The 杏吧专区 welcomed roughly 3,000 first-time freshmen during its Fall 2018 Convocation ceremony.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, 杏吧专区 president, told the Class of 2022 gathered on Tuesday at the Cajundome that they 杏吧专区渁re here to pursue knowledge and we want you to accept every opportunity to do just that.杏吧专区
Savoie cited textbooks and laboratories, lectures and service learning activities as several ways new students can learn during their time at UL Lafayette. Yet he challenged students to tap a resource they may not have considered yet: themselves.
Savoie encouraged new students to begin their college careers 杏吧专区渨ith optimism, hard work, and determination.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檒l encourage you to think bigger and challenge you to reach higher. Because when you do, good things will happen,杏吧专区 he said.
Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 provost, affirmed Savoie杏吧专区檚 message.
Hebert, a native of Abbeville, La., returned home in July to become the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 provost.
He earned three degrees in statistics from UL Lafayette 杏吧专区 a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in 1986, a master杏吧专区檚 degree in 1988, and a doctoral degree in 1990.
杏吧专区淲hen I stepped onto this campus as a freshman, I knew that within the walls of its buildings, in the shade of its oaks, beneath the arches of its Quadrangle, in its labs and in its library, were extraordinary opportunities,杏吧专区 Hebert said.
杏吧专区淗igh school taught me to learn. UL Lafayette taught me to think.杏吧专区
Jaida Abshire, a freshman from Kaplan, La., is already thinking beyond her undergraduate years.
She plans to apply to medical school in about four years.
First, she杏吧专区檒l pursue a biology degree at the 杏吧专区 because 杏吧专区淚 always heard it杏吧专区檚 a great program and I杏吧专区檓 confident it will prepare me to achieve my goals,杏吧专区 she said.
Convocation is hosted by the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Office of First-Year Experience.
Alum Hollis Conway, assistant director for diversity, leadership and education for the 杏吧专区's Department of Athletics, was master of ceremonies for the event.
Watch the Convocation ceremony:
Photo caption: Hollis Conway speaks to first-time freshmen during UL Lafayette's Fall 2018 Convocation at the Cajundome. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)