LU Student Profiles

The Texas Association of School Administrators has named the 2023 recipients of its Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship, which recognizes the leadership of Dr. Johnny L. Veselka, who dedicated nearly 44 years of service to the association, including 32 years as TASA’s executive director.

For senior public relations major and upcoming graduate Mattie Hamilton, it all started as a standard research paper for an eight-week online class during the fall 2021 semester. Following a conversation with Professor Andre Favors in the Department of Communication & Media, Hamilton continued her research.

While most may view students at Lamar University as future educators, engineers, scientists, politicians and beyond, Caleb Buse looks around and sees one thing –– future entrepreneurs. Now, the Silsbee native is the brainchild, and president, behind the new LU student organization Future Entrepreneurs Organization, chartered in early November.

Senior industrial technology major Jordan Lewis shares his journey through his fall internship with Chevron.

In this Q&A, Luis Arevalo, junior chemical engineer with a Spanish minor, shares his background, culture and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him and his family.

There’s a new student organization piquing the interest of Cardinals across campus: The Nigerian Student Association.

The Lamar University junior accounting major from Nederland, Texas has come a long way since her first dance pageant at the age of 7 when she donned a neon orange dress her mother picked out for her. Despite being a nervous wreck — running off stage and forgetting her dance — she was named first runner-up. Gonzales has been performing ever since. 

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. Tioluwaniiyin Akiwunmi, an electrical engineering major from Abeokuta Nigeria, shares what she's most excited about during her journey here at LU. 

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo recently awarded 100 students across 18 different Texas colleges and universities $1.2 million in educational funding through the Rodeo’s Achievement Scholarship Program. Among them are two Lamar University students –– Amber Martinez and Hannah Norwood.

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.

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

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.

In this Q&A, Christian Guillory, SGA president, and Luiz Ramirez, SGA vice president, share what SGA learned over the past year, major projects for the academic year and more.

Annabelle Broussard is a senior in chemical engineering and an intern at ExxonMobil as a blending and packaging intern. In this Q&A, the Beaumont native talks about her experience as a legacy LU student and her passion towards a better tomorrow. 

Summer '22 graduate Landon Richard discusses his passion for connecting with others and his experience at Lamar University before he walks the stage at commencement on Saturday.

A worldly Lamar University student, inspired by the places he’s visited and the need for affordable mental healthcare, obtains his Master of Education in Counseling & Development and looks to the future after graduation on Saturday.

Maryclaire Strassburger, a summer '22 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration, talks about her love of the hospitality industry and her experience at LU.

Corporate communications major Tiana Johnson discusses her journey at LU and how she found her voice to share the stories only she can tell as she prepares for graduation on Saturday.

A Cardinal from the Netherlands is flying across the ocean to walk the stage at the Lamar University Summer 2022 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, completing her journey in obtaining an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

This soon-to-be graduate talks about his arduous journey to Lamar University, his experience obtaining his Master of Science in Applied Psychology and what’s next for him after he walks the stage on Saturday.

As new Cardinals flock to campus for the fall semester, Cardinal Communities aim to engage in meaningful relationships that empower first-time college goers to thrive at Lamar University and beyond.

On the heels of wrapping up an industrial engineering internship with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, LU student Marcellious Prentice is now interning at Lockheed Martin Corporation within the company's Space Program in Denver, Colorado as a manufacturing engineer.

Sakurah Fisher '19 shares her story about life after graduation from Lamar University and 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.

Senior accounting major Kalenshia Underwood talks about her excitement in starting her fall internship with Grant Thornton LLP, the sixth largest U.S. accounting and advisory organization.

Two Beaumont Independent School District graduates –– Mexli Flores and Blake Wilson –– have been awarded the Nancy Evans Memorial Scholarship.

Lamar University College of Business students have formed the Asian Business Student Association, an upcoming student organization that aspires to provide resources for Lamar students to add to their professional skill set.

While the recent graduate looks to the bright future, Camp also reflects on his journey at “Harvard on the Neches” — the ups and downs, the awards and accolades, the challenges and the hard work, as well as the opportunities afforded to him by Lamar University.

Lamar University’s Office of Human Resources recognizes its previous student worker and intern L’Karion Cartwright for her achievement in obtaining a paid co-op with WestRock Company in Silsbee, Texas for the spring and summer 2022 semesters.

Emily Robinson, a first-generation graduate with a bachelor’s in English and a minor in communications with a teaching certification, discusses her experiences at Lamar University.

