Commencement Ceremony a Survival Story For Miami-Dade College Grad

For 24-year-old Andy Oquendo, getting his degree this weekend during Miami Dade College’s commencement ceremony was more than just about walking across the stage – it was the culmination of his survival story following a car crash that almost killed him.

In 2010, Oquendo was in a tragic car accident in Southwest Miami-Dade, killing his teen brother and friend while sending Andy to the hospital in a coma.

Since then – through years of recovery – Andy has recovered from his traumatic brain injury and graduated with an associate’s degree in communications.

The day was even more special since he was able to graduate alongside his mother, Nilsa – who also endured the loss of her daughter to another car accident and then her husband to cancer. She graduated with her massage therapy certificate.

Contact Us