News at Lamar University

For as long as she could remember, Emily Smith, a history major, always had her sights set on attending University of Texas in Austin. But when it came down to choosing the best university for her, the Port Neches native said LU was a perfect fit.

Lamar University’s first concert of the 2022-23 school year, featuring the Lamar University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in Beaumont’s Julie Rogers Theatre. The band program recently welcomed more than 108 Lamar University students from 45 different high schools to both the university Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band.  

In this Q&A, Dr. Hector Flores, Hispanic mentor and Lamar University dean of students and associate vice president of the Division of Student Engagement, shares his background, culture and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him and his family.

LU recently received a national recognition that distinguishes its principal and superintendent programs from others.

New year. New faces. Welcome home, class of 2026! It's a whole new world for incoming freshman who joined the Cardinal family this fall. Alli Gross, a biology pre-med major, is an incoming junior in the Texas Academy Program, an early entrance honors program for local high school juniors and seniors. For the Orange, Texas, native it's been an exciting journey so far discovering all that Lamar University has to offer.

Lamar University alumna Jesica (Bates) Sykes ’05, ’19, has received the Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

On Friday, Sept. 16, the Division of University Advancement inducted its newest members of the Lamar University Ambassadors with President Dr. Jaime Taylor giving opening remarks and presenting red blazers to each new Ambassador.

In this Q&A, Hispanic mentor and Lamar University Enrollment Marketing Manager Jhocelyn Alvarado shares her background, culture and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her and her family.

Texas Academy hosted more than 50 students at its 30th annual Preview Day.

Starting on Monday, Sept. 26, Lamar University is 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.

Red Day: “Stand Up and Holler” — the annual day of giving to colleges and programs at Lamar University — was a success, with $330,907 raised and 382 donors and 456 donations.

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.

Alexis Miller, a senior Beaumont native majoring in broadcast journalism, shares her journey to Lamar University and some of her most memorable moments during her time at LU.

Lamar University will be featured in the next season of “The College Tour” and is looking for proud Cardinal students to tell their stories. The university is looking for fun and engaging students to tell their stories and casting for the episode is now open.

Lamar University senior Denise Garcia shares her journey and how her opportunity to study fashion merchandising in Seoul, South Korea will shape her future.

The LU Department of Theatre & Dance has announced its performances for the fall semester: “The Clean House” by Sarah Ruhl; “Lost Lake” by David Auburn; and “Fall & Recovery,” choreographed by LU dance faculty and guest artists.

Saxophone great Jeff Coffin will be appearing at Lamar University at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 in the University Theatre for a free concert with the Cardinal Jazz Orchestra.

Lamar University has launched the Cardinal Athletics Fund, which will serve as the fundraising arm of LU Athletics aimed at impacting student-athletes representing 17 varsity sports at LU.

Gov. Greg Abbott recently reappointed Charles E. “Charlie” Holder, a Lamar University alumnus, to the Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners .

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

A new exhibition will soon open up at the Lamar University Dishman Art Museum: Ghostlight, the newest collection from award-winning photographer Keith Carter. The exhibition runs Sept. 24 through Nov. 12, with an opening reception will be held Sept. 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

“University health centers throughout the country apply for accreditation and currently, only 11% of them are accredited through AAAHC,” Student Health Center Director Shawn Gray said.

The Lamar University College of Engineering ushered in the fall semester with its 2nd annual Freshman Engineering Boot Camp, held Aug. 15-19.

A team of researchers at Lamar University will be awarded $5 million in grant funding to bolster the team’s research on resiliency in Southeast Texas and the Greater Beaumont area.

Dr. Orrin Swift, associate professor of accounting, has always relished in language. It all started with spelling competitions in the second grade. On July 23-27, Swift competed with the best of the at the annual North American Scrabble Championship in Baltimore, Maryland. After a five-day tournament, 31 total games at seven rounds a day, and more than 100,000 words later, Swift won second place ranking him as the No. 2-rated Scrabble player in the nation.

"Stand Up and Holler" for the 2nd annual Red Day — a 24-hour event encouraging the community to give back to LU colleges and programs.

A little-known resource that works hard to ensure that no student at Lamar University goes hungry.

Lamar University alumna DeMonica D. Gladney ’90 has been named a Top 30 Influential Women of Houston honoree.

Through a planned gift, Dr. John Schnick, a legacy alum, will create multi-million-dollar endowments to support Lamar University students.