Lafayette native Natalie Ann Camel has been named the 2009 Homecoming Queen. Camel is the daughter of Donald and Susan Camel and she was nominated by Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. A senior in kinesiology with a concentration in health promotion and wellness, Camel maintains a 3.0 grade point average.
Camel has been a member of the Ragin’ Jazz for the past three years and has served as its secretary. She is also a member of Tri Delta sorority, and has served as its secretary and Yell Like Hell Coordinator. Camel represented the university as Miss UL and finished in the top 15 in 2007’s Miss Louisiana competition.
Camel is active in several other student organizations including the Kinesiology Professional Association; the Louisiana Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Association of Future Alumni; the University Program Council and the UL Diamond Darlings.
While in college, Camel has made the Dean’s List and has volunteered with many community organizations including American Heart Association, Lafayette Faith House and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has also volunteered for the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure,” St. Joseph’s Diner, the Leukema/ Lymphoma Society, Stone Energy “Fit For Energy” Health Fair, and the Miles Perret Center.
Camel was also a contestant in the Athalon Sports Sideline Spirit contest, in which she represents the university.
A graduate of Gerami Academy of Fine Arts, Camel said she has been cheering on the Ragin’ Cajuns teams from the sidelines her entire college career.
“ Being on the Homecoming Court is an experience I will never forget,” Camel said. “Representing the university as a whole is honestly the most rewarding experience that I have ever had. The opportunity of being on the court is the pinnacle of my Ragin’ Cajun experience.”
Maids of the court are Laura Bullinger, Lindsey LaJack, Patricia McLain and Bridget Meaux.
Laura Ncole Bullinger is a senior majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Secondary Education. Her parents are Matthew and Karen Bullinger of Illinois. She was nominated by the Student Government Association where she serves as vice-president.
Bullinger holds a 3.78 grade point average and is the vice-president of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She also serves as chair of Communications and Activities for the sorority and is a member of Who’s Who, Sigma Alpha Lambda and the Order of Omega. Bullinger serves as secretary for the Blue Key Honor Society and Rho Lambda.
Bullinger has also been the Spirit Chair for the University Program Council. She is a university Tour Guide and was a member of Student Orientation Staff from 2006-08 and its leadership team from 2007-08. She is a proud third-generation Ragin’ Cajun.
Lindsey M. LaJack, daughter of Kim and Sonny LaJack of Opelousas, is a senior majoring in Accounting. She was nominated by her sorority, Tri Delta and maintains a 3.576 grade point average. She has been an active member of Sigma Alpha Lambda since 2006 and the Accounting Society since 2008. LaJack has served her sorority for several years as skit chairman, academic chairman and is currently serving as president.
She was a member of the Ragin’ Jazz team from 2006-07 and the Junior Panhellenic Council in 2006. LaJack has been a volunteer for Up-till Dawn, St. Jude Hospital and Games of Acadiana. She is a flag football participant and has been named to the Dean’s List for three years. After graduation, LaJack plans on earning an MBA from UL and then attending law school.
Patricia Ann McLain is the daughter of Allen and Laura McLain of Abbeville. She was nominated by Student Dietetic Association and maintains a 3.8 GPA as a senior majoring in Dietetics. She has been named to the Dean’s Lists for past six semesters.
McLain is vice president of Chapter Development of Tri Delta sorority and has also been member development chairman, licensing chairman and sponsor chairmen. Since 2005, she has assisted her Tri-Delta Chapter in raising more than $43,000 through Up-Till Dawn letter writing campaigns, skeet shooting tournaments. Delta Dessert events and Triple Play softball tournaments.
McLain is also a member of Rho Lambda Greek Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the UL Triathlon Club. She is a member of the Student Dietetic Association since 2006 and now serves as president.
McLain has been a cheerleader from 2006-08 and has also volunteered for St. Jude Research Hospital. She has also volunteered for the Miles Perret Games of Acadiana for the past three years and donates supplies to Faith House annually
Bridget Jin Meaux is the daughter of Shooky and Donnie Meaux of Abbeville. Meaux holds a 3.36 grade point average as a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Biology emphasis and a Math minor. She was nominated by Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Meaux is a Ragin’ Cajun cheerleader and nationals team member and is involved with Student Government Association where she serves as the president of the College of Engineering. She is also president of the Louisiana Engineering Society and is a member of the Pride of Acadiana Marching Band and the UL Symphonic Band, where she is a principle flutist. Meaux is also in the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society where she serves as secretary and she is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Baja Team.
Meaux is a member of the Association of Future Alumni, the vice president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the treasurer for Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honors Society.
She is active in Phi Budda Roota Drumline Fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society and secretary of Society of Women Engineers. She is also involved with Sigma Alpha Lambda Honors Society and is Up-Till Dawn Team LES captain.
Meaux’s distinguished honors include 2009 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She was the SGA Outstanding College President and received the Alumni Association Endowed College Scholarship for the College Of Engineering.
Meaux has also won the 2008 Cassandra Thomas Band Memorial Award, the Robert C. Byrd scholarship, the 2009 SGA scholarship and she is a four-year recipient of the endowed chemical engineering scholarship. Meaux has also received the National Beta Club Scholarship, where she placed third nationally.
She has been a volunteer for Chevron/ United Way Poker tournament and the Special Olympics. Meaux is also a flute instructor and serves as a mass musician at St. John Catholic Church.
Nominees for the Homecoming Court are submitted by various student organizations on campus. The senior football players choose the court after the court is interviewed by student leaders.