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	Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal addressed graduates at LSU’s 265th commencement exercises Friday, May 16, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

New Governor Greets Graduates

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal delivered the commencement address and 3,247 students received degrees during LSU’s 265th commencement exercises held May 16.

Jindal addressed the graduates at the main commencement ceremony, where degrees were conferred for all students, and Ph.D. candidates were recognized individually.

Separate diploma ceremonies for each college followed the main ceremony, at various times and locations across campus. At those ceremonies, every student was recognized individually.

Some 455 students graduated with honors, including 34 who received University Medals for graduating with the highest undergraduate grade-point averages. University Medalists were recognized at a special ceremony at the LSU Faculty Club on Thursday, May 15.

The oldest graduate was 68 and the youngest graduate was 19, receiving graduate and undergraduate degrees, respectively. The May 2008 graduating class represented 57 Louisiana parishes, 47 states and 51 countries. Sixty percent of the graduates were women, and 40 percent were men.

The Honors College produced 104 graduates. Twenty-three, who received Sophomore Honor Distinction and completed the upper-division honors program, graduated with College Honors. Nine, who completed the upper-division honors program, graduated with Upper Division Honors Distinction.

Also during the main ceremony, LSU Chancellor William Jenkins presided, and recognized the LSU class of 1958 and the Golden Tigers, or those who graduated at least 50 years ago. LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman-elect James P. Roy conferred degrees, and LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope served as mace bearer.

The processional and recessional music was by the LSU Commencement Band, conducted by Frank Wickes, director of bands. Angela Rae Day, candidate for a doctor of musical arts degree, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the LSU alma mater. The invocation and benediction was by Rev. Steven Spurlock, senior minister at University United Methodist Church.

		Bobby Jindal outlines three critical life challenges. [Click to play]
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Lt. Col. Phillip Pugh Jr., professor of military science, recognized 14 newly commissioned Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC cadets who graduated. The cadets were officially commissioned at a separate ceremony on Thursday, May 15, at 1 p.m. in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes.

LSU Alumni Association President and CEO Charlie Roberts welcomed the graduates to the association, and LSU System President John V. Lombardi delivered closing remarks.

An honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters was awarded to Dr. James R. Peltier, who served as chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors from 1980-1981, the board of directors of the LSU Foundation from 1995-1997 and the LSU Alumni Association from 1990-1991. Dr. Peltier is a practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon and assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the LSU School of Dentistry

Several noteworthy graduates included:

• Ge Mu, who received a bachelor of science degree in math, also published a best-selling book in her home of China titled Being an Undergraduate in the U.S., based on her experiences at LSU.
  
  
• Twins and University Medalists Amanda Nicole and Sarah Elizabeth Schram of Lake Charles, received bachelors’ degrees in mass communication and business, respectively.
  
  
• The husband-wife combination of Priyan and Rangika Perera, of Sri Lanka, who each received master’s degrees in forestry.
  
  

• Photo Gallery: Spring 2008 Commencement

  William Bruce King of Greenwell Springs, received a master’s degree in environmental science along with his grandson Mitchell Roy Serpas of Baton Rouge, who received a bachelor’s of science in chemical engineering.
  
  
• Fourteen students were also honored with the Distinguished Communicator Award, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. These students earned this honor by meeting high standards set by faculty in various colleges and by the LSU Communication across the Curriculum, or CxC, program. The students earned high grade-point averages in communication-intensive courses – based on written, spoken, visual and technological communication – and have built digital portfolios, displayed as public Web sites, that include their communication projects from courses, internships, leadership roles and public service. Click here to view the names of these distinguished communicators.

Click here to view a list of students who received degrees. This list is for May graduates who have authorized the release of their names.

For more information, visit the commencement Web site.

Billy Gomila | LSU Office of Public Affairs
Spring 2007