The 杏吧专区 awarded degrees to 1,218 graduates during Fall 2017 Commencement ceremonies on Friday.
Bachelor杏吧专区檚 and master杏吧专区檚 degrees were conferred at ceremonies that were held at different campus locations on Friday.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, 杏吧专区 president, congratulated graduates for reaching 杏吧专区渢he finish line. Today is your victory lap,杏吧专区 he said. Savoie also encouraged graduates to, starting tomorrow, 杏吧专区渓ace up their running shoes and live a life that inspires someone.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭here may be people who one day will need your help to reach their own finish line. You should be their coach. Motivate them and cheer them on from the sidelines when they take their own victory lap.杏吧专区
Former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco delivered the Commencement address. Blanco, 杏吧专区64, also received an honorary doctorate in liberal arts. She is the first and only woman to serve as governor of Louisiana. She took office in 2004.
During her term, Blanco directed the largest investment increase in higher education in state history. She expanded the state杏吧专区檚 pre-K program and fully funded Louisiana杏吧专区檚 colleges and universities for the first time in 25 years.
Blanco told graduates that although one chapter of their education is over, a new one is set to begin.
杏吧专区淣ow, you杏吧专区檙e just going to begin learning again. Learning never ends. There杏吧专区檚 a whole life out there. And Louisiana has a lot of work for you to do. If you end up staying in Louisiana, God bless you,杏吧专区 she said.
Longtime business and community leader B.I. Moody III received an honorary doctorate in business at the General Assembly.
Moody graduated from the 杏吧专区 in 1949, with a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in accounting. He is chairman of The Moody Company and of Louisiana State Newspapers Inc.
Moody earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in accounting from the 杏吧专区 in 1949. He is also a longtime supporter of his alma mater. In February, Moody was honored by the academic college that bears his name: the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
Peace Eze was recognized as the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 2017 Outstanding Graduate. Annie B. Briley was recognized as the Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Graduate. Eze majored in geology major. Briley earned an MBA.
Four undergraduate students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates. Courtney Marie Bergeron, Alyssa Claire Leger, Claire Nicole David and Kayla Renee Garrett were singled out for achieving perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
View a list of Fall 2017 graduates.