The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association has recognized a business executive, an educator and an attorney as its 2018 Outstanding Alumni.
The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor UL Lafayette gives to a former student. It is presented for professional and personal achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the University. Graduates and former students who attended no less than 10 years ago are eligible to receive this award.
The trio received the award during a reception that was held Thursday, Oct. 11, at the UL Lafayette Alumni Center. They were also honored at halftime of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Homecoming game vs. the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday at Cajun Field.
Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1971.
Bollinger is chairman and the chief executive officer of Bollinger Enterprises.
He is the former chairman and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. The marine construction and ship repair company was founded in 1946 by Bollinger’s father, Donald.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Bollinger to the President’s Export Council, the national advisory committee for international trade.
He has been a board member of many companies and organizations. They include the Coast Guard Foundation, Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana Board of Regents, the National Ocean Industries Association, and the National World War II Museum.
Bollinger received the C. Alvin Bertel Award for contributions to the Greater New Orleans port area. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.
Dr. Herman D. Hughes earned a doctoral degree in computer science at UL Lafayette in 1973.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University and a master’s degree from Stillman College.
Hughes is professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at Michigan State University. He also was assistant dean of the Graduate School at Michigan State.
Hughes was a math instructor at Tuskegee University and Grambling State University. He frequently serves on national review panels, accreditation boards and committees focused on STEM education. The acronym stands for Science, Math, Engineering and Technology.
Hughes was an engineer at IBM, American Oil, Dow Chemical, and at the avionics research lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
He is an international leader in network traffic management and modeling for wireless and high-speed networks.
Hughes received Michigan State University’s Distinguished Faculty Award. He was inducted into the Stillman College Educator Hall of Fame.
Warren A. Perrin earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1969.
He earned a juris doctorate from LSU in 1972, and is a partner with the firm of Perrin, Landry & deLaunay.
Perrin is a skills professor at Loyola Law School in New Orleans.
In 2013, he donated papers and other materials to UL Lafayette that document his 15-year quest to obtain an official apology from England for the expulsion of Acadians from Nova Scotia in the 1700s. The apology was made on Dec. 9, 2003.
Queen Elizabeth II signed a Royal Proclamation that acknowledged wrongs committed against Acadians and established “A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval” that is recognized yearly on July 28.
Perrin has earned recognition for promoting Acadian culture and history, including helping to launch UL Lafayette’s New Acadia Project. The University’s archeology and anthropology departments are attempting to locate the lost 1765 Acadian settlement on the Bayou Teche.
Photo caption, from left: Warren A. Perrin, Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger and Dr. Herman D. Hughes are the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2018 Outstanding Alumni. They were honored Thursday at a reception at the Alumni Center. They were also recognized at halftime of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Homecoming game win on Saturday at Cajun Field. (Credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)