Willie de Gracia '00

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz welcomes Willie de Gracia, a 2000 Benedictine College graduate who came to Atchison from Puerto Rico to play baseball and build a future far from home. Willie shares how a chance recruitment call, a welcoming campus visit, and the opportunity to continue playing the sport he loved led him to Benedictine — where he faced the challenge of learning English, adjusting to Kansas winters, and proving to himself that he could succeed.

Willie reflects on how Benedictine prepared him not only for a career in finance, management, and healthcare, but also for a life rooted in perseverance, ethical leadership, and service to others. From overcoming language barriers in the classroom to building a professional career in Puerto Rico, he credits the lessons he learned at Benedictine — especially business ethics and understanding the needs of others — with shaping the way he approaches every relationship and decision.

Baseball has remained a central part of Willie’s life. After playing for more than 18 years in Puerto Rico, he now owns a team and helps young athletes pursue opportunities of their own through clinics, mentorship, and community involvement. His story comes full circle as his son prepares to attend Benedictine and play baseball, carrying the Raven tradition into a new generation — a reminder that the welcome Willie first felt in Atchison continues to reach across distance, decades, and family.