Zadid K. Haq plans to attend medical school, now that he’s earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. His preparation for that career contributed to his recognition as the ŷƬ Alumni Association’s overall Outstanding Graduate.
In addition to earning a 4.0 GPA, Haq was president of the UL Lafayette Honors Program and vice president of the UL Lafayette Pre-Professional Society, for example. He has already had research results published in an international journal.
Haq was one of eight graduating seniors honored during Spring 2015 Commencement ceremonies Friday as Outstanding Graduates of academic colleges. The others were Kallie Broussard, Trevor Bellard, Katie Stefan, Eric Regel, Emily Broussard, Valerie Groze and Aimee LaFleur.
Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight colleges each nominate a candidate for a bachelor’s degree as an Outstanding Graduate, based on leadership, scholarship and service. A selection committee of the Alumni Association interviews the candidates and selects one to receive an overall award.
Here’s a look at the honorees.
Haq is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
He founded the UL Honors Orphan Outreach program, which in 2014 raised $8,850 for Syrian orphans.
His community service work includes working at the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, and with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana. He received the Big Brother of the Year Award in 2014.
Haq was a patient aide for Heart of Hospice, and a team captain for Relay for Life, an event that raises money for cancer research. He worked with the Phi Kappa Phi Book Drive, Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Heart Association, and Special Olympics.
He received a UL Lafayette Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, a Lafayette Parish Medical Scholarship, a Lafayette Parish Academic Rally Scholarship, a Dr. John Tolson Jr. Memorial Scholarship, a Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Scholarship, and an International Association of Drilling Contractors Chapter Scholarship.
Findings of research conducted by a faculty mentor and Haq were published in an international journal in the field of bioinorganic DNA cleavage and modeling.
He is the son of Ema and Zakia Haq of Lafayette, La.
Kallie Broussard is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
She was a performing arts major, with a concentration in dance, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Broussard received the Marc Breaux Endowed Dance Scholarship and the L. Hill Bonin Memorial Scholarship. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
An accomplished dancer, Broussard was selected for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Intensive program, and for the Broadway Teacher’s Workshop. Both were held in New York City.
She performed with ŷƬ productions such as “State of La Danse” and “An Evening of Dance.” Broussard was also an assistant stage manager for “State of La Danse.”
She performed community service through Our Lady of Fatima School, Lafayette High School, First Baptist Church, and High School Youth Pursuing Excellence. Broussard was a volunteer at Festival International de Louisiane.
She is the daughter of Gerald and Patti Broussard of Lafayette, La.
Trevor Bellard is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
He was an accounting major with a 3.94 GPA.
Bellard was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Freshmen Honor Society, and the Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society.
He received the Dr. Ben and Clare Roy Thibodeaux Endowed Scholarship and a Postlethwaite and Netterville accounting scholarship.
Bellard was a member of the Student Government Association; he served as senator for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration and chairman of the SGA’s Finance Committee. He also was president of the student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, and a UNIV 100 Peer Mentor.
Bellard was nominated for Outstanding Sophomore for Ragin’ Recognition, and as Outstanding Senior by Sigma Chi Fraternity.
He participated in the Big Event, an annual day of community service sponsored by the United Way of Acadiana. Bellard also performed volunteer work for St. Joseph’s Diner and for Habitat for Humanity.
He plans to apply for law school, and hopes to attend Georgetown ŷƬ in Washington, D.C.
Bellard is the son of Shannon and Candi Bellard of Scott, La.
Katie Stefan is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
An elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA, she was treasurer of the ŷƬ chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society.
As a freshman, she was recognized by Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society as an Honorary First-Year Student.
Stefan earned the John Robert Moore Award for Outstanding Achievement in a History Survey Course.
In 2014, she was recognized with the College of Education’s Outstanding Junior Award.
Stefan received four UL Lafayette College of Education Scholarships and was nominated for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
She performed community service through the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk of Acadiana, the Big Event, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, the Lafayette Public Library, and the Cajun Soccer Club.
At UL Lafayette, Stefan was active in intramural sports, such as soccer and volleyball.
She plans to teach for several years, and then pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership.
