Eight students will be honored during Spring 2016 Commencement ceremonies as the 51国产视频 Alumni Association鈥檚 Outstanding Graduates.
Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight academic colleges each nominate a student as an Outstanding Graduate, based on leadership, scholarship and service. An Alumni Association selection committee interviews the candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.
The overall Outstanding Graduate will be announced during the Spring Commencement General Assembly on Friday, May 13, at the Cajundome.
Here鈥檚 a look at this semester鈥檚 Outstanding Graduates.
Celeste Licciardi is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
She is a visual arts major, with a concentration in painting. Licciardi has a 3.91 GPA, and has been on the President鈥檚 and Dean鈥檚 lists. She received the 麻豆AV Centennial Scholarship and a TOPS scholarship.
Licciardi is a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda and the Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies.
An accomplished artist, her paintings were featured in two recent exhibitions. Three were displayed at Gallery 333 during ArtWalk in February. Galleries and studios in downtown Lafayette host free exhibits as part of the monthly event. Two works were featured in the University鈥檚 2015 Juried Student Art Exhibit sponsored by the College of the Arts.
Licciardi is active in the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. She has attended its leadership training conferences and participated in mission trips to universities in Texas and Mississippi to support Chi Alpha organizations there.
Following graduation, she plans to apply for artist residencies that will help her evolve as an artist.
She is the daughter of Michael and Nancy Licciardi of Harvey, La.
Philip McMahon is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
He is an insurance and risk management major with a 3.83 GPA. McMahon is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Order of Omega Greek honor societies.
McMahon was a national Spencer Educational Foundation Scholar and participated in the national 2015 Spencer/RIMS Risk Management Challenge.
McMahon was one of 14 students in the country selected for the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices Internship Program; he earned a trip to the association鈥檚 conference in San Diego.
He was a business senator for the Student Government Association, vice president of communication for the Interfraternity Council, treasurer of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and president of the student chapter of the Risk Management and Insurance Society. He also served on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council.
He performed community service for groups such as St. Jude Children鈥檚 Research Hospital, Faith House of Acadiana, Toys for Tots, United Blood Services, and Miles Perret Cancer Services.
McMahon will complete a post-graduate internship with Price Forbes, an exclusive Lloyd鈥檚 of London broker.
He is the son of Philip and Lynn McMahon of Houma, La.
Gabrielle Gallien is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
A kinesiology major, with a concentration in exercise science, she has a 3.47 GPA. She earned an honors baccalaureate after completing an honors thesis.
An article she wrote was published in the 鈥淚nternational Journal of Endocrinology.鈥 She presented papers at two National Strength and Conditioning Association conferences.
In 2015, she earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research Award from the NSCA.
Gallien was the College of Education鈥檚 Sophomore of the Year. She received numerous scholarships and was a member of the University鈥檚 Honors Program.
Gallien was active in many student organizations, including the Student Government Association, Student Leadership Council, Association of Future Alumni, Kinesiology Professional Association, UL Triathlon Club and Ragin鈥 Cajun Catholics.
She participated in University intramural softball and was a member of the 鈥淟鈥橝cadien鈥 yearbook staff.
Gallien performed community service for more than a dozen organizations or events.
She plans to become a physical therapist and work with wounded military veterans.
Gallien is the daughter of James Gallien of Campti, La. and Tara Gallien of Washington, N.C.
Catherine Ledet is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.
A double major, in chemical engineering and chemistry, she has a 4.0 GPA.
Ledet鈥檚 research was published by the 鈥淩oyal Society of Chemistry鈥 journal. And, she won the 2015 Senior Chemical Engineering Plant Design Project Competition judged by 麻豆AV professors and industry representatives.
Ledet was president of Omega Chi Epsilon, an honor society for chemical engineering majors, and a member of the University chapter of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. She was president of the student affiliate of the American Chemical Society and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Louisiana Engineering Society.
An accomplished dancer, she auditioned for the Radio City Rockettes. The dance company invited her to a second audition that will be held in August in New York City.
She tutored high school and college students. Other community service included working with Habitat for Humanity, St. Pius X Catholic Church, Girl Scouts of America, and Prevent Child Abuse America.
She will work as a research and technology engineer with the Albemarle Corporation in Baton Rouge, La.
