03/20/2013 10:22 AM
At the December 2012 Commencement, LSU recognized thirteen University Medalists. These students graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA; in other words, they never made anything less than an “A” throughout their LSU careers. Almost half of them – six – came from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, so the students briefly profiled below represent the best of the best in our college but in the university as well.
Michael O’Neal Adley grew up in Lafayette and graduated from St. Thomas Moore High
School. He is a psychology major who plans to attend law school. As part of his
electives, Michael took two classes in screenwriting and as a result reports that
he “learned a new hobby” that he plans to pursue in the future. LSU provided him,
he adds, the opportunity to pursue a variety of academic interests, and he “won’t
forget the excellent teachers” he had here. He will also remember Tiger Stadium,
lunches at the Union with friends, and breaks spent reading in the Live Oak Lounge.
Chynna Marie Anderson also plans to attend law school. A native of New Orleans, she
graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School and majored in political science at
LSU. Among her favorite memories of LSU were her study abroad experience in France
and the time she spent at the Phi Mu house.
Baton Rouge native and graduate of Central High School, Cameron Tyler Cooke also majored
in political science, with a minor in sociology. He plans to go on for an MBA, start
his own business, and run for state representative. Even before Commencement, Tyler
had received a great deal of publicity. Cameron was the leader of LSU’s Painted Posse,
a group of students who at every football game painted themselves purple and cheered
for the Tigers. When the university air brushed out the white cross on their shoulders
before distributing their picture, the Painted Posse received national attention.
Cameron handled the media attention with aplomb, grateful for the opportunity it
gave him to testify to his faith and his love of LSU.
Another Baton Rouge native, Stefan Jovicic graduated from Christian Life Academy.
At LSU he majored in English, with a minor in philosophy. Stefan plans to pursue
a law degree. Among his favorite memories of LSU were two innovative class assignments.
In a non-fiction writing course, he went with classmates to Café American and then
wrote a restaurant review. In a religious studies class, he interviewed residents
of Bayou Lafourche about their childhood memories and religious beliefs.
Kimberly Ann Ulasiewicz, from Jefferson, Louisiana, graduated from Riverdale High
School. At LSU she majored in international studies and French, and found time for
a minor in political science. All three, though, prepared her to pursue her plan
to attend law school and focus on international affairs. She spent her junior year
at a French university which has a bilateral exchange program with LSU. Kimberly
credits Carrie O’Connor, a graduate student in French who taught her during her first
semester, with sparking her interest in the language, which then led to her focus
on international studies and helped her develop the confidence to study abroad.
The College’s sixth University Medalist is another native of Baton Rouge, Betty R.
Vine, who grew up on the LSU campus because she attended the University Laboratory
School. An English major, Betty praised the “sense of community” she experienced
within her department. She enjoyed all her creative writing and literature courses.
She is already off to California, where she plans to teach or maybe pursue some other
career.
Even such brief introductions provide a sense of what outstanding individuals these
students are. They are but a small sample of the wonderful students in the College
of Humanities & Social Sciences. They also illustrate the breadth of interests pursued
and talents developed in the College.
Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2013