The LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Nursing continues its tradition of honoring students who demonstrate academic commitment, leadership and the readiness to enter the clinical phase of their nursing journey. From Shreveport to New Orleans, each White Coat Ceremony represents a symbolic and professional rite of passage for students preparing to provide compassionate, competent care.
Welcoming Students Into Clinical Practice
December 2024
On December 18, 2024, CARE students were recognized at the White Coat Ceremony held at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport. Presided over by Dean Demetrius J. Porche, DNS, PhD, ANEF, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN, the ceremony featured a keynote address by Diana Merendino, DPT, RRT-NPS, RPFT, PT, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the School of Allied Health. Stephanie Lofton, president of the CARE Class of May 2026, led the pledge. Several students were also honored for their academic performance and leadership as part of this ceremony. The evening emphasized the importance of professionalism and ethical responsibility as students stepped into the clinical phase of their education.
January 2025
On January 11, 2025, students from the Sophomore II and CARE Class of 2026 cohorts were honored during a ceremony at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Lion’s Eye Center. Dean Porche delivered opening remarks, followed by a keynote address from Charlotte Parent, RN, MHCM, Vice President of Business Development at University Medical Center New Orleans. A special address was also delivered by E. Paige Sensenbrenner, RN, Esq., Vice Chairman of the LSU Health Foundation Board. The ceremony recognized the students’ transition into clinical training, and several students were also celebrated for exceptional academic achievements and leadership in the classroom and beyond.
May 2025
The most recent ceremony took place on May 9, 2025, at the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport campus. CARE students were welcomed by Dean Porche and inspired by a keynote address from Jill Rush-Kolodzey, MD, DrPH, Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science at LSU Shreveport. Anuj Bhatt, Class President of the CARE Class of August 2026, led the White Coat Pledge. In addition to marking their entrance into clinical courses, the event also recognized students who demonstrated excellence in leadership, service and academic performance.
December 2024 Awards
Congratulations to all December 2024 award recipients!
Valedictorian
Madison Priar
Salutatorian
Madison Camp
Dolores Scheerle Award – Undergraduate
Courtney Ryan
Sigma Theta Tau International – Undergraduate
Courtney Ryan
Sigma Theta Tau International – Graduate
Paula Kensler
Class Spirit Award, LSU School of Nursing Alumni, Undergraduate
Courtney Ryan
Class Spirit Award, LSU School of Nursing Alumni, Graduate
Blake Lagarde
Community Engagement and Impact Graduate Award
Armani Beasley
Student Government Association Outstanding Graduate Award
Courtney Ryan
Student Nurses Association Outstanding Graduate Award
Courtney Ryan
Faculty Recognition Award, Sponsored by Elsevier Services, Inc. – Undergraduate
Makayla Bateman
Student Ambassadors
Armani Beasley
Camryn Breaux
Madison Camp
Cameron Price
Courtney Ryan
JoEllen Smith Memorial Award – Undergraduate
Madison Camp
MUSES
Gianna Ezeb
Rachel Romeu
Tessa Volcheck
Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Award
Blake Lagarde
Outstanding Nursing Caring Award – BSN Student
Armani Beasley
Outstanding Nursing Caring Award – Graduate Student
Paula Kensler
Outstanding Nursing Caring Award – Faculty
Jessica Teeter
Dean’s Award
Molly Brown
Summa Cum Laude
Madison Camp
Magna Cum Laude
Claire Gulledge
Madison Priar
Cum Laude
Markayla Anderson
Cecilia Braud
Leanna Teuton
May 2025 Awards
Congratulations to all May 2025 award recipients!