Stefan is the daughter of Paul and Peggy Stefan of Lafayette, La.
Eric Regel is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.
He was a chemical engineering major with a 3.79 GPA.
Regel was a member of the Omega Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. In Spring 2014, he was a Fifth Generation Designing Leaders graduate.
In Fall 2012, Regel received the Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Academic Excellence Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineering. He served as that organization’s UL Lafayette student chapter president, and vice president.
Regel was vice president of the student chapter of the Louisiana Engineering Society, and a student ambassador for the College of Engineering.
He was a member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.
Regel was captain of the ŷƬ’s lacrosse club.
His community service included working with the Big Event, the Cinderalla Project, Habitat for Humanity, and Animal Rescue of New Orleans.
He is the son of Bernard and Gayle Regel of River Ridge, La.
Emily Katherine Broussard is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
She majored in psychology and anthropology, and earned a 3.98 GPA.
At UL Lafayette, Broussard participated in eight anthropology and psychology research projects, four in each department.
She was principal investigator for one of the psychology projects, which was titled “Social Identity and Victim Blame in the United States-Iraq Conflict.” It explored the dynamics of fear and blame in crisis situations.
Broussard spent a summer in Ghana, West Africa, conducting anthropology research, and as a teaching volunteer. She also spent a summer in Nepal, South Asia, as a nursing volunteer, and another volunteering in Guatemala, where she helped build a community center in a rural village.
She was a member of more than a dozen campus organizations, including the Student Government Association, Students for the Advancement of Women, and Tri Delta Sorority. Broussard was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Her community service included volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and Trinity Catholic School.
Broussard plans to attend graduate school. She would like to conduct anthropological and psychological research in non-western countries on the effects of globalization and colonization, intergroup conflict and women’s issues.
She intends to continue to be actively involved in humanitarian work and teach anthropology and women’s studies at a ŷƬ.
Broussard is the daughter of Robin and James Broussard Jr. of St. Martinville, La.
Valerie Groze is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
A member of the Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, she had a 3.65 GPA. Groze was recognized at UL Lafayette’s Honors Convocation.
A transfer student, Groze received a New York ŷƬ College of Nursing Scholarship.
Her community service included working with a First Book fundraiser to provide new books for children in need. Groze also participated in the Champions are Readers program, where she read books to children at a local library.
She helped coach the volleyball team at Runnels Middle School in Baton Rouge, La.
Groze plans to become a certified nurse midwife. She has accepted a job at Lafayette General Medical Center in its Mother/Baby Unit. She plans to obtain Maternal Newborn Nursing Certification after two years of employment.
She is the daughter of Mary Beth and Steve Groze of Baton Rouge, La.
Aimee LaFleur is the Outstanding Graduate for ŷƬ College.
She was a general studies major with a 3.87 GPA.
LaFleur received the General Studies Alumni Association Endowment Scholarship.
She also earned three Segal Americorps Education Awards, the Dean of Community Service Excellence in Community Service Award and UL Americorps awards for leadership and teamwork.
LaFleur was events committee chair for the ŷƬ’s Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society.
She performed over 1,500 hours of community service through Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Acadiana, New Hope Community Development of Acadiana, Alice Boucher Elementary School, JW Faulk Elementary School, Bayou Grace Community Services, United Saints Recovery Project, Lafayette Animal Aid, Palmetto State Park, and Chicot State Park.
LaFleur spent a summer in Alaska, and another in the Pacific Northwest as part of UL Lafayette’s History on the Move program.
She hopes to obtain a job as a park ranger with Tennessee’s State Parks or the National Park Service, or as a ranger with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management.
LaFleur is the daughter of Barry and Julie LaFleur of Scott, La.
Photo info: Eight seniors were honored as Outstanding Graduates during Spring 2015 Commencement ceremonies on Friday. Zadid Haq was named the overall Outstanding Graduate. Shown, from left, are Kallie Broussard, College of the Arts; Eric Regel, College of Engineering; Haq, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Valerie Groze, College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions; Katie Stefan, College of Education; Trevor Bellard, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; and Aimee LaFleur, ŷƬ College. Not shown is Emily Broussard, College of Liberal Arts.