UL Lafayette’s fall 2010 outstanding graduates announced

The Fall 2010 Outstanding Graduates include a volunteer, who has donated 1,800 hours of community service; a first-generation bilingual student, who has worked full time while attending college; and a talented music composer, who has already worked with filmmakers.

A total of eight students will be honored as the UL Lafayette Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduates from their respective academic colleges. Each semester deans from the eight academic colleges nominates a student as an Outstanding Graduate based on leadership, scholarship and service. A selection committee with the Alumni Association interviews each candidate and selects one for the overall award.

The overall winner will be announced during the General Assembly Commencement ceremony on Dec. 18 at the Cajundome. The event starts at 9 a.m.

Here is this semester’s Outstanding Graduates.

Andrew Smith n College of the Arts

Andrew Smith has received many awards and attained many goals while maintaining 3.794 cumulative GPA in the College of the Arts.  He is the son of Graham and Donna Smith of Lafayette and has majored in music media and composition.

Smith was one of only five students internationally to have been chosen to attend the Aspen Music Festival. Smith has composed scores for many television commercials and the BeauSoleil Solar Home promotional video.

Playing both bass and saxophone, Smith has participated in many music ensembles as part of the School of Music, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and other groups. He recently contracted with the filmmakers of the SyFy Channel film “Swamp Shark” to compose the film’s musical score.

Smith has received the 2010 Dean’s Scholar Award, 2009 Theodore Presser Scholarship, and maintained TOPS performance award throughout his academic career.

Upon graduation, Smith would like to continue in film/tv musical scoring and pursue a career in film scoring.

Dean M. Bouzigard n B.I Moody III College of Business Administration

Dean Bouzigard, the son of Brad and Wendy Bouzigard of New Iberia, graduates with a management information systems (MIS) major and a 3.843 GPA. He has received many academic awards and scholarships during his academic career including the Dean’s and President’s lists.

Bouzigard was selected for the Moody College of Business Alumni Association scholarship award, inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honors society and served on the technical team for UL Lafayette’s Reaffirmation Effort with SACS.

As a MIS student, Bouzigard was hired as a systems analyst intern at Miles Perret Cancer Service Center and assisted interim Provost Dr. Carolyn Bruder in helping train faculty members on the university’s new strategic planning software n Weave online.

Bouzigard would like to become a certified project manager and continue his education in the future by attaining an MBA. 

Alexandrea Claire Landry n College of Education

Alexandrea Landry, a kinesiology-exercise science major, is the College of Education’s outstanding graduate. Landry is the daughter of Donna and Paul Landry of Youngsville and has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.71.

Landry has been involved in several organizations including Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, Dean’s list for seven semesters, Rho Lambda Honors Society, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Society, UL Lafayette Honors program, Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, and an active member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and SGA.

She was the recipient of the UL Lafayette Centennial scholarship, TOPS, Daniel “Sonny” Roy, Jr. Endowed scholarship in kinesiology and SGA scholarships. Landry has volunteered much time toward civic groups including Abbie Rogers Civitan camp for children and adults with disabilities, American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, Up Till Dawn, Miles Perrett Cancer Service Center, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church religion teacher and Youth Group leader, Susan G. Komen, Women’s Center of Lafayette, Second Harvest and Prevent Child Abuse America and Acadiana.

Upon graduation in December, Landry hopes to attend graduate school for occupational therapy and open her own facility.

Jason Paul Thibodeaux n College of Engineering

Jason Thibodeaux has been named to the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Graduate for 2010. A native of Lafayette, Jason is the son of Ronald and Vicky Thibodeaux and has a 4.0 cumulative GPA.

Thibodeaux has been recognized on the President’s and Dean’s list every semester and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society for International Scholars and the National Scholars Honors Society Magna Cum Laude.

He has received numerous scholarships including those from the UL Lafayette Centennial Valedictorian, Acadiana Home Builders, the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society, and the TOPS Performance Award. 

Thibodeaux has served Carencro as volunteer firefighter for three years; participated in the Games of Acadiana to benefit Miles Perrett Center, volunteer football coach at Sts. Leo Seaton Elementary.

In addition to his scholastic achievements and numerous activities, Thibodeaux has worked up to 40 hours per week for an information technology consulting company in Lafayette, managing computer systems for many Acadiana companies.

