University of Louisiana Grad earns three degrees in four years

[NewsCopy]

Nicholas LaBry will earn three bachelor’s degrees from the University of Louisiana during Spring 2014 Commencement ceremonies Friday – in chemistry, electrical engineering, and physics.

The 22-year-old, who took up to 24 credit hours per semester to complete all of his degree requirements, said he gets a common response when most people learn that he has earned degrees in such academically demanding disciplines in four years.

“ ‘You’re crazy!’ is generally the first reaction,” LaBry said, with a chuckle during a recent interview. “They usually say that they’re very surprised, and then comes the standard congratulations.”

LaBry, who has a 3.7 GPA, said the key to his success is taking everything in stride. “I learned not to stress a long time ago,” he explained.

His father is a physicist who conducts underwater acoustics research. His uncle once worked on a design project for Boeing while attending MIT. “I grew up surrounded by science,” said LaBry, a Lafayette High School graduate.

An innate intellectual curiosity and wide-ranging interests left him unable to decide on one major, or even a double major, before he enrolled at UL in Fall 2011.

“Picking three was me narrowing down my scope,” he said.

LaBry chose to attend UL, in part, because the University was able to accommodate his intention to pursue a triple major.

“My advisors and professors were willing to work with me, and not a lot of schools would allow that,” he said.

LaBry was able to absorb a lot of the material that was presented during class lectures.

“I don’t have to study a lot, so anything I have to do at home is mostly cramming the night before a test,” he explained.

This fall, LaBry will enroll in a five-year doctoral program at RensSLUer Polytechnic Institute, a private research university in Troy, N. Y. He’ll receive a tuition waiver, a yearly stipend, and the chance to once again pursue a multi-disciplinary curriculum.

He is in the process of developing that curriculum with faculty members at the institute.

“I’ll probably be taking classes in inorganic chemistry, quantum and particle physics, microelectronics circuits and maybe a little power engineering,” LaBry said.

LaBry said he ultimately wants to become a researcher at a university or private institute.

Louisiana.edu

[CajunFan3406]

Congrats to this guy. I believe he was part of the EE robot team that won at the Region 5 competition last month.

[Zeebart21]

Lafayette High grad? Of course he is! Makes up for the knuckleheads like me that graced to hallowed halls of LHS in the late 70's!!!

Congrats, young man!!

Z

[Ragin4U]

Congrats to this guy. I believe he was part of the EE robot team that won at the Region 5 competition last month.

Wow. Very impressive. Hope he was on Quizbowl, Mathletes and Bar trivia teams too!

[NewsCopy]

The first person to earn recognition as the University of Louisiana’s overall Outstanding Master’s Graduate pursued three specializations in communications.

Chasah West concentrated on public relations, advertising and international communication.

She was one of six graduate students who were finalists for the new Outstanding Master’s Graduate designation, which started with the Spring 2015 Commencement.

Each graduate program nominates one student for the award, based on leadership, scholarship, service, and research. A committee, led by the dean of the University’s Graduate School, selects the top candidates.

A UL Alumni Association committee interviews each candidate and chooses one for the overall award. That person is recognized during the Commencement General Assembly as the overall Outstanding Master’s Graduate.

This semester’s Outstanding Master’s Graduates who were finalists for the overall award, in addition to West, are Madeleine Richard, Brenda Proctor, Christian Fontenot, Stinne Sundergaard and MeganTagesen.

Chasah West is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts.

The daughter of missionaries, she grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lusaka, Zambia.

As a member of a team led by Dr. Phil Auter, a professor of communication, West contributed research and writing for two conference papers. One was about Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome; the other focused on combating harmful, social media-born gossip. She presented the papers at the second annual International Conference on Media and Rumors in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

In her thesis, West undertook a study of international students to examine which aspects of their university relationships were valued most across cultures. Her findings provide beneficial information for university student recruitment and retention efforts and communication practitioners in general.

