Jacob LeBlanc is the University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette鈥檚 Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate.
LeBlanc was among five finalists for the award. Each will be recognized during the Spring 2019 Commencement General Assembly. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Cajundome.
Each graduate program nominates a student for the award. Criteria include leadership, scholarship, service and research.
The dean of UL Lafayette鈥檚 leads a panel that selects the top candidates. An committee interviews the finalists and chooses an overall Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate.
LeBlanc is this year鈥檚 overall honoree. In addition, he represents the Department of Industrial Technology as its Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in systems technology.
LeBlanc鈥檚 thesis examined microbial fuel cells, which use natural bacteria to generate electrical currents. The cells are a potential sustainable energy source.
While pursuing his graduate degree, LeBlanc taught industrial and electronics technology courses at South 棉花糖直播 Community College. He鈥檚 also enrolled in UL Lafayette鈥檚 B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, and will complete an MBA this summer.
He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in industrial technology from UL Lafayette in 2017, and was the College of Engineering鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate that year.
LeBlanc hopes to continue teaching and may work toward a Ph.D. at a later date. He is the son of Vicki and Chris LeBlanc of Scott, 棉花糖直播.
Here鈥檚 a look at the remaining Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate Award finalists.
Brennan Brunsvik is the School of Geosciences鈥 Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate. He is pursuing a degree in geology and has a 4.0 GPA.
Brunsvik鈥檚 thesis research involved relocating hypocenters, underground points where earthquake ruptures begin, to reconstruct the L鈥橝quila quake. The 2009 tremor occurred in Italy, resulting in more than 300 deaths. This work included collaborations with scientists at Columbia University, and the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology and the State University of Milan, both in Italy.
He co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and presented his research findings at numerous national conferences.
Brunsvik is a 2017 graduate of Southern Utah University, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geology. He is the son of Nichole and Robert Brunsvik of Parowan, Utah, and plans pursue a doctoral degree following his graduation from UL Lafayette.
Eva Lieberman is the Department of Psychology鈥檚 Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate. She has a 4.0 GPA.
Lieberman鈥檚 master鈥檚 thesis examines intoxication and sexual violence. She has presented her research findings at numerous national conferences, and has co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article on intervention by witnesses to sexual assaults.
She is a research assistant in the psychology department鈥檚 Sexual Violence Research Lab, and was a volunteer intern at Hearts of Hope, a local rape crisis and child advocacy center. She continues to work at the center as a family advocate.
Following graduation, Lieberman hopes to teach undergraduate psychology classes and continue her research. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. at a later date.
Lieberman earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology in 2017 at the University of Alabama. She is the daughter of Harriet Lieberman of Katy, Texas.
Manuel Guillermo Rojas Ahumada is Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate for the School of Music and Performing Arts. He has a 4.0 GPA and is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in music performance.
A drummer and percussionist, Rojas performs with the University鈥檚 wind, jazz, and world music ensembles, and in its symphony orchestra.
Rojas founded and directs the musical group Latino Pulse, which performed at this year鈥檚 Festival International de Louisiane. As a volunteer, he teaches members of and arranges music for Les 脡toiles de la Louisiane, a children鈥檚 vocal ensemble that performs traditional and modern songs in French.
He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in musical performance from Universidad Central in Bogot谩, Colombia. Following graduation, Rojas hopes to pursue a doctor of music arts degree. He is the son of Marcela Ahumada and Guillermo Rojas of Bogot谩.
Chandler G. Steckbeck is the Department of English鈥檚 Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate. She has a 4.0 GPA.
Her concentration is Renaissance and early modern literature and culture. Steckbeck鈥檚 thesis explores themes of nature that appear in William Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淜ing Lear.鈥 She has presented this research and other scholarly work at University and national conferences.
While pursuing her master鈥檚 degree, Steckbeck taught several composition and rhetoric courses, as well as British literature. She also worked in the University鈥檚 Writing Center, and served as secretary of the English Graduate Student Association.
Following graduation, Steckbeck plans to pursue a Ph.D. with a concentration in English Renaissance dramas.
Steckbeck earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2017. She is the daughter of Sandra and Richard Steckbeck of Enid, Oklahoma.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette鈥檚 Spring 2019 Outstanding Master鈥檚 Graduate Award finalists are, from left, Chandler G. Steckbeck, Eva Lieberman, Brennan Brunsvik, Jacob LeBlanc and Manuel Guillermo Rojas Ahumada. LeBlanc is the overall award winner. (Photo credit: Rachel Keyes / University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette)