The University of Louisiana at Lafayette awarded 1,358 degrees during its Fall 2019 Commencement on Dec. 20.
Bachelor’s degrees were presented to 1,077 graduates. Master’s degrees were awarded to 255 graduates, the largest number in UL Lafayette history. Twenty-four graduates received doctoral degrees. One graduate certificate and one post-baccalaureate certificate were bestowed.
The 805 degrees conferred on women are the second-most ever. Fall 2019 graduates represented 50 Louisiana parishes, 30 states and 30 countries. The youngest graduate was 20; the oldest was 61.
At the General Assembly, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, told graduates that higher education is a “self-perpetuating, intergenerational enterprise. Your college degree increases the likelihood that your children will pursue one as well.”
That’s significant, he added, because “communities where a high percentage of residents have college degrees have vibrant public education systems, better infrastructure, more opportunities for social mobility, and stronger overall economies.”
University alum and Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot was the commencement speaker. Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. It is nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second-largest U.S. charity.
Babineaux-Fontenot told graduates they are among “the largest, most diverse, most educated generation the world has ever known. We need you to use your heads, your hands, your hearts, your feet and your voices to make this world – our world – better.”
Graduates included the following.
Acadia Parish
Baccalaureate degree
Arts: Breanna Margaret Loewer.
Business Administration: Philip Daniel Artall; Morgan Alyce Daigle; Leah Kathryn Hebert; Madelynn Claire Lebouef; John Glenn Lomas; Mallory Kay Runner; and Zachary Mims Sarver.
Education: Shelby Istre Durgan; Mallorie Dawn Leger; and Julia Morgan Richard.
Engineering: Jacob Allen Bruno; John Thomas Frank; Devin Blake Fuselier; Kyler Paul Habetz; Zachry Jude Istre; Caleb Hensgens Lambousy; and Samuel Ryder Veillon.
Liberal Arts: Brianne Vidrine Hendricks; and Rachel Claire Lacroix.
Nursing & Allied Health Professions: Taylor Brooke Daigle; Valerie Kay Doucet; Kristen Marie Meche; and Erika Rutherford.
Sciences: Rhett Joseph Berken; Stefen Michael Clement; and Jeffrey Vincent Garzotto.
University College: Anne-Marie Fruge
Master’s degree
Arts: Jacob Joseph Mouton.
Business Administration: John David Grotefend; Whitney Kidder; and Benjamin James Stringfellow.
Education: Lilian Wanjiku Gathanga.
Engineering: Stefan Schmidt.
Sciences: Jasmine Danielle Chizer; and Drake Daniel Menard.
Evangeline Parish
Baccalaureate degree
Arts: Brenna Odette Andrus; and Aaron Briley.
Business Administration: Alexis P. Bordelon; Andrew Henry Dupre; and Ciera Morein.
Education: Stephen Christopher Lacaze; and Brandon James Richard.
Engineering: Jacob R. Dixon; and Aric Matthew Teegarden.
Sciences: Nicole Elizabeth Bordelon; Tyler Garrett Fontenot; and Kion Gregory.
St. Landry Parish
Baccalaureate degree
Business Administration: Jeremy J Carron; Kazar Domingue; Morgan Blair Gauthier; Zebada Corona LaDay; and Jean Cole Prudhomme.
Education: Brittany Ann Aune; Hannah Kay Buller; Ty-leisha Jones; Ross Vincent Sibille; and Shay Raine Zuniga.
Engineering: Jordan Christopher Arvie; Charles Virgil Jesclard; Kesslar Paige Kaiser; Jacob Joseph Moreau; Siera Lynn Quebedeaux; Stephan Brett Stoute; and Dylan Paul Williams.
Liberal Arts: Kyra Marie Armand; Eman Marie Boyd; Daphne Lyn Charles; Caroline Franks; Myles Christopher Fruge; Kellie I Henry; Patricia Joyce Hull; Matthew Stuart Pitre; Sarah Anne Pommier; Pauline Richard; Wileesha Janae Stevenson; Abbey Michele Warren; and Lindsey Nicole Warren.
Nursing & Allied Health Professions: Dionne Dnae James; and Blanche Elizabeth Smith.
Sciences: Matthew Todd Castille; Mark Andrew Kimble; Duke James Meche; Zachary Danh Nguyen-Ho; and Alex Michael Whittington.
University College: Malorie Clair Darby; Hailey Delaine Devillier; Mayghan Renee Laborde; Gabrielle Simone Preston; Natalie Elizabeth Usie; and Alexandria C. Weeks.
Master’s degree
Business Administration: Seth R. Arnaud; and Lecretia Renee Lemelle.
Education: Britney Marie Duvall; and Alyssa Nicole Zeringue.
Nursing & Allied Health Professions: Kasey Spencer Dunn.
Sciences: John Michael Miller; and Spencer Stelly.