She was a graduate assistant in the University’s Office of Communications and Marketing, as well as at Holbrook Multi Media, a local advertising and production agency.

As a member of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, she led a weekly Bible study, and helped to plan campus events and charity drives. She was a guest speaker at the 2015 Emerging Leaders Summit hosted by UL’s Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.

She graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Madeleine Richard is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration.

She coordinated the University’s Study Abroad Program for undergraduate and graduate students. She also created the Study Abroad Ambassador Program, which enables past participants to help recruitment efforts by sharing their passion for studying abroad.

Richard, who earned a 4.0 GPA, coordinated the International Speaker Series for the B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration.

She was president of the University’s MBA Association, and helped increase membership and attendance at its social, networking and community outreach events.

Richard also served on the Student Advisory Council.

Brenda Proctor is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

She earned national certification from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Society in 2012, which requires completion of extra graduate course work, rigorous nursing rotations, and passage of an exam.

Proctor is working on a research project that examines the implementation of evidence-based practice in wound care, in combination with evidence-based diabetes management, to reduce the number of lower limb amputations in Louisiana.

She also developed the “Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Community Guide,” an educational tool for medical students.

Proctor is a member of several professional nursing organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the Louisiana State Nurses Association. She had a 3.875 GPA.

Christian Fontenot is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy.

In his thesis, “Mapping the Terrible Beauty: Polar Exploration and the British Empire,” Fontenot provided an intellectual and cultural history of British polar exploration. He presented his thesis research at three national academic conferences.

A digital media artist, Fontenot designed exhibit panels for the “Museum on the Move” project, the conversion of a 1954 Airstream trailer into a mobile museum.

Fontenot, who had a 4.0 GPA, received the Dr. Alexander Sas-Jaworsky Endowed History Scholarship and the Amos E. Simpson Award for Best Graduate Research Paper.

At the National Phi Alpha Conference in Albuquerque, N.M., he presented a research paper titled “Empire, Icemen, and the Great White Horizon: Imagined Geography in Nineteenth Century Polar Exploration.”

He was a member of the UL chapter of Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society and the American Historical Association.

Stinne Soendergaard is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the Department of Psychology.

Her thesis examines variables that influence reception of, and attitudes toward, communications related to sexual violence prevention. Soendergaard, who had a 4.0 GPA, made a presentation on the subject at the annual convention of the Southwestern Psychological Association.

She also conducted research about empathy and social inhibition as moderators of response to infant crying in female preschoolers, which she presented at an international conference in Berlin.

A scholar/athlete, Soendergaard has been a member of the UL water ski team, and the Danish national water ski team. She has also competed and coached for the Danish Waterski Federation.

She plans to obtain a doctorate in sports psychology.

MeganTagesen is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate for the School of Architecture and Design.

She was a member of a small team that created a master plan for Habitat for Humanity’s Pinhook Pocket Neighborhood in Lafayette. The team also designed a 1,200-square-foot Habitat home.

She designed a multifunctional space for education, leisure, and public meetings in Pecan Island, La., an unincorporated town in Vermilion Parish.

For her master’s project, Tagesen created a concept for converting a vacant “big box” store and parking lot into a community park, collaborative work environment, and living space in New Orleans.

She worked as a teaching assistant in foundation design courses and helped with graduate student recruitment._

As a graduate assistant, she contributed research for a comprehensive review of UL’s architecture program by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

In 2014, accreditation for UL’s School of Architecture and Design was extended for the full term of eight years.

She earned a 4.0 GPA.

_

Six grad students who received master’s degrees Friday were finalists for UL’s first overall Outstanding Master’s Graduate Award. Chasah West earned that title. Finalists, from left, were: Megan Tagesen, Brenda Proctor, West, Christian Fontenot, Stinne Soendergaard and Madeleine Richard.

Louisiana.edu

[NewsCopy]

Zadid K. Haq plans to attend medical school, now that he’s earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. His preparation for that career contributed to his recognition as the University of Louisiana Alumni Association’s overall Outstanding Graduate.


