2022 News

Lamar University alumna Julia Hayes of Beaumont was recently reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Appraisal Management Companies Advisory Committee.

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. 

Lamar University was recently ranked No. 3 among the top 10 most affordable colleges for online master’s in school counseling degrees, according to best-universities.net.

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.

In this Q&A, Hispanic mentor and Lamar University admissions counselor Angelica Cardenas Guerrero shares her background, culture and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her and her family.

In this Q&A, Tracy Ramirez, a senior communication-broadcasting major, shares her background, culture and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her and her family.

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.

On Thursday, Sept.15, the College of Engineering hosted the annual fall LU Engineering Career Fair. Students were welcomed in the Live Oak Ballroom in the Setzer Center with ore than 70 prospective employers awaiting their arrival, the largest career fair in the college’s history to date.

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.

On Thursday, Sept. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Communication Building on campus, the LU Department of Communication and Media will celebrate “Democracy Day.” 

On Thursday, Aug. 24, President Biden, Vice President Harris and the U.S. Department of Education announced a three-part plan for Student Loan Debt Relief. Dr. Riginal Brazzle, director of the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran's Affairs sat recently sat down with 12NewsNow to weigh in on how and why President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan will heavily impact Black students and graduates.

English professor and poet Katherine Hoerth recently published her fourth poetry collection, "Flare Stacks in Bloom," an eco-feminist collection of poetry that explores the causes and effects of Hurricane Harvey — the personal, the communal and the universal.

Lamar University President Jaime Taylor has announced that Mark Robinson, an experienced higher education leader and financial officer, has been named the university’s new chief financial officer. Robinson was selected for the position following a national search led by the university and will begin his new role in late September.

Getting a quality education doesn’t mean you have to break the bank.

On Aug. 11-12, eight LU male students along with three LU sponsors –– Victor Davila and Drs. Freddie Titus and Hector Flores –– traveled to Austin to attend the 9th annual Texas Male Student Leadership Summit.

After 40 years of service in the Lamar University Mail 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.

Lamar University is offering a unique class experience of role-playing the French Revolution this semester (HIST 4346), taught by chair of history and chair of university studies professor Dr. Rebecca Boone.

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 totally $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.