Southeastern Louisiana University conferred degrees on approximately 1,200 graduates on May 17 at the university's spring commencement exercises. ABC's Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts was awarded an honorary doctor of humanities degree at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center arena. Southeastern President John L. Crain recognized Roberts, a 1983 Southeastern communication graduate and former basketball star, who climbed the broadcasting career ladder from part time work at Southeastern's KSLU radio and Hammond's Northshore Broadcasting to a career with ESPN and later the ABC Network.
    

Crain noted Roberts' numerous recognitions by various groups, including being named one of the NCAA's 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes, the Distinguised Alumnus Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and the Be Greater Award for work with her community and Be the Match, a non-profit organization that manges the world's largest bone marrow donor registry. A breast cancer survivor, Roberts has alos been honored for her efforts to call attention to that disease, as well as myelodysplastic syndrome, known as pre-leukemia, for which she underwent a bone marrow transplant.
    

Candidates for associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees were honored. In his welcome, Crain noted that the 1,218 individuals being recognized at commencement included 404 men and 814 women who were receiving 15 different degrees; and representatives from 19 states and 12 countries. Two candidates received the doctorate in educational leadership.

The university awarded its highest academic honor, the President's Medal for Academic Excellence, to eight students with the highest cumulative grade point average in the university's five colleges. 
Medal recipients were:

• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences –psychology major Lauren Nichole Jordan of Prairieville, 3.991 GPA.
• College of Business – management major Samantha Paige Chavers of Denham Springs, 4.0 GPA.
• College of Education and Human Development – elementary education major Jamie Allyn McNabb of Clinton, 4.0 GPA; English education major Emily Meagan Odenwald of Gloster, Miss, 4.0 GPA; and elementary special education major Rebecca Lynn Robicheaux of Baton Rouge, 4.0 GPA.
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences – communication sciences and disorders major Megan Leigh McMillin of Shorewood, Ill., 4.0 GPA; and communication sciences and disorders major Meagan Lindsey Taylor of Covington, 4.0 GPA.
• College of Science and Technology – biology major Anthony Donald Haase IV of Loranger, 4.0 GPA.

Students receiving master's degrees from St. Tammany Parish were, from Abita Springs, Tracy E. Kennan, Elementary Education; from Covington, Ann L. Galloway, Counselor Education; Casey E. Kramer, Curriculum and Instruction; Brittany C. Kuehne, Special Education; Iana V. Obolenska, Music; Sherry B. Redfearn, Executive MBA; and Sara K. Wriborg, Executive MBA; from Lacombe, Cathy O. Riggio, Nursing; from Madisonville, Jennifer D. Guillory, Nursing; from Mandeville, Piyawan Charoensap, Organizational Communications; Aaron S. Fruge, Health Kinesiology; Jennifer N. Giroir, Counselor Education; Anthony R. Jacketti, Executive MBA; Emily B. Scharfenstein, Communication Sciences Disorders; Kirsten M. Steen, Communication Sciences Disorders; and Lauren M. Wicker, Counselor Education; from Pearl River, Christopher R. Gilliland, Executive MBA; and Patrick W. Hammett, Counselor Education; from Slidell, Kelly H. Dennis, MAT SPED Erly Interven Birth-5; Amanda L. Gaines, Counselor Education; Mandi E. Gaines, Communication Sciences Disorders; Amy E. Jumper, Health Kinesiology; Marie H. Lunt, English; Traci A. Lusignan, Health Kinesiology; Christopher K.
Meguess, Executive MBA; Melissa J. Panks, Curriculum and Instruction; Katherine A. Smith, Music; and Daniel L. Toups, Health Kinesiology. 

