LSU Celebrates 85 Distinguished Communicators during May 2026 Commencement
April 24, 2026
Eighty-five graduates crossing the stage during May Commencement will do so wearing something most of their peers won't: the LSU Distinguished Communicator Medal. Spanning nine colleges across campus, this exceptional cohort represents the best of what Geaux Communicate looks like in practice—writers, speakers, and visual thinkers who have spent their undergraduate careers proving that communication isn't just a soft skill. It's the essential skill that enables graduates to demonstrate their ability to stay practical and relevant within a changing world.
To earn this distinction, graduates complete a rigorous multi-year program: excelling in at least four Communication-Intensive (C-I) courses across written, spoken, visual, and technological modes; building a public portfolio that showcases their discipline-specific communication competencies; cultivating 1-on-1 mentorships with faculty advisors; and demonstrating leadership through experiences beyond the classroom.
The Distinguished Communicator Medal is a permanent commendation on each graduate's official transcript—a credential that will set them apart from the competition, whether they're pursuing jobs, graduate school, promotions, or whatever comes next. Additionally, these students earn the LSU Communicator Certificate and receive digital badges tied to both recognitions. A recent American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) study found that 81% of employers say a candidate's possession of a microcredential, such as a digital badge, positively influences their hiring decisions—one more way these graduates are leaving LSU ahead of the curve.
LSU is one of the only universities in the country recognizing students who excel in communicating within their discipline—and the Distinguished Communicator Medal remains a first-of-its-kind honor in higher education. It is sponsored by LSU Communication across the Curriculum (CxC), which has worked alongside faculty within the disciplines since 2005 to advance students' communication skills.
CxC will celebrate this cohort with a medal ceremony during Commencement week and will spotlight each graduate's story on cxc.lsu.edu and social media.
Undergraduate Colleges
Support for the LSU Distinguished Communicator Medal Program is generously provided by Shell, the Office of Academic Affairs, and private donors.
Are you interested in supporting future LSU Distinguished Communicators? Want to make a gift in honor of a graduating Distinguished Communicator? Visit givelsu.org and search for the CxC Development Fund under Designation.
College of Agriculture
Carolina Alvarado, Nutrition & Food Sciences (Dietetics)
Faculty Advisor: Erin McKinley
India Bethley, Nutrition & Food Sciences (Dietetics)
Faculty Advisor: Erin McKinley
Abbygail Davis, Animal Sciences (Animal Production)
Faculty Advisor: Ashleigh Muth-Spurlock
Lauren Eckert, Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Conservation Biology)
Faculty Advisor: Jacqueline Satter
Bryce McCutchan, Environmental Management Systems (Policy Analysis)
Faculty Advisor: Maud Walsh
Raegan West, Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Wildlife Ecology)
Faculty Advisor: Lucien Laborde
Madison (Maddie) Woodson, Environmental Management Systems (Policy Analysis)
Faculty Advisor: Maud Walsh
Madison Wray, Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Wildlife Ecology)
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Plumlee
College of Art & Design
Ana Cuadros Vargas Rosado, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Fabio Capra-Ribeiro
Waqar Jatoi, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Gary Gilbert
Clay Moody, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Soo Jeong Jo
Eric Wang, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Sergio Padilla
Sophia (Sophie) Webber, Landscape Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Gary Gilbert
College of Engineering
Aseel Ahmed, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Qi Cai
Ibrahim Alam, Computer Science (Software Engineering)
Faculty Advisor: James Ghawaly Jr.
Erin Barker, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Isa Nahmens
Julia Barkley, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Gerald Knapp
Jacob Bernard, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Corina Barbalata
Royale (Roy) Bey, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Corina Barbalata
Caleb Bowers, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Roberto Champney
Taylor Champagne, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Calley Chauvin, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Jayleen Chavez, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Marybeth Lima
Halle Davis, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Sunggook Park
Hanna DeVillier, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Marybeth Lima
Colby Faust, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Hunter Gilbert
Payton Fournier, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: George Cook
Marc Hebert, Computer Engineering and Music
Faculty Advisor: Ali Kazemian
Marie Howe, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Cristina Sabliov
Beau Johnson, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Grace Ladner, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Sumit Libi
Enson Li, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Gerard (Jared) Lorio, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Todd Monroe
Sydney MacDonald, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Rishabh Malani, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Milain Marcel, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Evan McConnell, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Marybeth Lima
Emily Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Moises Osorio, Environmental Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Samuel Snow
Tucker Poret, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Ashlee Robinson, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Isa Nahmens
Abigail Savoy, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Grishma Shrestha, Computer Science (Software Engineering) and Mathematics
Faculty Advisor: Nash Mahmoud
Madeline Smith, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Sumit Libi
Madeline (Maddy) St. Peter, Environmental Engineering
Faculty Advisor: William Moe
Raedan Stephens, Biological Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Rachel Stone, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Mahathir Mohammad Bappy
Laura Toro Cuervo, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Cheyenne White, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Gabriel Wilson, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Eamonn Walker
Gabriella (Gabby) Youssef, Civil Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Suresh Moorthy
Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College
In addition to graduating from their senior colleges, the following LSU Distinguished Communicator Medalists are also graduating with Honors distinctions.
Ibrahim Alam, Computer Science (Software Engineering)
Faculty Advisor: James Ghawaly Jr.
