Thirty-One College of Engineering Students Earn Distinguished Communicator Honor

May 15, 2014 | LSU Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

LSU's 283th commencement exercises honored 31 College of Engineering students with LSU's Distinguished Communicator Award. LSU’s Distinguished Communicator program, the first of its kind in the nation, recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary levels of communication skills during their undergraduate years. Along with these 31 College of Engineering students, 43 additional students representing numerous majors earned the distinction, representing the largest number ever awarded.

“The Distinguished Communicator program has challenged me to become a better communicator and to strive to be the best amongst my peers,” said Samuel Pitre, mechanical engineering major. “The program has made me realize that communication is the key to success in every aspect of life, whether it is communicating with team members, co-workers, friends or family. It has taught me how to be professional in all aspects, such as presentations, reports, job search, and promoting myself as a leader.”

Sponsored by Communication across the Curriculum, the award recognizes students who are outstanding writers and speakers with strong visual literacy and technological communication skills. Recipients completed 12 hours of communication-intensive courses, submitted digital portfolios and maintained a 3.0 GPA in their C-I classes. The students built digital portfolios, displayed as public Web sites that include their communication projects from courses, internships, leadership roles and public service.

“Since I started working and taken classes, I've realized that I need to be able to communicate with different people, from a variety of backgrounds, in an efficient but precise manner almost every day at work and in school,” said Caroline Tulloh, biological engineering major. “Being able to get my meaning across without losing my audience in the technical details is imperative, and the D-Comm program really helped me to refine and expand my communication skills to where they are today.”

Students honored from the College of Engineering with their hometown and major include:

  • Morgan Bowman, Mobile, Ala., mechanical engineering
  • Christopher Brown, Lake Charles, La., mechanical engineering, 
  • Linda Cross, Ruston, La., biological engineering
  • Laura DeLatin, Brusly, La., biological engineering
  • Natalie Derise, Lafayette, La., biological engineering
  • Jordan Falgoust, Carencro, la., mechanical engineering
  • Carlos Gonzales, mechanical engineering major
  • Philip Goppelt, Gonzales, La., civil engineering
  • Kristi Harrison, Covington, La., biological engineering
  • Jocelin Heymann, Bossier City, La., industrial engineering
  • Steven Hollander, Mandeville, La., mechanical engineering
  • Abiola Ige, a native of Nigeria, biological engineering
  • Ryan Jeansonne, Marrero, La., civil engineering
  • Christina Juneau, Alexandria, La., biological engineering
  • Jonathan Lawhun, Baton Rouge, La., mechanical engineering 
  • Stephanie Linares, Caracus, Venezuela, biological engineering
  • Ashley Morel from Baton Rouge, La., mechanical engineering
  • Linsey Olivier, Eunice, La., biological engineering
  • Samuel Pitre, Houma, La., mechanical engineering
  • Shelby Pursley, Winter Springs, Fla., biological engineering major
  • Daniel Rees, Breaux Bridge, La., biological engineering
  • Gabriel Rivera, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, biological engineering
  • Simon Shirazi, Baton Rouge, La., mechanical engineering
  • Kaitlin Simmons, Slidell, La., mechanical engineering
  • Alyssa Sirisophon from Ponchatoula, La., biological engineering
  • Carly Sproule, Choudrant, La., biological engineering
  • Anthony Thompson, Katy, Texas, mechanical engineering minor
  • Caroline Tulloh, Austin, Texas, biological engineering
  • Bryan Wesley, Baton Rouge, La., construction management
  • Taylor Wilson, Baton Rouge, La., industrial engineering
  • Yue Kenny Zhao, a native of China, mechanical engineering

“LSU’s College of Engineering prepares our students to be highly successful in their future career by giving them opportunities to develop excellent technical skills as well as critical thinking and communication skills,” said Summer Dann, a faculty adviser for the LSU Distinguished Communicator program. “Employers look for leadership skills, the ability to communicate clearly, and solve complex problems. All of these components are offered by the D-Comm program; this gives LSU students a strong advantage to succeed.”

Along with receiving a special medal, the students’ transcripts have a footnote designating them as Distinguished Communicators.

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Article by Mimi LaValle, LSU College of Engineering, 225-578-5706, mlavall@lsu.edu

 

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