Dec. 19, 2003 by Jennifer Kistler NMSU News Center
New Mexico State University outstanding seniors were honored at the university’s fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13. From left to right: Sarita Lalloo, Joaquin Gallegos, Laurie Epps, Stephen Vann, Gladys Ducoudray, Anderson St. Hilaire, Leeann Cruz, Jesusito Giron and Nancy Shockley. (NMSU photo by Darren Phillips)
New Mexico State University honored the Fall 2003 outstanding seniors and graduate students at the commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13. This semester, the Alumni Association honored one graduating senior from each of the university’s six academic colleges, one international senior and two graduate students based on outstanding scholarship, leadership, ability and participation in university and community activities.
The College of Agriculture and Home Economics honored Jesusito Giron, an agricultural and extension education major. Giron, of La Madera, N.M., served as the president of the Agricultural and Extension Education Club and had a grade point average of 3.5. He served as a college ambassador and as vice president for the Agriculture and Home Economics Council. Giron was a Crimson Scholar and received the Dean’s Award of Leadership Excellence and the Collegiate Future Farmers of America (FFA) Adviser’s Award.
The College of Arts and Sciences honored Joaquin Gallegos, a double major in anthropology and languages. Gallegos, of Santa Cruz, N.M., had a 3.9 GPA and was a Crimson Scholar and New Mexico Regents Scholar. He was a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, the national anthropology honor society Lambda Alpha and was on the dean’s list for three years. Gallegos studied Spanish in Mexico and assisted minority farmers through a community supported agricultural project.
The College of Business Administration and Economics honored Sarita Lalloo, a finance and accounting major. Lalloo, of Las Cruces, had a 4.0 GPA and was a Regent’s Plus Scholar and Crimson Scholar. She received the New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants scholarship and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Lalloo worked as the assistant comptroller for NMSU’s student government and held internships with Conoco Phillips and Beasley, Mitchell & Co.
The College of Education honored Stephen Vann, a secondary education and social studies major. Vann, of Alamogordo, had a 3.8 GPA, was a Regents Plus Scholar and was on the national dean’s list. He coordinated and conducted a campus survey of educational technology for the Faculty Senate Technology Committee (FSTC) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), assisted with Senior Olympics and the Job Fair at NMSU.
The College of Engineering honored Laurie Epps, a civil engineering major. Epps, of Clovis, had a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the civil engineering honor society Chi Epsilon, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and the Society of Women Engineers. She also was a member of the NMSU women’s basketball team for three years and served as the co-captain. Epps was a Crimson Scholar and on the national dean’s list.
The College of Health and Social Services honored Leeann Cruz, a nursing major. Cruz, of Grants, N.M., had a 3.5 GPA and was a member of the Student Nursing Association, the United Native American Organization, Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She also volunteered for the Gospel Rescue Mission of Las Cruces.
The Center for International Programs honored Anderson St. Hilaire, a mechanical engineering major. Hilaire, of La Plaine, Commonwealth of Dominica, had a 3.9 GPA and was a Crimson Scholar, All-American Scholar and on the national dean’s list. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and volunteered for Keep Las Cruces Beautiful.
The Graduate School honored Gladys Ducoudray as the Fall 2003 Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student and Nancy Shockley as the Fall 2003 Outstanding Master’s Graduate Student.
Ducoudray, an electrical and computer engineering major from Puerto Rico, had a 3.4 GPA. She has written 20 articles and conference papers with faculty in the field of microelectronics. She received the NASA Space Grant Fellowship, Texas Instruments Research Assistantship and Klipsch Scholarship for Electrical Engineering. She has accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez.
Shockley, a history major, had a 4.0 GPA. Her research focuses on American prisoners-of-war held by the Japanese in World War II. She received the Joan Jenson Research Award and was the first graduate student to receive the Dona Ana County Historical Society Travel Award. She served as a graduate student senator for the NMSU student government and as vice president for the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.