University Of Holy Cross Honors Graduates, Cokie Roberts Commencement Speaker
NEW ORLEANS — University of Holy Cross (formerly Our Lady of Holy Cross College) conferred degrees at its 75th Commencement Sunday, May 21, at Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans.
More than 200 graduates were presented with their diplomas. The class of 2017 was the first to wear official UHC graduation regalia.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE
Cokie Roberts was the commencement speaker for UHC this year. She was also presented a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa by UHC at the commencement ceremonies.
Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News and NPR. In her more than 40 years in broadcasting, she has won multiple awards including three Emmys. She has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting. In addition to her reporting, Roberts has written six New York Times bestsellers, most dealing with the roles of women in U.S. history.
In addition to her appearances on the airwaves, Roberts, along with her husband, Steven V. Roberts, writes a weekly column syndicated in newspapers around the country by Universal U Click. The Roberts also wrote two books together: “Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for Interfaith Families,” published in 2011 and “From this Day Forward,” an account of their now almost 50-year marriage and other marriages in American history. The book immediately went onto The New York Times bestseller list, following Cokie Roberts’s number one bestseller, “We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters,” an account of American women’s roles and relationships over time.
Roberts’ other history books recounting the untold and remarkable contributions of women to the country’s founding and its preservation: “Founding Mothers,” published in 2004, “Ladies of Liberty” in 2008, and “Capital Dames” in 2015, about women and Washington in the Civil War—all also rated as New York Times bestsellers, along with her children’s book “Founding Mothers,” illustrated by Caldecott award winner Diane Goode. The children’s version of “Ladies of Liberty,” also illustrated by Goode, was published in December 2016.
Roberts holds more than 25 honorary degrees and serves on the boards of several nonprofit institutions. President Bush appointed her to his Commission on Service and Civic Participation. In 2008 the Library of Congress named her a “Living Legend,” one of the very few Americans to have attained that honor. She is the mother of two and grandmother of six.
Roberts’ mother, Lindy Boggs, the former congresswoman and United States ambassador to the Vatican, was presented a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa by UHC.
SPES UNICA AWARD PRESENTATION
UHC presented its highest honor, the Spes Unica, to Mrs. Phyllis M. Taylor at this year’s commencement.
The motto of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Spes Unica (One Hope), refers to the fact that the cross is our one hope. Spes Unica refers to the unity to be found in the Family of Holy Cross, and to this end, the founder, Father Basil Anthony Moreau, consecrated and dedicated the priests to the heart of Jesus, the brothers to the heart of St. Joseph, and the Marianites to the heart of Mary pierced with a sword of sorrow.
Hope has a dual reference: to the Holy Cross on which Jesus died, and to the section of a town in France known as Sainte Croix, Holy Cross. Hence the religious were referred to as Priests, Brothers and Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross.
Mrs. Taylor is Chairman of Endeavor Enterprises L.L.C., a management company to oversee the various Taylor operations. She is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Energy Company since the death of her husband, Patrick F. Taylor, in November 2004. A graduate of Tulane University School of Law, Mrs. Taylor served as law clerk for the Supreme Court of Louisiana and Orleans Parish Civil District Court. Her career in the oil industry began in 1972, when she became in-house counsel for John W. Mecom, Sr. Honored for her activism and philanthropy, Mrs. Taylor serves on numerous civic and charitable boards and has led many community initiatives.
UHC AWARDS 19 Doctorate Graduates
UHC awarded 19 doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees at this year’s graduation ceremony. UHC began offering the PhD degree in fall of 2013 and conferred its first doctorate degree in 2015.
UHC HONOR GRADUATES
UHC recognized a number of honor graduates at this year’s commencement ceremonies:
Summa Cum Laude Award – “With Greatest Praise” is awarded for cumulative grade point average of at least 3.90
Angie Marie Arnold
Schlise Steib Borne
Magna Cum Laude Award – “With Great Praise” is awarded for cumulative grade point average of at least 3.80
Aubrey Lynn Evola
Douglas G. Lopata
Cum Laude Award – “With Praise” is awarded for cumulative grade point average of at least 3.70
Jumana Osama Al-Bassisi
Nicholas Scullin
Eric Wolfarth
UHC GRADUATES AND CANDIDATES
Those who participated in this year’s UHC commencement ceremony included:
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Counselor Education and Supervision:
Yevonne Marie Baran
Geoffrey Frederick Brazda
Donald Robert Casares, Jr.
Dymphna D. Davis
Stephanie Maria Ducros
Karen Taylor duPlantier
Joseph Clifford Dyson, Sr.
Marnie Neyhart Genre
Travis Johnson, Sr.
Gilbert Lerma, Jr.
Dedra N. Louis
Ashley Bailey Ojo
Tara VaLecia Payne
Kevin Ann Planchet
Dustin Herbert Reed
Mario A. Sacasa
Mariama Izama Cook Sandifer
Donald Etienne Songy
Andrew Mark Watley
MASTER OF ARTS
Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Alexander Thomas Becnel
Jamie Marie Gaskin
Carissa Ann Marie Guidry
Haleigh Ann Hesni
Deonquel Keiasha Joseph
Brittany R. Leche
Heidi Leydecker
Kristen Ellen Mallory
Amy Elizabeth Noto
Taylor Frances Ovella
Nicholas Andrew Papale
Latoya N. Polius
Princess-India Philicie Powell
Robynn Tiffany Racherbaumer
William Sandino
Alexandra Sierra
Bonnie Veith Stephany
Ashley Stevens
Omolola Ashley Iyabode Taiwo
Richard L. Twiggs, Jr.
