Outstanding graduates from the University of Louisiana at Çàɬֱ²¥ will once again be honored during commencement ceremonies on Dec. 18 at the Cajundome. Outstanding graduates from eight of the university’s academic colleges will be recognized during Graduate School ceremonies at 5 p.m.
At this time, the UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Alumni Association will name the Fall 2004 Outstanding Graduate as selected by the Alumni Association Awards Committee. The award is based on leadership, scholarship and service.
The eight finalists are nominated by the deans of their respective colleges. These finalists include Jennifer Montgomery of Çàɬֱ²¥, Applied Life Sciences; Brent Frick of Kaplan, Arts; Brook McFaul of Carencro, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Anna Maragos of Çàɬֱ²¥, Education; Crystal Richard of Carencro, Engineering; Loren Carriere of Opelousas, General Studies; Samantha Veazey of Kaplan, Liberal Arts; and Johnathan Ledet of Breaux Bridge, Sciences.
Jennifer Montgomery, daughter of Stan and Sonya Montgomery of Çàɬֱ²¥, is a dietetics major who has been on the Dean’s List every semester and will graduate cum laude. She is the recipient of the Marie Louise Comeaux Scholarship, the Claire Bowmen Endowed Scholarship and the LBA Savings Bank Scholarship.
She is a member of the Çàɬֱ²¥ Dietetic Association and Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. In addition, she served an internship at New Life Home Orphanage in Kenya, Africa, and has worked with First Assembly of God and Assembly Christian School.
Upon graduation, she plans to complete her postgraduate, fifth year internship in dietetics to sit for the registered exam. This will be Montgomery’s second degree. She already holds a degree in finance. Her future plans include working in the clinical hospital setting and later opening a clinic to serve the community.
Brent Frick, husband of Jennifer Frick of Kaplan, is an architecture major who has been on Dean’s List since 1999 and is a member of Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society. He is the recipient of the Broussard Brother’s Senior Honor Scholarship and is a member of the American Institute of Architecture Çàɬֱ²¥s where he has served as parliamentarian and vice president.
In addition, he is a member of the Acadiana chapter of the Construction Specification Institute.
Upon graduation, Frick plans to become a registered architect and practice in Louisiana. He eventually wants to get a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and possibly pursue a teaching and research career.
Brook McFaul, wife of Michael McFaul Jr. and daughter of Byron and Angela Boudreaux of Carencro, is an accounting major, who is on the Dean’s List and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta.
She is also a member Phi Eta Sigma, the UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi, where she has served as president and vice president for university activities. Her community activities include tutoring for students majoring in accounting and volunteered at UL Çàɬֱ²¥â€™s Career Day and also at Preview Day.
After graduation, she plans to sit for the CPA exam and plans to attend graduate school at UL Çàɬֱ²¥ to obtain a master’s in Business Administration.
Anna Maragos, daughter of Timothy and Madelyn Maragos of Çàɬֱ²¥, is an elementary education major and has been on the Dean’s List each semester. She was named Outstanding Senior in the College of Education earlier this year and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Kappa Delta Pi, Order of Omega and Rho Lambda.
Maragos served as a Çàɬֱ²¥ Government Association College of Education senator and president. She is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, the UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Çàɬֱ²¥ Orientation Staff, the Grade Appeals Committee and the Outstanding Advisor Selection Committee.
She has been an active member of Our Lady of Wisdom Church since 1998, serving as preschool religion teacher, vacation bible school volunteer and education commission member. She was an active member of Newman Catholic Çàɬֱ²¥ Ministries.
Maragos plans to teach in Çàɬֱ²¥ Parish and eventually earn a graduate degree. She hopes to one day open a child care center focusing on the needs of infants.
Crystal Richard, daughter of J.D. and Evelyn Richard of Carencro, is an electrical engineering major and is on the Dean’s List, the National Dean’s List and is included in Who’s Who Among Çàɬֱ²¥s. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society), Blue Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
Her scholarships include the Pugh Family Endowed Foundation Scholarship, the Acadiana Electrical Association Scholarship, the College of Engineering’s IEEE/Felix Boudreaux and LEPA Scholarship, the UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Centennial Scholarship and the Target Corporation Scholarship.
With student organizations, Richard is a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers and the Louisiana Engineering Society. She also tutors students. Upon graduation, she plans to use her electrical engineering degree. She may also attend law school.
Loren Carriere, son of Nathan and Donna Carriere of Opelousas, is a general studies major and is on the Dean’s List. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. Since returning to school after sitting out for personal reasons, Carriere has been nominated for Who’s Who Among American College Çàɬֱ²¥s and is the recipient of an SGA Scholarship, the Alumni Scholarship and the General Studies Scholarship.
For the last three years, he has been involved in various campus ministries through UL Çàɬֱ²¥, including the Baptist Collegiate Ministries and the Wesley Çàɬֱ²¥ Ministry. He is actively involved with the One Body movement to promote unity throughout all UL Çàɬֱ²¥ ministries.
He is an active member of East Bayou Baptist Church, where he works with the youth department. In addition, he is a member of East Bayou Adventure Group, which is a high school ministry that teaches students essential leadership skills but also spiritual and personal interdependence. He is also a member of Ground Zero Prayer House.
Upon graduation, Carriere will continue to work with CA Guitars, a composite guitar manufacturer in Çàɬֱ²¥. He works as the inventory and purchasing manager.
Samantha Veazey, daughter of Mona Hebert and Christopher Veazey of Kaplan, is a psychology and pre-med major and is on the Dean’s List. She is a member of the Pre-Professional Society, where she serves as volunteer coordinator. In addition, she is the volunteer recruitment coordinator for the American Heart Association’s board of logistics.
Since November 2002, Veazey has been volunteering at Stuller Place Sexual Abuse Response Center and has been volunteering in the emergency room at University Medical Center since 2003 with rape and abuse victims. She plans to continue this work upon entering medical school.
After graduation, she will begin working in the Radiology Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center with hopes of working eventually in the Emergency Room. She plans to return to UL Çàɬֱ²¥ while waiting for acceptance to medical school. She plans to obtain an MD and practice emergency medicine.
Johnathan Ledet, son of Almina Ledet of Breaux Bridge, is a double major in chemistry and microbiology and has been on the Dean’s List every semester. He is a member of the national and local chapters of Gamma Beta Phi, Phi Kappa Phi and the Pre-Professional Society.
He has received the UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Cora May Savoy Chemistry Scholarship, the 4-H St. Martin Parish Conrad Gauthier Scholarship and the Domengeaux, Wright, Roy and Edwards Scholarship.
In addition, Ledet is an UL Çàɬֱ²¥ Ronald E. McNair scholar, UL Çàɬֱ²¥ LAMP scholar and a member of the Honors Program. He is also a collegiate 4-H, Up Til Dawn executive board member and a member of the Biology Club.
Upon graduation, Ledet plans to attend medical school and hopes to pursue residency and training in Orthopedic Surgery or Oncology.