In addition to earning a 4.0 GPA, Haq was president of the UL Honors Program and vice president of the UL Pre-Professional Society, for example. He has already had research results published in an international journal.


Haq was one of eight graduating seniors honored during Spring 2015 Commencement ceremonies Friday as Outstanding Graduates of _academic colleges. The others were Kallie Broussard, Trevor Bellard, Katie Stefan, Eric Regel, Emily Broussard, Valerie Groze and Aimee LaFleur.


Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight colleges each nominate a candidate for a bachelor’s degree as an Outstanding Graduate, based on leadership, scholarship and service. A selection committee of the Alumni Association interviews the candidates and selects one to receive an overall award.


Here’s a look at the honorees.

Haq is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.

He founded the UL Honors Orphan Outreach program, which in 2014 raised $8,850 for Syrian orphans.

His community service work includes working at the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, and with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana. He received the Big Brother of the Year Award in 2014.

Haq was a patient aide for Heart of Hospice, and a team captain for Relay for Life, an event that raises money for cancer research. He worked with the Phi Kappa Phi Book Drive, Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Heart Association, and Special Olympics.


He received a UL Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, a Lafayette Parish Medical Scholarship, a Lafayette Parish Academic Rally Scholarship, a Dr. John Tolson Jr. Memorial Scholarship, a Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Scholarship, and an International Association of Drilling Contractors Chapter Scholarship.


Findings of research conducted by a faculty mentor and Haq were published in an international journal in the field of bioinorganic DNA cleavage and modeling.

He is the son of Ema and Zakia Haq of Lafayette, La.

Kallie Broussard is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.


She was a performing arts major, with a concentration in dance, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA.


Broussard received the Marc Breaux Endowed Dance Scholarship and the L. Hill Bonin Memorial Scholarship._She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.


An accomplished dancer, Broussard was selected for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Intensive program, and for the Broadway Teacher’s Workshop. Both were held in New York City.


She performed with University productions such as “State of La Danse” and “An Evening of Dance.” Broussard was also an assistant stage manager for “State of La Danse.”


She performed community service through Our Lady of Fatima School, Lafayette High School, First Baptist Church, and High School Youth Pursuing Excellence. Broussard was a volunteer at Festival International de Louisiane.


She is the daughter of Gerald and Patti Broussard of Lafayette, La.

Trevor Bellard is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.


He was an accounting major with a 3.94 GPA.


Bellard was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Freshmen Honor Society, and the Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society.


He received the Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Endowed Scholarship and a Postlethwaite and Netterville accounting scholarship.


Bellard was a member of the Student Government Association; he served as senator for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration and chairman of the SGA’s Finance Committee. He also was president of the student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, and a UNIV 100 Peer Mentor.


Bellard was nominated for Outstanding Sophomore for Ragin’ Recognition, and as Outstanding Senior by Sigma Chi Fraternity.


He participated in the Big Event, an annual day of community service sponsored by the United Way of Acadiana. Bellard also performed volunteer work for St. Joseph’s Diner and for Habitat for Humanity.


He plans to apply for law school, and hopes to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.


Bellard is the son of Shannon and Candi Bellard of Scott, La.

Katie Stefan is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.


An elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA, she was treasurer of the University chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society.


As a freshman, she was recognized by Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society as an Honorary First-Year Student.


Stefan earned the John Robert Moore Award for Outstanding Achievement in a History Survey Course.

In 2014, she was recognized with the College of Education’s Outstanding Junior Award.

Stefan received four UL College of Education Scholarships and was nominated for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

She performed community service through the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk of Acadiana, the Big Event, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, the Lafayette Public Library, and the Cajun Soccer Club.

At UL, Stefan was active in intramural sports, such as soccer and volleyball.

She plans to teach for several years, and then pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Stefan is the daughter of Paul and Peggy Stefan of Lafayette, La.

Eric Regel is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.

He was a chemical engineering major with a 3.79 GPA.

