小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in political science. She plans to attend graduate school to study public policy or comparative politics, then enroll in law school.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檒l be able to apply what I小蝌蚪APP檝e learned as I move forward with my education. I feel like I小蝌蚪APP檓 well versed in a lot of subjects,小蝌蚪APP Dixon said.
UL Lafayette conferred 1,641 bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚, master小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP渃onfident that what you小蝌蚪APP檝e learned at the 小蝌蚪APP will serve you well.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said. 小蝌蚪APP淵ou have the opportunity to use your abilities to solve problems and to help others.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 degrees Friday.
Savoie小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP渙ne of the most important and significant days of your lives.小蝌蚪APP
He urged graduates to become 小蝌蚪APP済lobal citizens,小蝌蚪APP in a world made 小蝌蚪APP渟maller小蝌蚪APP 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.
小蝌蚪APP淵our challenge as you leave (this ceremony) is to determine what your impact as an individual, and as a collective group of 小蝌蚪APP graduates, will be on the world,小蝌蚪APP Sulunteh said.
Zadid Haq was cited UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 overall Outstanding Graduate. A biology major, he received a bachelor of science degree.
Chasah West was recognized with the first Outstanding Master小蝌蚪APP檚 Graduate Award. West received a master小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in performing arts. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Broussard of Lafayette, La
- Katie Lynn Leleaux received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in architecture. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Leleaux of Duson, La.
- Mariah Day Hukins received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in secondary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Hukins of Carencro, La.
- Katie Elizabeth Stefan received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in elementary education. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stefan of Lafayette, La.
- Wadie Chalgham received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in petroleum engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Riadh Chalgham of Lafayette, La.
- Andrew Michael Roche received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in electrical engineering. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Roche of Lafayette, La.
- Natalie Claire Loomis received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in English and a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in Francophone studies. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Loomis of Lafayette, La.
- Ashley Anne Poirrier received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in English. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ray of Carencro, La.
- Michael Nicholas Artigue received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in biology. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Artigue of Lafayette, La.
- Victoria Lee Bolgiano received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Bolgiana of Lafayette, La.
- Andrea Page Cantrell received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Les Cantrell of New Roads, La.
- Amy Marie Dekerlegand received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Dekerlegand of Lafayette, La.
- Zadid Kamrul Haq received a bachelor小蝌蚪APP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