51�Թ�Pro

The 51�Թ�ProAlumni Advisory Board has elected Emily (Everett) Allen ’98, ’04 of Sour Lake to serve as 2024-2025 president. Sharita Gardner ’12 of Beaumont will serve as past president and Christopher Graham ’90 of Kingwood will serve as president-elect. 

Joshua Tindel's journey from southeast 51�Թ�Proto the Navy and back to Lamar University, where he graduated with a Nursing degree in 2024, highlights his dedication to service, resilience, and passion for healthcare, inspired by his military experience and volunteer work at the Crisis Center of Southeast Texas.

On May 14, thirteen 51�Թ�Proalumni were named as Reaud Excellence in Education Award winners. 

Glen W. Morgan, managing partner of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P., has been given the title of Southeast 51�Թ�ProLegend by Lamar University.

Dos Corazonez, founded by LU alumnus Julian Stevens in tribute to his mother's legacy, embodies love, resilience, and empowerment through fashion, transcending mere apparel to make a statement about the enduring power of love and human resilience.

51�Թ�Proannounces the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, recognizing graduates who have excelled in their careers and community service.

Johnny Guidry, a distinguished 51�Թ�Proalumnus, has been named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF), a prestigious federal government leadership development program.

Frances Wimberly-Alberto, a 51�Թ�Prograduate, shares her family's legacy with the institution.

51�Թ�Proorganized an exclusive Dinner and Conversation event on Feb. 6, bringing together accomplished alumni and current students. Hosted by the Office of Alumni Affairs, the event aimed to provide students with valuable insights into various professional fields.

During an executive leadership training session for the 51�Թ�ProAmbassadors, distinguished alumnus Orlando Alvarez, President & CEO of BP America, Inc., shared valuable insights on leadership, drawing from his 36-year career journey.

LU Alumna Dianna Caston will be inducted to the 51�Թ�ProTennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, December 8 at the Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horshoe Bay, 51�Թ�Proat the 51�Թ�ProTennis Coaches Association Convention.

Dylan Newton, a 51�Թ�Proalumnus and renowned cyberpunk photographer, is captivating global audiences with his surreal, futuristic imagery.

Out of the 40 individuals recognized for their outstanding achievements, an impressive 20 are proud graduates and one faculty member of Lamar University.  

Christopher Bates, Sr., an alumnus of Lamar University, has been honored as the United States Constable of the Year for 2023 by the National Constables and Marshals Association (NCMA).

It is no secret that Tiffany Tran made her mark on 51�Թ�Prothroughout her educational career. Additionally, it is no surprise she continues to do so as she furthers her education at the University of 51�Թ�ProSchool of Dentistry at Houston.

It is no surprise that being a recipient of the Milken Educator Award is a life-changing experience for a teacher, especially if said recipient is the first educator in her school district to do so.

51�Թ�Prois pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. This year, four alumni –– Hester Bell, Carl Griffith, George Hirasaki and Fred Vernon –– will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award 51�Թ�Probestows upon its graduates.

Former 51�Թ�Procommunication student and LUTV sports anchor Brooke Kirchhofer was awarded the “Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year” award from the National Sports Media Association on Monday, Jan. 9.

Ashley Wilbourn '13, along with several other educators in the Beaumont Independent School District, has been honored with the Above and Beyond Award, given to educators within the district for their dedication to student success.

Twins Keyara and Teyara Watson-Love took social media by storm in early summer just after simultaneously graduating from LU with master’s degrees in speech-language pathology –– a field with only 3% of Black women. Now, the pair are headed to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention to present research.

51�Թ�Proalum Monica Fricke '14 was recently awarded Region 6 Counselor of the Year award.

51�Թ�Proalumna Jesica (Bates) Sykes ’05, ’19, has received the Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Starting on Monday, Sept. 26, 51�Թ�Prois hosting a full week of events leading up to the university’s homecoming celebration on Oct. 1, which also coincides with Cardinal Parent & Family Day.

For as long as he could remember, Lance Taylor ’20, '21, has always followed the same formula in life: God + Hard Work = Undefeated. Now, as he settles into his new role as financial analyst at Walmart Corporate Headquarters, the accounting and finance graduate said there’s also one not-so-secret ingredient that has been pivotal to his success –– Lamar University.

Gov. Greg Abbott recently reappointed Charles E. “Charlie” Holder, a 51�Թ�Proalumnus, to the Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners .

For the second year, the 51�Թ�ProBlack Alumni Network will host its annual homecoming celebrations starting with a scholarship gala and Black alumni tailgate beginning Sept. 30.

51�Թ�Proalumna DeMonica D. Gladney ’90 has been named a Top 30 Influential Women of Houston honoree.

After 40 years of service in the 51�Թ�ProMail Center, beloved mail carrier Cynthia Perkins will postmark her last letter and retire on Aug. 31.

