A 2009 Ragin’ Cajuns football game sparked a dream for Mike Evans.
“It was Southern vs. Louisiana, and I had never even heard of the school, being from Bossier City,” he says. “So when I came to visit the campus for the first time, I was just blown away by how nice everyone was and how the food in Lafayette is just the best in the world.”
Determined to become a Ragin’ Cajun, Evans applied to the University right out of high school. Despite a solid GPA and a TOPS Scholarship, his ACT score fell short.
With his initial plans on hold, Evans took a new direction, accepting a basketball scholarship to Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska.
“I was really trying to pursue the hoop dream, but after I earned my associate degree, I ended up sitting out of school for another year,” he recalls. “Then I thought, ‘Well, might as well go to the school I wanted to go to in the first place.’”
This decision led him back to UL Lafayette, where he earned his bachelor’s in industrial technology in 2017. However, as he completed the program, Evans had to make a difficult decision: walk at graduation or attend a career fair in Chicago.
“I chose to attend the career fair, which was on the same day,” he says. “So that’s one reason I wanted to go back for my master’s, because I promised my mother she would get to see me actually walk across the stage.”
After a few years of working in the oilfield and carrying this promise to his mother, Evans felt he was ready for more.
In 2021, he re-enrolled to UL Lafayette — this time, as an online student in the M.S. in Systems Technology program.
Navigating the Transition
When Evans returned to UL Lafayette for his master’s, he quickly found that his coursework resonated with his career goals.
“One business class I took taught a lot about working in management roles and working in a chemical plant environment,” Evans recalls. “I knew that was the type of industry that I wanted to transition to, and I knew I wanted to set myself apart, so it just felt like the perfect degree for me.”
But balancing a full-time offshore job with coursework came with its own set of challenges.
Evans’ days were packed with long hours, and he had to make every moment count.
“I had to really focus on what’s important and knock it out because sometimes I’d have to do a 24-hour coverage by myself,” he says. “I didn’t have time to mess around; I really had to make sure I was handling my business.”
Evans’ responsibilities didn’t stop at work. One year into the program, he found himself juggling new roles: father and soon-to-be fiancé.
“I was planning my proposal and just found out I was going to be a father, so there was definitely a lot going on but being able to do it online made it easier,” he says. “I didn’t have to wake up and make the drive to class. I was still able to complete all the tasks needed in order to graduate.”
Despite the demanding schedule, Evans found support in his peers.
“I’d contact all of my classmates at the beginning of the semester, and we’d create a group chat to talk about the classes and help each other out,” he says.
His efforts paid off in more ways than one.
“I actually met a couple of great people through the online program. One of my classmates who graduated with me even helped me with job opportunities,” he says. “At the end of the day, I think the best part of being in college is the networking.”
Keeping his Promise
When Evans walked across the stage to receive his M.S. in Systems Technology in 2023, it was more than just an academic milestone; it was fulfillment of the promise he made to his mother.
“I gave her a painting of her as a superwoman two years ago because she’s really been the superwoman in my life,” he says. “The decisions my mother made have impacted my life greatly, and I wouldn’t be where I am currently without her sacrifice.”
And at that same commencement ceremony, Evans took another significant step in his life.
In a memorable twist, he proposed to his fiancé in the UL Lafayette ballroom.
It was a day that honored both his past successes and new beginnings.
MBA and Beyond
With his M.S. in Systems Technology in hand, Evans is already setting his sights on the next challenge: an MBA in Sales Leadership online.
“When I first graduated, I was interested in sales, but I didn’t have the experience for it,” he says. “Now, working in the chemical plant industry, I’ve realized that I don’t want to stay in operations my whole life. So I was thinking of different things I could do, and that’s when I came across UL Lafayette’s MBA in Sales Leadership program.”
With hopes of one day joining the sales team at his current company, Evans is leveraging his education to open new doors.
As Evans embarks on his next chapter, he carries with him a key lesson: the power of connections.
“Two of the three jobs I’ve had, even my current job, I have received because of a member of my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi,” he says. “At the end of the day, I think the best part of being in college is the networking. Everyone comes from different walks of life to attend the University. Make sure that you meet different people across different organizations, and the sky is the limit.”
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