Eight students will be honored during Fall 2013 Commencement ceremonies as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduates.
Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight academic colleges each nominate a student as an Outstanding Graduate, based on leadership, scholarship and service. A selection committee of the Alumni Association interviews the candidates and selects one for the overall award.
One of the eight students will be recognized as the overall Outstanding Graduate during the Commencement General Assembly on Friday at the Cajundome.
Here’s a look at this semester’s Outstanding Graduates.
Zac Wallace is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
He is a music major with a concentration in performance. He also will receive a bachelor's degree in international relations.
Wallace has a 3.8 GPA and has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists.
He has been a member of the University’s Honors Program, and was invited to join Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Lambda and Phi Beta Delta honor societies.
Wallace received the University’s Academic Transfer Scholarship. He earned an associate degree at Bossier Parish Community College before transferring to UL Lafayette.
Wallace represented the University’s Honors Program at the Model Organization of American States conference in Waco, Texas, in 2012. Students who participate in MOAS develop international public policies on issues that affect the Americas, learn parliamentary procedures for debate and how to function in working groups of individuals from many countries who share common interests.
In December 2009, Wallace played chamber music at Louisiana high schools to promote the University’s music program.
He is the son of Paul and Leesa Wallace of Shreveport, La.
Morgan Richard is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
A marketing major with a 3.89 GPA, she has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists and earned numerous scholarships. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Richard received two Certificates of Academic Excellence from the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
Her community service includes assisting Iberia Parish Council members during multiple hurricane relief efforts. She helped distribute sandbags before the storms hit and delivered food and water to people in need afterward. Richard volunteered with the Humane Society, the Iberia Parish Adult Drug Court, American Cancer Society and March of Dimes. She also offered marketing strategies to The Diabetic Kitchen, a diabetes support and management group.
Richard is a former member and leader of Life Teen at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia, La.
She plans to work in her father’s business, pursue a master’s degree and eventually start a company.
Richard is the daughter of Kim and Larry Richard of New Iberia, La.
Cory Etheredge is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
She is an exercise science major with a 4.0 GPA and has been on the President’s List.
Etheredge was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society, is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and was an active member of the University’s Honors Program.
Since Fall 2011, she has been a research assistant in the Human Performance Lab and has been a primary investigator in two major studies.
In April 2012, Etheredge and team members participated in Cajun Codefest 2.0, a computer programing competition. They were charged with making a smart phone app related to personal health. Her team won “Best Student Team” and a Microsoft award, “Most Likely to Influence Personal Health Care Management.”
Etheredge has performed community service for Lafayette Animal Aid, Lafayette High School and the St. Barnabas Youth Group.
She plans to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in exercise physiology, then join the faculty of a university.
Etheredge is the daughter of Jim Etheredge of Youngsville and Nona Istre of Lafayette.
Kelly Colomb is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.
A mechanical engineering major with a 3.5 GPA, she has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists.
She has been a member of the University’s Honors Program, the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society.
Colomb served as president of the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She has been a member of UL Lafayette chapters of the Louisiana Engineering Society and the Society of Women Engineers
She has been active in community service work with Habitat for Humanity, Lake Ponchartrain Maritime Museum, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
In 2012, she was selected for an internship with Chevron for the summer of 2013. After completing that internship, she was offered and accepted a full-time position as a facilities engineer at the company’s Gulf of Mexico Corporate Headquarters in Covington, La.
Colomb plans to become a licensed professional engineer and obtain a master’s degree in business.
She is the daughter of Lester and Tamara Colomb of New Iberia, La.
Hannah Fabacher is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of General Studies.
She is a general studies major with a concentration in arts and humanities.
Fabacher has a 3.905 GPA, and has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists.
She has also been a member of Honors Convocation and Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.
Her community service work includes working with First Assembly of God Church, Trinity Outdoors Disabled Adventures, the Living Bethlehem Annual Christmas Program, and Evangel House, which is a program for teens. She was a volunteer for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Program, and annual Vacation Bible Schools at First Baptist Church in Lafayette.
Fabacher was a volunteer tutor for high school and college students, Acadiana Home School Athletics, Christian Home School Athletics and Impact Girls Ministry at First Assembly Church.
She plans to work at Acadiana Retina Consultants after graduation.
She is the daughter of Robert Fabacher Jr. and Andrea Fabacher of Broussard.
Megan Renee Roberts is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
She is communicative disorders/speech pathology major with a minor in secondary education. Roberts has a 4.0 GPA, has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists every semester, and received an SGA scholarship and a University Women’s scholarship.
Roberts was president of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda and Communicative Disorders honor societies.
She is a member of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association.
In 2011, Roberts was Homecoming Queen and has served as an SGA senator and peer mentor.
Roberts’ community service includes working with the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church, the Autism Society’s Walk for Hope, the March for Life in Washington, D.C. and the Walk for Life in Lafayette.
She is considering pursuing a master’s degree in communicative disorders and becoming a licensed speech pathologist. Another option is becoming certified to teach math.
Roberts is the daughter Belinda and Paul Roberts of Breaux Bridge, La.
Laykin McReynolds is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
A nursing major with a 3.929 GPA, she has been on the President’s and Dean’s lists and has been a member of the University’s Honors Program and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Her scholarships include the Institute for Breast Health Scholarship, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, the Sister Jane Falgout Memorial Endowed Scholarship, the Fletcher-Elliott Endowed Nursing Scholarship and the Mr. and Mrs. Aguste Verot Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
McReynolds also received the UL Lafayette Centennial Scholarship Award, and a Certificate of Academic Excellence from the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
Her community service efforts include with the Tournament of Stars non-profit organization, LivingWay Pentecostal Church and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Lake Charles, La.
McReynolds plans to work as a registered nurse for a year and then pursue a master of science in nursing degree at UL Lafayette to become a certified family nurse practitioner.
She is the daughter of Frances Beaudoin and Harold McReynolds of Lake Charles.
Daniel Gould is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
A chemistry major with a 4.0 GPA, he has been on the President’s List and is a member of the University Honors Program and Blue Key Honor Society.
Gould attended the prestigious Animation Fundamentals Program during the summer of 2013 at Capilano University in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he maintained a 4.24 GPA.
He was president of the University’s AmeriCorps program, received the Segal Education Award from AmeriCorps twice, and earned the Dr. Eddie C. Palmer Outstanding Service Award.
As a member of AmeriCorps, Gould performed more than 1,000 hours of community service, helping organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Acadiana, Earthshare Gardens, New Hope After-school Tutoring, and the Boys and Girls Club. He also helped with disaster relief efforts in New Orleans and coastal restoration efforts in Chauvin, La.
Gould plans to finish his UL Lafayette AmeriCorps service year in the spring of 2014 and possibly attend graduate school.
He is the son of Judith Meriwether and Philip Gould, both of Lafayette.
Photo info: Eight students will be honored as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduates during Fall 2013 Commencement ceremonies on Friday. The Outstanding Graduates, one from each of eight academic colleges, are shown with Dr. Joseph Savoie, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (second from left) and Dr. Michael Judice, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association executive board (far right). The graduates, from left to right, are: Morgan Richard (B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration); Kelly Colomb (College of Engineering); Zac Wallace (College of the Arts); Cory Etheredge (College of Education) Laykin McReynolds (College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions); Megan Roberts (College of Liberal Arts); Hannah Fabacher (College of General Studies); and Daniel Gould (Ray P. Authement College of Sciences).