Southeastern Louisiana University celebrated its 1,215 graduates Saturday, May 16, in two separate commencement ceremonies in the University Center. The ceremonies mark the 100th anniversary of Southeastern’s first graduating class. During the afternoon ceremony, Southeastern celebrated its 100,000th graduate with special fanfare. Gracie LeBlanc, a psychology major from Cut Off received the distinction and was awarded a special plaque to commemorate the occasion.
Southeastern graduates included 414 men and 801 women, who were receiving 19 different degrees and representing 11 states and 19 countries. Candidates for associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees were honored.
The university awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 26 students with the highest cumulative grade point average in the university’s five colleges.
Medal recipients were:
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – art major Cara Grant of Covington; political science major Oreoluwa Onafowokan of Lagos, Nigeria; art major Analise Prokop of Mandeville; and art major Brenna Stamper of Gonzales.
- College of Business – marketing major Christian Buras of Covington; finance major Grace Farizo of Bush; accounting major Cameron Jennings of Slidell; business administration major Gracee Lefort of Cut Off; and business administration major Kyleigh Overheim of Watson.
- College of Education – social studies education major Averie Bradley of Baton Rouge; middle school education major Jessica Champagne of Slidell; early childhood education major Briana Gilmore of St. Rose; early childhood education major Michaela Henry of Covington; English education major Collin McClure of Watson; social studies education major Layla Meng of Denham Springs; and social studies education major Austin Nelson of Albany.
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences – kinesiology major Caroline Dominique of Madisonville; human development and family services major Rahma Fayed of Mandeville; and kinesiology major Chrysler Mitchell of Denham Springs.
- College of Science and Technology – chemistry major Carlie Bankston of Denham Springs; computer science major Niraj Bhatta of Nepal; computer science major Subin Bista of Nepal; biological sciences major Savannah Cousins of Madisonville; computer science major Ajyol Dhamala of Hammond; physics major Miriam Kauer of Germany; and computer science major Jared Talbot of Walker.
Washington Parish students receiving associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees were:
Masters Degrees
Bogalusa – Isabella Dubay, Counseling;
Franklinton – Taylor Boughton, Communication;
Bachelors Degrees
Angie – Haley Kennedy, RN to BSN; Mallorie Rushing, Social Studies Education; Ashton Smith, Middle School Education Grades 4-8;
Bogalusa – Baylee Baker, Biological Sciences; Willisha Marks, RN to BSN; Madison Pendleton, Occupational Safety, Health and Environment; Makinley Phillips, Kinesiology; Jessica Welch, RN to BSN; Callie Yates, Nursing;
Franklinton – Jolie Brooks, Management; Raeleigh Edwards, Health Sciences; Lacie Fletcher, General Studies; Madison Henderson, Social Work; Lauren Johnson, Nursing; Anne Jones, Health Sciences; Samuel Landry, Social Studies Education; Justin Luper, Industrial Technology; Nathan Moreno, Engineering Technology; Addison Taylor, Nursing; Emily Toomer, Social Work; Bryli Tyrney, Criminal Justice;