Regel was a member of the Omega Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. In Spring 2014, he was a Fifth Generation Designing Leaders graduate.

In Fall 2012, Regel received the Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Academic Excellence Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineering. He served as that organization’s UL student chapter president, and vice president.

Regel was vice president of the student chapter of the Louisiana Engineering Society, and a student ambassador for the College of Engineering.

He was a member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.

Regel was captain of the University’s lacrosse club._

His community service included working with the Big Event, the Cinderalla Project, Habitat for Humanity, and Animal Rescue of New Orleans.

He is the son of Bernard and Gayle Regel of River Ridge, La.

Emily Katherine Broussard is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.

She majored in psychology and anthropology, and earned a 3.98 GPA.

At UL, Broussard participated in eight anthropology and psychology research projects, four in each department.

She was principal investigator for one of the psychology projects, which was titled “Social Identity and Victim Blame in the United States-Iraq Conflict.” It explored the dynamics of fear and blame in crisis situations._

Broussard spent a summer in Ghana, West Africa, conducting anthropology research, and as a teaching volunteer. She also spent a summer in Nepal, South Asia, as a nursing volunteer, and another volunteering in Guatemala, where she helped build a community center in a rural village.

She was a member of more than a dozen campus organizations, including the Student Government Association, Students for the Advancement of Women, and Tri Delta Sorority. Broussard was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Her community service included volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and Trinity Catholic School.

Broussard plans to attend graduate school. She would like to conduct anthropological and psychological research in non-western countries on the effects of globalization and colonization, intergroup conflict and women’s issues.

She intends to continue to be actively involved in humanitarian work and teach anthropology and women’s studies at a university.

Broussard is the daughter of Robin and James Broussard Jr. of St. Martinville, La.

Valerie Groze is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

A member of the Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, she had a 3.65 GPA. Groze was recognized at UL’s Honors Convocation.

A transfer student, Groze received a New York University College of Nursing Scholarship.

Her community service included working with a First Book fundraiser to provide new books for children in need. Groze also participated in the Champions are Readers program, where she read books to children at a local library.

She helped coach the volleyball team at Runnels Middle School in Baton Rouge, La.

Groze plans to become a certified nurse midwife. She has accepted a job at Lafayette General Medical Center in its Mother/Baby Unit. She plans to obtain Maternal Newborn Nursing Certification after two years of employment.

She is the daughter of Mary Beth and Steve Groze of Baton Rouge, La.

Aimee LaFleur is the Outstanding Graduate for University College.

She was a general studies major with a 3.87 GPA.

LaFleur received the General Studies Alumni Association Endowment Scholarship.

She also earned three Segal Americorps Education Awards, the Dean of Community Service Excellence in Community Service Award and UL Americorps awards for leadership and teamwork.

LaFleur was events committee chair for the University’s Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society.

She performed over 1,500 hours of community service through Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Acadiana, New Hope Community Development of Acadiana, Alice Boucher Elementary School, JW Faulk Elementary School, Bayou Grace Community Services, United Saints Recovery Project, Lafayette Animal Aid, Palmetto State Park, and Chicot State Park.

LaFleur spent a summer in Alaska, and another in the Pacific Northwest as part of UL’s History on the Move program.

She hopes to obtain a job as a park ranger with Tennessee’s State Parks or the National Park Service, or as a ranger with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management.

LaFleur is the daughter of Barry and Julie LaFleur of Scott, La.

_

Photo info: Eight seniors were honored as Outstanding Graduates during Spring 2015 Commencement ceremonies on Friday. Zadid Haq was named the overall Outstanding Graduate. Shown, from left, are Kallie Broussard, College of the Arts; Eric Regel, College of Engineering;_Haq, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Valerie Groze, College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions; Katie Stefan, College of Education; Trevor Bellard, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; and Aimee LaFleur, University College. Not shown is Emily Broussard, College of Liberal Arts.

Louisiana.edu

[NewsCopy]

At the end of each regular semester, the University of Louisiana recognizes those students named to the President's List and the Dean's List. Eligible students must be enrolled fulltime.

