THIBODAUX – Nicholls State University held commencement exercises Saturday, May 12, awarding 599 degrees to students who completed coursework during the spring semester.
“This was not only the largest spring commencement in university history – surpassing the record-breaking number of degrees awarded in spring 2011 by 17 – but it also resulted in the most graduates in an academic year in Nicholls history,” Kelly Rodrigue, university registrar, said. “The 2011-12 academic year produced 1263 degrees, an increase of 23 over the previous record set in 2009-10.”
The degrees awarded Saturday were conferred and presented by Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president. State Sen. Norby Chabert, a Nicholls alumnus, delivered the keynote address.
Graduates are listed via downloadable PDF file by degree and parish, or out-of-state city of record, with academic honors included. Summa cum laude indicates the student earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or higher. Magna cum laude graduates, those with a GPA of 3.7 to 3.899, and cum laude honorees, those earning a GPA between 3.5 and 3.699, are also designated.
Four baccalaureate graduates earned the President’s Medal of Honor, which recognizes a perfect 4.000 grade point average. They include Brandi Boudreaux of Thibodaux, a biology pre-med/pre-dentistry major; Kate Hotard of Mathews, a biology pre-med/pre-dentistry major; Katie Hymel of Vacherie, a communicative disorders major; and Neal Bollinger of Houma, a business administration major.
