Isla Baudoin’s young daughter was born with septo optic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly that has left her with impaired vision.
It’s the reason Baudoin decided to major in psychology, she said following UL Lafayette’s Fall 2014 Commencement General Assembly ceremony at the Cajundome on Friday.
“I want to use my degree to help other children who have special needs,” said Baudoin, of Abbeville, La., who was one of about 1,229 graduates who earned degrees this semester.
UL Lafayette conferred 1,042 bachelor’s degrees, 177 master’s degrees and 10 doctoral degrees during ceremonies at the Cajundome and Convention Center.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, addressed graduates during the General Assembly, telling them that the university “has tried to provide you with the knowledge and skills” to be successful.
“As you move into next phase of your life, I encourage you to take that same sense of hope, optimism, hard work and tenacity that brought you to this day, and carry it with you for the rest of your life in whatever you choose to do,” Savoie said.
Commencement speaker Dr. Darrell Bourque, a former Louisiana poet laureate and UL Lafayette professor emeritus of English, encouraged students to make the world a better place. “We are depending on you to be the independent thinkers, we are depending on you to make things work better than they do now… ,” he said.
Alexandra Dardar, an accounting major, was named UL Lafayette’s overall Outstanding Graduate during the General Assembly. An accounting major, she received a bachelor of science degree. She is the daughter of Clayton and Susan Dardar of Abbeville, La.
Every spring and fall semester, deans from the eight academic colleges select an Outstanding Graduate based on leadership, scholarship and service. One is selected for the overall award by an Alumni Association selection committee, which interviews each candidate.
Three students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates for achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average:
• Charlotte Theresa Bordelon, the daughter of Jude Bordelon of Lafayette, who received a bachelor’s degree in finance;
• Taylor Denee McCaulley, the daughter of Randy and Melinda McCaulley of Ville Platte, La., who earned a bachelor’s degree in English; and
• April Kristine Lemelle, daughter of Paul and Cheryl Lemelle of Lafayette, who received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
Dr. James Henderson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, announced that Dr. Gerald Carlson has been named dean emeritus.
Carlson was dean of the College of Education for 13 years and served the University in numerous capacities for a total of 30 years. He retired in August.
Earlier this month, the School of Kinesiology unveiled the Dr. Gerald P. Carlson Honorary Kinesiology Classroom, a state-of-the-art classroom that will be used for a new graduate program in the School of Kinesiology.
View a list of Fall 2014 graduates.
Photo: Three University of Louisiana at Lafayette students were recognized as summa cum laude graduates at Fall 2014 Commencement ceremonies. Graduates who achieved perfect 4.0 grade point averages, from left to right, are: Charlotte Theresa Bordelon, April Kristine Lemelle, and Taylor Denee McCaulley.