Harlan Kirgan
LSU Eunice held graduation ceremonies Friday in the newly named Mumphrey Center that practiced social distancing.
Morning and afternoon ceremonies were held to reduce the size of each crowd.
Chancellor Nancee Sorenson said LSUE showed the LSU system in August how to conduct an in-person ceremony.
In her commencement address, Sorenson noted, “It has been a very interesting year” as COVID-19 precautions ruled life on and off campus.
Sorenson said it is a year everyone will learn from. “We will never go back to the way that we were,” she said
And, the COVID-19 experiences are historic.
She recalled her parents talking about Great Depression experiences and people alive now will recall their pandemic times far into the future.
From kindergarten students on up, the experiences coping with the pandemic have been new.
For instance, people have learned they can work at home, she said.
“It has been an amazing experience. So, it will be with us for many, many years. I think there are going to be many silver linings in this,” she said.
Sorenson said there are universal truths for the graduates.
“First, life is not easy. It is not supposed to be easy,” she said.
“The real test of humanity is not when everything is perfect. The test of our humanity, of our strength, is when things are challenging,” she said.
Sorenson queestioned the concept of “unbelievable” in the face of the pandemic reality.
“We should never expect that anything would be unbelievable,” she said.
“When people are involved, we should expect almost anyting to happen and that anything and everything will happen,” she said.
Sorenson also stressed the need to feel joy. Joy is the pure pleaasure in enjoying everything you do, she said.
Finally, she said, “We all need to define success for ourselves.”
Sorenson also addresssed personal expectations “I never went to college thinking I would be a chancellor or the president of a college ... there is no major for that, but what I did know is I wanted to do more.”
LSUE graduate list
LSU Eunice awarded 129 degrees and certificates following the completion of the Fall 2020 Semester. The graduates were celebrated on December 18 with a commencement ceremony on the campus of LSU Eunice.
Students issued degrees are listed below.
Alexandria: Darius Brown, Associate of Applied Science in Fire and Emergency Services; Kristen Lamartiniere, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice.
Arnaudville: Michelle Marks, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Jani Clavier, Hannah Guidry, Brady Johnson, Associate of General Studies; Emily Stelly, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice; April Darby, Mia Landry, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Basile: Joshua Klumpp, Associate of Applied Science in Fire and Emergency Services; Erin Elkins, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Harlie Denette, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business;
Bastrop: Jarrett McDonald, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business; Jarrett McDonald, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management.
Baton Rouge: Brady Hebert, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Physical.
Branch: Asia Wilridge, Associate of General Studies; Dori Rivoire, Associate of Science in Nursing.
Breaux Bridge: Jacob Gauthier, Associate of Applied Science in Fire and Emergency Services; Ashley Patin, Associate of General Studies; Bessie Huval, Associate of Science in Nursing; Remi Camel, Kenneth Lecompte, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care; Taylor Girard, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing.
Carencro: Marion Ardoin, Ian Fontenot, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Gavin Armstrong, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business; Sara Gravouia, Associate of General Studies; Taylor Begnaud, Danielle Guidry, Rachel Leon, Kacey Veazey, Associate of Science in Nursing; Marion Ardoin, Certificate of Technical Studies in Accounting Technology: Accounting Clerk.
Church Point: Annie Brouillette, Caleb Hebert, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Gage Boudreaux, Helen Leleux, Kimberly Walker, Associate of Science in Nursing; Annie Brouillette, Caleb Hebert, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management; Victoria Guillory, Martina Patterson, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing; Caitlin Duplechin, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Social Sciences.
Covington: Johnathan Clemons, Associate of General Studies.
Crowley: Christian Spell, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Brooklyn Boardman, Courtney DeVeaux, Associate of General Studies; Thomas Stevens, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Biological; London Vidrine, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice; Christine Ragona, Associate of Science in Nursing; Lily Smith, Deandrea Winters, Associate of Science in the Care and Development of Young Children; Christian Spell, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management.
Duson: Carlee Domingue, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business; Courtlyn Robertson, Associate of Science in Nursing.
Egan: Lauren John, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Biological; Monique Cormier, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing.
Epps: Misty Holley, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing.
Eunice: Carter Andrus, Brooklynn Miller, Ian Richard, Timia Thomas, Associate of General Studies; Kaitleen Daigle, Associate of Science in Nursing; Madison Devillier, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care; Albert Hayes, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management.
Franklin: Rylie Candella, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Social Sciences.
Iota: Cade Covalt, Associate of Science in Nursing.
Jennings: Melinda Sonnier, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing.
Kaplan: Jacob Vincent, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Humanities; Lyndsey Ferris, Associate of General Studies; Lori Harrington, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Kinder: Tionna Miller, Certificate of Technical Studies in Chemical Technician.
Krotz Springs: Erin Kaiser, Associate of General Studies; Ashley Conway, Michelle Ellis, Associate of Science in Nursing;
Lafayette: Molly Mendez, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business; Tiffany Armentor, Associate of General Studies; Tisha Guillory, Casey Hollier, Melanie Odom, Torri Roberts, Kylee Rodriguez, Associate of Science in Nursing;
Leonville: Tori Guillory, Associate of Applied Science in Management.
Livonia: Karlie Akin, Associate of Applied Science in Management.
Mamou: Mary Fontenot, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business; Julie Elliott, Associate of General Studies; Haley Manuel, Associate of Science in Nursing; Ruston Hackney, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care; Amber Talbott, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management.
Maurice: Colby Vincent, Associate of Science in Nursing.
New Iberia: Amy Mannina, Associate of General Studies; Andrew Bell, Riece LeBlanc, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Opelousas: Harley Doucet, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Seth Briggs, Alayna Durio, Alyson Gauthier, Mariah James, Jakia Stevens, Carsyn Theriot, Associate of General Studies; Kimberly Fontenot, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice; Corey Bergeron, Derek Dugas, Ingrid Johnson, Ashley Warner, Associate of Science in Nursing; Ava Stanford, Associate of Science in the Care and Development of Young Children; Harley Doucet, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management.
Pineville: Devon Colson, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice; Christian Perez, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Prairieville: Jack Merrifield, Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Business.
Rayne: Caleb Robichaux, Associate of Applied Science in Management; MaKenzie Garrie, Latraven Moten, Associate of General Studies.
Saint Martinville: Seth Champagne, Associate of Applied Science in Fire and Emergency Services; Allison David, Associate of Science in Nursing.
Scott: Mayci Gonzales, Hunter Tabb, Associate of General Studies; Shelby Courville, Associate of Science in Nursing.
Sunset: Saige Percle, Associate of General Studies; Megan Miller, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Ville Platte: Margaret Morales, Associate of Applied Science in Management; Shani Fontenot, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer Concentration: Biological; Dorena Fontenot, Certificate of Technical Studies in Human Resources Management; Casey Chaddrick, Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Coding and Billing.
Youngsville: Amber Cowart, Scott Eschete, Hailey Louviere, Associate of Science in Nursing; Brydie Richard, Associate of Science in Respiratory Care.
Beaumont, Texas: Kellen Colligan, Associate of General Studies.
Huntsville, Alabama: Javier Vaz, Associate of General Studies.