Spring 2009 Commencement
May 15, 2009
LSU held its 268th commencement exercise on May 15, conferring undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees for approximately 3,427 students. The main ceremony was held in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and individual colleges held separate diploma ceremonies at various locations around the Baton Rouge campus. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu delivered the commencement address.
The oldest graduate was 70 and the youngest graduate was 20, receiving graduate and undergraduate degrees, respectively. The May 2009 graduating class represented 60 Louisiana parishes, 44 states and 52 countries. Fifty-six percent of the graduates were women, and 44 percent were men.
The College of Engineering (CoE) held its diploma ceremony at the Maddox Field House, where 332 graduates received their diplomas, including 13 students who earned summa cum laude, 15 magna cum laude and 16 cum laude honors. Listed below are CoE's 2009 honor graduates with the corresponding range of grade point averages (GPAs).
In addition to the honor graduates, four CoE students received University Medals for graduating with perfect grade-point averages (gpa) highest undergraduate gpas. The following University Medalists from the CoE were recognized at a special ceremony at the LSU Faculty Club on May 14: Santhana Krishnan Balaji in Mechanical Engineering (ME), Kevin Hanegan in Civil Engineering (CE), Jacob Scheibal in Biological Engineering (BE), and Yunan Yuan in Computer Engineering (EEC). To read more about these four medalists click here.
In another tradition, the CoE also honors those graduates who have earned the highest gpa. Dr. Edward McLaughlin, Dean Emeritus, presented the Edward McLaughlin Dean's Medal of Excellence to those same four graduates who earned a perfect 4.00 grade point average. The award commemorates McLaughlin's 28-year LSU career as professor, researcher, department chair and dean.
Construction Management (CM) graduate Gerald Joseph Bordelon, Jr., from Morganza, Louisiana represented the graduating class as he addressed the commencement audience.
CoE recognized graduates who completed all the requirements for Certification as Distinguished Communicators, a designation that will appear on their transcripts. This unique award is part of the ongoing Communication Across the Curriculum initiative at LSU and recognizes students who are outstanding in four areas of communication: written, spoken, visual and technological. To read more about these four Distinguished Communicators click here.
In recognition of engineering graduates pursuing military careers, the College is proud to honor newly commissioned officers: from the Air Force is Loren Faire ME, from the Marines is George Jernigan CM, and from the Navy is Michael Jenks CE.
Noteworthy is Colt David, the career record-holder for most points scored by an LSU football player, who received his degree in construction management. David was an All-SEC selection as a kicker for the Tigers in 2008.
The oldest engineering graduate was 55 and the youngest was 20, receiving undergraduate degrees. The May 2009 graduating class represented 33 Louisiana parishes, 12 states and 23 countries. 248 of the graduates began their academic mission enrolled as freshmen at LSU.
College of Engineering Honors Graduates
Summa Cum Laude (3.9 and above)
Santhana K. Balaji* ME
Gretel Barany IE
Eric J. Bourgeois ME
Kevin P. Brassette ME
John P. Casey Jr. BE
Robert A. Egnatchik BE
Kevin C. Hanegan* CE
Jon S. Juneau BE
Christopher T. Kennedy BE
Allyson R. Kirzner CHE
Jacob J. Scheibal* BE
Edward J. Scheuermann ME
Yunan Yuan* EEC
*University Medalist
Magna Cum Laude (3.8 up to 3.9)
Mallorie B. Albrecht EVEG
Terry B. Burkett CE
Alexander L. Combe ME
John W. Dykes ME
Cameron B Faxon BE
Eric S. Frederickson ME
Jasleen S. Kaur CHE
Minh T. H. Le CHE
Joseph P. LeBlanc ME
Tien T. Luu EE
Benjamin C. McArdle CE
Noelle J. McBride CHE
Ryan M. Meyer ME
Michael C. Parent CHE
Jacob R. Savoy ME
Cum Laude (3.7 up to 3.8)
Hali L. Bordelon BE
Robert E. Carroll CM
Daniel J. Currault ME
Michael C. Dennis BE
Kyle A. Gautreaux BE
Joshua J. Guidry CM
John T. Harvey II EE/EEC
Abraham M King ME
Michael S. LeBlanc ME
Chase T. Nelson ME
Benjamin E. Nichols EE
Robert S. Perricone EE
Katie M. Rousseau BE
Joel B. Sasser ME
David S. Shulman CM
Christopher W. Smith CM
Article by Mimi LaValle for the College of Engineering, 225-578-5706, mlavall@lsu.edu
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