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Outstanding Graduates chosen to represent the eight academic colleges at the University of �޻���ֱ�� at Lafayette will be honored during commencement exercises on Sunday, May 17. The UL Lafayette Alumni Association will name the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate during Graduate School ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. in the Cajundome.

Selected by the Alumni Association Awards Committee, the award is based on leadership, scholarship and service. The eight finalists are nominated by the deans of their respective colleges.

Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduates are: Caroline Randall, Arts; Katherine Dallas, Business Administration; Lauren Jankower, Education; Amy Henschke, Engineering; Elise Peltier, General Studies; Megan Broussard, Liberal Arts; Renee Judice, Nursing; and Lan Pham, Sciences.

CAROLINE RANDALL

Caroline RandallCaroline Randall, daughter of Charles and Mary Randall of Pineville, has been selected as the Spring 2009 outstanding graduate from the College of the Arts. Having a 3.85 cumulative GPA, Randall has been on the Dean’s list every semester of her collegiate career. She is a member of the University Honors Program who will be graduating with honors and is completing an Honors Thesis. Randall’s degree will be in performing arts with a dance concentration.

Her activities include Dance Honors Society XTE (Chi Tau Epsilon) from 2006-2007 where she served as secretary, Our Lady Wisdom Catholic Student Center, Invisible Children on-campus social awareness group, Orthodox Christian Fellowship group, Parousians Catholic intellectual group and the Honors Society Phi Kappa Phi.

Randall was also the recipient of the Evelyn Elizabeth Lockmann Scholarship in Dance for Fall 2008. She was also awarded a grant by the P.A.L. (Performing Arts Learners) Initiative where a teacher in the arts in the Lafayette Public School System mentored her. She also taught dance classes at J. Wallace James Elementary in 2008.

Randall has performed in many university productions such as LA Danse, Evening of Dance and Festival International. She was a choreographer for the Children’s Community Theatre Productions where she helped with “Alice in Wonderland” and “T’ Hansel and Gretel.” An avid dancer, Randall has performed in several community theatre productions such as “Hound,” “Singing in the Rain” and “The Boyfriend.”

She participated in the Study Abroad Program during the 2007 semester where she stayed in London, England. She was also accepted to study at the American Dance Festival in North Carolina at Duke University this summer.

While having a full course load, Randall volunteered for several groups including a mission trip to Mexico, Laborers in the Vineyard service group and Youth Evangelizers in Action.

Upon graduation, she would like to continue pursing a career in the performing arts, whether as a professional dancer or a teacher. She hopes to combine interest in theater with those in dance and would like to stay involved in community theater as a performing artist.

KATHERINE DALLAS

Katherine DallasWith a perfect 4.0 grade point average, Katherine Dallas is the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate of the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. She is double major in management information systems and accounting. She is the daughter of Robert and Dolores Dallas of Lafayette and engaged to be married to Matthew Mayer in 2010.

She has participated in several university organizations including Student Government Association where she served as the College of Business president and senator (twice), vice president of administration for Delta Delta Delta, Student Advisory Council, UL Lafayette Presidential Inauguration committee, College of Business Dean’s Search committee, a member of the Accounting Society and treasurer for Alpha Lambda Delta.

Dallas has volunteered in many capacities including with the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure, Games of Acadiana, Miles Perret Center, St. Joseph’s Diner, American Heart Association and Cajun Cup. She is the co-founder and group leader for St. Thomas More senior girls’ group and has been on mission trips to General Cepeda, Mexico.

She has also been an intern for the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, where she worked for the Business Development department, since June 2005. Since her time at the LEDA, she has since been promoted to oversee the accounting internships. Dallas has also worked as EF College Break Manager where she has been the UL Lafayette camp manager since 2007. She placed second in a national competition based on her sales, marketing ideas, and generated leads. She’s also attended conventions in Boston, Costa Rica, Holland and Spain.

Upon graduation, Dallas will relocate to Shreveport where she has accepted a position as business development associate at Bowman Systems, a software development company for health and human services. She would like to remain in the software development field, eventually moving to project management. She has taken the GMAT and plans to enter MBA school within the next few years.

LAUREN JANKOWER

Lauren JankowerLauren Ashley Jankower, a secondary English education major, has been selected for the Spring 2009 College of Education Outstanding Graduate Award. She is the daughter of Steve and Laura Jankower of Lafayette.

Jankower has been on the Dean’s List every semester and will graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has won numerous awards including the Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award, the UL Lafayette Centennial Scholarship, the Centennial Valedictorian Scholarship, the TOPS Honors Award, and has been a member of Kappa Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

She’s also been the recipient of the Sword of Honor and Collegiate Honor Award by Sigma Alpha Iota, ETS Recognition of Excellence by Praxis II Examinations, Pride of Acadiana Band Scholarship and Pride of Acadiana Housing Scholarship.

