Adela Jardell Leger hadn鈥檛 been on the 51国产视频 campus in 54 years.
She graduated from the University in 1963 with a biology degree, and left within days to begin a career in Houston.
The return to campus this week was a gift from her friend and neighbor Ianeta Tofili Guidry, who graduated Friday with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in child and family studies from 麻豆AV. Leger was in the audience.
Guidry is a native of American Samoa, a U.S. territory in the South Pacific Ocean. Leger grew up near Crowley. They live across the street from each other in a subdivision in rural Acadia Parish.
Guidry鈥檚 family members in American Samoa and Hawaii couldn鈥檛 make the ceremony. Leger would have been nowhere else.
鈥淭his is my acquired daughter,鈥 Leger laughed, patting Guidry鈥檚 arm. 鈥淪he鈥檚 got two little girls who come over. They鈥檝e become my acquired granddaughters.鈥
The girls are 9 and 11.
On Tuesday, three days before Commencement, with her two daughters in school, Guidry and Leger came to Lafayette for a campus tour.
They headed immediately to a section of the covered arcade that surrounds the University鈥檚 Quadrangle. There, on the Walk of Honor, was a brick with Leger鈥檚 name inscribed.
鈥淚t was my little gift to tell her thank you for always encouraging me. She saw it immediately. It was like the sun was shining on it,鈥 Guidry laughed.
鈥淪he went down memory lane on Tuesday. She really did. She was in awe.鈥
The pair walked across campus, and Leger pointed out spots that had changed in the last 50 years. She remembered watching the construction of Edith Garland Dupr茅 Library from a window in Billeaud Hall.
She was gratified to see the Southwestern sign still adorns Earl K. Long Gym.
And she plans to return to campus soon. 鈥淚 have some more bricks to find,鈥 Leger said.
Photo: Adela Jardell Leger and 麻豆AV graduate Ianeta Tofili Guidry (Credit: 51国产视频)