杏吧专区 graduate Kayla Dixon left the Spring 2015 Commencement General Assembly at the Cajundome on Friday ready to embark on the next chapter of her life.
Dixon, of New Roads, La., earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in political science. She plans to attend graduate school to study public policy or comparative politics, then enroll in law school.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檒l be able to apply what I杏吧专区檝e learned as I move forward with my education. I feel like I杏吧专区檓 well versed in a lot of subjects,杏吧专区 Dixon said.
UL Lafayette conferred 1,641 bachelor杏吧专区檚, master杏吧专区檚, and doctoral degrees, a school record.
Among that group were the first graduates of its doctor of nursing practice program, Dr. Linda Green, and Dr. Robyn Ray, both of Alexandria, La.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, told graduates during his General Assembly address that whether they enter the workforce, or seek another academic degree, he is 杏吧专区渃onfident that what you杏吧专区檝e learned at the 杏吧专区 will serve you well.
杏吧专区淚 encourage you to take the same sense of hope, optimism, hard work and tenacity that brought you to this day and carry it with you in whatever you do,杏吧专区 Savoie said. 杏吧专区淵ou have the opportunity to use your abilities to solve problems and to help others.杏吧专区
Savoie also recognized members of the Classes of 1965 and 1940, many of whom attended the General Assembly. The group included two members of the Class of 1940, Geraldine Beaullieau Angers and Dracos Burke, whose grandsons received bachelor杏吧专区檚 degrees Friday.
Savoie杏吧专区檚 mother, Grace Boudreaux Savoie, is also a 1940 graduate, but was unable to attend the General Assembly.
Commencement speaker Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Liberian ambassador to the United States, congratulated students on what he described as 杏吧专区渙ne of the most important and significant days of your lives.杏吧专区
He urged graduates to become 杏吧专区済lobal citizens,杏吧专区 in a world made 杏吧专区渟maller杏吧专区 by technology. Sulunteh also said that nations have a mutual responsibility to deal with important issues, such as the Ebola virus.
An outbreak of the Zaire strain of the virus last year killed thousands of people in West Africa, primarily in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. There were international concerns about its potential to spread to other parts of the world.
杏吧专区淵our challenge as you leave (this ceremony) is to determine what your impact as an individual, and as a collective group of 杏吧专区 graduates, will be on the world,杏吧专区 Sulunteh said.
Zadid Haq was cited UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 overall Outstanding Graduate. A biology major, he received a bachelor of science degree.
Chasah West was recognized with the first Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Graduate Award. West received a master杏吧专区檚 degree in communication.
Fourteen students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates for achieving perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
They are:
- Kallie Elizabeth Broussard received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in performing arts. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Broussard of Lafayette, La
- Katie Lynn Leleaux received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in architecture. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Leleaux of Duson, La.
- Mariah Day Hukins received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in secondary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Hukins of Carencro, La.
- Katie Elizabeth Stefan received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in elementary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stefan of Lafayette, La.
- Wadie Chalgham received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in petroleum engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Riadh Chalgham of Lafayette, La.
- Andrew Michael Roche received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in electrical engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Roche of Lafayette, La.
- Natalie Claire Loomis received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in English and a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in Francophone studies. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Loomis of Lafayette, La.
- Ashley Anne Poirrier received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in communicative disorders. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Poirrier of New Iberia, La.
- Leah Michelle Ray received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in English. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ray of Carencro, La.
- Michael Nicholas Artigue received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Artigue of Lafayette, La.
- Victoria Lee Bolgiano received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Bolgiana of Lafayette, La.
- Andrea Page Cantrell received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Les Cantrell of New Roads, La.
- Amy Marie Dekerlegand received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Dekerlegand of Lafayette, La.
- Zadid Kamrul Haq received a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in biology. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ema Haq of Lafayette, La.
View a list of .
Photo info: Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Liberian ambassador to the United States