Outstanding Graduates chosen to represent the eight academic colleges at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be honored during commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 20. The UL Lafayette Alumni Association will name the Fall 2008 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.
Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduates are: Lauren Duffy, Arts; Kyle Kellner, Business Administration; Jamie Oplt, Education; Eric Lege, Engineering; Karli Sherman, General Studies; Nicole Langlinais, Liberal Arts; Cynthia Moore-Landry, Nursing; and Kevin Suir, Sciences.
LAUREN DUFFY
Lauren DuffyLauren Duffy, daughter of Lloyd Duffy and Karen Duffy of Riverridge, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
She is a visual arts major with a concentration in ceramics, who has been on the Dean’s List since Fall 2003. Duffy is a member of several honor societies including Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
She’s received numerous scholarships including the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Foundation Scholarship, the Meraux Foundation Scholarship, the Knight of Columbus Scholarship, the sophomore Visual Arts Department Scholarship and the H. Jude Alsandor Sr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship. She also received two scholarships, which allowed her to study abroad in Paris in 2005.
Duffy has been in Who’s Who and was a co-recipient of the top award for first-year design students. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, was a working artist in blacksmithing at SPARK, and through the Architecture Department, she helped restore a traditional Cajun dwelling in Vermilionville. She’s also volunteered at the Pyromania Festival and displayed her work in the 2007 and 2008 juried student exhibition at UL Lafayette. She received the second place award in 2008. Duffy also took part in a five-person, all ceramics exhibition at Gallery 549 in downtown Lafayette during the summer.
Duffy plans to apply for Graduate School in the spring and eventually wants to open her own studio. Her future plans also include becoming a university professor.
KYLE KELLNER
Kyle KellnerKyle Kellner, son of William and Mary Kellner of Lafayette, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
Kellner, an accounting major, is engaged to Kelly Stirling. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society and the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. He is a member of the Honors Program.
He has received several scholarships including the Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Scholarship, the SGA Scholarship, the TOPS Honors Award Scholarship, the Valedictorian Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship and the Society of Louisiana CPAs 2007 Richard J. Roth Scholarship.
Kellner is involved with numerous university organizations like the Pre-Professional Society, the Association of Future Alumni, Student Ambassadors, University Program Council, UPC Spirit Committee, UPC Events Committee, UPC Traditions Committee, UPC African American Culture Committee, the Honors Business Society, the Accounting Society, Beta Alpha Psi, Intramural basketball and Becker CPA review.
He volunteers with a number of organizations including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Miles Perret Center/Games of Acadiana, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Shelter, St. Joseph’s Diner, the Children’s Museum and United Blood Services.
Kellner is the founder and project manager of UniversityNotes.net – a website created in 2006 for students nationwide to rate teachers and share notes with other students. At present, the website is open to users at more than 100 universities nationwide and have seen thousands of teacher ratings and hundreds of thousands of peer-to-peer note sharing downloads. He’s created other businesses like investment companies and is about to close on his first apartment complex.
He is interning at Broussard, Poche, Lewis and Breaux currently and plans to take the Series 7 and Series 66 exams to become a licensed securities dealer/stockbroker. He plans to take the CPA exam next spring. He hopes to afterward study for the Certified Financial Planner exam.
JAMIE OPLT
Jamie OpltJamie Lynn Oplt of Lafayette is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
Oplt is a secondary education major in Social Studies and French, who has been on the Dean’s List for eight consecutive semesters. She has received several scholarships including the TOPS Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship, the Clausen Scholarship, the College of Education Academic Scholarship, the CODOFIL/MICEFA Scholarship to study French/Political Science in Paris in 2007 and the CODOFIL Scholarship to study French and Belgian Culture in Belgium in 2008.
She’s been nominated as the Outstanding Sophomore, Junior and Senior from her college and is a member of several organizations like Kappa Delta Pi, A+PEL, Chi Alpha, Every Nation Campus Ministry “Access” and La Table Francaise.
She also is team captain for Intramural Volleyball and vice president of the UL Lafayette Volleyball Club.
Oplt volunteers her time with the Master’s Commission Leadership/Service School, the Hope Center Food Pantry, Alliance Francaise, Le Pique-Nique (co-founder) and is a Sunday School teacher at Our Savoir’s Church in Broussard.
After graduation, she plans to teach in Louisiana. After gaining teaching experience, she plans to continue her education with a graduate degree or being nationally board certified.
ERIC LEGE
Eric LegeEric Lege, son of Herman and Alice Lege of Abbeville, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.
Lege is a petroleum engineering major. During his first year at UL Lafayette, he was actively involved in the Student Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Louisiana Engineering Society.