As a member of the Pride of Acadiana Marching Band, Jankower has been a flute selection leader and drum major. She has also served as the fundraising chairperson, vice president of membership and currently serves as president. She has been a member of the UL Lafayette Wind Ensemble and Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society since 2007.

Jankower has been active in the community, volunteering for the Special Olympics, Relay for Life, Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens, Maison de Mere and Acadiana Girls’ Shelter. She has also been an instructor at Lafayette Music Drum Major Academy and a counselor at Lafayette Music Junior High Band Camp.

Jankower has also been published in the college-level textbook The Reader by Dr. James McDonald, where her article “How I Am as a Writer” appears.

Upon graduation, she plans on teaching at the high school level, attending UL Lafayette’s Graduate School to receive a master’s degree in gifted education and becoming a national board certified teacher.

AMY HENSCHKE

Amy HenschkeAmy Henschke has been chosen as the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate of the College of Engineering. She is the daughter of Jo and Richard Douglas of Lafayette. After receiving a modern languages degree in 2006 and graduating summa cum laude, she enrolled in the College of Engineering to continue her education. Henschke has achieved a 3.847 GPA in the civil engineering program.

Henschke has won the �޻���ֱ�� Space Consortium Undergraduate Research Assistantship Award from 2007-2009. She has also been a member of many university organizations including American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as secretary from 2007 through present; �޻���ֱ�� Engineering Society; and the UL Lafayette Spanish Club. She is currently working as a research assistant in the civil engineering department.

Henschke has presented research results in an oral presentation at a national conference of the American Geophysical Union in May 2008. She has participated in a study abroad program with the University of Cantabria, Spain in July 2004 and has also worked as an intern for the U.S. State Department at the American Consulate in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal in 2005.

Henschke also takes time to serve her community. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity where she helped in two events with the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Henschke is also a league member of the U.S. Tennis Association.

After graduating with honors, Henschke plans to pursue a career in environmental engineering. She hopes to relocate to northern California.

ELISE PELTIER

Elise PeltierElise H. Peltier, daughter of Chuck and Sylvia Peltier of Rayne, has been chosen as the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate from the College of General Studies.

Peltier was on the Student Orientation Staff from 2001 to 2002 and was selected as the outstanding member in 2001. She’s been a member of Order of Omega, a tour guide with Cajun Connection and staff writer and editor of The Vermilion.

She’s also a member of Tri Sigma Sorority, participated in Our Lady of Wisdom’s Youth Program and volunteered with Up Till Dawn.

Peltier is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and has been a senator and president of General Studies with the Student Government Association. She has been on the Dean’s List during her academic career.

In addition to her university organizations, Peltier served her community by participating in a number of fundraisers. Those include the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Campus Cleanup 2008, recycling efforts at Festival International, RUN Bus Project (Resourcing University Network) and Critical Mass Bike Rally to raise public awareness of biking.

Peltier has attended the �޻���ֱ�� Catholic College Students retreat, Society of Professional Journalists National Conference in Washington, D.C., South East Journalism Conference in Nashville, Powershift 2009 in Washington, D.C. and Southern Regional Orientation Workshop. She has also completed an internship program at the Times of Acadiana in 2008.

Peltier is currently working on launching a website that would allow her to travel post-graduation around the country and write about issues pertinent to the Lafayette culture. She would like to find UL Lafayette Alumni around the world and document their contributions. She plans to attain a master’s degree and become a university professor.

MEGAN BROUSSARD

Megan BroussardMegan Elizabeth Broussard, the daughter of Brandon and Mary Broussard of Lafayette is the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts. She is a public relations major with minors in business and Spanish.

Broussard has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average her entire time at UL Lafayette. She has been a member of numerous honor societies including Blue Key Honor Society, Sigma Gamma Mu Communication Honor Society, Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, where she’s served as the membership vice president.

Her many scholarships include The Calvin J. Lear Memorial Non-Endowed Scholarship, UL Lafayette Study Abroad Scholarship, Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for Liberal Arts, SGA Scholarship (three years), Liberal Arts A.L. Borcelona Endowed Scholarship, UL Lafayette Academic Excellence Scholarship, UL Lafayette Centennial Valedictorian Scholarship and TOPS Award.

Broussard has been named to the Dean’s List every semester of college and has been an honoree at the Honors Convocation for the past three years. She’s won the Kappa Delta Sorority Academic Award in 2008 and the Greek Affairs Academic Excellence Award from 2006 till present.