Christopher James Whittington
Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling
Shanon Briner Shaw
Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Madelynn Sallinger Fellon
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling:
Tahreer N. Ahmad
Amy L. Bakke
Taylor Elizabeth Bonnette
Carol Ann Harvey
Tomeka Bennett Jackson
Hollie Nicole Ledet
Latoria Monique Marchand
Amanda Monroe
School Counseling:
Shautera Clofer
Jennifer Lynn Dragobratovich
Nathan Favaloro
Kimberly Ragas-Matalamaki
Raquel Irene Short
Donneisha Wilson
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Educational Leadership:
Lidia F. Betancourt
Ruth Maginnis Blum
Catherine Canter
Denise Merwin Cooper
Roy. H. Delaney, Sr.
Kristin Heath Guidry
LaCresha Haten
Charlotte L. Hoppe
Thomas Edward Huck
Jennifer Blood Johns
Peggy M. Johns
Stephanie Johnson
Janie Bernard Leingang
Tiffany Lynn Loup
Alvin Charles Mahler, III
Meehan Suffern Murphy
Janine A. Murry
Richard Scott Neider
Erin Parquet
Wilmer A. Rivas
Linda Cajina Sanchez
Charlotte Heap Shelley
Joshua Landon Vidrine
Kaitlin Piper Vidrine
Jonathan Paul Vitale
Brandon Derrick Walters
Teaching and Learning:
Leah Luton Hickerson
Senovia "Sandy" Robinson
Maya Bates Scheuermann
Ashley René West
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Liberal Art:
John J. Butkovich
Anh Tuan Chau Phan
Social Science:
Schlise Steib Borne
Christina Louise Jolicoeur
Theology:
Matthew Simon Picard
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Accounting:
Chastity Marie Alexander
Ronald Edward Luman, Jr.
Brandon J. Monju
Xuan Thu Nguyen
Biology:
Norwood James Borne, Jr.
Shinell Burrell Craige
Nicole Marie Defourneaux
Vahnora Cameron Ponson
Tiffany Tran
Kim Vo
Business Administration:
Sheri Heindel Almanza
Amanda Lynn Bell
Paul Joseph LeBlanc
Lindsey Grace Marcel
Katherine T. Schloegel
Rodney P. Schouest, Jr.
Jairus Boudoin, Sr.
Elementary Education:
Jumana Osama Al-Bassisi
Angie Marie Arnold
Bailey Bartholomew
Aubrey Lynn Evola
Alexandra Eugenia Galleguillos
Amanda Elizabeth Moreau
General Studies:
LaJonet Marie Forrest
Jared Paul Rodrigue
Chantelle Lynn Simoneaux
Jacob Vincent Vidrine
Health Sciences:
Hanna Fadi Abuali
Echell B. Alexander
Jennifer O. Amaya
Megan Elizabeth Eiserloh
Chelsey Elmer
Veronica Isabel Gutierrez
Mia Marie Hock
Kyra Nicole Isidore
Tyana Monet Jackson
Layne Marie Jenniskens
Thuy Duong Thi Le
Mallory Marie Marquette
Melanie Ann Monfrey
Amanda Resendez
Neurodiagnostic Technology:
Ashley Jean Andrews
Lauren Rose Laurent
Cody Huy Nguyen
Lauren Morvant Perrin
Katelyn Renée Sannasardo
Mason Daniel Spong
Colleen Oanh Tran
Christopher Quoc Phong Tran
Thomas Ray Walker, Jr.
Nursing:
Devin Thomas Austin
Karley Vargas Babin
Amber Layne Bladsacker
Kellie Lynn Bruhl
Nicole Michelle Carbon
Danielle Melissa DeJean
Suzette C. Entwisle
Megan Elizabeth Gaines
Alexandria Colby Garrett
Maggie Robin Gatlin
Jared Gros
Jamie Alissa Harrell
Kasey Lynn Jenkins
Stacy J. Laing
Rebecca Richards Lambert
Kaelynn Elizabeth Landeche
Andree Larroquette
Sydney Marie Lassere
Paul Bullard Lastrapes III
Jody Ann Linker
Leah Jasmine Louisville
Emmy Marlen Martinez
Stephanie Navarro
Linda Lan Nguyen
Joleen Mae Parker
RJ Espesor Pedroso
Camrynn Dodge Plaisance
Catherine Breland Rittiner
Aimee Marie Scioneaux
Nicholas Scullin
Megan Annette Serpas
Deshona Maria Solomon
Brandie Vortisch Thompson
Anjelle Tiliakos
Brian Huy Tran
Whitney Marie Troxclair
Angelica Walton Wilson
Michelle Marie Wilson
Taylor Jordan Wood
Psychology:
Jamal Travis Boudion
Ashley Marie Caldarera
Katherine Gypsea Green-Valeu
Nelby Gisselle Hopkins
Angelle Rebecca McLaughlin
Ariana Ridings
Marie McLaughlin Streckfus
Angellec Breion Walker
Radiologic Technology:
Diana Lucero
Elizabeth Marie Perrin
Michael Alexander Turlich
Eric Wolfarth
Social Counseling:
Rachel Elaine Gueho
Douglas G. Lopata
Mallary Catherine Matherne
Bonnie Veith Stephany
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Liberal Arts:
Schlise Steib Borne
Christina Louise Jolicoeur
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Biology:
Kraig A. Morales
Tyralyn A. Simmons
Neurodiagnostic Technology:
Brittany Elizabeth Bane
Radiologic Technology:
Karlie Anne Bernard
Ashley Hoang
Brittany Ann Murr