To be included on the Dean's List, students must earn a 3.5 GPA or better and to be included on the President's List, students must earn a 3.8 GPA or better.

The following students are being honored for the Spring 2015 semester. An asterisk (*) denotes those students on the President's List.

View the Spring 2015 President's and Dean's list.

Louisiana.edu

[NewsCopy]

University of Louisiana graduate Kayla Dixon left the Spring 2015 Commencement General Assembly at the Cajundome on Friday ready to embark on the next chapter of her life.

Dixon, of New Roads, La., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She plans to attend graduate school to study public policy or comparative politics, then enroll in law school.

“I’ll be able to apply what I’ve learned as I move forward with my education. I feel like I’m well versed in a lot of subjects,” Dixon said.

UL conferred 1,641 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, a school record.

Among that group were the first graduates of its doctor of nursing practice program, Dr. Linda Green, and Dr. Robyn Ray, both of Alexandria, La.

Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL president, told graduates during his General Assembly address that whether they enter the workforce, or seek another academic degree, he is “confident that what you’ve learned at the University will serve you well.

“I encourage you to take the same sense of hope, optimism, hard work and tenacity that brought you to this day and carry it with you in whatever you do,” Savoie said. “You have the opportunity to use your abilities to solve problems and to help others.”

Savoie also recognized members of the Classes of 1965 and 1940, many of whom attended the General Assembly. The group included two members of the Class of 1940, Geraldine Beaullieau Angers and Dracos Burke, whose grandsons received bachelor’s degrees Friday.

Savoie’s mother, Grace Boudreaux Savoie, is also a 1940 graduate, but was unable to attend the General Assembly.

Commencement speaker Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Liberian ambassador to the United States,_congratulated students on what he described as “one of the most important and significant days of your lives.”

He urged graduates to become “global citizens,” in a world made “smaller” by technology._Sulunteh also said that nations have a mutual responsibility to deal with important issues, such as the Ebola virus.

An outbreak of the Zaire strain of the virus last year killed thousands of people in West Africa, primarily in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. There were international concerns about its potential to spread to other parts of the world.

“Your challenge as you leave (this ceremony) is to determine what your impact as an individual, and as a collective group of University graduates, will be on the world,” Sulunteh said.

Zadid Haq was cited UL’s overall Outstanding Graduate. A biology major, he received a bachelor of science degree.

Chasah West was recognized with the first Outstanding Master’s Graduate Award. West received a master’s degree in communication.

Fourteen students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates for achieving perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

They are:

• Kallie Elizabeth Broussard received a bachelor’s degree in performing arts. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Broussard_of Lafayette,_La.

• Katie Lynn Leleaux received a bachelor’s degree in architecture. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Leleaux of Duson, La.

• Mariah Day Hukins received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Hukins of Carencro, La.

• Katie Elizabeth Stefan received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stefan of Lafayette, La.

• Wadie Chalgham received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Riadh Chalgham of Lafayette, La.

• Andrew Michael Roche received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Roche of Lafayette, La.

• Natalie Claire Loomis received a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in Francophone studies. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Loomis of Lafayette, La.

• Ashley Anne Poirrier received a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Poirrier of New Iberia, La.

• Leah Michelle Ray received a bachelor’s degree in English. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ray of Carencro, La.

• Michael Nicholas Artigue received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Artigue of Lafayette, La.

• Victoria Lee Bolgiano received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Bolgiana of Lafayette, La.

• Andrea Page Cantrell received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Les Cantrell of New Roads, La.

• Amy Marie Dekerlegand received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Dekerlegand of Lafayette, La.

• Zadid Kamrul Haq received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ema Haq of Lafayette, La.

_

Photo info: Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Liberian ambassador to the United States

Louisiana.edu

[NewsCopy]

Twenty-three Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns student-athletes were among a record 1,641 graduates to receive degrees from the University during commencement exercises last week.

The rest of the story

UL SI