Toast to Leadership celebrates outstanding students
For the 44th year, Lamar University has recognized outstanding student organizations and exceptional student achievements at the 2024 Toast to Leadership Award Ceremony.
The Seniors of Significance Award recognizes select seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and community service. This year's recipients represent all undergraduate colleges and have made a positive impact on the Lamar University campus and in their individual academic fields.
Recognized as 2024 Seniors of Significance were: Julia Barrett, Interdisciplinary Studies, Groves; Stephanie Barron, Psychology, Groves; Angelie Bautista, Nursing, Katy; Annabelle Broussard, Chemical Engineering, Spring; Bailey Doss, Communication–Public Relations, Beaumont; Oluwatomisin Egbewale, Computer Science, Willoughby, Ohio; Kelvin Elgar, Chemical Engineering, Beaumont; Dakota Emerson, Chemical Engineering, Nederland; Amarie Guillory, Human Resource Management, Beaumont; David Haley, Chemical Engineering, Lumberton; Kristin Hebert, Exercise Science, Nederland; Susann Kalathra, Biochemistry and Music, Beaumont; Mallory Lisle, Chemical Engineering, Orange; Vicky Longoria-Alvarado, Biochemistry, Port Arthur; Morgan Luke, Biochemistry, Nederland; Riley Mayo, Nursing, Liberty; Zaid Mohammed, Biology, Beaumont; Jaelan Sherman, Psychology, Houston; Jacob Thompson, Biology, Beaumont; and Lexus Wilkerson, Accounting, Bridge City.
The Ann Shaw Award was established to honor a junior or senior for fostering a spirit of teamwork, excellence in leadership, and exhibiting exemplary ethics and integrity while making a significant contribution to LU. The winner for 2024 is junior Sergio Mendez, an Honors College student and an LU Ambassador. He is a member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, American Medical Student Association, MedLife, and the LU Hispanic Society.
The Bess Gentry Award recognizes an outstanding senior woman for exceptional leadership, exemplary character, service to the university and community, and academic scholarship. The 2024 recipient is Morgan Luke. Morgan is a biochemistry major from Nederland and she is the president of the American Medical Student Association and Helping Hands, an Honors Student Association peer mentor, and the recipient of the Mamie McFaddin Ward Memorial Scholarship in Health Sciences.
The C. Robert Kemble Award recognizes an outstanding senior man for educational excellence and distinction in leadership, character, and service. The 2024 recipient is Jacob Thompson. Jacob is a biology/pre-med major from Beaumont and works as a neurology medical assistant and medical scribe. He is a founding member of the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, the volunteer coordinator for MedLife, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.
Sergio Mendez
Morgan Luke
Jacob Thompson
Outstanding Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), led by president Mary Wernig and advised by Hayley Wallace. NSSLHA advocates for issues relevant to the field of speech-language pathology and audiology within the university community and beyond.
New Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the K-Pop Club, led by president Kennedy Lejune and advised by Dr. Sheila Springer and Dr. Seokyon Hwang.
The award for Program of the Year was given to the International Student Council (ISC) for the African Cultural Festival. The ISC is led by president Peter Uka and advised by Corey Inaza and Dr. Mustapha Jourdini.
The award for Outstanding Advisor of the Year is given to an advisor who has shown outstanding dedication, service, and support to their organization and its members. This year’s award was presented to assistant professor of educational leadership, Dr. Kathryn Washington, who serves as the advisor to the Collegiate 100 at Lamar University, led by president Bria Moneaux.
Also recognized at the ceremony were the newly-elected officers for the 2024-25 Student Government Association: president Ethan Ellis, vice president Christie Luong, secretary-treasurer Daijia Pugh, and class senators Megan Do and Campbell Fuller.