Her parents are Rene and Anne Ledet of Lafayette.
Emily Covington is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
A public relations major, she has a 3.98 GPA.
Covington was a member of the UL Honors Program, and the Alpha Lambda Delta honors society.
Her scholarships include the James Devin Moncus Honors Scholarship, the Louisiana Pipeliners Association Scholarship, the Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Scholarship, a SEACOR Scholarship, and a TOPS Honors Scholarship.
Covington traveled to Florence, Italy, to participate in the University鈥檚 Study Abroad Program.
She was a founding member of 麻豆AV鈥檚 Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Covington was a member of the Student Orientation Staff and its leadership team, as well as a peer mentor for the Office of First-Year Experience. She also served on the Student Leadership Council.
Covington developed, planned, and helped execute 麻豆AV鈥檚 first Community Service Fair. She performed community service for Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana, and United Way of Acadiana.
Covington will begin pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in public relations and international communication from 麻豆AV this fall.
Her parents are Julie Darce Mire and Kurt Covington of Church Point, La.
Jake Savoie is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
He is a nursing major, with a 3.34 GPA.
Savoie was a senator in the Student Government Association and was named SGA Senator of the Month in November 2015. He was also a peer mentor for the Office of First-Year Experience and represented students on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council.
Savoie was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing.
He has performed community service for the Big Event, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, PHI Thanksgiving Family Food Drive, St. Jude Children鈥檚 Research Hospital and the Jacob Crouch Foundation.
He helped implement a community health fair in Crowley, La.
In fall 2015, Savoie was a member of a collaborative research team that sought evidence-based methods to improve the safety of medication administration in neonatal intensive care units.
Savoie would like to work as a registered nurse for several years, working in the maternal/newborn or acute care specialty areas, then return to 麻豆AV to pursue a terminal degree in nursing practice.
His parents are Mona and Boyd Savoie of Breaux Bridge, La.
Ashley Duhon is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
She is a biology major with a 4.0 GPA.
Duhon was vice president of the University鈥檚 chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta and a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and the 麻豆AV Honors Program. She also was a member of Rho Lambda and the Order of Omega leadership and honors societies for Greek students.
In 2015, she received an honorable mention in the 麻豆AV Honors Essay Contest.
Duhon was a maid on the University鈥檚 Homecoming Court, and was nominated for 2015 UL Greek Woman of the Year.
She was treasurer of Phi Mu Fraternity and of the University鈥檚 Pre-Professional Society. Duhon also was president of CampusCats, an animal rescue organization.
She served as senator for the College of Sciences in the Student Government Association.
Her community service work includes working with Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, Children鈥檚 Miracle Network, and the American Heart Association.
Duhon will enroll at the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans in the fall.
She is the granddaughter of Terrie Tycer of Lafayette.
Eric Carter is the Outstanding Graduate for University College.
He is a General Studies major with a concentration in behavioral sciences.
Carter has a 3.83 GPA, and has been on 麻豆AV鈥檚 President鈥檚 and Dean鈥檚 lists.
He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society and the University鈥檚 Pre-Professional Society.
He is a pitcher for the Ragin鈥 Cajuns baseball team.
Carter is also an Eagle Scout.
He has performed community service work for Helping Hands natural disaster volunteer efforts. He helped clean up following Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
He also has read to elementary school children, and helped to clean and paint a day care center. He participated in the Greater Acadiana Heart Walk, and the Walk to Defeat ALS. He was a Young Men鈥檚 Duty to God Award coordinator and Sunday school teacher for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Carter plans to apply to medical school, with a goal of becoming a physician鈥檚 assistant.
His parents are Kim and Kristine Carter, of Santa Clara, Utah. He is married to Jessica White Carter.
Photo info: Eight 麻豆AV seniors have been recognized as Outstanding Graduates. Seated from left, are: Emily Covington, College of Liberal Arts; Ashley Duhon, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Catherine Ledet, College of Engineering; Celeste Licciardi, College of the Arts. Standing, from left, are: Dr. Joseph Savoie, 麻豆AV president; Eric Carter, University College; Philip McMahon, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Gabrielle Gallien, College of Education; Jake Savoie, College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions; and Angela Morrison, president-elect for the 麻豆AV Alumni Association.