Southwest Louisiana Students Celebrate Academic Recognition in 2025

The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) has recognized outstanding academic achievements for the fall 2025 semester, honoring students who excelled on the president’s and dean’s lists. In total, ULM celebrated numerous students from Southwest Louisiana for their academic diligence and commitment.

Academic Honors at ULM and Beyond

To qualify for the president’s list at ULM, students must maintain full-time enrollment and achieve a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.9. Local students making the president’s list include Makhia Brown, Joseph Kennedy, Cameron Mount, Camryn Reeves, Jaden Thomas, and Ethan Waddell, all from DeRidder. Other honorees hail from Jennings, Kinder, Lake Charles, Oakdale, Pitkin, and Vinton.

Students eligible for the dean’s list must also be enrolled full-time but only need to achieve a GPA of at least 3.5. Recognized on this list are Madison Bryant, Jamarcus Grooms, Abbygail-Denise Puzon, Kolbye Roberts, and Channing Vezina, among others from DeRidder and neighboring towns.

Additionally, Amanda Rowden from DeRidder earned a spot on the dean’s list at Columbia College for the same semester, achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 after completing a minimum of 12 undergraduate credit hours.

Recognition from Other Institutions

Southern New Hampshire University has also acknowledged local students on its president’s list for fall 2025. To qualify, students must achieve a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Honorees include Dallas Lowrey from DeRidder, along with Brittany Wright and Antoinette Guidry from Kinder, and many others from Lake Charles.

Centenary College in Shreveport joined the celebration by announcing its dean’s list, which recognizes students who earn a GPA of 3.50 or better while taking at least 12 credit hours. Among those honored are Bryn Joiner, Joseph LeBoeuf, and Sawyer Mathews, all from DeRidder.

Finally, Randilyn Lejeune from Lake Charles achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0 at Southeast Missouri State, securing her place on the president’s list for outstanding undergraduate academic achievement.

Commencement Celebrations at Nicholls State University

Several students from Southwest Louisiana were recently honored during commencement exercises at Nicholls State University. Notable graduates include Jazmine Bowers, who earned a Master’s degree in School Counseling, and Nash McElveen, who completed a Bachelor’s in Psychology-pre-counseling. Additionally, Shelby Fontenot from Jeff Davis achieved a Master’s in Curriculum Instruction with a focus on learning disabilities, and Kacey Mock from Vernon graduated with a Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts – Pâtisserie.

These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of students across Southwest Louisiana, highlighting their commitment to academic excellence and personal growth.