LSU honored more than 4,000 spring graduates with a virtual graduation celebration on May 15, and during the ceremony, 4,347 degrees were conferred. The virtual graduation watch party took place on the LSU Facebook page, and following the ceremony, all the graduates names were displayed on the scoreboards in Tiger Stadium.
LSU’s virtual graduation featured a “Year in Review” video; Grammy winner and Louisiana-native Lauren Daigle singing the national anthem; messages from interim President Tom Galligan, Executive Vice President & Provost Stacia Haynie; and Board of Supervisors Chair Mary Werner, who also conferred degrees; messages from the deans of the senior colleges and LSU alumni; LSU Spirit Squad dancing to “Hey Fightin’ Tigers”; and world-renowned opera star and LSU alumna Lisette Oropesa singing the LSU Alma Mater.
Galligan congratulated the graduates on achieving the goal they all set for themselves when they first joined the LSU community a few years ago.
“Your calmness, your optimism, your resiliency in a time of crisis is commendable, and it is a testament to your true strength of character,” Galligan said. “While this certainly was not the way any of us had expected your final semester to unfold, this experience, and more importantly, the way you handled it, will serve you well as you now venture out into the world to make your mark.”
Just before noon, Galligan also was live on the LSU Instagram page to once again congratulate the graduates and to bring a little bit of campus to them by joining in listening to the Memorial Tower chime at noon and play the LSU Alma Mater.
LSU’s May 2020 graduating class represents 60 Louisiana parishes, 49 U.S. states and 88 foreign countries. Women made up 57.33 percent of the class, and men made up 42.67 percent. The oldest graduates are 59, and the youngest is 19.
“You are a unique class, and you forever will be that unique class that graduated in this extraordinary time,” Werner said. “We will always remember the contributions you’ve made to our university, and we want you to come back and visit us many, many times.”
The 4,347 total graduates are made up of 3,353 students who received bachelor’s degrees; 708 who received master’s degrees; 57 who received education specialist or graduate certificates; 107 who received a Ph.D.; 12 who received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree; and 88 who received Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; and 22 who received a post-bachelorette certificate. Also, 27 degrees were awarded to LSU employees this spring.
“Class of 2020 will forever designate you as a graduate who is fierce and resilient, and who persists despite floods or pandemics,” Haynie said. “While I won’t be able to deliver your diploma to you in-person, or to shake your hand, or to cheer with your family, just know that my excitement over your achievement could not be greater, even if it’s virtual.”
More than 500 students graduated with honors including 198 students who received the University Medal for graduating with the highest undergraduate grade-point average in the class.
LSU honored 44 graduating students with the LSU Distinguished Communicator Award. These students earned this honor by meeting high standards set by faculty in various colleges and by the LSU Communication across the Curriculum program. The students earned high grade-point averages in communication-intensive courses – based on written, spoken, visual and technological communication – and have built digital portfolios displayed as public websites that include their communication projects from courses, internships, leadership roles and public service.
This semester, a total of 154 students graduated from the LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. Among these, 74 students earned College Honors and 11 students earned Upper Division Honors Distinction. These students participated in a specific honors program and successfully completed and defended an undergraduate thesis.
The LSU Athletics Department, the Tiger Athletic Foundation and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored 51 members of the LSU Class of 2020 during a virtual The Tribute event.
All spring graduates will have the opportunity to walk during a future LSU commencement.
May 2020 graduates
Acadia Parish
College of Agriculture: Allen M. Faulk, Crowley, and Amanda Lauren Monceaux, Crowley.
E. J. Ourso College of Business: Christian Joseph Landry, Crowley, and Tobie A. Olivier, Church Point.
College of Engineering: Dylan Henry Wayne Bieber, Eunice, and Daniel Michael Holland, Crowley.
College of Human Sciences & Education: Macey Claire Vidrine, Basile.
College of Humanities & Social Sciences: John Matthew DuBose, Iota, Luke Anthony Dupre’, Iota, Anne Francis Faulk, Crowley, Keri Fuselier, Basile, Caroline Theresa Gielen, Crowley, Maisie Kathryn Hill, Branch, and Alison Paige Turk, Eunice.
Manship School of Mass Communication: Evan Matthew Alleman, Rayne, Olivia Louise Barbin, Crowley, and Morgan Kathryn Oliver, Rayne.
College of Science: Amber Alexis DeVillier, Church Point, Anne Francis Faulk, Crowley, Lauren Renee Gossen, Crowley, and Amanda Lauren Monceaux, Crowley.
Graduate School
(Doctorate)
Thomas Mitchell Andrus, Church Point.
Evangeline Parish
College of Agriculture: John Christian Lahaye, Mamou, Brianna Leah Naquin, Mamou, and Caroline D. Ruppert, St. Landry.
E. J. Ourso College of Business: Christopher Blane Coreil, Ville Platte.
College of Human Sciences & Education: Alyssa Danielle Arnold, Ville Platte, Caroline Elizabeth Duplechin, Ville Platte, and Nicholas Tate LaHaye, Ville Platte.
