Current Students

From your first day on campus to your first year as an alum, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association is here to help you build meaningful connections that last a lifetime. 

Through scholarships, mentorship, networking opportunities, leadership experiences, awards, traditions, and special academic recognitions, we celebrate your milestones while preparing you for what's next. Here's a look at the programs and initiatives that support your journey from Future Alum to proud member of the global Ragin' Cajun alumni family.

Before You Graduate

The Association of Future Alumni is making its return, creating exciting new opportunities for students to become engaged with the Alumni Association long before graduation.  

The Association of Future Alumni (AFA) is a high‑profile, high‑energy student organization. As a member of AFA, you serve as a student ambassador for the UL Lafayette Alumni Association, focusing on building connections with alumni and instilling the spirit of tradition, volunteerism, and philanthropy among students and future alumni.  

This student organization is designed to foster school spirit, build meaningful connections, and introduce future alumni to the traditions, leadership opportunities, and lifelong network that await after commencement. We're excited to relaunch this program and collaborate with students to create memorable experiences that strengthen the bond between today's students and tomorrow's alumni.

Earn a Philanthropy Cord for your commencement ceremony — a tradition recognizing your commitment to service through both UL Lafayette and the community. Student giving matters: students gifts directly impact future student initiatives through the UL Lafayette Alumni Association.

To qualify, you'll need to:

  • Make a minimum gift of the class year  to the UL Lafayette Alumni Association (2027 graduates: $20.27) 
  • Complete 20 volunteer hours during your time at UL Lafayette, with at least 10 of those hours in your graduating year
  • Submit documentation of your volunteer hours, signed by your supervisor or have an email from the organization's volunteer supervisor sent to faryal.atif1@louisiana.edu.

The Exceptional Service Award recognizes graduating seniors or graduate students who have verified 150+ verified hours of University-based community service or service-learning.

Exceptional Service Award Requirements: 

  1. You will graduate in May 2026 
  2. You are a current or former member of a UL Lafayette campus-based organization that participates in documented community service activities and/or have documented course-based service-learning hours. 
  3. You will have completed 150+ service hours (throughout your UL Lafayette academic career) by April 13, 2026. 
  4. A current University faculty or staff member can verify your campus-based or course-related service. 

Checklist: 

Philanthropy Cord Application ONLY: 

  • Complete and submit the Philanthropy Cord application to its full capacity on this webpage 
  • Make a minimum gift of your class year (e.g. $20.26) to a university designation of your choice 
  • Complete the Philanthropy Cord Service Hours document located in your application confirmation email and email to faryal.atif1@louisiana.edu 
  • Save your application confirmation email and gift confirmation email in a special folder for confirmation purposes 

Exceptional Service Award Application ONLY: 

  • Complete and submit the Exceptional Service Award application to its full capacity on this webpage 
  • Save your application confirmation email in a special folder for confirmation purposes 
    BOTH Philanthropy Cord Application and Exceptional Service Award: 
  • Complete and submit the Philanthropy Cord and Exceptional Service Award applications on this webpage 
  • Make a minimum gift of your class year (e.g. $20.26) to a university designation of your choice 
  • Complete the Philanthropy Cord Service Hours document located in your application confirmation email and email to faryal.atif1@louisiana.edu 
  • Save your application confirmation email and gift confirmation email in a special folder for confirmation purposes 

All application requirements must be met in order to receive the Philanthropy Cord and/or the Exceptional Service Award. Any additional questions can be emailed to faryal.atif1@louisiana.edu. 

The Alumni Association awards scholarships each year to outstanding students across every academic college — supporting the next generation of Ragin' Cajuns as they finish their degree.

Graduation Week is a time to celebrate the achievements, traditions, and memories that define the Ragin' Cajun experience. Throughout the week leading up to Commencement, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association hosts a series of special events for graduating students, including the Outstanding Graduate Reception honoring the  

University's top student leaders and scholars, the International Student Farewell Reception celebrating graduates from around the world as they join the global alumni family, and the Graduate Champagne Toast, a cherished tradition where graduates gather to celebrate this exciting milestone before commencement. Students who qualify for graduation will receive invitations and event details directly from the Alumni Association as Graduation Week approaches. 

Ring Release & Ring Ceremony 

This kick-off event is part of the ring tradition on campus. At the Ring Release, the rings will be presented and placed into an air-tight box which is then placed into a customized UL Lafayette pirogue. The University ROTC will launch the pirogue into Cypress Lake where the Louisiana Rings will rest in the swamp overnight guarded by the ROTC, turtles, and alligators. 

UL Lafayette’s Ring Ceremony celebrates the bond between all UL Lafayette graduates. Students and alumni are presented with class rings by University Officials during the ceremony. 