Valedictorian
Gabrielle Gooch
Salutatorian
Ethan Miller
Highest Academic Honors CARE Program
Madisen Duhe
Academic Recognition CARE Program
Mary Legendre
The Theresa Bittenbring Marque and John Henry Marque Award – Traditional BSN Graduates
Madison Camp
Gianna Ezeb
The Theresa Bittenbring Marque and John Henry Marque Award – CARE BSN Graduates
Bailey Ball
Madisen Duhe
Mary Legendre
Dorothy Slater
Christy Stanberry
Dolores Scheerle Entrepreneurial Award – Undergraduate
Jacob Landry, BSN
Dolores Scheerle Entrepreneurial Award – Graduate
Brett Laiche, DNP
New Orleans District Nurses Association Student Leadership Award
Analynn Ferr, BSN
Community Engagement and Impact Graduate Award
Marquelle Laster, BSN
Sigma Theta Tau International – Undergraduate
Gabrielle Gooch, BSN
Sigma Theta Tau International – Graduate
Brett Laiche, DNP
Class Spirit Award, LSU School of Nursing Alumni, Undergraduate
Samantha Neely, BSN
Class Spirit Award, LSU School of Nursing Alumni, Graduate
Lauren Bridevaux, DNP
Student Government Association Outstanding Graduate Award
Analynn Ferr, BSN
Student Nurses Association Outstanding Graduate Award
Analynn Ferr, BSN
Student Veterans of America Organization Outstanding Graduate Award
Renee Harper-Ebert, BSN
Faculty Recognition Award, Sponsored by Elsevier Services, Inc. – Undergraduate
Jessiah Ladd, BSN
Nursing Workforce Peer Mentor Award
Tyler Davis
Gabrielle Gooch
Kaya Hudson
Juliett Ibanez
Xiangpin Jian
Macy Landry
Marquelle Laster
Sydney Lopez
Fritza Moise
Samantha Neely
Vilma Palacios Fuentes
Student Ambassadors
Bailey Ball
Cameron Haydel
Connor Hoffman
Jacob Landry
Alyssa Lastrapes
Leah Marcotte
Vilma Palacios Fuentes
Jade Peoples
Connor Richoux
Emily Rogers
Maddigan Terrebonne
Megan Tramonte
Sydney Vodopija
JoEllen Smith Memorial Award – Undergraduate
Renee Harper-Ebert, BSN
Patricia A. Losee Memorial Award
Christy Stanberry, BSN
Writing Excellence Award, Sponsored by F. A. Davis, Co., Publisher – Graduate
Kate Marks, DNP
Outstanding Doctor of Nursing Practice Award – DNP Graduate
Benjamin Maddox, DNP
Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetist Outstanding Student Award
Hallea Dixon, DNP
Nurse Anesthesia Outstanding Graduate Award
John McDermott, III, DNP
Sydney Siekmann, DNP
Nurse Anesthesia Program Clinical Excellence Award
Erik Golson, DNP
Raul Gaytan, DNP
Alice M. Hicks CRNA, Memorial Award
Ashby Baird, DNP
Nurse Anesthesia Program Director’s Award
Jacob Ambs, DNP
Stanley Hall MD, PhD Award Academic Excellence and Clinical Excellence
Lindsay Harrington, DNP
Reverend Dr. James A. Ertl Clinical Excellence Award – PCFNP Graduate
Laila Elhami, DNP
Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Award
Brett Laiche, DNP
Nurse Practitioner Leadership Award
Olivia Roberie, DNP
Nurse Practitioner Academic Excellence Award
Cody Gulizo, DNP
Maidson Kahn, DNP
Nurse Practitioner Service Award
Cody Gulizo, DNP
Dr. Latnaja L. Divens Legacy Award
Laila Elhami, DNP
Brett Laich, DNP
Florencia Bouey, DNP
Outstanding Nursing Caring Award – Undergraduate
Analynn Ferr, BSN
Outstanding Nursing Caring Award – Graduate
Christina Petkovich, DNP
Chancellor’s Award
Jacob Landry, BSN
MUSES
Kaeziah Bladey
Gabrielle Gooch
Connor Hoffman
Ethan Miller
Alyssa Volante
Summa Cum Laude
Madisen Duhe
Magna Cum Laude
Gabrielle Gooch
Mary Legendre
Cum Laude
Cameron Haydel
Tyler Lissard
Ethan Miller
Victoria Scott
Fall 2024 Graduates
Congratulations to all Fall 2024 graduates!