Brianne Ivy recent graduated with her bachelor’s degree in social work and was awarded the Otho Plummer Award, an award given at commencement to the male and female in that graduating class with the highest GPA.

Rosendo Varela was slated to graduate with his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in August before he tragically passed away.

Jennifer Hamilton '04, '21 chronicles her journey at LU and her laser-focused mission to earn her masters degree.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recently announced the recipients of its 2022 Fellowships. Fellowships totaling $649,000 were awarded to 62 of the nation’s top scholars at institutes with an active chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Among those 62 awardees was LU alum Tiffany Tran ’22.

On Thursday, Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m., the 51�Թ�ProBlack Alumni Network is set to host “Entrepreneurship 101,” a virtual workshop that aims to educate Black LU alumni on how to start and manage a successful business.

For 22 years, Bellard has carried the torch for student success and remained laser-focused on being a team player. Now, upon his retirement as interim vice president for the Division of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, Bellard reflects back on his more than two decades at LU and his most memorable moments.

The year was 1976 when an excited Dr. Freddie Titus stepped onto the 51�Թ�Procampus for the first time. Now, as he enters his 40th year at Lamar University, he reflects back on his journey at LU and how he plans to give back to the university everything that was given to him.

The faculty and staff in the Department of Art & Design will present their work in an exhibition at the Dishman Art Museum Aug. 13 through Sept. 10. The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, Aug. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Summer '22 graduate Landon Richard discusses his passion for connecting with others and his experience at 51�Թ�Probefore he walks the stage at commencement on Saturday.

After a 10-year hiatus, going back to earn her Master of Business Administration degree wasn’t an easy decision for Erika Thomas, but she focused on her future vision for her career. What she didn’t see coming, however, was that she would be graduating alongside her son Quincy Walter.

Inspire, lead and achieve. That is the motto for Pure International Pageants. It’s also the three actions that helped LU alum Tricia Hidalgo in being crowned the new Ms. USA for 2022.

The International Association of Defense Counsel has elected new Board of Directors and members for 2022-2023. The new appointments were announced at the association’s 2022 annual meeting in mid-July in Berlin, Germany. Among eight newly appointed board members is LU alumna Michele Smith ’88, who was named president-elect for the board.

For as long as he could remember, Thanh Nguyen has always been drawn to STEM –– science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Now, the recent chemical engineering graduate is taking what he learned in the 51�Թ�ProCollege of Engineering and applying it to his new role as improvement engineer at DOW Chemical Company.

51�Թ�Proalumna Lori High was recently appointed to the 51�Թ�ProCommission of Licensing and Regulation by Governor Greg Abbott.

When LouAnn Asbury passed away unexpectedly in January of 2021 from complications due to COVID-19, her son Dr. David Hall, and his wife Dr. Jeannette Hall, knew they had to do something extraordinary to honor her legacy and passion for education and helping others.

Jenna (Burnaman) Dean '20 is a 4th grade math and science teacher and grade level chair at Helena Park Elementary in Nederland, Texas. The College of Education and Human Development graduate was awarded the first ever Teacher of the Month Award in March of 2022 by the Nederland Chamber of Commerce. Now, ahead of the new academic year, Dean reflects back on how her experience at LU helped to shape her career as an educator.

The story of Lorenzo Salinas, who is graduating in August, began nearly 50 years ago, when his grandparents walked to the U.S. from Mexico with a dream. Now, the senior social work major is living that dream, defying the odds and soaring to new possibilities.

Sakurah Fisher '19 shares her story about life after graduation from 51�Թ�Proand the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies, her journey to intern at the United Nations Development Programme and her plans for a bright future internationally.

51�Թ�Proalumni around the globe are making a difference, asking important questions, breaking down barriers, making discoveries, solving problems and doing work that matters. Check out our social buzz feed to see what some of our Cardinals in the classroom have been up to for the month of June.

The Dishman Art Museum has launched After School Special: The Fourth Juried Alumni Art Exhibition at LU and the first in-person juried show for the museum since the start of the pandemic.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a law firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, and ranked as the 87th largest firm in the United States, has tapped LU alum and Walmart In-House Counsel Veronica Hayes Gromada '96 as partner in the firm’s Product Liability Litigation Practice.

The 51�Թ�ProParent Teacher Association recently named the 2022 Outstanding Educator of the Year Award and among them is Beaumont Independent School District superintendent and LU Distinguished alum Dr. Shannon Allen who was recognized as “Superintendent of the Year.”

The Litigation Section of the State Bar of 51�Թ�Prois set to induct 51�Թ�Proalum  and founding partner David J. Beck ’61 as a “51�Թ�ProLegal Legend” at the State Bar of 51�Թ�ProAnnual Meeting on June 9.