Available Scholarships

The Alumni Association is proud to offer ten Endowed Scholarships each year. These award $2,000 per academic year ($1,000 each Fall and Spring) to a senior-level student in each academic college and one from the Association of Future Alumni.

The awards are given using interest only.

Application opening and closing dates to be announced.

Apply for the Alumni Association Scholarships

Award Specifications

  • The amount to be awarded is $2,000 annually for 2 semesters; $1,000 for the Fall semester and $1,000 for the Spring semester
  • The number of awards to be given each year is 10 (one per college and one for AFA)
  • This scholarship is generally not awarded in the Summer Semester
  • Awarded to a registered full-time student

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship he/she must:

  • Not necessarily be a U.S. Citizen
  • Not necessarily be a Louisiana Resident
  • Be eligible to enter their Senior Year or accepted as a graduate student at UL Lafayette
  • Have a 3.0 grade point average to be eligible
  • Must be a full-time student (12 hours or more in the semester(s) received for undergraduate studies; 9 hours or more for graduate studies)

For AFA scholarship only:

  • Be a current active member of AFA
  • Additional criteria including active participation in AFA club events/activities as established by AFA membership
  • Be a major in any college

For graduate students only:

  • This scholarship is available to graduate students. To be eligible as a a graduate student, you must select "Graduate School" as your college in the online application.
  • If you are presently an undergraduate but have been accepted as a graduate student at UL Lafayette for the upcoming fiscal year, you may apply. Select "Graduate School" as your college in the online application and include this information in your answer to the question, "What are your plans and goals for the future?"
  • Graduate student applicants do not need to submit an official transcript with their application; the Graduate School will secure the transcript on your behalf.
  • Recipients of this award must enroll as a full-time graduate student, which is in at least 9 graduate credit hours.
  • Recipients of this award must be pursuing their graduate studies at UL Lafayette. This is not a scholarship that can be applied to graduate studies at another institution.

Note: Should the eligibility requirements result in the scholarship becoming unduly difficult to award, the selection committee will award to the student who most closely matches the criteria in the original guidelines.

Scholarship Selection Committee participants is made up of members of the Alumni Association Scholarship Committee.

Maintenance Requirements

In order for a student to receive the second portion of their scholarship, the student must successfully complete the semester as a full-time student and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The University publicizes the availability of the scholarship. Each year's recipients are appropriately publicized. Periodic reports to scholarship donors are made on the academic progress of the recipient by the UL Lafayette Scholarship Office.

 

The Christiana Smith Alumni Chapter is proud to offer two scholarschips each year. These scholarships are $1000 per academic year ($500 each Fall and Spring) and are awarded to a student who meets the eligibility requirements.

Application opening and closing dates to be announced.

Eligibility Requirements:  

  • 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA 
  • Full time enrollment 
  • Senior level in undergraduate classes (may apply at 75 hours- must have completed 90 hours at the time of the award) 
  • Proven impact through extracurricular activities 

CSAAAC Scholarship Selection Committee will award two $1,000 scholarships for one academic year ($500/Fall, $500/Spring)- awardee must maintain GPA to sustain. Students cannot receive a Christiana Smith Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship more than once. 

Many of our alumni clubs and chapters choose to make an even greater impact by establishing their own scholarship funds, providing direct support to students in the communities they serve. Through local fundraising efforts and donor support, these groups award scholarships that reflect their unique mission and priorities. 

Because each scholarship is administered by its respective club or chapter, application timelines, eligibility requirements, award amounts, and selection criteria may vary. Explore the opportunities below to discover scholarships that may be available through your local Ragin' Cajun alumni community.
 

At Graduation

Philanthropy cording recipients

Wear Your Philanthropy Cord

If you met the requirements above, wear your cord across the Commencement stage as a visible mark of everything you gave back during your time here.

Outstanding Graduate Award Winners

Be an Outstanding Grad

Each semester, one student from every college is nominated as Outstanding Graduate or Outstanding Master's Graduate — recognized at Commencement for their leadership, scholarship, and service.

Outstanding Graduate Awards

The Outstanding Graduate Award is one of the highest honors the University bestows upon a graduating senior in recognition of outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements.  Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight academic colleges each nominate a student as an Outstanding Graduate, based on leadership, scholarship and service. A selection committee of the Alumni Association interviews the candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.

