Eight Graduate with Distinction

Seniors earn highest academic honor at LSMSA
Eight seniors from the Class of 2018 graduated with distinction and earned the highest academic honor given by LSMSA during the commencement ceremony held on Saturday, May 19, at Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University.

Graduation with Distinction is awarded to students who complete a rigorous program of independent academic study or artistic endeavor beyond the formal course requirements of LSMSA.

Eligibility is based on an individual’s academic performance in the junior year as well as on her or his capacity for independent work, as judged by the faculty and the director of academic services.

An interested student must submit a proposal for independent work in the spring of the junior year, and in the senior year must undertake a program of reading, research and creative activity leading to a research project, performance, exhibition, portfolio or comprehensive examination. All projects culminate in a public presentation of the work completed with questions from attending faculty, students and guests.

Kerry Doyle, of Eros, was mentored by Dr. Stephen Costin, associate lecturer of chemistry. Doyle’s project was “The Synthesis of Water-Soluble Boron Die pure oh meth-ene (BODIPY) Dyes for Use in Detecting Chemical Nerve Agents.”

Angela Fang, of Mandeville, was mentored by Dr. Allison Landry, principal lecturer of biology. Fang’s project was “Chronic Alcohol Decreases Muscle Fiber Size after Unilateral Hind Limb Immobilization in Rats.”

Chelsea Franklin, of Crowley, was mentored by Dr. Emily Allen, associate lecturer of English. Franklin’s project was “Emotional Scars,” a creative collection of literary works with a critical preface.

Ruby Kharod, of Opelousas, was mentored by Costin. Kharod’s project was “Electronically Tuning N-Fennel Glycine Derivatives for Use as Organometallic Catalysts.”

Clara Kolterman, of Sterlington, was mentored by Brad Burkman, principal lecturer of mathematics and computer science. Kolterman’s project was “Modeling the Future of Vegan Activism Using Python.”

Grayce Mores, of Harvey, was mentored by Landry. Mores’ project was “Cancer Virus: Analysis of Strain Variation of the Oncogene LMP-1 of the Epstein-Barr Virus.”

Abby Pace, of Iowa, was mentored by Dr. Robert Dalling, lecturer of physics. Pace’s project was “Chaotic Motion in a Double Pendulum.”

Nathan Ward, of Anacoco, was mentored by Dr. Mauricio Escobar, instructor of Physics. Ward’s project was “Exact General Solutions to Maxwell’s Equations in the Far Field through Multipolar Expansion.”
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