Two Vermilion Parish natives named UL Lafayette Outstanding graduates

Eight students, including two from Vermilion Parish, will be honored during Spring 2014 Commencement ceremonies as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduates.
Every spring and fall semester, deans from eight academic colleges each nominate a student 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 the overall award.
The overall Outstanding Graduate will be announced during the Spring Commencement General Assembly on Saturday, May 17, at the Cajundome.
Here’s a look at this semester’s Outstanding Graduates from Vermilion Parish.

Kacie Breaux is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education.
An elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA, she has been on the President’s List and recognized at Honors Convocation.
Breaux has been a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Delta Pi honor societies. Her scholarships include the Valedictorian Scholarship, the Jesse and Irma Jewel Endowed Scholarship, and the Hoag Scholarship.
In 2012, Breaux was awarded the College of Education’s Outstanding Sophomore Award and, in 2013, was nominated for the college’s Outstanding Junior Award.
As a member of the Teacher Prep K-12 Student Support Services, she was recognized as a Student of the Year for 2013.
Breaux was nominated for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and participated in the Louisiana Education Research Association conference.
Breaux has performed community service for the Autism Society of Acadiana, Acadiana Heart Association and March of Dimes. She taught catechism, and was a counselor at Summer Bible Camp for St. James Chapel, where she has been a lector. She has helped organize toy drives, and served as a tutor in the University’s Teacher Prep lab.
She would like to teach third grade, and also wants to pursue a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at UL Lafayette.
Breaux is the daughter of Mary and Bryant Breaux of Abbeville, La.

Kristy Langlinais is the Outstanding Graduate for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
A biology major with a 4.0 GPA, she has been on the President’s List and is a member of the University Honors Program and the Blue Key Honor Society.
Langlinais received the TOPS Performance Scholarship, UL Lafayette Centennial Scholarship, UL Lafayette High School Valedictorian Scholarship, Dr. Bernard and Marie Lahasky Scholarship, and Student Government Association Scholarship.
She has been a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, the Pre-Professional Society and a Ragin’ Cajun Catholics’ Focus Missionary.
In 2011, Langlinais was an ambassador for the Student Alumni Association. In 2010, she served as public relations chairperson for the Junior National PanHellenic Council.
Langlinais has performed community service work with Girl Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, Prevent Child Abuse America, St. Pierre’s Center for the Arts, Family Christian Center, Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
She has volunteered at Iberia Medical Center, Iberia Rehabilitation Hospital and the Pediatric Therapy and Learning Center. She is active in her church as a music minister and retreat team member.
Langlinais plans to enroll in the occupational therapy program at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. She would like to return to the Lafayette area for a career as an occupational therapist.
She is the daughter of Justin and Monica Langlinais of Erath, La.

Here are the other graduates:
Jacob Broussard is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts.
Peyton Hargrave is the Outstanding Graduate for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
Matthew Hartley is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering.
Kristen Armstrong is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of General Studies.
Maria Rachal is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts.
Meredith Boustany is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.