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional)
Elizabeth Grace Allen
Markayla Rene Anderson
Daniah Amin Awadallah
Alyssa Rose Babin
Makayla Nicole Bateman
Armani Marquise Beasley
Maria Francesca Berrios
Alyssa Michelle Branch
Lizbeth Altagracia Brand-Gonzalez
Cecilia Claire Braud
Camryn Renee Breaux
Corinne Renee Brignac
Jadyn Roya Brooks
Braeden Michael Brown
Molly Reece Brown
Ashley Elizabeth Buckler
Reagan Charlotte Calvert
Madison Kaylee Camp
Kayla Rebecca Carlos
Rileigh Rose Centanni
Vandani Chew
Jillian Kay Cook
Claire Elise Cooper
Madison Allina Cooper
Elena CujbaΣ
Douglas Drake Douget
Meghan Elizabeth Edwards
Regan Andree Ellis
Gianna Rose Ezeb
Chloe Elaine Falcon
Aline Jane Firmin
Chassidy Monet Fontenot
Jenna Marie Forsythe
Marie Therese Lin Francioni
Caleb Michael Freyder
Claire Ainsley Gulledge
Janiah Faith Houston
Madison Elise Hyver
Rachel Marie James
Jermyra Marcia Kinchen
Megan Leanda Koch
Kyleigh Lane
Kaylyn Romona Latin
JaMyra Dechelle Lee
Marissa Elizabeth Lund
Daniel Malo
Caroline Mae Martin
Alexis Gabriel Masson
Jori Morgan Mathis
Cayden Alex Mccoy
Kathryn Elisabeth Mclachlan
Cayla Marie Means
Olivia Marie Melancon
Helen Nicole Melendez
Ashleigh Elizabeth Moorehead
Aerial Griffin Mose
Miledy Lissette Mota
Tashawna Monique Muhammad
Albert Alphonse Nastasi
Junyi Nie
Allyssa Fermin Pamintuan
Jaden Renee’ Pearley
Sydney Shea Pepin
Rachel Margaret Pistorius
Madison Rose Priar
Cameron Price
Piper Ranae Rigsby
Rachel Jean Romeu
Abby Renee Roux
Courtney Lynn Ryan
Elle Jane Salomon
Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shostak
Bria Marie Snell
Abigail Elizabeth St. Pierre
Lauren Janelle Stentz
Leanna Elizabeth Teuton
Leah Cherelle Tolbert
Huy Duc Tran
Jasmyn Ngoc Truong
Ashley Sherrie Urbanski
Jacob Van
Darrel Anthony Vessel
Tessa Grace Volcheck
Lainey Raquel Weiss
Andy Xiao
Hadi Zeitoun
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Vanicia Blanchere
Deanna Monique Hawkins
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Executive Nurse Leader)
Crystal Lynn Maise-Dykes
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner)
Brandee Marie Bocage
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Primary Care Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
Blake Taylor Lagarde
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Paula Ann Kensler
December 2024 White Coat Recipients
CARE Students
Rilie Beltz
Lataisha Brookins
Caitlyn Graham
Cameron Knox
Thomas Lewis
Stephanie Lofton
Rikki Love
Destinee Nguyen
Juan Thompson
Fahad Waqas
Averyona Williams
John Winterton
Sheena Woods
January 2025 White Coat Recipients
CARE Students
Lily Abadie
Mallory Antoine
Clare Arnold
Grace Barber
Cassidy Barnes
Emily Barre
Sara Beesley
Madeline Blank