College of Humanities & Social Sciences: Kara Elizabeth Aguillard, Vidrine, Logan Bryce Fontenot, Ville Platte, and Logan Bryce Fontenot, Ville Platte.
Manship School of Mass Communication: Michael Chase Bordelon, Ville Platte.
College of Science: Breonna Carnae Arvie, Ville Platte, Megan Alyse Morein, Ville Platte, and Brendan Paul Tate, Ville Platte.
Graduate School
(Master’s)
Anne Christian Ardoin, Ville Platte, Savannah Leigh D’Aubin, Chataignier, and Anne-Catherine Margeurite Marie Jagneaux, Ville Platte.
St. Landry Parish
College of Agriculture: Cicely Denise Dupre, Port Barre, Lindsey Theresa Johnson, Cankton, Arianne Simone Metoyer, Opelousas, and David Blake Smith, Opelousas.
College of Art & Design: Laura Lynn Casanova, Opelousas, Peyton Michon Hammond, Opelousas, and Alex P. Marcantel, Eunice.
E. J. Ourso College of Business: Meghan Angelle Albarez, Opelousas, Brandon Anthony Daste, Opelousas, Mary Virginia Guice, Opelousas, Maci Lynn Quebedeaux, Arnaudville, Cindy J. Sonbuchner, Opelousas, and Blythe W. Thompson, Opelousas.
College of Engineering: Lacy Andreas Dupre, Eunice, Timothy Alton King Jr., Opelousas, Samantha Marie Parks, Eunice, Hans Mikyal Christian Redlich, Eunice, and Kelli Lynette Soileau, Washington.
College of Human Sciences & Education: Taylor Ann Boagni, Opelousas,Elizabeth Joy Courville, Krotz Springs, Elizabeth Angelle Davis, Cecilia, Mari-Catherine Guidry, Breaux Bridge, Briasha D’ne’ Jones, Opelousas, William Charles Kovach, Sunset, David Logan Labbe, Opelousas, Lani Rae Landry, Breaux Bridge, and Camryn Nicole Romero, Broussard.
College of Humanities & Social Sciences: Da’Quan Andrew Bellard, Opelousas, Marcus Zamir Brown, Opelousas, Alexandra Louise Cravins, Opelousas, Alyssa Kate Galloway, Opelousas, Alaina Kalyn Lanclos, Krotz Springs, Stephanie Margaret Little, Arnaudville, and Marion Herman Oglesby, Eunice.
Manship School of Mass Communication: John Hansen Fruge, Eunice, Stephanie Margaret Little, Arnaudville, and Hunter James Thibodeaux, Eunice.
College of Science:
Tuquynh Nguyen Duong, Opelousas, Aisha Toniqua Freeman, Port Barre, and Rafeh Swati, Opelousas.
Graduate School
(Master’s)
Leigh St. Julian Billeaud, Sunset, and Sloane Elizabeth Carroll, Opelousas.
School of Veterinary Medicine
(Doctorate)
Katelyn Boudreaux Frischhertz, Lawtell.
Online graduates
St. Landry
Graduate School
(Master’s)
Kayla Gradney Ardoin, Opelousas, Sommer Marie Charles, Cecilia, ShaRhonda Nicole Bernice Collins, Opelousas, and John Bryant LeJeune, Eunice.
May 2020 Honor Graduates
Acadia Parish
Crowley: Anne Francis Faulk, Summa Cum Laude.
Eunice: Dylan Henry Wayne Bieber, Magna Cum Laude.
Iota: John Matthew DuBose, Summa Cum Laude; and Luke Anthony Dupre’, Summa Cum Laude.
Rayne; Morgan Kathryn Oliver, Magna Cum Laude.
Evangeline Parish
St. Landry: Caroline D. Ruppert, Cum Laude
Vidrine: Kara Elizabeth Aguillard, Magna Cum Laude
Ville Platte: Alyssa Danielle Arnold, Cum Laude, Breonna Carnae Arvie, Magna Cum Laude, Caroline Elizabeth Duplechin, Summa Cum Laude, Logan Bryce Fontenot, Summa Cum Laude, Nicholas Tate LaHaye, Magna Cum Laude, Megan Alyse Morein, Summa Cum Laude, and Brendan Paul Tate, Summa Cum Laude.
St. Landry Parish
Arnaudville: Stephanie Margaret Little, Cum Laude, and Maci Lynn Quebedeaux, Summa Cum Laude.
Breaux Bridge: Mari-Catherine Guidry, Summa Cum Laude, and Lani Rae Landry, Summa Cum Laude.
Eunice: Hunter James Thibodeaux, Cum Laude.
Opelousas: Alyssa Kate Galloway, Cum Laude, David Logan Labbe, Magna Cum Laude, and David Blake Smith, Cum Laude.