David Begnaud praised 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Spring 2018 graduates for reaching a milestone the majority of U.S. citizens never will: earning a college degree.
杏吧专区淚t's the beginning of your opportunity to change the world, or at least your little corner of it," said the 35-year-old CBS News national correspondent.
Begnaud urged graduates to use the knowledge they have acquired to help others.
"Somewhere, right now, someone, someplace is waiting on you and your potential."
Begnaud, who received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in general studies from UL Lafayette in 2005, found millions of people waiting on him last September. That杏吧专区檚 when Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, and Begnaud arrived to cover the storm.
The journalist杏吧专区檚 broadcasts from the U.S. territory in the northeastern Caribbean spurred quicker, more efficient disaster response from local and federal agencies. They also earned Begnaud a George Polk Award in Public Service, one of the most prestigious journalism awards.
The Spring 2018 Commencement speaker reminded 1,732 men and women who made up the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 second-largest graduating class that 杏吧专区渃ollege is the gateway to the rest of your life.杏吧专区
That life should be built around chasing your dreams with persistence, he said.
杏吧专区淔ind what you love to do. Do it better than anyone else can do.杏吧专区
Bachelor杏吧专区檚 degrees were awarded to 1,510 graduates. Master杏吧专区檚 degrees were awarded to 184 graduates. Thirty-two graduates received doctoral degrees. Five graduates received graduate certificates. One graduate received a post-baccalaureate certificate.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, 杏吧专区 president, told graduates to 杏吧专区渞emember that education enables you to envision a better world, and it empowers you. But don杏吧专区檛 just dream about it, do something about it.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭he world will always need thoughtful engaged citizens who are willing to understand more, to feel more and to do more.杏吧专区
Electrical engineering major Matthew Furka was recognized as the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Spring 2018 Outstanding Graduate.
Jesse DelGizzi was recognized as the Spring 2018 Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Graduate. He studied music theory and composition.
Sixteen undergraduate students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates for achieving perfect 4.0 grade point averages. They are:
- Madeleine Elise Breaux, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in history;
- Adam Broussard, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in chemistry;
- Kaitlyn Elisabeth Craven, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in secondary education and teaching;
- Jaden Matthew Danos, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology;
- Matthew Joseph Furka, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in electrical engineering;
- Emily Ann Hawkins, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in English;
- Briley Rose Higginbotham, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in English;
- Tommy Hung Lam, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology;
- Tyler Andre Lege, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in chemical engineering;
- Mary Frances McMahon, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in speech pathology and audiology;
- Dylan Moore, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in political science;
- Erin Elizabeth Picou, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology;
- Hayden D. Presley, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in computer science;
- Lane Wyatt Simon, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in political science;
- Kathryn Elizabeth Tison, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in political science; and
- Alexandra Marie Zamora, bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology.
View a list of Spring 2018 graduates.
Top photo: David Begnaud, who received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in general studies from UL Lafayette in 2005, addresses Spring 2018 graduates. His broadcasts from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria earned Begnaud a George Polk Award in Public Service. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)
Inset photo: Colorful, decorated mortarboards are always in fashion at Commencement ceremonies. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)