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May 15, 2008

ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ to award record number of degrees at May 17 commencement; largest in ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s history

The University of Louisiana at Monroe will award a record 718 degrees at the 2008 Spring Commencement Saturday, May 17 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, the largest degree total in ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s history. This tops the previous record of 680 degrees awarded at Spring Commencement in 1999.

ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ President James Cofer thanked the university’s dedicated faculty and staff. “The phenomenal progress we are accomplishing together at our university can be directly attributed to the heart of our institution: our devoted faculty and staff and their tireless efforts and concern for the students. Our top-notch faculty are the reason we have retained and are now graduating a record number of some of our finest students. We look forward to watching them succeed in their chosen fields, strengthened by their experiences and education at ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥.â€

Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ alumnus Robert Barham will deliver the commencement address.

There are four top 2008 spring graduates:

Several honor graduates will be recognized during the ceremonies. They are designated as summa cum laude (3.900-4.000), magna cum laude (3.750-3.899) and cum laude (3.500-3.749).

Army ROTC ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ Student Cadet Jaciel Javier Guerrero of West Monroe will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Friday, May 16 at 2 p.m. at the ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ Student Union Building Ballroom (second floor). Guerrero, a construction major, will receive his diploma at the ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ Commencement May 17.

John Tyler Collins, an aviation major from Murray, Ky., will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps at the Bayou Suites Conference Room immediately following Commencement May 17. He has been the recipient of several scholarships, has a private pilot’s license and an instrument rating, and has a flight slot for pilot school with the Marines. His grade point average is above 3.5. Collins is a member of the national award-winning ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ water ski team.

Aviation major Caleb Peacock of Monroe is one of 27 students in the nation selected to receive a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard program. He was also the ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ Flight Team captain during his senior year. After ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s Commencement May 17, Peacock will ship out for Officer Candidate School Thursday, Aug. 7.

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