As a sophomore, he was initiated into the Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, was active in the Gamma Beta Phi Society, and served as secretary of the Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society. At that same time, Lege became treasurer of the Louisiana Engineering Society and served as vice president of the Student Society of Petroleum Engineers. He also was a member of Chevron’s United Way of Acadiana planning committee and was a founding member of the Evangeline Section of Young Exploration and Production Professionals Network.
During his junior year, Lege served as president of the Student Society of Petroleum Engineers and was an active member of the Engineering and Technology Expo Week planning committee. He served as president of the Petroleum Engineering Department Student Council where he led the charge to achieve the College’s “Most Outstanding Engineering Department of the Year” in 2007. The council won the award again in 2008 when Lege was its president.
He was also inducted into both Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and Pi Epsilon Tau Petroleum Engineering Honor Society, and served as a staff member for the RICA program at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abbeville.
Lege has been included in Who’s Who and was first place winner of the E.R. “Ray” DesOrmeaux Engineering and Technology Undergraduate Paper Competition.
During his senior year, he served as president of the UL Lafayette American Association of Drilling Engineers Student Section, and led that organization to achieve the status of “Most Outstanding AADE Student Section.”
He also served as interim president of the Student Society of Petroleum Engineers, which achieved that number one rank of “Most Outstanding SPE Student Chapter in the World” among 195 student chapters.
He has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Phi Beta Delta International Scholars Honor Society and is a SGA senator for the College of Engineering.
Lege is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and was one of 75 students from around the world selected to attend Education Week at the International Petroleum Technology Conference in Malaysia.
While finishing his undergraduate studies, Lege was accepted to be dual enrolled in Graduate School and has completed nine hours towards his MBA.
He’s received numerous scholarships including the UL Lafayette Valedictorian Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship, TOPS Honors Scholarship, Walton Family Scholarship, Petroleum Engineering Department Scholarship, Society of Petroleum Engineers Scholarship, Chevron Corporation Intern Scholarship and the American Association of Drilling Engineers Scholarship. He is also a member of the MBA Association and the Association of Future Alumni.
He was recruited as a freshman by Chevron Corporation and has worked for them since. He spent four summers working as an engineering intern in Louisiana, Texas and California.
Lege accepted a full time position with Chevron as a Drill Site Manager. His future plans including completing his MBA and obtaining his license to become a Professional Engineer.
KARLI SHERMAN
Karli ShermanKarli Sherman, daughter of Dr. Ken and Anne Sherman of Albany, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of General Studies
Sherman is a general studies major in Arts and Humanities. She is a member of the Dean’s List and holds a 4.0 GPA. She’s been honored as Outstanding Sophomore, Junior and Senior at the Honors Convocation and is the recipient of the Alpha Lambda Delta Jo Ann Trow Scholarship, the SGA Scholarship and the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship.
She’s was the Greek Woman of the Year for 2006-2007, is a three-time recipient of Who’s Who and is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, where she has won the Spirit Award, Rose Award and Ruby Award. She was first and second runner up in the Miss UL Lafayette Pageant respectively and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity’s Dream Girl Court.
Sherman is active in several campus organizations including Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority where she has been president, new member education and activities chair. She is also a member of the Panhellenic Council, Honors Program, Student Government Association (senator and president of General Studies), Up Til Dawn, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society and Rho Lambda Greek Women’s Honor Society. She also was an actress in the UL Lafayette Theater Department’s production of Prelude to a Kiss.
Her volunteer work includes help with Healing House, Amazon Medical Missions, Springhill Catholic Youth Conference, Relay for Life, Race for the Cure, American Heart Association, UL Lafayette Hospitality Department, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Diocese of Lafayette Retreat Team, and Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church.
After graduation, she plans to work at Walt Disney World Resort as part of the Disney College Program. She plans to attend Graduate School for hospitality management and ultimately pursue a career as a Special Events Coordinator/Wedding Planner. She also plans to work for her sorority at its International Headquarters in Nashville.
NICOLE LANGLINAI S
Nicole LanglinaisNicole Langlinais, daughter of Monica and Justin Langlinais of Erath, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
Langlinais is a speech pathology and audiology major with a 4.0 GPA. She has been on the Dean’s List throughout her college career and is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate in the Communicative Disorders Department. She is a member of several honor societies including Alpha Lambda Delta, Blue Key Honor Society, Communicative Disorders Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi.
