Kyle Zappi is the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Outstanding Graduate.
Zappi is among eight award finalists who will be recognized Friday and Saturday during Spring 2020 Commencement activities. Honorees will be applauded during virtual ceremonies held for their respective colleges on Friday; those ceremonies will be accessible on the starting at 10 a.m.
On Saturday, Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 four television network affiliates will air a commencement celebration resembling the traditional, in-person General Assembly. Broadcast times are 4:30 p.m. on KATC, and 6:30 p.m. on KADN, KLAF and KLFY.
Each spring and fall semester, deans from UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 academic colleges nominate a student as Outstanding Graduate. Nominations are based on leadership, scholarship and service. An Alumni Association committee interviews candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.
In addition to being the spring semester小蝌蚪APP檚 overall honoree, Zappi represents the College of Engineering as its Outstanding Graduate.
He is a chemical engineering major with a 3.95 GPA.
Zappi was a volunteer at the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics summer camp for underrepresented minority students. He founded and served as president of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Inclusion Coalition.
Zappi also volunteered with Lafayette General Health小蝌蚪APP檚 Cancer Center of Acadiana.
He has co-authored two peer-reviewed journal articles.
In 2017, Zappi won the Association of Official Analytical Chemists小蝌蚪APP student poster competition in Atlanta, and the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Engineering and Technology Week student poster competition.
His Medical College Admission Test score of 517 ranked in the 95th percentile nationally.
He will enroll at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York where he will study to become a physician. His focus will be biotechnological surgical research.
Zappi is the son of Mark and Melinda Zappi of Lafayette.
Here小蝌蚪APP檚 a look at the remaining Spring 2020 Outstanding Graduates.
Sarah Caswell is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
A nursing major, she earned a 3.92 GPA.
Caswell was selected for the Ochsner Health小蝌蚪APP檚 Nurse Technician Honors Program. She assisted researchers working on a simulation research project.
Caswell小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP淛UUL 小蝌蚪APP Not Cool!小蝌蚪APP research project helped to educate high school students about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
As part of an evidence-based practice project, she researched continuous labor support by registered nurses.
Caswell is a professional member of United States of America Gymnastics, and founded Ragin小蝌蚪APP Cajuns Gymnastics.
She participated in the formation of a legal and ethics course for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
Caswell performed clinical rotations at Lafayette Specialty Surgical Hospital, Lafayette General Medical Center and 小蝌蚪APP Hospital and Clinics.
She plans to work as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics.
Caswell is the daughter of Susan and Michael Caswell of Slidell, La.
Sarah Frey is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
An exercise science major, she has a 4.0 GPA.
She competed with the School of Kinesiology小蝌蚪APP檚 quiz bowl team at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Regional Chapter annual conference.
Frey participated in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Study Abroad Program in Florence, Italy.
She is a figure skater who has coached others in the sport, led group classes and taught private lessons.
Frey obtained an emergency medical technician小蝌蚪APP檚 license taking night classes at LSU小蝌蚪APP檚 Carrol L. Herring Fire & Emergency Training Institute while earning her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree at UL Lafayette.
She works at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center as an ER technician.
Frey plans to enroll in the physician assistant program at the 小蝌蚪APP of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala.
She is the daughter of Daniel Frey and Patricia Farkas of Lafayette.
Rachel Lautigar is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
She double-majored in political science and history. Her GPA is 3.97.
Lautigar was named a Bastiat Scholar by the Cato Institute of Law, and a summer fellow by the Hertog Foundation in Washington, D.C. She was a panelist at the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP淔or Our Future Forum,小蝌蚪APP and a presenter at UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Women小蝌蚪APP檚 Leadership Conference.
Lautigar was a featured speaker during Louisiana Public Broadcasting小蝌蚪APP檚 statewide gubernatorial debate that was broadcast from the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Angelle Hall in 2019.
She was elected to the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors for the 2019-20 term.
