McNeese State University has long served as a foundation for student success, preparing graduates for their next steps. For Emma Fournerat and Hailey Opal, that journey led them to LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, where they are pursuing careers as physician assistants. Drawn to the profession for its flexibility and collaborative approach to patient care, both entered the program well prepared for the challenges of clinical training. With the support of scholarships and mentorship, they are now refining their skills and shaping their futures in healthcare.
Emma Fournerat
For Emma Fournerat, physician assistant school has been both a challenge and a gift. Now in her second year at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, she balances the long hours of study and rotations with the excitement of finding her place in medicine. “I love PA school. I know that’s an unpopular opinion,” she admitted with a laugh. “It’s brutal and hard, but I’ve made lifelong friendships and learned so much more than I expected.”
Emma’s journey started in Lake Charles, where she grew up before attending McNeese State University. She majored in biology with minors in chemistry and psychology, and early on she knew she wanted a career in healthcare. The flexibility of the PA profession, like being able to switch specialties during her career, was a perfect fit for her goals. “I like being part of a healthcare team,” she said. “Having the ability to collaborate with physicians, while also having autonomy, really aligned with what I wanted for my life.”
At McNeese, scholarships helped ease the financial burden. Emma was supported by the Dr. Juliana Hinton Scholarship, which she said nearly covered her undergraduate costs. “It was such a blessing, because I was able to focus on my classes instead of worrying about tuition,” she explained. Later, she was awarded the LSU Board of Supervisors Scholarship, made possible through the generosity of Rebecca Boniol.
Emma is quick to credit Boniol’s influence as more than financial. “She gave me the confidence to walk into a room, introduce myself, and not be afraid to share my goals,” Emma said. “She showed me the importance of connections and relationships, and that sometimes the uncomfortable situations are the ones that help you grow the most.”
Hailey Opal
Hailey Opal saw the physician assistant track as a way to embrace both flexibility and opportunity. Now in her second year at LSU Health
Sciences Center in Shreveport, Hailey is in the middle of her clinical rotations, working through specialties that range from pediatrics and family medicine to surgery and psychiatry. Each month brings something new. “I love that as a physician assistant you don’t have to go back to school if you want to change specialties,” she explained. “If I start in the emergency room and later want to move into family medicine, I can do that.”
Her journey began at McNeese State University, where she majored in biology with minors in chemistry and psychology, graduating in May 2024. While at McNeese, she earned her EMT license and worked as an ER technician at CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital. “I loved the fast pace,” she recalled. “Every day was different, and I got to help people in their most vulnerable moments.” Those experiences cemented her passion for health care and gave her the confidence to apply for physician assistant school directly after graduation.
Like many students, Hailey was worried about the cost of graduate school. But an unexpected email from a McNeese professor changed everything. She was urged to apply for the LSU Board of Supervisors Scholarship, nominated by none other than local leader and donor, Rebecca Boniol. Hailey stayed up late to finish the application and was shocked when she got the call: her tuition would be fully covered. “I cried,” she admitted. “That financial burden was lifted, and it was such a blessing.”
For Hailey, scholarships are about more than money; they’re a sign of trust and investment. “Ms. Rebecca doesn’t just write a check. She genuinely cares about us and wants to see us succeed,” Hailey said. “She’s like a cheerleader, constantly encouraging us to go further than we thought possible.” That encouragement is shaping Hailey into more than just a medical professional; it’s positioning her as one of Louisiana’s future leaders in healthcare.
Article written by: Madison Shuff