  • 2024 Fall Haley Anslem
  • 2024 Spring Karius Joseph
  • 2023 Fall Camryn Adamson
  • 2023 Spring April Bourlet
  • 2022 Fall Eugenia Amarachi Ndieze
  • 2022 Spring Olivia Guidry
  • 2021 Fall Tyler Francis
  • 2021 Spring Alex Zappi
  • 2020 Fall Spencer Leger
  • 2020 Spring Kyle Zappi
  • 2019 Fall Victoria Furka
  • 2019 Spring Ada Tusa
  • 2018 Fall Alissa Netto
  • 2018 Spring Matthew Furka
  • 2017 Fall Peace Eze
  • 2017 Spring Brooke Capritto
  • 2016 Fall Amélie Desormeaux
  • 2016 Spring Ashley Duhon
  • 2015 Fall Leondre' Queen
  • 2015 Spring Zadid K. Haq
  • 2014 Fall Alexandra Dardar
  • 2014 Spring Matthew Hartley
  • 2013 Fall Cory Etheredge
  • 2013 Spring Brandon Plaisance
  • 2012 Fall Madeleine Richard
  • 2012 Spring Brooke Richard
  • 2011 Fall Ashley Brignac
  • 2011 Spring Patrick Adams
  • 2010 Fall Dean Bouzigard
  • 2010 Spring Jaime Carroll
  • 2009 Fall Michelle Abadie
  • 2009 Spring LanKhanh Pham
  • 2008 Fall Kyle Kellner
  • 2008 Spring Brennan Castille
  • 2007 Fall Ramon Boudreaux
  • 2007 Spring Claire Pettit
  • 2006 Fall Melissa Manuel
  • 2006 Spring Lanminh Pham
  • 2005 Fall Aimee Duplantis
  • 2005 Spring Lauren E. Barry
  • 2004 Fall Johnathan Ledet
  • 2004 Spring Eric Bartel
  • 2003 Fall Brody Viator
  • 2003 Spring Jessica Clark
  • 2002 Fall Elward Gardner
  • 2002 Spring Ann E. Wingate
  • 2001 Fall Blake Landry
  • 2001 Spring Christopher B. Courville
  • 2000 Fall Michelle K. Bryant
  • 2000 Spring Scott L. Macicek
  • 1999 Fall Kristy Lynn Aloisio
  • 1999 Spring Paul Rochon
  • 1998 Fall Laura Galan
  • 1998 Spring Christopher M. Gradney
  • 1997 Fall Cassie L. Willis
  • 1997 Spring Timothy James Ellender
  • 1996 Fall Peter G. Comeaux, Jr.
  • 1996 Spring Edgar Thomas-Ponce
  • 1995 Fall Kerrie A. Holmes
  • 1995 Spring Donna Lynn Fontenot
  • 1994 Fall Anjanette Marie Daigle
  • 1994 Spring Cynthia Kinsland
  • 1993 Fall Lance T. Martin
  • 1993 Spring Shannon Elizabeth Hicks
  • 1992 Fall Deidre Leigh Doucet
  • 1992 Spring Vincent Barras
  • 1991 Fall Donald J. Courville
  • 1991 Spring Dana Belaire
  • 1990 Fall Stefni Whitton
  • 1990 Spring Pam Bourque
  • 1989 Fall Melanie Binet
  • 1989 Spring Frank W. Summers III
  • 1988 Fall Dona K. Renegar
  • 1988 Spring Julie Authement
  • 1987 Fall Donna Chance
  • 1987 Fall Melanie Elliott
  • 1987 Spring Charlotte Hayes Mariah
  • 1986 Fall Shannon Michelle Rutland
  • 1986 Spring Phillip Noel
  • 1985 Fall Camille Domingue
  • 1985 Spring Nannette J. Jolivette
  • 1984 Fall Bernard B. Rees
  • 1984 Spring Judy Marie Deshotels
  • 1983 Fall Jude D. Bourque
  • 1983 Spring James Randy Young
  • 1982 Fall Erin O'Neil
  • 1982 Spring Mark C. Pierret
  • 1981 Fall Julia C. Cowan
  • 1981 Fall Elmo J. Laborde, Jr.
  • 1981 Spring Regina Bouillion
  • 1981 Spring Gary Lee Sonnier
  • 1980 Fall Nancy K. Harris
  • 1980 Fall Stann Stirling
  • 1980 Spring Lynn Kathy Maher
  • 1980 Spring James 'Jim' Slatten
  • 1979 Fall Stephen J. Oats
  • 1979 Fall Lila Houeye
  • 1979 Spring Lisa Romero
  • 1979 Spring Ryan Barilleaux
  • 1978 Amy Lee Sonnlietner
  • 1978 Terry Huval
  • 1977 Desley Noonan
  • 1977 Roger McChesney
  • 1976 Madelyn Broussard-Scott
  • 1976 Cary Menard
  • 1975 Linda Eyster
  • 1975 Paul Tabary II
  • 1974 Sidney Watson
  • 1974 Barbara Whitesides
  • 1974 Joseph Charles Giglio, Jr.
  • 1973 Deborah Sue Duplechin
  • 1973 Lorrie T. Olivier
  • 1972 Mary E. Melancon
  • 1972 John Schneider
  • 1971 Cheryl T. Arceneaux
  • 1971 George Coussan
  • 1970 Donna Mayeaux
  • 1970 James Denny III
  • 1969 Margaret Berniard
  • 1969 Vance Andrus
  • 1968 Verna Marie Stanley
  • 1968 James Massingale
  • 1967 Karen Ann Atteberry
  • 1967 Earl J. Latiolais
  • 1966 Stan Hardee
  • 1966 Connie Dill
  • 1965 Ann Jennings
  • 1965 John Hebert
  • 1964 Carolyn Ory
  • 1964 Paul Cloutier
  • 1963 Patricia Boutte
  • 1963 John W. Melton III
  • 1962 Suzanne Firmin
  • 1962 Winston Riddick
  • 1961 Janet Dill-Schafer
  • 1961 Isaac Jackson Burson, Jr.
  • 1960 Douglas Adkins
  • 1960 Heloise Martin-Cassidy
  • 1959 Dale Reed
  • 1959 Geraldine Cormier-Hubbell
  • 1958 Gale Breaux
  • 1958 Helen Trahan-Arnold
  • 1957 John Denison
  • 1957 Frances Pickering
  • 1956 Donald McSpadden
  • 1956 Elaine Barron
  • 1955 Donovan Pontiff
  • 1955 Byrdie E. Eason
  • 1954 Mark W. Boudreaux
  • 1954 Barbara Elaine Taylor
  • 1953 Janet Foss-Costley
  • 1953 David B. Regan
  • 1952 Harry Thomas Lemmon
  • 1952 Grace Kloor Kieffer
  • 1951 Billie Jewell Trahan-Goux
  • 1951 Chris Duplechain
  • 1950 Lucille Magon-Smith
  • 1950 David Fisher
  • 1949 Ruby Lee Draughon-Crider
  • 1949 Alex Stirling
  • 1948 Anna Givens-Snyder
  • 1948 Tom Bartlett
  • 1947 Mabel Rosell Patterson
  • 1947 William Allen Sistrunk
  • 1946 Marvelle McMillan
  • 1946 Michael Pendergast
  • 1945 Fay Gautreau-Brown
  • 1944 Marion Fleming-Weber
  • 1943 Leonard Bienvenu
  • 1942 Evelyn Toups-Comeaux
  • 1941 Ernest L. McMillan
  • 1940 Margaret McMillan
  • 1939 Kaliste J. Saloom, Jr.
  • 1938 Elia Boudreaux
  • 1937 Harry Stuart Saucier
  • 1936 Lewis Texada Graham
  • 1935 Floyd Hamilton
  • 1934 Frances Amelia Vaughn
  • 1933 Carroll Lee Hoffpauir
  • 1932 Edith Louise Hoffpauir
  • 1931 Joyce Katherine Sturdivant
  • 1930 Crow Girard Davidson
  • 1929 Robert Spencer Barnett

