Frayer's mother, nephew receive GCU diploma

Oscar Frayer brought his fellow Grand Canyon students out of their seats one more time at GCU Arena.

Frayer's mother, Bionca Sparrow, and his 9-year-old nephew, E.J. Harris, accepted Frayer's diploma for a degree in Communications on Monday, almost four weeks after Frayer, his sister Andrea Frayer-Moore and his friend Caley Bringmann died in a vehicle crash.

Oscar Frayer family at commencement

With Harris holding the framed diploma and Sparrow making the sign of the cross, touching her heart and pointing to heaven, a long standing ovation came from each of Frayer's fellow graduates in GCU commencement ceremonies for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Education.

"The fact that he finished as strong as he did, got his degree, set an example for his nieces and nephews means a lot to his mother," GCU President Brian Mueller said after the ceremony. "We will give his nieces and nephews a full scholarship if they want to attend GCU when they're of age and meet the admissions requirements.

"I'm hoping that will give her some feeling that some good is going to come out of this, that they have something to look forward to. She says all the time, 'Oscar loved Grand Canyon University.' He really loved this place and our student body loved him."

Three uncles, Frayer's sister Irie, two nephews, a cousin, his godfather and a high school counselor joined Sparrow for the fulfilling moment. Frayer had promised his mother that he would graduate, driving him to return to the program after missing 2019-20 for academic ineligibility.

First-year head coach Bryce Drew invited Frayer to return. The Oakland native proved as rewarding to the team, as the decision was to his personal growth.

Frayer helped GCU to its first WAC regular-season and WAC Tournament championships, which led to the Lopes' first NCAA tournament appearance on March 20, three days before the crash near Lodi, California.

Mueller said Frayer earned all A and B grades in his final academic year, making him the first male on his mother's side of the family to earn a college degree.

"This is all he wanted so really it's a celebration," said GCU teammate Sean Miller-Moore, who watched the commencement with other players. "It feels great, honestly. I'm just happy. He basically paved the way for his family.

"He would want us to be celebrating."

It was a celebration. Paul Danuser, also the public address announcer for GCU basketball games, said, "This first degree is awarded posthumously for the 'High Flyer,' Oscar Frayer, presented to his mother, Bionca, and nephew and future Lope E.J. Harris!" That set off another standing O for "O."

"We've never seen Oscar happier than those last three weeks," Mueller said. "I think it was because of the basketball success, which meant a lot to Oscar, but it was also because he felt proud that he had fulfilled what his mom wanted him to do, which was to graduate. He was an example to those nieces and nephews. The fact that she was able to be here today and walk his nephew across the stage meant a lot to our students. Our students are still really suffering. He was such a positive and upbeat presence on our campus."

Drew said he talked to Sparrow before the ceremony, when she shared how Frayer's motivation for returning to GCU was for Monday's moment — one that the coach said starts a legacy for his family and the Lopes.

"We talk about GCU being a family and you kind of get taken aback when they announce his name and the whole place stood up," Drew said. "For me, it's touching watching that because we preach family atmosphere. We didn't tell people what to do, but for families coming from California to all the Midwest, for them all to stand up for his name being announced was pretty special."

Oscar Frayer's mother, Bionca Sparrow, and his nephew, E.J. Harris, accepted Frayer's diploma at GCU commencement today. Frayer, his sister Andrea Frayer-Moore and his friend Caley Bringmann died in a car crash on March 23, three days after GCU's first NCAA tournament game. pic.twitter.com/umMinvYedb
— Paul Coro (@paulcoro) April 19, 2021

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Oscar Frayer

Sean Miller-Moore

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