Javonte Blatcher
Joel Block
Sydney Bond
Gabrielle Boudoin
Margaret Boudreaux
Rheagan Bryant
Kayla Caldwell
Lauren Cargo
Isabella Carusone
Catherine Cochran
Nia Crawford
Oanh Do
Kaitlin Gagnon
Kristeen Gindi
Sarah Gordon
Urvashiben Goti
Ashley Haertel
Caroline Hera
Krista Iadanza
Molli Klock
Johanna Labadie
Alexandra Lansou
Leah Linscott
Brenna Macaluso
Jasmine Melancon
Ricardo Najarro
Lauren Nash
Andrea Nguyen
Reagan Paz
Alexis Pertuit
Allison Pham
Christian Plaisance
Manisha Poudel
Jazmine Ross
Ytzya Sanchez
Yasmin Sarmiento
Catherine Scallon
Deontay Shaw
Kathleen Stamm-Kirk
Sienna Stinson
Jazlynn Taylor
Mackenzie Traylor
Mason Trulove
Dustin Wattigny
Tia Williams
Traditional Students
Tahj Adams
Emily Allen
Sage Angeletti
Aline Batalha
Dakota Berns
Brooke Bezet
Chloe Blackburn
Savannah Blake
Allie Brooks
Lindsay Bultman
Robyn Bush
Mason Cavalier
Nyla Clifton
Lauren Crochet
Andrea Cuccia
Anna Dao
Sarah Delaune
Sophia Dewald
Kayla Do
Beth Ehrhardt
Reia Espiritu
Dylan Felder
Noah Flynn
Maia Fotos
Stefanie Fricke
Grace Green
Jeralyn Guillard
Maiyah Hall
Jake Hernandez
Akaila Johnson
Aniah Johnson
Brianna Lebant
Asia Lee
Aria Lewis
Kelsey Loerwald
Zachary Lowry
Georgia Loynachan
Anthoula Malachias
Astrid Martinez
Ella Matherne
Lori-Ann Metellus
Kaylyn Moore
Meghan Niemand
Megan OQuin
Isabela Pearce
Nancy Phan
Clara Pittington
Victoria Pohlmann
Fredy Ruiz
Jakya Sanchez
Kaitlyn Schlumbrecht
Caleb Sheppard
Kechelle Simmons
Lamar Smith, III
Emily Soignet
Zachary Stallings
Amaya Tagaloa
Kennedy Tate
Soliana Tewelde
Amaiya Thompson
Tuyen Truong
Olivia Valladares
Amy Ventura
Michelle Vu
Alexa Wianke
John Wimberly
Dwayne Yost
Spring 2025 Graduates
Congratulations to all Spring 2025 graduates!
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (CARE)
Kirsis Altamirano
Paola Angel-Newman
Bailey Ball
Chloe Bell
Jessie Bevis
Kaeziah Bladey
Jasmine Bynum
Rosemary Chamberlain
Lily Coxe
Desmon Crockett
Anna Dinh
Madisen Duhe
Aliyah East
Victoria Edwards
Sarah Foster
Madison Hair
Renee Harper-Ebert
Samantha Hess
Eva Heyert
Xochitl Hunter
Rachel Johnson
Kyler Johnston
Taylor Julien
Jessiah Ladd
Jacob Landry
Julia Laperouse
Alyssa Lastrapes
Mary Legendre
Jessica Leonard
Victoria Levy
Logan Murillo
Jade Peoples
Alison Redmann
Rachelle Riley
Blake Robbins
Tovah Rubinsky
Victoria Scott
Dorothy Slater
Rachel Slone
Christy Stanberry
Duchein Stinson
Tirrell Sylvas
Manon Vicknair
Talon Washington
Catherine Whittington
A’Lanna Wilson
Arielle Zakris
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Antoinette Crain
Jocelyn Gandour
Kaila Harris
Lindsey White
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional)
Andrea Aguilar
Emma Bourgeois
Joshua Brennan
Kassidy Brown
Sabrina Canales Hewick
Sophia Chepolis
Katie Code
Isabella Cook