Aylin Galvan, a junior nutrition major with a dual minor in health and family studies, discusses her internship with the Cyclone Scholar Summer Research Experience.

2022 David J. Beck Fellow Angel Flowers discusses her journey to Lamar University, a newly-discovered passion for her field of research and the bright future that lies ahead.

High school senior and Texas Academy student Adeline Tran, who was recently awarded the Southeast Texas Legends Scholarship, talks about the prestigious award, her decision to come to Lamar University and the bright future that awaits.

Senior accounting and finance major Taliah Belcher was named a recipient of the 2022 Presidential Fellowship and discusses her background, time at LU, research and future.

Zaid Mohammed, sophomore biology major with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in pre-med, discusses his journey, research and future as a 2022 Beck Fellow.

Maria Villa, social work senior, is interning in Washington D.C. with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Isabelle Wyche, sophomore health administration major, shares why Black History Month symbolizes celebration and honor for her ancestors.

DeShaun Bell, senior graphic design major, shares the importance of Black History Month and paying homage to those that have helped her along her journey thus far. 

What they see is what they’ll be. That is the slogan and life motto for members of the 100 Black Men of America. It also is the motto that catapulted LU senior graphic design major DeShaun Bell into first place for the national Stop the Violence billboard and social media design contest hosted by the organization last fall.  

Aerod Wyre, senior mechanical engineering and mathematics major, shares what Black History Month means to him as a first-generation college student. 

Katie Rice, junior and political science major, discusses her internship as a file clerk at MehaffyWeber Law Firm.

A no brainer. That’s how Annabelle Broussard described her decision to attend Lamar University. The Beaumont native first discovered her knack for engineering after attending the LU College of Engineering’s Lamar Intro to Engineering summer program in middle school.

Annually, the Press Club of Southeast Texas utilizes funds accrued from donations, contest entry fees and banquet proceeds to provide a Lamar University communication student with the Press Club Memorial Scholarship. This year’s recipient was LU journalism major Tim Cohrs, who believes his scholarship serves as a representation of all the work he’s done over the years in the communication field.

Taliah Belcher, a senior accounting and finance double major in the College of Business, recently completed a six-week internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers office in Dallas. The virtual internship, known as the ‘Start Internship’, is centered around mentorship, gaining insight into PwC as a company, and learning about the many different career opportunities offered by the company.

Lance Taylor, a current graduate student in the Master of Science in Accounting Program who also earned his B.B.A in Finance and Accounting, has accepted a full-time job offer to join the Walmart Corporate Headquarters as Financial Analyst II.  This offer comes after Taylor successfully completed a highly coveted and competitive internship program with the company.

Taliah Belcher, senior accounting and finance major, has been awarded the 2021 Texas State University System Regents' Student Scholar Award, an honor that includes a commemorative medallion, a board resolution and a $5,000 credit toward educational expenses. Student scholars are formally recognized at the Board of Regents meeting held on Nov. 19 at Sam Houston State University. 

High school senior, Kristin Hebert, joined the Showcase of Southeast Texas marching band this fall as a feature twirler – one of the most prestigious positions in baton twirling. It’s an honor that she has dreamed of reaching since the age of four and was able to achieve sooner than expected, thanks to the Lamar University Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities program.

Lamar University is proud to announce that Kristin Helm, Cardinal success coach in the College of Business, and senior communications major Gina Taylor have been named as 40 Under 40 honorees by the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization.

Senior photography major Sierra Davis has been selected as one of 39 featured artists in the 2021 Botanical Competition for two of her photography submissions. Botanical is a nationally juried exhibition organized by TAGat120ART in Taylor, TX.

Senior political science and criminal justice major Brendon Camp has been recognized nationally by Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society, for his undergraduate paper, “Implied Consent: A Review of Judicial Process and Constitutional Law.”

Entrepreneur and senior accounting major Dion Tran was selected by the Texas Business Hall of Fame as the 2021 recipient of the Ben J. Rogers scholarship.

Recent deaf studies and deaf education graduate Shay Stegemann '21, best known by her pen name Shay Abigail, has published a children’s book focused on American Sign Language and the deaf community titled “My Name is Maya.”

Megan Wimberly ’12, deaf studies and deaf education doctoral student, was chosen as one of three presenters for the 2021 virtual Language First Deaf Disabled Students Mini Conference.

The Houston Gas Processors Association has awarded three students from the College of Engineering the Houston GPA scholarship.