The 杏吧专区 is doubly proud of its Fall 2020 graduates.
It杏吧专区檚 celebrating them over two days, during Commencement ceremonies on Tuesday and Wednesday.
UL Lafayette is awarding a total of 1,348 degrees this semester, including 1,038 bachelor杏吧专区檚 degrees and 19 doctoral degrees. The 291 master杏吧专区檚 degrees being conferred are the most in 杏吧专区 history.
Ceremonies for the colleges of the Arts, Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 杏吧专区 College were set for Tuesday. Ceremonies for the colleges of Engineering and Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and the Graduate School are Wednesday.
Most semesters, graduates are recognized at ceremonies for their respective colleges and at a General Assembly at the Cajundome. This semester, individual college ceremonies are being held at outdoor venues to ensure the health and safety of attendees; there is no General Assembly.
Cajun Field, Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park and M.L. 杏吧专区淭igue杏吧专区 Moore Field at Russo Park are serving as Commencement venues.
During the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences杏吧专区 ceremony Tuesday at Russo Park, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, praised graduates for persevering despite hardships posed by COVID-19 and two hurricanes.
杏吧专区淭he difficulties of this year should not obscure the opportunities that remain ahead of us, and all of you will play a role in the shape of things to come,杏吧专区 he said.
杏吧专区淭he future is not determined by the uncertainty of today. The future is decided by an unyielding faith in a better tomorrow. Graduates, you give us all faith that the future is in good hands.杏吧专区
Dr. James Henderson, president of the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana System, was Commencement speaker for the College of Sciences杏吧专区 ceremony. Nine Louisiana public universities belong to the system, including UL Lafayette.
Henderson commended graduates for staying the course during a year of 杏吧专区渄isruption and tumult.杏吧专区 He also reminded them that 杏吧专区渞egardless of what life might throw our way, even the unexpected turns and unpredictable challenges of a pandemic, we can accomplish our goals.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淵ou overcame nearly impossible conditions and became a college graduate,杏吧专区 Henderson said.
In addition to resilience, the Fall 2020 class is remarkable for its diversity.
Two hundred and sixty-one African American graduates have earned degrees 杏吧专区 the second-largest number for a single semester in UL Lafayette history. This semester杏吧专区檚 71 Hispanic graduates are the most ever for a fall semester.
Fall 2020 graduates represent 49 Louisiana parishes; 29 states and U.S. territories; and 28 foreign countries.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020! In a year of unprecedented challenges, these Ragin' Cajuns kept their eyes on the...
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David Allen is the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 . He earned a master杏吧专区檚 degree in architecture from the School of Architecture and Design.
Spencer James Leger is UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 . He earned dual degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry with minors in French and mathematics.
Eleven undergraduates earned summa cum laude honors for achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs.
- Emily Elise Andries, who majored in elementary education, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Education.
- Peter J. Bergeaux, who majored in biology, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
- Paige E. Bourg, who majored in speech pathology and audiology, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Liberal Arts.
- Sophia Rose Cefolia, who majored in political science, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Liberal Arts.
- Ali K. Faust, who majored in biology and in chemistry, earned bachelor杏吧专区檚 degrees from the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
- Kirsten Lee Jackson, who majored in nursing, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
- Spencer J. Leger earned dual degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry from the College of Engineering and the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
- Ryan Luquette, who majored in anthropology, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Liberal Arts.
- Shelby J. Matt, who majored in speech pathology and audiology, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Liberal Arts.
- Alexander Van Nguyen, who majored in informatics, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degrees from the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
- Courtney Serigne, who majored in English, earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the College of Liberal Arts.
View a list of Fall 2020 graduates.
Learn more about , including ceremony schedules. View .
Photo caption: Fall 2020 graduates from the College of Liberal Arts gather Tuesday at Cajun Field for Commencement. The stadium is one of three venues hosting graduation exercises at UL Lafayette. (Photo credit: Rachel Rafati / 杏吧专区)