Outstanding Engineering Graduates Enter the Workforce
January 4, 2010
LSU held its 270th commencement exercises on Friday, December 18, 2009. The College of Engineering administered nearly 200 degrees.
The LSU College of Engineering demands excellence from those daring enough to take on its academic challenges. Commencement is defined as the beginning of an event, however in the field of academia, it refers to the end of an academic journey. For those who commence their collegiate careers at the LSU College of Engineering, years of projects, examinations, competitions, and presentations lay ahead. Once the students pass course requirements, they reach their ultimate goal: commencement day.
While enrolled in engineering, some students will rise to the occasions the school demands and a select few will exceed expectations. Last semester 147 engineering students were included on the Dean's list. Rhett M. Bouquet, Samia Rahman and Stephen M. Rodrigue graduated Summa Cum Laude with a grade-point average of 3.90 - 4.00. Bouquet was a 4.00 student and the University Medalist recipient. Kyle J. Galloway, Valerie S. Mautz, Brad O'Dwyer, Cody S. Rodriguez, Brad Sentilles and Elise Trappey graduated Magna Cum Laude with a grade-point average of 3.80 - 3.89. Benjamin M. Bates, Michelle D. Herbert and Thomas J. Montz, Jr. graduated Cum Laude with a grade-point average of 3.70 - 3.79.
Recent alumna, Valerie Vogler, graduated in December with a degree in mechanical engineering continuing the LSU women's soccer team's 100 percent graduation rate along with two other seniors. Mayor Kip Holden's son, Brian Holden, also graduated in December with a BS in electrical engineering and a minor in mathematics.
Three engineering students were awarded the LSU Distinguished Communicator Award. The students earned this honor with high grade-point averages in communication-intensive courses - based on written, spoken, visual and technological communication - and have built digital portfolios, displayed as public Web sites that include their communication projects from courses, internships, leadership roles, and public service.
Fall 2009 Distinguished Communicators from the College of Engineering are as follows, listed with their hometown, major and faculty advisor:
- David M. Brasset of Metairie, civil engineering, advised by Ronald F. Malone
- Joshua D. Board of Houston, Texas, civil engineering, advised by Carolyn Y. Jacobs
- Ayokunle T. Adeyemi of Nigeria, civil engineering, advised by Brian Wolshon
The LSU Distinguished Communicator program was created in 2006 to enhance learning experiences for LSU students and support the improvement of students' communication skills.
The tradition of excellence in the College of Engineering is continuous from commencement to commencement. As the alma mater of 56% of Engineering and Construction Management graduates in the state of Louisiana, the LSU College of Engineering demands the best from its students in order to prepare them to continue building this great state.
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Article by Crystal Jackson for the College of Engineering, 2250578-5706, mlavall@lsu.edu
