Fourteen students have been awarded the Dean of Community Service Excellence in Service Award for Fall 2013.
The award is given to graduating seniors or graduate students each semester in recognition of their leadership and community service efforts.
Students with more than 200 hours of documented community service must complete an online application to be eligible for the award.
The Fall 2013 recipients, and their areas of study, are:
鈥 Kayla Bergeaux, Duson, La. (nursing);
鈥 Kyndia Burton, Baker, La. (general studies);
鈥 Beth Carbo, New Orleans (health promotion and wellness);
鈥 Tyler Dunphy, Lafayette (MBA program);
鈥 Jarrid Durand, Lafayette (civil engineering);
鈥 Katherine Delahoussaye, New Iberia, La. (health promotion and wellness);
鈥 Brittany Frank, Slidell, La. (marketing);
鈥 Daniel Gould, Lafayette (chemistry);
鈥 Elizabeth Jeffrey, Carencro, La. (psychology);
鈥 Lindsey LeJeune, Lafayette (health promotion and wellness);
鈥 Sarah LeBlanc, Opelousas, La. (psychology);
鈥 Derrick Picard, Lafayette (management);
鈥 Mo Shihadeh, Bossier City, La. (health promotion and wellness); and
鈥 Tamara Stirgus of Lafayette (general studies).
The 8,415 hours of community service reported by the 14 students represents an estimated $150,000 in economic impact to the community and surrounding area, according to Dr. David Yarbrough, dean of community service at UL Lafayette.
UL Lafayette has a long history of building strong community partnerships and enhancing the educational experience through service learning, he added.
More than 5,000 students contribute service through University programs and partnerships each year.
鈥淪tudents participate in a wide variety of projects including with our campus-based AmeriCorps program, working with the Student Orientation Staff or building with Habitat for Humanity,鈥 Yarbrough said.
Community service efforts range from tutoring students at elementary schools to assisting non-profit agencies with marketing plans to planting vegetation in coastal areas to combat erosion.
In March, the University was named to the President鈥檚 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the second straight year.
The most recent award recognized University and community service partnerships during the 2011-2012 academic year.
The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll highlights the role colleges and universities play in volunteering and service.