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Thanks to students, faculty, staff and supporters, the �Ӱ�ר�� had several noteworthy achievements and received recognition in 2013. Here are highlights that reflect the breadth of them in 10 areas:

10. Artistic Accolades. Dr. Ernest Gaines, �Ӱ�ר�� writer-in-residence emeritus, received the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the U.S.  government. Wilson Savoy, an instructor in Traditional Music Program, earned a Grammy Award for his trio�Ӱ�ר���s CD, �Ӱ�ר���The Band Courtbouillon.�Ӱ�ר���




9. Tech Savvy. �Ӱ�ר�� President Dr. Joseph Savoie was recognized with the 2013 Governor�Ӱ�ר���s Technology Award for Best Application of Technology in Louisiana. Several achievements, such as the creation of a Center for Visual and Decision Informatics and exceptional faculty development for online teaching, were noted.



8. Extracurricular Gold. Basketball player Elfrid Peyton started all nine games for the 2013 Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship, helping the team earn the gold medal and garnering global attention for the Ragin�Ӱ�ר��� Cajuns student-athlete. 



7. One Cool Town. Lafayette was named one of Travel + Leisure's Best College Towns in America. ConventionSouth magazine also named the city a hip, historic college town in the South.



6. Military Might. The �Ӱ�ר�� and Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC announced development of a military boat capable of autonomous navigation. The Anaconda, a 35-foot unmanned boat, can increase ease of deployment and minimize threats to military personnel.



5. Historic Papers. The UL Lafayette Foundation acquired a rare copy of a manuscript of John Kennedy Toole�Ӱ�ר���s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. Toole had been a faculty member at the �Ӱ�ר�� in 1959.



4. Blast Off.  For the second time, a small satellite designed and built by engineering students was launched into space. The satellite, about 10 square centimeters and weighing 2 pounds, circles the globe every 90 minutes transmitting signals.




3. Champions Moreover. The football team won the Sun Belt Championship and its third consecutive New Orleans Bowl Championship. Off the field, Ragin' Cajuns student-athletes were noted by the NCAA to graduate at the highest rate among schools in Louisiana and the Sun Belt Conference.



2. Improved Gateway. The �Ӱ�ר�� launched new website at Louisiana.edu. The new design, which better represents the �Ӱ�ר���Ӱ�ר���s brand, offers dynamic content, easy navigation and bold photography.



1. Master Plan. The �Ӱ�ר�� unveiled a Master Plan for campus development and a plan for athletics facilities improvements. Officials began seeking bond funding and started preliminary work in the Quad and along E. St. Mary Blvd.