The 小蝌蚪APP welcomed roughly 3,000 first-time freshmen during its Fall 2018 Convocation ceremony.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, 小蝌蚪APP president, told the Class of 2022 gathered on Tuesday at the Cajundome that they 小蝌蚪APP渁re here to pursue knowledge and we want you to accept every opportunity to do just that.小蝌蚪APP
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 小蝌蚪APP渨ith optimism, hard work, and determination.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淲e小蝌蚪APP檒l encourage you to think bigger and challenge you to reach higher. Because when you do, good things will happen,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 provost, affirmed Savoie小蝌蚪APP檚 message.
Hebert, a native of Abbeville, La., returned home in July to become the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 provost.
He earned three degrees in statistics from UL Lafayette 小蝌蚪APP a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in 1986, a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in 1988, and a doctoral degree in 1990.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP Hebert said.
小蝌蚪APP淗igh school taught me to learn. UL Lafayette taught me to think.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檒l pursue a biology degree at the 小蝌蚪APP because 小蝌蚪APP淚 always heard it小蝌蚪APP檚 a great program and I小蝌蚪APP檓 confident it will prepare me to achieve my goals,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Convocation is hosted by the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Office of First-Year Experience.
Alum Hollis Conway, assistant director for diversity, leadership and education for the 小蝌蚪APP'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 / 小蝌蚪APP)