She’s received numerous scholarships like the TOPS Opportunity Award, the UL Lafayette Academic Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Valedictorian Scholarship, the A.L. Barcelona Scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts, the SGA Scholarship, and the Dr. Bernard and Marie Lahasky Scholarship, the Tibby Faulk Memorial Scholarship, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, the Junior League of Lafayette Liberal Arts Scholarship and the Louisiana Speech and Hearing Association Undergraduate Scholarship.
Langlinais has been in Who’s Who and was the 2006-2007 Communicative Disorders Honor Society’s Outstanding Undergraduate in the department.
With University Program Council, she has served as president of the council, Traditions chair and was a member of the Spirit, Traditions, Events and African American Culture committees. With the Association for Future Alumni, Langlinais is president and has served as public relations chair and helped with Red Carpet Day committee.
She is a Student Alumni Ambassador, is on the Alumni Homecoming Committee and is the student at-large member of the Alumni Council. She is also president of the National Student Speech-Language Association and is a member of the Louisiana Speech and Hearing Association.
Her volunteer work includes helping with St. Jude’s Up Til Dawn event, Festival International, Festival Acadiens, Hurricane Rita Clean Up in Erath, Adopt-A-Family, Adopt-A-Road, American Hearth Association Heart Walk, St. Joseph’s Diner and Toys for Therapy Drive.
After graduation, she plans to begin graduate school to become a certified speech-language pathologist. She wants to work with children who have Autism, Down’s Syndrome or other language disorders. She hopes to own her own clinic in the future and specialize in early intervention.
CYNTHIA MOORE-LANDRY
Cynthia Moore-LandryCynthia Moore-Landry, wife of Kenneth Landry Sr. of Broussard, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
Moore-Landry, a nursing major, is the daughter of Bill and Gale Moore of Florida. She has been on the Dean’s List for eight semesters and is the recipient of the Lafayette Business and Career Solutions Scholarship for 2006, 2007, and 2008.
She’s been named an Outstanding Volunteer by the Navy Sea Cadets in 2006 and was Volunteer of the Month last March with the Lafayette Community Health Care Center.
On campus, she is a member of several student organizations like the UL Lafayette Student Nurses Association, the Louisiana Student Nurses Association and the National Student Nurses Association. She has also been a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for six semesters and participated in four Career Days for the College.
From 2002-2006, she was a volunteer educator/instructor and chaperone for the U.S. Navy Sea Cadets Program – Cajun and Chenault Divisions. She also volunteers weekly at the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic and does volunteer work for the American Heart Association Heart Walk, the Special Olympics and the CIS Conference in New Orleans.
As a senior classman on the Dean’s Council, Moore-Landry was responsible for coordinating senior portraits for the Nursing Department and organizing eight luncheons with local hospital groups for the graduating seniors.
In her Community Class, she was team leader for the Community as a Client group. They were awarded the Most Creative Award and the video produced by the group was chosen by the state of Louisiana for use in its safety training classes for boat operations.
Following graduation, Moore-Landry will be working for Lafayette General Medical Center in the ER. She plans to return to UL Lafayette in Fall 2009 to start work on her master’s degree for Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator.
KEVIN SUIR
Kevin SuirKevin Suir, son of Burton and Linda Suir of Lafayette, is the Fall 2008 Outstanding Graduate for the College of Sciences.
Suir is a computer science major who has been on the Dean’s List every semester. He is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society as well as the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
He’s received several scholarships including the Ben H. and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Endowed Scholarship, the TOPS Honors Scholarship, the LHSAA Scholar Athlete Scholarship and the Brandon Latiolais Memorial Scholarship.
Suir has been nominated for Who’s Who and had the highest GPA in the Computer Science Department in 2007. He is a founding member of the UL Lafayette Skeet Shooting Club and is a member of several organizations like the Association of Computing Machinery, IEEE, IEEE-CS, and the UL Lafayette Honors Program.
He has volunteered with the Louisiana Computer Programming Classic, UL Lafayette Athletics, Up Til Dawn, St. Genevieve Church Parish Pastoral Council, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and at the Cajundome following Hurricane Katrina.
Suir has worked on a number of internships including one at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center and another which resulted in the creation and management of a UL Lafayette Political Science website. He has also aided Team CajunBot with several projects.
Currently, he is co-authoring a paper with two fellow students and Dr. Ashok Kumar in the Computer Science Department. The paper, “Design of a Controller for a Drag Race Detection System,” focuses on embedding sensors in long stretches of roadway to detect drag racing and alert police of illegal activity.
Following graduation, Suir plans to attend Graduate School for a master’s in Computer Science. He eventually wants to earn a Ph.D. He plans to continue working at the National Wetlands Research Center.