Abbey Poirier is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s overall Spring 2026 Outstanding Graduate.
Poirier is among eight award finalists who will be recognized Friday, May15, during Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies.
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 spring semester’s overall honoree, Poirier is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Education & Human Development. She is an elementary education major. Her GPA is 4.0.
Her honors baccalaureate thesis – “The School-to-Prison Pipeline: A Crisis in Education and Justice” – addresses fairness and justice in education.
Poirier has presented research at numerous university, state and national conferences, including the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit, the Educators Rising National Conference and the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium.
As part of her teacher residency, she worked with fourth-grade reading and science students, applying research-based practices. Poirier will teach elementary students and pursue graduate studies in education. Her long-term goals include working in leadership roles in education. She is the daughter of Barry and Erica Poirier of St. Martinville, La.
Torin Cage is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences. A nursing major, her GPA is 3.54.
Cage earned the Black Faculty & Staff Association Achievement Award.
She was the UL Student Nurses Association’s membership chair and the Acadiana Black Nurses Association’s public relations chair. Cage was also the campus chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ marketing manager.
She presented research about “Legislation and Early Sex Education: STI Prevention Gaps Among College Students” at the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit.
She will work as an oncology nurse and pursue dual certification as a family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her parents are Oliver and Jessica Cage of Magnolia, Mississippi.
Alexandra Chistoserdov is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. A biology major, her GPA is 4.0.
Chistoserdov won a LEAF Award for Excellence in Research, Creativity and Scholarship as part of the University’s Advance Student Research Experience program.
She was president of the Mentoring Matters program and vice president of Ragin’ Rescue, the student-run animal welfare organization. Chistoserdov held leadership roles in the campus chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America.
She will enroll in the MD/Ph.D. program at Texas A&M University, then work as a physician and a scientist. Her parents are Andrei Chistoserdov of Youngsville, La. and Vanessa Madrid of Montclair, California.
MiaAnn Oliva Elmer is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for University College. She is a general studies major. Elmer has a 3.97 GPA.
She has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists. Elmer earned an Academic Excellence Award and received the Broussard Brothers Scholarship.
She is a member of Ragin’ Cajun Catholics and was active in Bible study groups and retreats. Elmer also tutors young students each week. Her plans following graduation include teaching middle- and high-school students.
Elmer is married to Baylor Elmer and is the mother of Baylor Elmer Jr. She is the daughter of Charlene Oliva and Byron Oliva of Erath, La.
Sydnei Stephanie Henson is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of the Arts. A visual arts major, her GPA is 4.0.
Henson twice received the Black Faculty & Staff Association Achievement Award. She has exhibited projects at the School of Visual Arts’ Juried Student Art Exhibition.
Henson represented the college at the Posters at the Capitol event hosted by the Louisiana Undergraduate Research Association, and at the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit student exhibition.
She has been a member of the University’s Graphic Design Collective, and secretary of Ragin’ Records, the University’s student-run record label. Her parents are Stephanie Boyd of Baton Rouge and Glenell Henson Jr. of Olathe, Kansas.
Ainsley Grace Gauthier is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. She is an economics major with a 3.97 GPA.
Gauthier received a LEAF Award for Excellence in Research, Creativity and Scholarship. Her honors thesis examined “The Impact of Voluntary Tipping vs. Mandatory Service Charges on Consumer Satisfaction."
Gauthier was president of the University’s Society for Human Resource Management and secretary of the Collegiate Economics Organization. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society.
After graduation, she will work as a notary public and apply for legal assistant or management positions. Her parents are Jody and Angie Gauthier of Pollock, La.
Wyatt Stoute is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Engineering. A mechanical engineering major, his GPA is 3.44. Stoute, a first-generation college student, completed his degree in three years.
He earned an internship with Sandia National Laboratories and is preparing a first-author journal manuscript with Sandia researchers. The paper examines “Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Hybrid Orientation Photovoltaics in High Latitude Snowy Climates.”
His independent research includes photovoltaic performance analysis conducted during heavy snowfall in south Louisiana in 2025.
He will pursue a master’s degree at UL Lafayette before applying to doctoral programs. His parents are Mark and Michelle Stoute of Lafayette.
Emma Thomas is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Liberal Arts. A history major, her GPA is 3.84.
Thomas presented her history thesis – “The Racial Construction of Chess Culture in the United States” – at the regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference.
Thomas’ poster presentation – “200 Years of Chess History in New Orleans” – was recognized at the Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by the University’s Student Center for Research, Creativity and Scholarship.
She presented her paper – “The Aestheticization of Suffering in Delacroix’s ‘Massacre at Chios’” – at the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium.
She will pursue a master's degree in library and information science at Wayne State University. Thomas is the daughter of Maria Spansel Thomas of Metairie, La.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette’s Spring 2026 Outstanding Graduates are front row, from left: MiaAnn Oliva Elmer, University College; Overall Outstanding Graduate Abbey Poirier, College of Education & Human Development; Torin Cage, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Ainsley Grace Gauthier, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. Back row, from left: Alexandra Chistoserdov, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Emma Thomas, College of Liberal Arts; Wyatt Stoute, College of Engineering; and Sydnei Stephanie Henson, College of the Arts. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / University of Louisiana at Lafayette