The University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette conferred 343 degrees during its Summer Commencement ceremony on Friday at the Cajundome Convention Center.
Bachelor鈥檚 degrees were awarded to 245 graduates and master鈥檚 degrees were awarded to 86 graduates. Twelve graduates earned doctoral degrees.
The University held its first summer ceremony since 1949 in 2014. Summer Commencement was reintroduced to give graduating seniors an opportunity to participate in a ceremony without having to wait until the end of the fall semester.
On Friday, posthumous doctorates in educational leadership were awarded to the families of Sheila Guidry, who died Aug. 20, 2016, and Brad Wedlock, who died April 3.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, told Summer 2017 graduates they are part of the largest summer class in University history. The 3,549 total degrees awarded this academic year is also a school record.
鈥淎s you move into the 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,鈥 Savoie said.
鈥淵ou have the opportunity to use your abilities to solve problems, and to help others.鈥
Keynote speaker Corey Saft, a University professor and practicing architect, told graduates they have 鈥渁cquired critical thinking, applied thinking and speculative thinking鈥 skills.
鈥淵our time at the University has been a sort of dry run for work and life 鈥 and these are the skills that will underlie everything,鈥 said Saft, who earned the UL Lafayette Foundation鈥檚 Distinguished Professor Award in 2017 and the University鈥檚 Research Excellence Award last year.
Photo: Doug Dugas / University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette