LAIA awards scholarships

Lake Area Industry Alliance’s new program, SWLA Women in Industry, has awarded four $1,000 scholarships to local female high school seniors pursuing higher education in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

The scholarships, given in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, are made possible through generous donations from local industries.

The recipients are:

Tulona Hossain from Barbe High School will attend Louisiana State University and major in biomedical engineering.

Kahlia Clark from Starks High School will attend McNeese State University and major in medical laboratory science.

Lily Boyd from Sulphur High School will attend Louisiana Tech University and major in biomedical engineering.

Taylor Hutchinson from Barbe High School will attend McNeese State University and major in computer engineering.

Lake Area Industry Alliance is made up of 25 member companies and is a channel of communication between industries and the community, civic leaders, elected officials, educators and non-profit organizations on issues affecting business, industry and trade.

Parajuli a grad   of Cumberlands

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky.  — Diksha Parajuli of Lake Charles was among graduates recognized recently by the University of the Cumberlands.

Just under 6,000 students make up this year’s graduating class. Approximately 170 graduates completed an associate degree, 1,250 finished a bachelor’s degree, 3,770 received a master’s degree, 270 completed an educational specialist degree, and 530 earned a doctoral degree.

The Class of 2024 performed 41,574 hours of community service.

Brady, Brown earn degrees

HAMMOND — Grant M. Brady and Malik A. Brown, both of Lake Charles, were among graduates recognized recently during commencement exercies at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Brady earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology and Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in art.

Jones earns   bachelor’s degree

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, conferred 844 undergraduate and graduate degrees on 824 graduates during the 2024 spring commencement exercises.

Among the graduates were Yahaira Jones of Iowa, La. — who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Social Work.

Mahaffey named to honor society

BATON ROUGE — Julie Mahaffey of DeRidder was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Mahaffey was initiated at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Mahaffey is among nearly 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

3 earn degrees  from USM

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Three Southwest Louisiana students were among graduates recognized recently during commencement exercises at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Domonique Davis of DeRidder earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

Donovan Thierry of Lake Charles earned a Doctor of Education.          

Jessica Vincent of Sulphur eaned a Bachelor of Science.

Rotary Club gives scholarships

The Rotary Club of Lake Charles awarded seven $500 Service Above Self scholarships to local seniors during a luncheon at the Pioneer Club Restaurant in Lake Charles.

Receipients were Diya Patel of Hamilton Christian School, Dillion Patel of Barbe High School, Kalie Lilly of Washington-Marion High School, Charlie Kuehn of Bishop Noland Episcopal School, Alaina Hartley of LC College Prep, Pierce Simone of St Louis Catholic High School and Lauryn Wilridge of LaGrange High School.