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Â鶹ÊÓƵ honored six students with the Plummer Award, recognizing them as the top male and female graduates in December’s 2016 graduating class. Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Kenneth Evans presented the awards during commencement ceremonies December 16 and 17 in the Montagne Center. The Plummer Awards honor the late Otho Plummer, who was chairman emeritus of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Board of Regents and a longtime board member.

Kennedy Kilpatrick from Evadale earned a Bachelor of Science in speech and hearing sciences. She plans to return to Â鶹ÊÓƵ and complete her masters in speech language pathology and conduct research on dementia. After completing her graduate degree, she wants to work in southeast Texas as a licensed speech-language pathologist. Kilpatrick served as a junior clinician in the Speech and Hearing Clinic during the Spring 2016 semester. She was a chapter secretary for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association at Â鶹ÊÓƵ and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She also studied abroad in Europe for psychology in summer 2015. Kilpatrick received the Tom and Melba Harkin Scholarship and has been on the President’s List for the last 7 consecutive semesters.

Lauren Leger from Orange earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in management. She hopes to return to Â鶹ÊÓƵ for a master’s degree and plans to work in the fashion industry as a clothing buyer or run her own clothing boutique. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma, where she served as student vice president of programming. Leger volunteered for various organizations such as Southeast Texas Food bank and Lions Club International. She received the Sabine Federal Credit Union Scholarship and Community Christian School: Partners in Education Scholarship.

Kesandra Morin from Houston earned the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences. Her future plans are to become a high school history teacher and volleyball coach. She wants earn a master’s degree and work her way to an athletic director position. Morin received an Associate of Science Degree in 2007 and began studies for a career in IT before deciding to pursue her passion for teaching and coaching. She has played volleyball for 15 years and has coached for 5 years. 

Maegan White from Vidor earned the Bachelor of Arts in English. In spring 2017, she will begin a teaching certification program and graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in English. She plans to teach college English and become a published author. White was on the National Dean’s List and National President’s List from 2013-2016. She has published for Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Pulse Magazine since 2014, where she has earned recognition and recently worked as co-editor. She also is a writer for the University Press. White was honored with the Â鶹ÊÓƵ College of Arts and Sciences 4.0 GPA Award and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She receives the Caldwell and Rosine McFaddin Memorial Scholarship, the Carolyn J. Keating Scholarship in English and the Language Scholars Endowed Scholarship in English.

Miroslava Zendejas from Baytown earned the Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice. Her future plans are to earn a graduate degree in criminology or a law degree in criminal or immigration law. Zendejas completed undergraduate research during her internship with the Center for Homicide Research and through the McNair Program. She participated in the Reaud Honors College and is an Honors College Graduate. Zendejas has been recognized with the Outstanding Community Leader Award, the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award, the Academic Excellence Student Award and a grant of $10,000 for a summer research project as a Beck Fellowship Finalist. She participated in Â鶹ÊÓƵ Model United Nations and Partners in the Park, a weeklong experiential learning program sponsored by the National Collegiate Honors Council in collaboration with the National Park Service. Zendejas received the Academic Undergraduate Scholarship and the Tom F. and Ann D. Jones Honors Scholarship.

Kurt Fischer from Jasper earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in management information systems. He hopes to work in an analyst position with a company where he holds an influential role in solving business problems. After focusing on his career, Fischer wants to earn a doctorate degree and teach at a university. Since 2015, he has led on campus as president of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Green Squad, president of Lamar American Marketing Association (AMA), and presidential adviser of Lamar Association for Information Systems. Fischer has consistently earned a place on the President's List and has maintained a 4.0 GPA despite his busy lifestyle as a husband and father of four. He received the W.H. Long Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Business and the TSUS Edmund P. Kuempel Scholarship.