After graduating with honors, Thibodeaux plans to take the Life and Health Producers License Exam and seek employment in industrial technology, especially in the Gulf Coast petroleum industry. 

Teylor Feliz n College of General Studies

Teylor Feliz will represent the College of General Studies as its Outstanding Graduate. Feliz is the son of Santa and Venecia Ramos de Feliz of Dominican Republic and the husband of Holly Lamarche de Feliz of Lafayette.

Feliz has a 3.736 GPA with an applied science concentration. He has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists throughout his academic career and is a member of the National Association of Information Technology Professionals as well as the local chapter here at the university.

As a bilingual international student, Feliz is also involved with the International Webmasters Association, the National Latino Information Sciences and Technology Association and the NetSquared Lafayette, a local organization for individuals interested in local and regional technology based issues.

He has volunteered for Latin American Cultural Association, Senior Olympics, Meehl Foundation and is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Feliz works as a software and web developer full-time while attaining his degree and runs an online magazine, Admix Web.

In January, he will begin his online master’s degree program in information technology at the University of Denver. Feliz would like to continue his education, pursue a Ph.D. and operate his own web development company.

Chasity Minix n College of Liberal Arts

Chasity Minix has been awarded this year’s College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Graduate. A criminal justice major, Minix has attained a 3.974 GPA and is the daughter of Felicia Minix-Livings of Rayne.

Minix is a member of several honor societies including Blue Key, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Beta Delta for International Scholars as well as the UL Lafayette Criminal Justice Society and UL Lafayette Law Club.

She has remained on the President’s list throughout her colligate career and has been honored by the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus and the UL Lafayette Spring Honors Convocation.

Minix has received numerous awards and scholarships, including the Seventh District Baptist Association Scholarship. She has volunteered for the Starlight Missionary Baptist Church Summer Enrichment Program, Vacation Bible School, Rayne Adopt a Resident, Southwest Developmental Center, Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. and helping with the Back to School Drive.

After earning a bachelor of science in criminal justice, Minix plans to attend Loyola University to pursue a Jurist Doctorate and a master’s of Urban and Regional Planning and enter the corporate law arena.

Christopher Todd Jeansonne n College of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals

Chris Jeansonne is this year’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals 2010 Outstanding Graduate. The son of son of Donna and Billy Jeansonne of Bunkie, he has achieved a 3.713 GPA.

Jeansonne has been on the university’s Dean’s list every semester and is a TOPS honors recipient. He has also received the UL Lafayette Valedictorian Scholarship, a chemical engineering scholarship and the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship.

He was accepted as one of 10 students into the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Accelerated Option Program. With an interest in bodybuilding and physical fitness, he won the heavyweight division and novice overall in the Greater Gulf State Bodybuilding.

Jeansonne has used his knowledge of nutrition and exercise to help countless individuals live healthier lives, reach their fitness goals and compete at various levels of competition. He has volunteered in his community by helping with the Thanksgiving Food Drive for the past three years and has tutored friends and classmates in many subjects.

Following graduation, Jeansonne plans to work in the emergency department at the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana while studying to become a nurse practitioner.

Luke Deshotels n The Ray P. Authement College of Sciences

Luke Deshotels is the 2010 Outstanding Graduate of the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. The son of Luke and Jonell Deshotels of Mamou, he graduates with a 3.657 GPA and a major in computer science.

Deshotels is an active member of the UL Lafayette Honors Program and has maintained both a TOPS and UL Lafayette Honors scholarships throughout his academic program.

He has completed over 1,800 hours of community service while working as an AmeriCorps team member, tutoring at the Martin Luther King Public Housing Development, planting 12,000 plants in Vermilion Parish to prevent coastal erosion and helped construct 24 homes through Habitat for Humanity.

As a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, he met for four hours per week on practice sessions throughout the Summer and Fall Semesters and will lead a team of programmers in the regional International Programming Contest.

Deshotels was a group leader for building trails at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, aided in both the Special Olympics and Senior Olympics and assisted medical professionals in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

 Upon graduation, Deshotels intends on pursing a master’s of computer science at UL Lafayette with a focus on bioinformatics n the use of artificial intelligence to make inferences from biological data. Deshotels would also like to attain a Ph.D. in computer science.