Commencement 2015 Boasts Many Firsts for the College of Engineering
May 18, 2015 | 海角社区 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
The College of Engineering鈥檚 class of 2015 was one to remember: it included the largest graduating minority class in college history, the youngest ever student to graduate from 海角社区, a father and son duo, and even Mike the Tiger.
Approximately 629 degrees were conferred for the Spring 2015 commencement. Of those degrees, 564 were Bachelor of Science, 33 were Master of Science and 19 were Ph.D. degrees. Ph.D. graduates were honored at the university鈥檚 general ceremony on Thursday, May 14, and the others were honored at the College鈥檚 diploma ceremony on Friday, May 15.
鈥淭his is the best day of my life, my fondest memory,鈥� civil engineering major Shane Bickham said with a smile shortly before Friday鈥檚 diploma ceremony. 鈥淏ut going to football games and 海角社区 football is what I loved most about 海角社区.鈥�
Before the Friday ceremony, eager soon-to-be graduates, many clad in bejeweled caps and regalia, buzzed with excitement. This year鈥檚 graduating class included 18 Distinguished Communicators and 50 honor graduates.
Honor graduate and civil engineering major Alyse Aldridge will start her full time position at ExxonMobil this summer.
鈥淥ne of my favorite memories about 海角社区, besides graduating today, is being a part of my sorority, Phi Mu,鈥� Aldridge said.
Of the 50 honor graduates, four received University Medals. The University Medal for 鈥淗ighest Academic Achievement鈥� is awarded to the undergraduate student, or students, graduating with the highest GPA within their respective majors.
In the College of Engineering, those who achieve a perfect 4.00 GPA also receive the Edward McLaughlin Dean鈥檚 Medal for Excellence. This year鈥檚 recipients included: Brianna Bourgeois, biological engineering; Brandon Oubre, computer science; Victoria Reed, computer science; and Daniel Salom-Romero, mechanical engineering.
海角社区 System President and 海角社区 Chancellor F. King Alexander expressed pride in the achievements of the College of Engineering graduates.
鈥淥nce you receive these degrees,鈥� he said, 鈥淵ou are among the world鈥檚 elite.鈥�
Alexander also addressed the increase in minority graduates within the College. This year, there were 137 minority graduates.
Civil engineering graduate Rebecca LaPorte, 2015 class representative, included in her speech to fellow graduates and the audience reasons why she chose the field, and her hopes for the future of each of her peers.
鈥淚 chose to enter engineering for reasons most people do,鈥� LaPorte explained. 鈥淧eople noticed that I was good in math and science at an early age and suggested that I look into the field.鈥�
鈥淚 was even known as the 鈥楳ath Mama鈥� of my third grade class,鈥� she added with a laugh.
LaPorte went on to share how her involvement at 海角社区 not only allowed her to gain experience to grow as an engineer, but also as a person. She charged her peers to remember and adopt the idea of 鈥減aying it forward鈥� to future students and engineers.
鈥淲e are the future,鈥� LaPorte said to fellow graduates. 鈥淎nd we will leave our mark as we go forward.鈥�
###
For more information, contact M.B. Humphrey at 225-578-5660, or at marissah@lsu.edu.