Haley Anslem is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s overall Outstanding Graduate.
Anslem is among eight award finalists who will be recognized Friday and Saturday during Fall 2024 Commencement ceremonies. Individual ceremonies for UL Lafayette’s eight academic colleges will be held at the Cajundome and the Cajundome Convention Center.
Each spring and fall semester, deans from the University’s academic colleges nominate a student as Outstanding Graduate. Nominations are based on leadership, scholarship and service. An Alumni Association committee interviews candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.
In addition to being the fall semester’s overall honoree, Anslem is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences. A nursing major, her GPA is 4.0.
In 2023, Anslem earned the Rising Scholar Award for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences. She has served as a Peer Mentor, on the college’s BSN Curriculum Committee and on its Dean’s Search Committee. Anslem volunteered for the Louisiana State Nurses Association Acadiana gala. She served as a volunteer firefighter with the Cecilia Volunteer Fire Department.
Her plans include working in the intensive care unit at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center and studying to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Her parents are Shane and Heather Anslem of Breaux Bridge, La.
Joshua Gerard is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for University College. He is a general studies major. His GPA is 3.84.
Gerard is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He twice earned both the University’s Academic Excellence Award and the UL Black Faculty & Staff Association Achievement Award. As a participant in the Congressional App Challenge, Gerard collaborated with team members from CGI to develop an app that provides severe weather alerts.
His plans include enrolling in a graduate program. Gerard is considering a range of disciplines such as technology, theology, business and public relations. He is the son of Mary Gerard and Elmo Gerard of Lafayette.
Angelique Malbrough is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Education & Human Development. She is majoring in kinesiology. Malbrough has a 3.85 GPA.
Malbrough earned the Impact Award from the School of Kinesiology for her contributions to the University and the community. She served as Student Government Association president for the College of Education & Human Development. Malbrough was a member of the Kinesiology Professional Association, and was academic affairs director and conduct committee chair for Tri Delta Sorority.
Her plans include enrolling at LSU Health Shreveport where she will study to become a physician assistant. She is the daughter of Shellie and Joshua Malbrough of Schriever, La.
Abigail Miller is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of the Arts. A visual arts major, her GPA is 3.95.
She presented work at the Louisiana Printmaking Symposium and the Department of Visual Arts Annual Juried Artist Exhibition.
Miller earned a $1,500 grant from the Office of Advance Student Research for her senior capstone framing project. She served as a printer at the University’s Marais Press, and president and secretary of the Printmaking Research and Educational Student Society.
Miller will attend graduate school to pursue an MFA in printmaking. Her goal is to become a college professor. She is the daughter of Raymond Miller and Candice Atchison of Eunice, La.
Rafeeq Muhammed is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. A computer science major, he has a 3.9 GPA.
Muhammed was technical lead for an AI-based software tool project to improve learning outcomes for neurodivegent and disabled students. It placed first in the Inn-eaux-vate Enterprise Pitch Competition on campus.
He was a team lead for the University’s Cajun Advanced Picosatellite Experience, or CAPE, team. His research includes detecting heart anomalies from the sound of heartbeats. He belongs to the National Society of Black Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery.
Muhammed will work for Google at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. He is the son of Sondra Cummings of Opelousas, La.
Jacob Francis Romero is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. He is a marketing major with a 3.94 GPA.
He served as vice president of the campus chapter of the American Marketing Association.
Romero completed three internships while at UL Lafayette. He optimized website content to enhance user experience for customers while at Stuller, Inc. Romero worked in digital marketing with BBR Creative. And, he helped to manage marketing efforts and coordinate educational opportunities for the REALTOR Association of Acadiana.
Romero will enroll at the University of Texas at Arlington to pursue a master’s degree in marketing research. He is the son of Kera Romero and Michael Romero of Maurice, La.
Christiaan Thibodeaux is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Engineering. A mechanical engineering major, her GPA is 3.57.
Thibodeaux was team leader for the UL Lafayette autonomous boat team, Bayou Bot Krewe. The team placed first in community outreach during international competition in Sarasota, Fla.
She served as president of the campus chapters of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Louisiana Engineering Society, and on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council.
Thibodeaux will pursue a master’s degree in engineering management, followed by an MBA. She envisions becoming a CEO of a major manufacturing company. Her parents are Kathryn Thibodeaux and Tahanie Thibodeaux of The Woodlands, Texas.
Kirsi Wolfisberg is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Liberal Arts. She is a psychology major. Her GPA is 3.94.
Wolfisberg earned the Department of Psychology’s Hait-Lewis Award for Academic Excellence. She has presented research on topics such as racial centrality, perceived racism and grief recovery.
Wolfisberg was a key member of the Ragin’ Cajuns Waterski Team, which has won 11 straight national championships. She volunteered at the 2024 Paris Olympics, providing transportation for athletes and officials.
Wolfisberg plans to pursue master’s and doctorate degrees in sports psychology, with a goal working with elite athletes. She is the daughter of Elisabeth Neuhofer and François Wolfisberg of Carouge, Switzerland.
Learn more about Fall 2024 Commencement.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette's Fall 2024 Outstanding Graduates are, from left: Abigail Miller, College of the Arts; Kirsi Wolfisberg, College of Liberal Arts; Jacob Francis Romero, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Overall Outstanding Graduate Haley Anslem, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; Rafeeq Muhammed, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Angelique Malbrough, College of Education & Human Development; Christiaan Thibodeaux, College of Engineering; and Joshua Gerard, University College. Also pictured is Dr. Joseph Savoie, University president, far right. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / University of Louisiana at Lafayette