Claude Lahaye, Macie Maddox and John “JT” Peloquin took different paths to medical school, but each built a strong foundation at McNeese and stayed open to change as their goals shifted. Their journeys included hands-on clinical experience, gap years and defining moments that confirmed medicine was the right choice. With mentorship and scholarships, they successfully navigated the transition into rigorous medical programs at LSU Health Shreveport. Today, Claude, Macie and JT share a commitment to service, problem-solving, and making a meaningful impact in others’ lives.
Claude Lahaye
The path to medical school was anything but a straight line for Claude Lahaye. After graduating from McNeese in 2023 with a degree in
chemical engineering, he began working at Citgo and thrived in the fast-paced plant environment. “I had a great boss, great mentors, I really loved it,” he recalled. But years earlier, during COVID and the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, Claude had earned his EMT license and worked emergency shifts across Southwest Louisiana. The experience of saving lives stayed with him, tugging at the edges of his future.
That spark grew into a decision to pivot. While preparing for the MCAT, he continued to work part-time with Acadian Ambulance, often alongside veteran paramedics. “I realized I could always come back to engineering,” he said, “but medicine felt like the right path forward.” His engineering background, with its heavy emphasis on chemistry, physics, and math, provided him with a strong foundation.
With guidance from mentors like Rebecca Boniol, Claude found the encouragement and financial help he needed to fully commit.
Now in his second year of medical school, he’s exploring specialties from ophthalmology to emergency medicine to orthopedics, still drawn to fields that combine problem-solving with hands-on impact. But regardless of where he lands, his guiding philosophy remains steady: “If you work hard, doors will open. Engineering taught me that. EMT work taught me that. And now medicine is teaching me that too.”
Macie Maddox
Macie Maddox’s journey to medical school has always been fueled by her love of learning. A 2023 graduate of McNeese State University, she
earned a degree in biology with a concentration in pre-medicine, along with minors in chemistry and sports medicine. Today, she’s a medical student at LSU Health Shreveport, determined to make her mark in health care. “If I could go to school for the rest of my life, that’s exactly what I’d do,” she said.
Medicine wasn’t always her plan. Inspired by her grandparents, who were teachers, Maddox initially thought she would take a different path until a dual enrollment anatomy class in high school sparked her passion. That led to a hospital shadowing program and eventually a job as a physical therapy tech while at McNeese. Though she first pursued physical therapy, she found herself more drawn to the chemistry and biology courses in the pre-med track. By her sophomore year, she had changed her major and set her sights on becoming a physician.
Her commitment deepened during a family trial when her young cousin was diagnosed with cancer. “Watching those physicians change her life, and ours, was incredible,” she recalled. Today, her cousin is cancer-free, and Maddox carries that inspiration into her own studies: “I knew I wanted to be part of someone else’s story, the way they were a part of hers.”
At McNeese, Maddox was selected for the Honors College, which covered her tuition and gave her a strong foundation for graduate school. Now at LSU, she has been awarded the Board of Supervisors Scholarship. “Scholarships really do fill in the gaps and make this path more doable,” she said. “I’m so grateful for the people who believe in us and invest in our futures.” Though she hasn’t chosen a specialty yet, she’s excited to explore every option. “Everything I learn, I find fascinating. That passion for learning keeps me going.”
John “JT” Peloquin
For John “JT” Peloquin, the path to medical school wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. A standout baseball player during his years at McNeese,
JT devoted so much time to the game that building a medical résumé during college was nearly impossible. “You didn’t really have a ton of opportunities with the time restraints and commitments of baseball,” he said.
So after graduating in spring 2023 with a degree in biology and a pre-med concentration, JT took a gap year to explore his options and strengthen his credentials. He began working as a phlebotomist at Cal-Cam Hospital in Sulphur, followed by a position at the Center for Orthopedics, and later at an interventional pain medicine clinic under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Crookshank. Along the way, he also volunteered and immersed himself in the community. “It was about seeing if this was really what I wanted to do, and I ended up really enjoying it,” he said.
That clarity has carried him into his first year at LSU Health Shreveport, where he’s thriving in the rigorous pace of medical school. Scholarships at McNeese, including TOPS and several incentive-based awards, played a crucial role in easing the financial burden and motivating him to keep his grades high. “It made a big difference,” JT reflected. “Just having that weight off my shoulders let me focus on my education.”
Today, JT is leaning toward orthopedics, a specialty that connects his sports background with his growing passion for medicine. “It’s fulfilling to see patient outcomes, whether through surgery or treatment,” he said. “That’s what excites me most right now.”
Article written by: Madison Shuff
