The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is celebrating its Spring 2023 graduates during Commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday. A total of 1,641 degrees will be conferred.
Individual Commencement ceremonies for UL Lafayette’s eight academic colleges are being held at the Cajundome and Convention Center.
The University will confer 1,273 bachelor’s degrees. Among this total are 35 students who have maintained a 4.0 GPA, the most summa cum laude graduates in a single semester in University history.
It will also award 41 doctoral degrees, another record, and 323 master’s degrees, the second-largest number awarded in a semester. The total of 364 graduate degrees is the highest in a semester. Three graduate certificates and one undergraduate certificate also were awarded.
The Spring 2023 class is also notable for diversity. It includes the second-highest graduates of Asian descent in a semester and the third-most Hispanic graduates.
As a whole, graduates are from 49 Louisiana parishes, 33 states and 32 international countries.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, addressed graduates during the College of Engineering’s ceremony on Friday at the Cajundome.
Savoie referenced the upcoming celebration of the 125th anniversary of the University's founding. He also reflected on its “humble origins” – an institution that offered a handful of technical courses, drawing a parallel to the internationally recognized academic and research university it has become and outlining a few examples of cutting-edge research and scholarship.
“For 125 years, our university’s story has been one of exceeding expectations,” Savoie said. “And now, graduates, it’s your turn to exceed expectations."
Savoie continued: "The diploma you’re receiving is more than a symbol of past achievements. It also represents what’s yet to come and what you’ve yet to achieve. Your diploma is an invitation to change the world – not just to do well for yourself, but to do good for others."
Adam Ortego is UL Lafayette’s Outstanding Master’s Graduate. He earned a master’s degree in architecture from the College of the Arts. April Bourlet is the University’s Outstanding Graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the College of Engineering.
Spring 2023 Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed via links on the Cajundome’s website. The four ceremonies on Saturday will also be livestreamed on the college’s Facebook pages.
View a list of Spring 2023 graduates. Learn more about .
Photo caption: UL Lafayette will award 1,641 degrees during individual Commencement ceremonies for its eight academic colleges on Friday and Saturday. Ceremonies will be held at the Cajundome and the Cajundome Convention Center. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)