Raven Davis
Tyler Davis
Taylor Del Toro
Alexia Digges
Victoria Duke
Analynn Ferr
Madeline Gerdes
Gabrielle Gooch
Karisa Greenlee
Shane Griffin
Amber Gruenwald
Shannon Guagliardo
Hannah Harris
Cameron Haydel
Grace Hayno
Molly Heurtin
Connor Hoffman
Cassidy Howard
Kaya Hudson
Katherine Huval
Juliet Ibanez
Xiangqin Jiang
Katie Jovel
John Kempfer
Carlos Khodavandi
Macy Landry
Theresa Larmeu
Marquelle Laster
Rebecca Ledet
Tyler Lissard
Sydney Lopez
Aurielle Mallery
Leah Marcotte
Taylor Menner
Sofia Midence
Ethan Miller
Fritza Moise
Julie Morales
Mckenzie Moss
Griffin Moss-Haaren
Samantha Neely
Jamie Normand-Latrache
Morgan Northrop
Elizabeth Ourso
Vilma Palacios Fuentes
Casey Pappas
Jaelyn Payton
Adrianna Pazos
Georgia Petagna
Isabelle Plaisance
Kayla Plaisance
Bridget Polkey
Jules Powell
Sofia Purdy
Colette Richard
Connor Richoux
Olivia Rochon
Emily Rogers
Kate Roussel
Tara Rousselle
Sarah Sansovich
Kennedi Sigur
Jade Spiers
Ashley Stewart
Samantha Sullivan
Maddigan Terrebonne
Megan Tramonte
Kirsten Tufaro
Zachary Van Order
Sydney Vodopija
Alyssa Volante
Caroline Waguespack
Lacie Walbridge
Caitlyn Wilkes
Brendan Williams
Kaitlyn Williams
Madelyn Wilson
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Nurse Anesthesia)
Jacob Ambs
Bailey Armstrong
Ashby Baird
Lauren Bridevaux
Mary Cazayoux
Carly Chafizadeh
Alexandria Cobb
Allyson Dantin
Kelly Derise
Giavanna Deville
Hallea Dixon
Brenna Duncan
Alexandra Elliott
Lindsey Eymard
Savannah Fos
Andrew Freggens
Madeline Galvan
Raul Gaytan
Meaghan Gibbons
Erik Golson
Ana Green
Jordan Green
Taylor Guillen
Megan Harmon
Lindsay Harrington
Alexandra Harvey
Victoria Harvey
Luke Hess
Kayla Hill
Phuong Huynh
Arin Jones
Lindsay Jones
Christina Leggio
Celina Levasseur
Tina Li
Morgan Lynn
Benjamin Maddox
Kate Marks
John McDermott III
Meredith McGoey
Morgan Mcleroy
Alice Nam
Lydia Ngo
Steve Nguyen
Kathryn Ogea
Sarah Otto
Austin Patin
Brandon Petkovich
Christina Petkovich
Mylan Pham
Ashley Porter
Sara Rex
Jennifer Robinson
Allison Scaccia
Mari Schenck
Hope Schroeder
Sydney Siekmann
Dustin Spung
Taylor Whitehead
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner)
Lakaisha Jackson
Katelyn Martin
Olivia Roberie
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Primary Care Family & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
Brett Laiche
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Primary Family Care Nurse Practitioner)
Laila Elhami
Cody Gulizo
Florencia Pineda
Doctor of Nursing Practice (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
Madison Kahn
Haley Landry
May 2025 White Coat Ceremony Participants
CARE-Accelerated Students
Anuj Bhatt
Dakota Boyd
Sasha Harris
Dequisha Hill
Emory Marsh
Nettie McCain-Jackson
Abigail Ponthie
Kylie White
