What is Graduation With Distinction?  
Graduation with Distinction is a recognition of a student's accomplishments that requires planning and achievement beyond the Louisiana School classroom. Students who apply for and pursue their individual contract for Distinction in a particular area must complete a myriad of advanced courses, maintain a 3.6 grade point average in the courses specific to their discipline, and have no grade below a B. These students must successfully complete either a research project, performance/exhibition, portfolio, or a comprehensive examination. Their independent efforts culminate in a public presentation on Blue and Gold Day where they defend their work, with an opportunity for answering questions from attending faculty, students, and guests. Students generally apply for Graduation with Distinction during their second semester at the school.

A Sampling of Recent Graduation with Distinction Papers
“The Use of RNA Interference to Stop Cancer Metastasis”
“An Examination of Feminism in the Revolutionary Time Period”
“A General Model for Three-Way Neutrino Oscillations”
“Gullies in N. Hemisphere of Mars: How Much Water Was Needed for Gully Formation”
“The Brothers Grimm:  Guardians of the German Folktale or Frauds?”
“Balancing the Brain Through Music and Physical Therapy”
“SARA—Program for Student Advising, Registration, and Administration”
“DeClassification:  The Machine Translation of Classical Latin into Modern English”
“The Origins of the Investiture Controversy”
“Novel Method for High-Throughput Isolation of a Variety of Nucleic Acid Moieties Using a Polymeric Device”
“GIS-Based Stormwater Assessment Modeling”
“Characterization of Functional Domains of Adenylate Cyclase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe”
“Twenty Years of Improving U.S. Military-Media Relations, 1983—2003”
“The Durability of Traditional and Modified Limewash on Epoxy”

The 2007-2008 Graduates with Distinction

    
JANE BARILLEAUX:   

            Jane Barrilleaux, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Donald Barrilleaux of Larose is graduating from the Louisiana School of Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She has chosen to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Jane presented her project to parents, students, and faculty members at LSMSA.

           The title of her research project is “American Relations with Vishi.”  It is an analysis of American foreign relations with the French government from 1940-1943.  Dr. Victor Feske worked with Barrilleaux as her distinction mentor at LSMSA.  Jane completed a reading list of 20 books and has been working about six hours a week since April of 2007 in order to produce her own 60 pages of analysis. 

            Jane hopes to attend Rhodes College in Memphis to study International Relations.  Her career goals are either to teach or to work in diplomacy.  She also plans to continue working on her project with the goal of publishing her findings after college. 

JORDAN THERIOT:

            Jordan Theriot, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Jeffrey Theriot of Slidell is graduating from the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Jordan presented her project to parents, students, and faculty members at LSMSA.

            Her project, “Atrazine’s Effect on Embryonic Development and Hatching Rates of the Japanese Medaka,” determined the effect of atrazine, a widely used herbicide in the United States, on fish.  Jordan performed her experiment in the summer of 2007 at the outreach program of the Advanced Materials Research Institute at the University of New Orleans.  During this research time Jordan dedicated over 50 hours a week to her test subjects.  LSMSA faculty member, Dr. Benjamin Lasseter, served as Jordan’s distinction mentor.  He helped her make sense of the miles of data she collected and synthesize it into her research findings. 

            April was a busy month for Jordan, not only did she present her work for Distinction at LSMSA, but she also spoke about her research at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.  She will return to UNO this summer to continue her work with the end goal of publishing in a scientific journal. 

            Jordan has been accepted to Tulane University, Loyola University, the University of Georgia, Cal Tech, and the Massachusetts Technology Institute.  She is the senior class president and sits on the Honor Code Court at LSMSA. She formerly attended Pope John Paul II Catholic High School.  Jordan dreams of working in research and development for a pharmaceutical company after college. 

NATALIE MILLS:

            Natalie Mills, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Frank Young of Houma is graduating from the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.   On April 19^th, Natalie presented her project to parents, students and faculty members at LSMSA.

            Natalie’s project, titled “Water Remediation Using Commonly Available Plants,” attempted to use plants as a natural water filter.  She has been working on the experiment at LSMSA and the accompanying 22 page paper since August of   2007.  Natalie is going to continue working with her distinction mentor, Dr. Benjamin Lasseter, on the project with the end goal of publishing her work in a scientific journal. 