Students who received bachelor's degrees were, from Abita Springs, Simmie D. Brickhouse, Management; Chelsea N. Briggs, Communication; Christie D. Brown, Management; Laurel J. Fagan, English Education; Elizabeth A. Lala, General Studies; Victoria B. Lemane, Communication; Jordan M. Reuter, Accounting; Stephanie L. Smith, Management; and William P. Werner, Finance; from Bush, Thomas D. Hassell, Computer Science; Christina E. Huther, General Studies; and William L. Leto, Jr., Mathematics; from Covington, Katie L. Bailey, Social Work; Sarah E. Bankston, Art; Kristen M. Barfield, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; Lindsay N. Bennett, Marketing; Matthew A. Bischoff, Athletic Training; Casey H. Bonin, Family Consumer Sciences; Joseph S. Briggs, Accounting; Olivia R. Brown, Criminal Justice; Magdalene M. Buck, Management; Bernice A. Cashman, Communication; Mary F. Chatelain, Art; Darcie A. Conner, General Studies; Judean T. Duet, Management; Charles G. Fahrenholtz, Nursing; Matthew C. Fields, Criminal Justice; Joseph M. Foto, Criminal Justice; Jade A. Grantham, History; Jessica M. Greer, Family Consumer Sciences; Nicholas M. Heyd, History; Kyle C. Knight, Industrial Technology; Michelle C. Kottemann, General Studies; Jordan T. LaCaze, Sport Management; Kendall E. Lala, Criminal Justice; Andy-Kam X. Lam, Biological Sciences; Lawrence K. Ludwigsen, Industrial Technology; Dominic C. Marasco, Management; Olivia C. Matte, General Studies; Bradley J. McDougal, Biological Sciences; Allison T. Meith, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; Taylor A. Menard, English Education; Brandon C. Najolia, Management; Roger J. Nelson III, Management; Jeffrey P. Pearce, Accounting; Robert A. Perez II, Music; Claire M. Plaisance, Middle School Education Grades 4-8; Jennifer M. Rees, Marketing; Vincent L. Riccobono, Jr., Finance; Timothy P. Rogers, Health Education Promotion; Helen L. Schenck, Nursing; Allison E. Schexnayder, Business Administration; Patrick A. Schwaner, Marketing; Kimberly P. Shaw, Management; Kathryn L. Snitzer, English; Carl M. Spicer, Jr., Criminal Justice; Meagan L. Taylor, Communication Sciences Disorders; and Holly A. Toups, Biological Sciences; from Folsom, Gretchen E. Barnes, Accounting; Matthew C. Bennett, Psychology; Jacob R. Draffen, Marketing; David P. Manders, Jr., Marketing; and Sebastian R. Pastor, Marketing; from Lacombe, Ryan T. Allen, Accounting; Bennet A. Blanchard, Business Administration; Kevin B. Patton, Supply Chain Management; Eric J. Pohlmann, Marketing; and Andrew W. Sumrall, Kinesiology; from Madisonville, Brandi L. Alexander, Athletic Training; Elizabeth N. Dore, Biological Sciences; Jacob S. Durman, Computer Science; Natalie K. Edgerton, Kinesiology; Hillary M. Eyster, Accounting; Shelby L. Haws, Communication; William M. Kelly, Criminal Justice; Kacie G. Krulisky, Mathematics; Matthew S. Martin, Management; Gary P. Nunez, General Studies; Michael B. Ockman, Nursing; Bryan J. Picou, Engineering Technology; Naomi M. Rodger, Art; Hannah R. Selser, Marketing; and Lisa M. Stanga, Accounting; from Mandeville, Ronald Adams, General Studies; William J. Alfred, English; Simon T. Andersson, Computer Science; Patricia M. Asche, General Studies; Lee O. Balius, Communication; Lindsay A. Barrosse, Art; Lauretta A. Bateman, Psychology; Laura V. Blue, Nursing; Tara A. Bremond, Social Work; Nathan D. Broussard, Management; Kylie N. Caflisch, Sport Management; Troy D. Caillouet, Accounting; Kathryn P. Cassidy, Management; Taylor R. Cassidy, Art; Zachary William Chandler, English; Justin D. Church, Business Administration; Alexandra E. Collier, Middle School Education Grades 4-8; Aunjenee L. Coner, Social Work; Jonathan K. Dixon, Sport Management; Kristen R. Dodd, Management; Claudia C. Downing, Spanish; Alissa K. Durr, Communication Sciences Disorders; Chris A. Epperson, Industrial Technology; Erika A. Ferrando, Communication; Emily C. Forfer, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; Nickie E. Gaspard, Marketing; Luke M. Gill, English; Megan N. Guillot, General Studies; Sarah E. Haddock, Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment; Michelle