The 小蝌蚪APP conferred 162 degrees during its first summer Commencement ceremony since 1949 on Friday at the Cajundome Convention Center.
A summer exercise has been reintroduced to give graduating seniors an opportunity to participate in a ceremony without having to wait until the fall semester.
Bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degrees were awarded to 118 graduates and master小蝌蚪APP檚 degrees were awarded to 31 graduates at the ceremony. Thirteen graduates earned doctoral degrees.
小蝌蚪APP淚f we have done our jobs well, we have prepared you not just for that first job after college, but for a career. If we have done our jobs well, we have helped prepare you for life,小蝌蚪APP Dr. James Henderson, 小蝌蚪APP provost and vice president for academic affairs told graduates. 小蝌蚪APP淲hether you're approaching your first big job or a big change, the choice you've made 小蝌蚪APP to earn a degree 小蝌蚪APP will serve you well.小蝌蚪APP
Henderson cited recent studies by Northeastern 小蝌蚪APP and the American Association of Colleges and Universities that asked employers what qualities and skills they sought in potential employees. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey want what college graduates have: the ability to communicate, the capacity to think critically. They are looking for problem solvers and innovators. They want people who take responsibility, and who demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity.小蝌蚪APP
Madison Blanche, who earned a bachelors degree in history, became the first of five children in her family to earn a college degree. She小蝌蚪APP檚 weighing several career options, including teaching, earning an MBA and applying for law school. First, she hopes to find a job that lets her travel. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檇 love to do something that would let me see the world,小蝌蚪APP said Blanche, who小蝌蚪APP檚 from Baton Rouge.
Law school is definitely next for Jeremy Anderson of Lafayette, a 36-year-old father of two children, who earned a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in general studies. He will begin taking law courses at Southern 小蝌蚪APP this fall. 小蝌蚪APP淕oing back to school to earn my (bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚) degree was always part of the plan, but I had to wait until the timing was right,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Commencement speaker Charles E. Richard, an English professor and filmmaker, said learning should remain a lifelong process, even for graduates who don小蝌蚪APP檛 pursue further studies.
小蝌蚪APP淪chool makes learning easy, because it gives it a structure, a step-by-step formula for making it happen,小蝌蚪APP he said. 小蝌蚪APP淚f there小蝌蚪APP檚 any secret at all to lifelong learning, I think it小蝌蚪APP檚 this: recognize your teachers.小蝌蚪APP
Richard, who earlier this year received the Distinguished Professor Award presented by the UL Lafayette Foundation, encouraged graduates to avoid cultivating an 小蝌蚪APP渆ducated pride小蝌蚪APP that keeps them from recognizing teachers throughout their lives. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey come to us in unlikely disguises,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Richard used Edward Couvillier, a master boat builder, as an example. Now in his mid-80s, Couvillier is the central figure in a documentary film Richard is producing, 小蝌蚪APP淚n the Mind of the Maker.小蝌蚪APP
Couvillier builds exquisitely-proportioned boats using no blueprints or plans, instead shaping them in his mind before he crafts them.
小蝌蚪APP淓dward Couvillier is a remarkable man for many, many reasons, but one of them is that he小蝌蚪APP檚 among the last of the old-time craftsmen who still remember how to build traditional Louisiana boats小蝌蚪APP攕hapely, elegant boats that are more akin to art than carpentry,小蝌蚪APP Richard said.
小蝌蚪APP淚n the Mind of the Maker小蝌蚪APP explores 小蝌蚪APP渢he science of creativity,小蝌蚪APP ways the brain can construct sophisticated three-dimensional mental images, according to the filmmaker. 小蝌蚪APP淲ith no more than an eighth-grade education, Mr. Edward Couvillier is teaching us about cognitive neuroscience.小蝌蚪APP
Retired history professor Dr. Judith Gentry, who served as grand marshal, was recognized at Commencement. She joined the UL Lafayette faculty in 1969, the same year she earned a doctoral degree at Rice 小蝌蚪APP.
Gentry taught a range of American history courses at all levels, including the first course on women小蝌蚪APP檚 history at the 小蝌蚪APP, 小蝌蚪APP渓ong before there were any textbooks on that topic,小蝌蚪APP Henderson said. 小蝌蚪APP淒r. Gentry has been a lifelong advocate for women at the 小蝌蚪APP, and beyond the campus.小蝌蚪APP
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