Spring 2024 Rucks Fellows Announced
March 25, 2024
BATON ROUGE - The Rucks Department of Management at the E. J. Ourso College of Business acknowledges outstanding students as Rucks Fellows. These students are chosen by the faculty and represent the highest level of academic achievement among senior management majors in any of the department's concentrations. To be eligible, the student must be among the top graduating seniors in the management curriculum based on their grade-point average; honorees are announced in the fall and spring semesters.
The students selected for the spring 2024 Rucks Fellows class are May graduates Blythe Babin of Saint Amant, Louisiana; Mary Claire Delaune of Thibodaux, Louisiana; Julia Fontana of Mandeville, Louisiana; Victoria Funes of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Joel Guerra of New Orleans; Alex Le of Lafayette, Louisiana; Katelyn Nguyen of Pearland, Texas and Reid Robinson of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Blythe Babin is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in human resources. Her internships with BASF Chemical Company’s human resources and procurement departments have provided a variety of professional experiences. Through these opportunities, Babin expanded her knowledge within her chosen field and assisted fellow LSU students in exploring their career paths by representing BASF at job fairs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in DIY projects and playing beach volleyball. After graduation, she looks forward to starting a career in business while simultaneously earning her MBA.
Mary Claire “MC” Delaune is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in strategic leadership and a minor in communication studies. Outside of her academic pursuits, Delaune is a talent partnerships intern at Wasserman as well as a freelance talent and brand manager. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority, Order of Omega, and is the secretary of Women in Business. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in the talent management industry.
Julia Fontana is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in international management. She studied abroad in Florence, Italy on LSU’s faculty-led program —receiving scholarships for her hard work and dedication. While completing her final semester at LSU, Fontana works as a business development associate for a tech company. She is an active member of Phi Mu sorority. Fontana looks forward to pursuing a professional career on a global scale.
Victoria Funes is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in strategic leadership. She has minors in international business and communication studies. Funes served as both the president and vice president of learning & development for Kappa Delta sorority; and she is also a member of Women in Business and Order of Omega. Funes works as a leadership development intern at Success Labs, a local consulting firm, and plans to begin a career in management consulting upon graduation.
Joel Guerra is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in strategic leadership. His professional experience includes working in the Office of Budget and Planning throughout his collegiate career. As a sophomore, Guerra joined the Louisiana Air National Guard, where he works part-time. He has a private pilot’s license and plans to launch a career in aviation. He is a member of the LSU Club Baseball team and enjoys a number of sports including beach volleyball and pickleball.
Alex Le is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in strategic leadership. He hopes to leverage his experience in the service industry and knowledge gained at LSU to succeed as a leader in the corporate world. A graduate of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Le enjoys being outdoors and playing golf with friends. He plans to pursue his MBA in the fall with a long-term vision of a career as an executive officer or in healthcare management.
Katelyn Nguyen is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in human resources and a minor in psychology. Her experience includes supporting the LSU Department of Marketing as a student worker, volunteering in the community and serving as the inter-chapter public relations chair for Phi Sigma Pi. After graduation, she plans to intern with the Budget and Finance Division for the City of Houston before beginning her MBA program in the fall.
Reid Jackson Robinson is pursuing a bachelor’s in management with a concentration in strategic leadership. His experience includes managing a staff at Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, serving on the staff of the Louisiana Senate and working for Lieutenant Governor William H. Nungesser. He plans to continue to work in government as he pursues his MBA next year. Robinson is also the new member coordinator of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and is a member of the LSU Student Philanthropy Council. As a freshman, he was named LSU’s outstanding philanthropist.
About the Rucks Fellows Program
Thanks to a generous gift from William W. and Catherine M. Rucks, 10 graduating seniors in the management curriculum are recognized each year as Rucks Fellows. Announcements will be made in the fall and spring semesters. To enrich their development as future business leaders, these students receive opportunities not available to others, including the chance to interact with faculty and business leaders at special events, preferential enrollment in management courses, recognition during graduation, and the distinction of identifying themselves as Rucks Fellows.
About the Rucks Department of Management
The Rucks Department of Management at LSU's E. J. Ourso College of Business endeavors to prepare students for careers in fields such as international management, human resources, and strategic leadership. A generous donation by LSU alumnus William W. Rucks and his wife, Catherine, has aided the department in securing faculty who are repeatedly recognized for their research and has assisted student-affiliated organizations in achieving top honors nationally. For more information, visit the Rucks Department of Management or call 225-578-6101.
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