Outstanding students, former graduates and Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ politicians will all be speakers during Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Cajundome and Cajundome Convention Center.
Scheduled speakers and the complete schedule of ceremonies include:
Cajundome
• 9 a.m. College of General Studies. Stephen Gaubert, a graduate of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette and former University policeman, will serve as the keynote speaker. Gaubert is a practicing lawyer in Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½. He graduated from Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette with a Bachelors of General Studies degree with a concentration in behavioral science. He graduated from The Southern University Law Center in 2004.
• noon. College of Liberal Arts. The family of Rusty Ruiz, a Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette student who was killed in a recent car accident, will receive his college degree posthumously during commencement ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts. Ruiz was majoring in political science.
• 3 p.m. B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. U.S. Sen. David Vitter will give the keynote address. He has been serving as U.S. Senator since 2004. Prior to that, he joined Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s delegation in the U.S. Congress representing the 1st Congressional District. He is a graduate of Harvard University and Tulane Law School.
•5:30 p.m. Graduate School. U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon is the keynote speaker for Graduate School. He is currently serving his third term in the U.S. Congress representing the 3rd District of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½. Prior to his election to Congress in 2004, Melancon spent 11 years as the president and general manger of the American Sugar Cane. He is a graduate of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette. He has a degree in agri-business.
Cajundome Convention Center - Exhibit Hall (first floor)
• 9 a.m. College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. There will be no keynote address.
• noon. College of Education. U.S. Senator David Vitter will give the keynote address at this ceremony.
• 3 p.m. College of Engineering. Ray DesOrmeaux, a former president of the Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette Alumni Association and a Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette Distinguished Alumni, will give the keynote address. DesOrmeaux is a Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Professional Engineered and Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Registered Land Surveyor. He is president of E.R. DesOrmeaux Inc. and is an adjunct professor in civil engineering.
Cajundome Convention Center - Festival Ballroom (second floor)
• 9 a.m. Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. Andrea Lewis, the college’s Outstanding Graduate, will give the keynote address. Lewis is a microbiology major with a minor in chemistry. She is the daughter of Mary Sutton and Ivy Lewis of Baton Rouge.
• noon. College of the Arts. Ellen Ware, the college’s Outstanding Graduate, will give the keynote address. The interior design major is finishing her college career with a 4.0 GPA. She is the daughter of Edward and Janice Ware of Rayne.