For her outstanding work in public relations, she has won first place in the 2008 National Public Relations Student Society of America/ Betsy Plank Scholarship. She also won the Stephen D. Lipinski Memorial Scholarship, a national scholarship open to journalism and public relations students. Other awards include the Outstanding UL Lafayette PRSSA Member Award, SGA College President of the Year Award and the Public Relations Association of �޻���ֱ��’s Jack H. Sanders Memorial Award. Broussard is the first UL Lafayette student to win the Sanders award in the last 10 years.

Broussard has also been a maid on the 2008 Homecoming Court, Krewe of Roux for Mardi Gras, won SGA Senator of the Month (twice) and the winner of LEDA’s marketing competition where the team’s marketing campaign was used in a pitch to a company’s convention in Las Vegas.

Broussard also spends time helping in community events such as Habitat for Humanity, The Children’s Museum and the American Heart Association. She was a mentor at N.P. Moss Middle School and was a judge at the regional Science Fair.

While balancing her coursework, Broussard studied abroad in France and completed four internships with the American Heart Association, the Bobby Jindal Gubernatorial Campaign, the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Le Centre International de Lafayette and Right Angle Advertising Agency. She is also nominated for Greek Woman of the Year.

After graduation, Broussard plans to work for an international public relations firm. She eventually would like to enter corporate public relations specializing in international communication. She also aspires to earn a master’s degree and become a UL Lafayette instructor.

RENEE JUDICE

Renee JudiceRenee Judice, the daughter of Marc Judice of Lafayette and Anne Keaty of Baton Rouge and fiancée of Matthew Casbon, is the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

She has a 3.49 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List for five semesters. She is a member of several honor societies including Sigma Alpha Lambda National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, UL Lafayette Honors Program, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National Dean’s List.

Judice has received several scholarships including the TOPS Honors Scholarship, UL Lafayette Transfer Scholarship, American Legion Scholarship, Forty and Eight Nursing Scholarship, Delores Bess Endowed Scholarship, Lafayette General Medical Center Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship, Sister Janet Falgout Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the UL Lafayette Alumni Scholarship for Nursing.

She has been an active member of Diamond Darlings from 2005 to present and served for two years as president. Judice initiated and completed the process of making the Diamond Darlings an official UL Lafayette campus organization. She is a member of the UL Lafayette Student Nurses Association, the �޻���ֱ�� Students Nurses Association and the National Student Nurses Association. She has been a member of the Dean’s/BSN Advisory Council for three semesters and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions Program Evaluation committee and Alumni committee for the past year.

Her community service includes working with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the American Cancer Society, the Kiwanis Club, Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. John Cathedral and the March of Dimes.

Judice has been a data abstractor for Pediatrics Medical Group since July 2007. Following graduation, she plans to work at Women and Children’s Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit. She eventually wants to return to school for an advanced degree, possibly a neonatal nurse practitioner or a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

LAN PHAM

Lan PhamLan Pham, daughter of Tan and Levy Mai Pham of Abbeville, is the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. She is a biology major with a 4.0 GPA who has been on the Dean’s List every semester. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Pham holds the State of �޻���ֱ�� Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, the Dr. Bernard and Marie Lahasky Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Centennial Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Valedictorian Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Literary Rally Scholarship, the UL Lafayette SGA International Friendship Non-Endowed Scholarship, the TOPS Performance Scholarship, the Lafayette Medical Scholarship among several others.

She is the recipient of the Air Force Science Award, the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, the �޻���ֱ�� Regents Scholar Certificate of Recognition, the Oran Perry Burke Memorial Honors Program Award and the National Science Foundation Undergraduate Grant Award. She contributed to a published article in the Journal of Comparative Physiology.

In addition, Pham received the UL Lafayette Honors Program Molett Best Essay Award and the UL Lafayette Pre-Professional Society Award of Merit among many others.

Pham is the co-coordinator of Cajun Camp, a free fun day for individuals with physical or mental disabilities. She’s been actively involved in the planning of Cajun Camp since its inception. She’s been in charge of publicizing the camp, scheduling bands, registering participants and seeking sponors.

She also volunteered at Abbeville General Hospital where she assisted nurses in labor and delivery and fed newborns after delivery. She’s volunteered with the Acadian Society for Autistic Citizens, the Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana, the American Heart Association, St. Joseph’s Diner and Journey Hospice.

Following graduation, Pham will attend the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, where she will pursue a Doctor of Optometry Degree. She has been awarded a Southern College Optometry Dean’s Endowed Scholarship. She is one of only 12 students to receive such an award out of 600 applications.