E. Hahn, Nursing; Abigail H. Hooper, Art; Holly M. Hudson, Family Consumer Sciences; Cameron G. James, Psychology; Chasity S. Jones, Psychology; Adam J. Jordano, Management; Kevin C. Kraus, General Studies; Michael R. Lachney, Jr., Health and Physical Educ K-12; Denis M. Lafargue, Management; Tabetha R. Majesty, Spec Educ M/MOD Grades 1-5; Megan E. Mattei, General Studies; Morgann A. McGee, Criminal Justice; Savannah R. Meier, Psychology; Paulina B. Murphy, Psychology; Joseph G. Naquin, Computer Science; Debbie B. Newson, Management; Brent T. Olivier, Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment; Maurice D. Olson II, Political Science; Chase A. Pennington, Supply Chain Management; Joshua E. Pincu, General Studies; Aline V. Ponthieux, Psychology; Stacy L. Raymond, Accounting; Brad S. Raziano, Management; Kathlene A. Richardson, Psychology; Misti M. Rodriguez, History; Courtney A. Ruli, History; Jesse O. Shaw, Business Administration; Amber M. Smith, Management; Justin E. Sticker, General Studies; Ashleigh A. Stroemple, Management; Kristi A. Suter, Communication; Anna K. Tannehill, General Studies; Ashlyn E. Ulmer, Communication Sciences Disorders; and Alexander W. Zebrick, Criminal Justice; from Pearl River, Tyler J. Brent, Psychology; Jonathan F. Broom, Criminal Justice; Jamee L. Gille, History; Brian J. Gust, Biological Sciences; William A. Howell, Criminal Justice; Jeffery N. Moore, Jr., Criminal Justice; Taylor M. Polk, General Studies; Kyle R. Smith, Art; Tracey M. Smith, Communication Sciences Disorders; David R. Strickland, Jr., Chemistry; Leah G. Suarez, General Studies; and Ashley M. Zeringue, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; and from Slidell, Shawn T. Abney, Management; Brooke E. Adams, English; Kimberly M. Alfred, Communication; Emily N. Araki, Middle School Education Grades 4-8; Kaila L. Benenate, Art; Megan M. Bonck, Middle School Education Grades 4-8; Joshua J. Bono, Kinesiology; Mary M. Cartagena, Psychology; Robert R. Crusey III, Finance; Rachel S. Davis, Criminal Justice; Jean-Luc H. Desselle, Marketing; Chad E. Douglas, Criminal Justice; Lauren E. Drake, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; Alex P. Dufresne, Art; Lauren D. Faust, Nursing; Evan A. Fiore, Management; Angela A. Fogg, Sociology; Emily L. Freese, Elementary Education Grades 1-5; Siobhan P. Friel, Communication Sciences Disorders; Richard M. Fuentes, Art; Stephen M. Garrett, Management; Amy M. Guillot, Art; Averi K. Harris, Psychology; Evan C. Huff, Criminal Justice; Cheryl C. Kaufmann, Family Consumer Sciences; William C. Locke, English; Amber L. Lyons, English Education; Zachary J. Maurer, Communication; Jessica L. Meyer, Biological Sciences; Tracy Miller, Criminal Justice; Lindsey H. Morris, Management; Annelise M. Nevarez, Nursing; Sara M. Newman, Management; Su Ying Ni, Nursing; Aaron A. Palm, Mathematics; Timothy T. Reling, Psychology; Elizabeth J. Rhodes, Social Studies Education; Justin D. Roberson, Art; Amanda C. Roby, Psychology; Rose M. Rogers, Marketing; Brandon C. Rosenberry, Criminal Justice; Maria P. Santana, Supply Chain Management; Katelyn M. Serio, General Studies; Ashley S. Slack, English; Adam J. Smith, Management; Jonathan M. Smith, Criminal Justice; Nicole K. Smith, Elementary Education Grades 1-5; Travis D. Sorensen, Communication; Devin R. Spence!accent over 3rd e, Nursing; Branden C. Summers, Marketing; Chase H. Tomlin, History; Brooke E. Trabona, Biological Sciences; Sharon M. Veazey, Psychology; Robbie J. Villani, Computer Science; Kasi L. Wood, Accounting; Nicholas P. Zeairs, Accounting; Ryan R. Zellner, Communication; Hannah G. deBram, Early/Childhood Education Grades PK-3; and from Sun, Devin N. Shaw, English Education. 

 Students presented with associate degrees were, from Abita Springs, Ashley L. Lopez, General Studies; from Covington, Charlene E. Barrett, General Studies; from Madisonville, Jamielee Tate, General Studies; from Mandeville, Elizabeth A. Haile, General Studies; from Pearl River, Mary E. Ohlenforst, General Studies; from Slidell, Jamie M. Lombardino, General Studies; and from Sun, Jesse R. Frey, General Studies.