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Southeastern College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences honors top students

Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences honored top graduates at its annual honors convocation May 5.

By: Tonya Lowentritt

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Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences honored top graduates at its annual honors convocation May 5. 

Departmental awards were presented to the following: 

ALBANY – Katielynn Saxon, Outstanding Senior Award in Communication.

BATON ROUGE – Emily Drez, D Vickers Award in Creative Writing.

DENHAM SPRINGS – Adam Taylor, Outstanding Senior in English (Creative Writing).

GONZALES – Lewis Blakley, Ralph R. Pottle Outstanding Freshman; and Morgan Kendrick, Outstanding Graduating Senior in Psychology. 

GRAMERCY – Cali Boudreaux, Director’s Award in General Studies.

HAMMOND – Kayla Edwards, Outstanding Senior Award in Communication; and Ainsley O’Brian, Outstanding Senior in English (Language and Literature).

INDEPENDENCE – Brett Angelette, Harold Leu Award in Political Science

KENNER – Rhiannon Cook, Excellence in Theatre Design.

LUTCHER – Kaleigh Bourgeois, F. Dale Parent Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Sociology.

METAIRIE – Taylor Underwood, Outstanding Graduating Senior in Psychology.

NEW ORLEANS – Yasmin Taylor, Outstanding Senior Award in Communication.

RAYVILLE – Paige Bigelow, Outstanding Senior Award in World Languages (Spanish).

RESERVE – Raynia Johnson, 2026 Juried Student Exhibition Best in Show.

SLIDELL – Lily McKean, Martina Buck Award in History; and Sophia Maranto, Excellence in Theatre.

WALKER – Austin Andrews, Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in General Studies; Jessica Aime, James Wilcox Outstanding Graduating Music Major; and Connor Small, Marc P. Riedel Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Criminal Justice.

MISSISSIPPI – Sarai Guerrero, Outstanding Senior Award in World Languages (Spanish Education.)

NIGERIA – Oreoluwa Onafowokan, Harold Leu Award in Political Science.
Also at the convocation, the college honored three faculty members with awards. Recognized were Bridget Hester, Excellence in Teaching; Chelsea Slack, Excellence in Service; and Philip Schuessler, Excellence in Creative Activity.

Award winner from Ascension Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENT (Ascension) – Southeastern Louisiana University student Morgan Kendrick of Gonzales, was honored at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Kendrick was recognized as Outstanding Graduating Senior in Psychology.
Award winner from East Baton Rouge Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENT (East Baton Rouge) - Southeastern Louisiana University student Emily Drez of Baton Rouge was honored at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Drez was recognized with the D Vickers Award in Creative Writing.
Jefferson Parish award winners
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENTS (Jefferson) – Southeastern Louisiana University students Taylor Underwood, left, from Metairie and Rhiannon Cook of Kenner were honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Underwood was recognized as the Outstanding Student in Psychology, and Cook was honored with the Excellence in Theatre Design Award.
Award winners from Livingston Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENTS (Livingston) -- Southeastern Louisiana University students KatieLynn Saxon, left, of Albany, and Austin Andrews and Connor Small of Walker were honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Saxon received the Outstanding Senior Award in General Studies, Andrews received the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in General Studies, and Small received the Mark P. Riedel Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Criminal Justice.
Award winner from Orleans Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENT (Orleans) -- Southeastern Louisiana University student Yasmin Taylor of New Orleans was honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Taylor received the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Criminal Justice.
Award winner from Richland Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENT (Richland) -- Southeastern Louisiana University student Paige Bigelow of Rayville was honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Bigelow received the Outstanding Senior Award in World Languages (Spanish).
Award winners from St. James Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENTS (St. James) -- Southeastern Louisiana University students Kali Boudreaux, left, of Gramercy, and Kaleigh Bourgeois of Lutcher were honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Boudreaux was recognized with the Director’s Award in General Studies, while Bourgeios received the F. Dale Parent Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Sociology.
Award winner from St. John the Baptist Parish
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENT (St. John the Baptist) -- Southeastern Louisiana University student Raynia Johnson of Reserve was honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation. Johnson received the 2026 Juried Student Exhibition Best in Show Award.
St. Tammany Parish award winners
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENTS (St. Tammany) –Southeastern Louisiana University students from St. Tammany Parish who were honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation were, from left, Sophia Maranto and Lily McKean of Slidell. Maranto received the Martina Buck Award in History, while McKean received the Excellence in Theatre Award.
Tangipahoa Parish award winners
SOUTHEASTERN ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HONORS STUDENTS (Tangipahoa) –Southeastern Louisiana University students from Tangipahoa Parish who were honored recently at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ honors convocation were, from left, Ainsley O’Brian and Kayla Edwards of Hammond. O’Brian was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in English – Language and Literature, while Edwards was honored as the Outstanding Senior in Communication.
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