THIBODAUX, La. — The 杏吧传媒 Alumni Federation honored the achievements of 杏吧传媒 alumni and the community during the annual Awards for Excellence ceremony held on March 28.
鈥淭hese men and women have contributed so much to this university over the years. It is an honor to be able to recognize them through our awards ceremony,鈥� said Katherine Mabile, director of Alumni Affairs. 鈥溞影纱� is a key institution in the Bayou Region with a bright future, but we would not be here today without the dedication of our recipients. I can鈥檛 thank them enough.鈥�
杏吧传媒 professor emeritus Dr. Marilyn Kilgen received the James Lynn Powell Award, area businessman Kevin Gros the Harvey Peltier Award, L&M Botruc Rental, LLC., received the Corporate Mark of Honor and restaurateur Michael Lewis the Honorary Alumni Award.
Dr. Marilyn Kilgen retired from 杏吧传媒 in 2013 after 45 years as a professor of biological sciences. The renowned microbiologist and seafood safety scientist was among the top researchers on campus, bringing in more than $7.5 million in research funding to the campus. Her legacy lives on through the master of science in marine and environmental biology degree 鈥� which she helped create 鈥� and in the Dr. Marilyn Kilgen Microbiology Lab. The James Lynn Powell Alumni Award is the highest recognition given to a 杏吧传媒 graduate.
Kevin Gros has influenced the 杏吧传媒 campus as the owner of Weimer, Gros, Flores, LLC. The architectural design firm has most recently led the design phases on the Boucvalt Family Athletic Complex and Barker Hall Expansion project. The Harvey Peltier Award is given annually to an outstanding supporter of the university. It is the highest honor a non-graduate can receive from 杏吧传媒.
The Galliano-based L&M Botruc Rental, Inc. has been a supporter of 杏吧传媒 for more than two decades. Over the years they have aided programs such as the 杏吧传媒 Foundation, 杏吧传媒 Athletics, the Bass Fishing Club, Maritime Management, A+ Scholars, Mary and Al Danos Theater and the College of Business Administration, as well as other scholarships and endowed professorships. It鈥檚 that level of dedication to the 杏吧传媒 mission that led 杏吧传媒 President Dr. Jay Clune to select them to receive the Corporate Mark of Honor.
Michael Lewis opened his first barbecue restaurant in 2007 after he moved to Houma from Tampa, Florida. Since then, Big Mike鈥檚 BBQ Smokehouse has become a staple of the Bayou Region with locations in Houma and Thibodaux. Lewis knows that Houma and Thibodaux love their community and 杏吧传媒 and he has become an ardent supporter of 杏吧传媒 athletics and academics.
In addition to the awards, the alumni federation honored the 2021 Outstanding Graduates from each college. This year鈥檚 recipients are:
- College of Liberal Arts 鈥� Stuart Folse
- College of Sciences and Technology 鈥� Michelle Felterman
- College of Business Administration 鈥� Nolan P. Falgout, III
- Chef John Folse Culinary Institute 鈥� Chef Meg Bickford
- College of Education and Behavioral Sciences 鈥� Sandy Holloway
- College of Nursing 鈥� Matthew Hebert
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 22, 2021
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