McNeese State University students Maggie McBride, of Lake Charles, and Katherine Sittig, of Eunice, were named the Outstanding Graduates for fall 2023.
The McNeese Student Government Association (SGA) and the McNeese Alumni Association worked together to create the Outstanding Graduate Awards. Students are nominated on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and excellence with a personal touch and also the nominee’s impact on the college or on campus.
Each of the six colleges at McNeese nominated an undergraduate and a graduate student in their final semester. A committee from the McNeese Alumni Association then selected one undergraduate and one graduate student for the award.
McBride, a graduate student, was nominated by the Burton College of Education. She will receive a master’s degree in health and human performance with a concentration in health and wellness promotion. McBride is a teaching assistant and the supervisor of the First Aid and CPR/AED certification course in the McNeese Health and Human Performance Department. She will begin her career as an instructor in health and human performance at McNeese in January.
Sittig, also nominated by the Burton College of Education, will receive a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance with a concentration in pre-occupational therapy. She minored in psychology and sports medicine. She is a member of the Cowgirl Kickers, Physical Medicine Society and serves as an SGA senator. Sittig plans to attend Baylor University to study occupational therapy.
Other Outstanding Graduate nominees included Blayne Soileau, from Lake Charles, and Chiamaka Nnadi, from Nigeria, nominated by the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Soileau will receive a bachelor’s degree in natural resources conservation management. He is a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Delta Waterfowl. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in environmental and chemical sciences at McNeese.
Nnadi is a graduate student and will receive a master’s degree in environmental and chemical sciences. She is a member of the African and Caribbean Students Association. She won Best Graduate Oral Presentation in her category at the Louisiana Academy of Sciences. Nnadi will begin pursuing a doctorate degree at Tennessee State University in January.
The College of Business nominated Camille Dufrene, of Raceland, and John Schnake, of Lake Charles.
Dufrene will receive a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in human resource management. She is president of Delta Sigma Pi Eta Tau and works at the McNeese Autism Program. Schnake, a graduate student, will receive a master’s degree in business administration and currently works for Amazon as a software engineer.
The College of Liberal Arts nominated David Thompson, of Lake Charles, and Angela Guillory, of Sulphur.
Thompson will receive a bachelor’s degree in humanities with a pre-law concentration. He is a member of the Pre-Law Society and the McNeese Honors College. He plans to go to law school. Guillory owns and operates a small private school for children with learning and social disabilities. She will receive a master’s degree in criminal justice and hopes to become an instructor.
Gabriell Little, of Lake Charles, was nominated by the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She will receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Little is a past president of McNeese Students for Life and is a member of Chi Omega, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and McNeese Cowboy Catholics.
The College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics nominated Chadwick Randow, from Pineville, and Elizabeth Parks, from Church Point.
Randow will receive a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a concentration on civil engineering. He is a United States Army Veteran. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and plans to pursue a master’s degree in business administration at McNeese.
Parks will receive a master’s degree in environmental and chemical sciences. She is a member of Cowboy Catholics, Human Anatomy and Physiology Society, Louisiana Academy of Sciences, Louisiana Mosquito Control Association and the American Society for Microbiology. She plans to pursue a career in biology.
The Outstanding Graduate Award winners will be honored at commencement ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 8.