Hannah Alm-Gibson, Biochemistry and Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience)
Faculty Advisor: Janet McDonald
Mihir Babbar, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Frank Neubrander
Lillie Ballanco, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Briana Barnum, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Fan Zhang
Leah Bartholomew, Microbiology
Faculty Advisor: Igor Schneider
Virginia (Jena) Bordelon, Kinesiology (Human Movement Science)
Faculty Advisor: Senlin Chen
Anne Brasseaux, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Ana Cuadros Vargas Rosado, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Fabio Capra-Ribeiro
Halle Davis, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Sunggook Park
Olivia (Liv) Forsman, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Adam Bohnert
Isabel Hau, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Zhi-Yuan Chen
Marc Hebert, Music and Computer Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Ali Kazemian
Tai Hua, Chemistry
Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Lopata
Waqar Jatoi, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Gary Gilbert
Beau Johnson, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Abry Layrisson, Mass Communication (Political Communication)
Faculty Advisor: Sadie Wilks
Jules LeJeune, Mass Communication (Digital Advertising)
Faculty Advisor: Becky Sadler
Enson Li, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Iresa Lincoln, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Thomas
Gerard (Jared) Lorio, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Todd Monroe
Milain Marcel, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Evan McConnell, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Marybeth Lima
Bryce McCutchan, Environmental Management Systems (Policy Analysis)
Faculty Advisor: Maud Walsh
Estelle Mensman, Communication Disorders and Interdisciplinary Studies (Individualized Studies)
Faculty Advisor: Eileen Haebig
Veronica Nguyen, Psychology and Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Heather Lucas
Tucker Poret, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Katherine Pettrey
Faith Rispone, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Hollie Hale Donze
Noelle Rountree, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Grishma Shrestha, Computer Science (Software Engineering) and Mathematics
Faculty Advisor: Nash Mahmoud
Hailey Sisung, Mathematics (Secondary Education)
Faculty Advisor: Zane Whittington
Madeline Smith, Biological Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Sumit Libi
Raedan Stephens, Biological Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty Advisor: Nick Totaro
Rachel Stone, Industrial Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Mahathir Mohammad Bappy
Emma Tsai, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Ahmed Abdelmoneim
Hang Vu, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Alexandra Noel
Eric Wang, Architecture
Faculty Advisor: Sergio Padilla
Raegan West, Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Wildlife Ecology)
Faculty Advisor: Lucien Laborde
Abigail Williams, International Studies (Global Diplomacy)
Faculty Advisor: Scott Madere
Madison (Maddie) Woodson, Environmental Management Systems (Policy Analysis)
Faculty Advisor: Maud Walsh
Madison Wray, Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Wildlife Ecology)
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Plumlee
Crysania (Rei) Zimmerman, English (Literature) and Liberal Arts (Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies)
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Hebert
College of Human Sciences & Education
Virginia (Jena) Bordelon, Kinesiology (Human Movement Science)
Faculty Advisor: Senlin Chen
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Hannah Alm-Gibson, Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) and Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Janet McDonald
Estelle Mensman, Communication Disorders and Interdisciplinary Studies (Individualized Studies)
Faculty Advisor: Eileen Haebig
Veronica Nguyen, Psychology and Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Heather Lucas
Jayden Perry, Psychology and Communication Disorders
Faculty Advisor: Whitney Sutherland
A'shawna Smith, Sociology (Criminology) and Communication Studies
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Hebert
Abigail Williams, International Studies (Global Diplomacy)
Faculty Advisor: Scott Madere
Erykah Williams, Sociology
Faculty Advisor: Dasny Hunt
Crysania (Rei) Zimmerman, English (Literature) and Liberal Arts (Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies)
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Hebert
Manship School of Mass Communication
Abry Layrisson, Mass Communication (Political Communication)
Faculty Advisor: Sadie Wilks
Jules LeJeune, Mass Communication (Digital Advertising)
Faculty Advisor: Becky Sadler
Ana Salazar Idiarte, Mass Communication (Public Relations)
Faculty Advisor: Sadie Wilks
College of Music & Dramatic Arts
Marc Hebert, Music and Computer Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Ali Kazemian
College of Science
Hannah Alm-Gibson, Biochemistry and Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience)
Faculty Advisor: Janet McDonald
Mihir Babbar, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Frank Neubrander
Lillie Ballanco, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Briana Barnum, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Fan Zhang
Leah Bartholomew, Microbiology
Faculty Advisor: Igor Schneider
Anne Brasseaux, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Madison Cain, Chemistry (Secondary Education)
Faculty Advisor: Zane Whittington
Eleanor (Ellie) Carroll, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Johnna Roose
Dicko Diallo, Chemistry
Faculty Advisor: Johnna Roose
Olivia (Liv) Forsman, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Adam Bohnert
Isabel Hau, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Zhi-Yuan Chen
Tai Hua, Chemistry
Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Lopata
John Lee, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Prosanta Chakrabarty
Iresa Lincoln, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Thomas
Veronica Nguyen, Biological Sciences and Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Heather Lucas
Faith Rispone, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Hollie Hale Donze
Caleb Robinson, Physics
Faculty Advisor: Natalie Hinkel
Noelle Rountree, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: David Vinyard
Sarah Saxon, Biological Sciences (Secondary Education)
Faculty Advisor: Zane Whittington
Aaron Scott, Physics (Astronomy)
Faculty Advisor: Mathew Chamberlain
Grishma Shrestha, Mathematics and Computer Science (Software Engineering)
Faculty Advisor: Nash Mahmoud
Hailey Sisung, Mathematics (Secondary Education)
Faculty Advisor: Zane Whittington
Emma Tsai, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Ahmed Abdelmoneim
Hang Vu, Biochemistry
Faculty Advisor: Alexandra Noel
Ngoc Mai Maria Vu, Biological Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Hollie Hale Donze