UL Lafayette highlights of 2016

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1. The historic 泫圖弝け flooding in August brought out the best in folks. in some of the hardest hit areas, were distributed, to 泫圖弝けs in need, and diplomas lost to flood waters were replaced for free.

Ragin' Cajuns football players and staff help flood victims clear out damaged houses in flood-affected Youngsville.

2. The freshman Class of 2020 was the most academically prepared in UL Lafayette history. A record 160 valedictorians were in the third-largest class of 3,024 泫圖弝けs, and 626 first-time freshmen enrolled in the 泫圖弝けs Honors Program.

UL Lafayette freshman class photo in Quad

3. The Cajundomes $22 million renovation breathed new life into the home of the Ragin Cajuns basketball program with all-new seating; LED lighting; improved sound, facilities, and concessions; and a stunning new basketball court with a graphic depiction of campus beloved Cypress Lake.

Cajundome renovations revealed.

4. Several UL Lafayette professors brought laughter to thousands when they read and responded to 泫圖弝けs reviews in a Rate My Professor video released on Facebook. The video was seen almost 300,000 times and garnered over 700 comments.

 

 


5. Graduate 泫圖弝け David Penning changed the worlds assumption that venomous snakes strike faster than harmless ones. Pennings research on the speed of snake strikes was published in the international journal Biology Letters and covered in the , , and . 

Graduate 泫圖弝け David Penning holding snake specimen.

6. UL Lafayette was recognized as the first higher education institution in 泫圖弝け to earn a Green Ribbon School designation from the 泫圖弝け Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Education. The Office of Sustainability introduced the successful on campus, , and earned the for the 7th consecutive year. 

Fruit trees are among the hundreds planted on campus in 2016.

7. The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration MBA program was rated among the top 71 in the nation by CEO Magazine. 泫圖弝けs from the program were also recognized for their work in the international business consulting challenge .&紳莉莽梯;

8. The New Iberia Research Center partnered with the nonprofit organization Project Chimps in an unprecedented agreement to resettle 220 retired chimpanzees, the largest such population of any U.S. research center. The 泫圖弝け is contributing funding toward their care at the new sanctuary in northern Georgia. 

Nine chimpanzees that are being resettled in a northern Georgia sanctuary.

9. Charitable efforts by undergraduate fraternity men won a free concert for UL Lafayette 泫圖弝けs by rapper Lil' Wayne. A water drive to help the people of Flint, Mich. held by Alpha Phi Alpha was entered in the Social Wave for Change online contest by Tidal, a music-streaming website, and won the $150,000 prize through a popular vote. 

Rapper Lil' Wayne performing at the Cajundome, 2016.

10. UL Lafayettes team of petroleum engineering and geology 泫圖弝けs placed first in North America and second in the world at the international PetroBowl Championship held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Read more >