Lautigar was UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Homecoming Queen in 2018.
She will enroll in the law and public affairs dual-degree program at Louisiana State 小蝌蚪APP.
Lautigar is the daughter of Scott and Jana Lautigar of Bastrop, La., and Delene and Jamie Rawls of Tishomingo, Okla.
Loryn LeBlanc is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
She is a fine arts major with a concentration in graphic design. LeBlanc has a 3.82 GPA.
She served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps for nearly 10 years before returning to college to earn a degree. LeBlanc earned numerous commendations and accolades for military service.
She has presented her work in shows at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, the Fresh Pickin小蝌蚪APP檚 Exhibition, and the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 juried student art show. Her work has earned gold and silver American Advertising Awards. LeBlanc designed annual reports and e-newsletters for the College of the Arts.
She will work for a design company, and earn a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in graphic design. Her plans are to eventually own a company.
LeBlanc is the daughter of Dr. Gerard and Candice Sigue of Broussard, La. She is married to Christian LeBlanc and has one child, Kyla Graham.
April Pruitt is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
She is a biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology. Pruitt has a 3.95 GPA.
During a nine-week summer research program, she worked with researchers at Stanford 小蝌蚪APP to uncover possible causes of a condition that小蝌蚪APP檚 common in people with autism spectrum disorder. The California institution is among the world小蝌蚪APP檚 most prestigious universities.
Pruitt also received an undergraduate research fellowship from the 小蝌蚪APP of California San Diego for medical scientists in training.
She was the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Homecoming Queen in 2019.
Pruitt was a representative on UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Quality Enhancement Plan committee. The QEP is a campus-wide initiative that measures the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 commitment to improving what and how students are learning.
She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in neuroscience at Yale 小蝌蚪APP or Johns Hopkins 小蝌蚪APP.
Pruitt is the daughter of Ronald and Corlette Pruitt of Opelousas, La.
Franziska Riepl is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
She is an economics major with a minor in political science. Riepl earned a 4.0 GPA.
A member of the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 soccer team, she was named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner小蝌蚪APP檚 List, which recognizes student-athletes for academic achievement.
Riepl presented her honors baccalaureate undergraduate thesis 小蝌蚪APP淭he Response of Labor Unions to Universal Basic Income小蝌蚪APP widely, including at the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans and the North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress in New York.
She served as both head of state and secretariat during Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States summits, where college students debate issues facing North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
Riepl plans to earn a doctorate degree, and work in economic research and public policy.
She is the daughter of Frank Riepl and Gabriele Englehardt of Bad Krozinger, Germany.
Maranda Wiltz is the Outstanding Graduate for 小蝌蚪APP College.
She is a general studies major with a 3.92 GPA.
Her numerous scholarships include the Dr. Ray P. Authement Valedictorian Scholarship and the Ezell Butaud Coleman Endowed Education Scholarship.
She received the National Engaged Leader Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success, and was a networking team facilitator for the society.
Wiltz was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society.
She performed service work for The Big Event, FoodNet Food for Families Food Drive, Special Olympics, Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center, Preaux Life Club, St. Bernard Catholic Church, Freshman Move-In Day and St. Joseph Diner.
Wiltz plans to work as a library assistant while she pursues a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in library science.
She is the daughter of Troy and Mary Wiltz of Breaux Bridge, La.
Watch the presentation of Outstanding Graduates below.
Photo caption: The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Spring 2020 Outstanding Graduates are: Sarah Caswell, College of Nursing & Allied Health Professions; Sarah Frey, College of Education; Rachel Lautigar, College of Liberal Arts; Loryn LeBlanc, College of the Arts; April Pruitt, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Franziska Riepl, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Maranda Wiltz, 小蝌蚪APP College and Overall Outstanding Graduate Kyle Zappi, College of Engineering. (Photo credit: Rachel Keyes / 小蝌蚪APP)