the aquariums’ expectations — a testament to Valeria’s dedication and ability to drive results.”
While many Outstanding Islander Graduates receive academic scholarships, Cherfus’ education was funded through athletic scholarships — a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.
“I truly appreciate my athletic scholarship and everything that comes with it,” she said. “I’m fully aware that not everyone has their tuition, housing, and other expenses covered. I push myself to prove I’m worth the investment.”
Her academic achievements reflect that commitment. Cherfus was a 2024 first-team Southland All-Academic selection, and she also made the Dean’s List every semester since enrolling at TAMU-CC. She was also honored with a Legacy Ring, a complimentary Islander Ring from the National Islander Alumni Association. Cherfus will continue her Islander legacy as a graduate assistant for Islanders Tennis while she pursues a Master of Arts in Communications from TAMU-CC before eventually entering the business world.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the corporate side of business,” she said. “Our world is driven by technology and analytics, and I’m excited about the future with so many emerging paths to choose from.”