Each semester, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association invites the University's academic colleges to nominate one graduating undergraduate student and one graduate school student who exemplify excellence both inside and outside the classroom. One Outstanding Graduate and one Outstanding Master's Graduate are selected and recognized during Commencement alongside the outstanding graduates from each academic college. 

The Outstanding Masters Graduate Award is given to an exemplary graduating senior of Graduate School in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. Each graduate program can nominate one student for the award, based on leadership, scholarship, service, and research. A committee, led by the dean of the University’s Graduate School, selects the top candidates.

  • 2024 Fall Gabrielle LeBlanc
  • 2024 Spring Thomas Poché
  • 2023 Fall Dana Wallis
  • 2023 Spring Adam Ortego
  • 2022 Fall Jonathan Olivier
  • 2022 Spring Crystal Smith
  • 2021 Fall Taisiia Kolisnyk
  • 2021 Spring Narges Firouzshahi
  • 2020 Fall David Allen
  • 2020 Spring Olivia LaHaye
  • 2019 Fall Tina Billberry
  • 2019 Spring Jacob LeBlanc
  • 2018 Fall Emily Covington
  • 2018 Spring Jesse DelGizzi
  • 2017 Fall Annie Briley
  • 2017 Spring Katie Leleaux
  • 2016 Fall Jude Monte
  • 2016 Spring Timothy Shane
  • 2015 Fall James Blankenship
  • 2015 Spring Chasah West

After You Graduate

You're Already Connected

When you graduate from UL Lafayette, you become a member of the Alumni Association automatically and your first year of membership is complimentary.

Stay Involved

Help recruit the next class of Ragin' Cajuns as a new alum as part of the Alumni Student Recruitment Program. 

Stay Connected

Make sure we can reach you — update your info to start receiving Alumni Accents, your college newsletter, and everything else meant for you.

Update your Profile

Wherever you land after Lafayette, there's a good chance a fellow Ragin' Cajun isn't far away.

Find your Chapter