“Make your lives count for something bigger than yourselves,” Gov. Bobby Jindal encouraged Nicholls’ fall class of 2008, one of the University’s largest graduating classes in recent years. Jindal delivered the keynote address during graduation on Dec. 13, motivating graduates to dream big and to keep their minds open to innovation.

The ceremony, held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, featured 591 graduates who were awarded 607 degrees. On average Nicholls sees 480-520 students complete their coursework per semester.

Dustin Gisclair, a finance major from Cut-Off, Louisiana, expected fewer students to attend graduation. “The ceremony went smoothly, considering the amount of people graduating,” Gisclair said.

Nicholls’ fall commencement awarded students for completing their coursework either during the summer or fall semester. The Office of Academic Affairs reported that there were over 5,000 people in attendance. Stephen T. Hulbert, the university president, presented graduates with degrees.

Elementary education major Mandy Lynn Folse of Lockport, nursing major Aimee Maria Babin of Houma, elementary education major Lottie C. Danos of Larose and nursing major Alisha Ann Yates of Raceland were four of the eight students graduating with the highest academic honor, summa cum laude, finishing their bachelor degrees with a 4.0 grade point average and earning the President’s Medal of Honor.

General studies major Scott Anthony Hebert of Houma, art major

Emily Verret Huffaker of Houma, general family consumer sciences major Lauren Nicole Mouton of Abbeville and biology pre-physical therapy major Lori Gail Waguespack of Vacherie also graduated with summa cum laude honor.

Also during the graduation ceremony, Alfred Delahaye, professor emeritus of journalism, was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree for his devotion to the Nicholls State University since 1957.