            Natalie has applied to Wellesley, Centenary College, Nicholls State University, Millsaps, Bethany College and– her first choice–  Louisiana State University, where she is being considered for the prestigious Louisiana Stem Scholarship.  After college Natalie hopes to earn her doctorate in environmental science and either teach at a university or become a scientific researcher. 

SANJAY SARAF:

            Sanjay Saraf, son of Mr. And Mrs. Vasudev Saraf of Lake Charles, Louisiana is graduating from the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  He chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Sanjay presented his project to parents, students and faculty members at LSMSA.

            Sanjay did research for his project, “The Identification and Evolutionary Conservation of ZDNA Forming Sequences at the Five Prime Ends of Genes,” as part of a summer program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He worked for six weeks with MIT professor of biology, Dr. Ky Lowenhaupt, to develop his research.  At LSMSA Sanjay wrote a 20 page paper, under the direction of LSMSA’s Dr. Allison Landry, describing the details of his project.  Sanjay’s work will be included in a published article with the work of other students at MIT’s summer research program.  He also plans to enter it in the state Science Fair.    

            “I really love research,” said Sanjay.  “You get to think actively.”

            Before coming to LSMSA, Sanjay attended Barbe High School in Lake Charles.  He has applied to Stanford University, Tulane University and Washington University, among others.  After completing college, he hopes to become either a biomedical engineer or a doctor. 

 
KATHERINE JOHNSON:

            Katherine Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Johnson of Lake Charles is graduating from the Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Katherine presented her project to parents, students and faculty members at LSMSA.

            Katherine’s project, “Analyzing Acid and Base Catalyzed Reactions of Biodiesels Via Soy Bean Oil and Waste Vegetable Oil,” attempted to transform soy bean oil and vegetable oil into a biodiesel fuel.  She used infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography at Allegra Labs in Pollock, Louisiana and at labs at Centenary College for her research.  Katherine’s faculty mentor at LSMSA, Dr. Chris Hynes, helped guide her through the Distinction process since she began work on it last April.

            Katherine attended Barbe High School in Lake Charles before applying to LSMSA.  Katherine will attend Columbia University with the goal of earning her doctorate degree in chemistry.  She hopes to pursue scientific research but eventually to focus on law with a specialty in environmental issues. 

JORDYN WEBRE:

            Jordyn Webre, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Richard Webre of Gonzales is graduating from the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Jordyn presented her project, “Huckleberry Finn: An Analysis,” at LSMSA to parents, students, and faculty members.

            Jordyn first became interested in Huckleberry Finn after her English class read it for an assignment last May.  She decided to use it as a springboard for her distinction project.  Jordyn spent the summer of 2007 searching the shelves of every library near Baton Rouge for criticisms of the novel.  Dr. Clayton Delery served as her Distinction mentor to guide her through the long process.  In the end, Jordyn had enough information to develop her own 45 page analysis of the novel. 

             Her junior year at LSMSA, Jordyn was given the Best Junior in Creative Writing award and the Sewanee Excellence in Creative Writing Award.  Jordyn will attend Louisiana State University next fall and hopes to major in business or international trade and finance.  She previously attended East Ascension High School in Gonzales. 


RACHAEL  MORRIS:

   LSMSA student Rachael Morris, daughter of Mrs. Belinda Kennon of Haughton is graduating from the Louisiana School of Math, Science and the Arts with a special honor.  She chose to do an independent research project in order to qualify for Graduation with Distinction.  On April 19^th, Rachael presented her project to parents, students, and faculty members at LSMSA.

Rachael aplied to Rice, Tulane, Oglethorpe, LSU, and Millsaps.  She plans to pursue a career in medicine as either a physician or as a researcher.               
              

   Are you a "Graduation with Distinction" candidate?  Do you have a passion that you want to pursue with a mentor at your side to guide you through the process?  Are you willling to challenge yourself to go beyond the normal requirements?  Remember that dreams need ladders----and "Graduation with Distinction" can really take you up the rungs of success.