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May 15, 2008

ULM to award record number of degrees at May 17 commencement; largest in ULM’s history

The University of Louisiana at Monroe will award a record 718 degrees at the 2008 Spring Commencement Saturday, May 17 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, the largest degree total in ULM’s history. This tops the previous record of 680 degrees awarded at Spring Commencement in 1999.

ULM President James Cofer thanked the university’s dedicated faculty and staff. “The phenomenal progress we are accomplishing together at our university can be directly attributed to the heart of our institution: our devoted faculty and staff and their tireless efforts and concern for the students. Our top-notch faculty are the reason we have retained and are now graduating a record number of some of our finest students. We look forward to watching them succeed in their chosen fields, strengthened by their experiences and education at ULM.”

Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and ULM alumnus Robert Barham will deliver the commencement address.

There are four top 2008 spring graduates:

• Amy Cameron Bush of Anacoco, a health sciences/radiologic technology major
  
  
• Katie Jessica Garlington of Monroe, a business administration/accounting major
  
  
• Kimberly Ann Valentine of Mangham, a health sciences/communicative disorders major
  
  
• Brian Oran Varner of Farmerville, a business administration/insurance major

Several honor graduates will be recognized during the ceremonies. They are designated as summa cum laude (3.900-4.000), magna cum laude (3.750-3.899) and cum laude (3.500-3.749).

Army ROTC ULM Student Cadet Jaciel Javier Guerrero of West Monroe will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Friday, May 16 at 2 p.m. at the ULM Student Union Building Ballroom (second floor). Guerrero, a construction major, will receive his diploma at the ULM Commencement May 17.

John Tyler Collins, an aviation major from Murray, Ky., will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps at the Bayou Suites Conference Room immediately following Commencement May 17. He has been the recipient of several scholarships, has a private pilot’s license and an instrument rating, and has a flight slot for pilot school with the Marines. His grade point average is above 3.5. Collins is a member of the national award-winning ULM water ski team.

Aviation major Caleb Peacock of Monroe is one of 27 students in the nation selected to receive a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard program. He was also the ULM Flight Team captain during his senior year. After ULM’s Commencement May 17, Peacock will ship out for Officer Candidate School Thursday, Aug. 7.

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