Residents of Erath, La., can now book it to their local park for health care information, thanks to students in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
Second-semester juniors enrolled in a community health course installed a Little Free Library in Erath City Park. It holds books and other resources that promote physical and mental well-being, hygiene, diet and exercise, and preventive health strategies.
The project is part of Nursing 340, which takes students out of typical clinical settings and assigns them a community. In each, they perform an assessment not unlike a one-on-one evaluation a nurse might conduct during a patient visit. Through observations and interviews, students identify a community’s greatest need, then engage in a service-learning activity to address it.
Kylah Trepagnier, a nursing major from New Orleans, was among students who assessed Erath and diagnosed challenges that included diet, mental wellness and physical health.
“Helping people control their health and better themselves is the goal. We want to provide information about mental and physical health, so people can change their diets and behaviors so conditions don’t worsen,” Trepagnier said.
Mia Porretto is La Louisiane’s newest student editor. She is a sophomore mass communication major with an emphasis on journalism and a minor in political science. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
A native of Houma, La., Porretto is a graduate of Terrebonne High School. She is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes her leadership roles in Key Club, student government, on the varsity tennis team and the yearbook staff. She worked on the yearbook for four years, the final two as editor.
“I always knew I wanted to be a writer, and conducting interviews, editing stories and graphics, and working with staff members made me fall in love with storytelling,” she said.
These skills – and that passion – will serve Porretto well as La Louisiane’s student editor. In the role, she will write and edit articles, conduct interviews, proofread copy and assist photographers during photo shoots. She is the liaison between the magazine and the student body.
“Mia’s influence can be found throughout the pages of this issue of La Louisiane,” said Dr. James Savage, the magazine’s editor. “She has a deep appreciation for what makes UL Lafayette a special place for students. Her insights, combined with her experiences as a writer and editor, are helping us tell the University’s story more fully. We’re thrilled she’s joined us.”
Photo credit: Doug Dugas
UL Lafayette has unveiled a redesign of its flagship website, louisiana.edu.
Along with a fresh and inviting look, the revamp has several new features to enhance the user experience for current and prospective students.
The redesigned site is a vital part of the University’s strategy to attract and enroll future members of the Ragin’ Cajuns community. It puts information about tuition, financial aid, housing and campus life at their fingertips. Program pages for each of the majors and minors UL Lafayette offers feature testimonials from current students and alumni.
The redesigned louisiana.edu launched in November 2022 as the first step in a larger overhaul of the roughly 150 sites that make up UL Lafayette’s website, said Aimee Abshire, senior director of web and digital strategy who oversaw the redesign.
“Louisiana.edu isn’t just a website,” Abshire said. “It embodies the University, and this redesign engages prospective students in a conversation about who we are, where we’re going, and the opportunities and experiences that we offer.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns Water Ski Team has claimed its third consecutive Division I national title, bringing its overall total to nine championships – the most in school history.
The team, which competes as a club sport rather than an NCAA-sanctioned sport, earned Division I national championships in 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2021. Championships were not held in 2020.
Skiers cinched their latest crown at the Syndicate Waterskis 2022 Collegiate Nationals in October in San Marcos, Texas. It capped an undefeated season for the team, an unbeaten streak that stretches back to 2019.
There’s little danger of the School of Architecture and Design’s “House of Cards” toppling. The primary material used to build the 256-square-foot artist’s retreat? Concrete that was mixed and poured on site by 29 University undergraduate and graduate students who helped to plan, design and build the “House of Cards.” The structure – a cozy, visually appealing blend of form and function – is buttressed by 10-inch thick walls that “lean” against each other in an aesthetic modeled on a house of playing cards. It sits near Arnaudville, La., next to a small pond in a tree-lined pasture backed by Bayou Bourbeaux. If that all sounds like the inspiration for a painting, it very well could be. Visiting artists will soon be able to apply for short stays “to conduct workshops or work on their own projects,” said Geoff Gjertson, a professor of architecture who directs the University’s Building Institute.
Photo credit: UL Lafayette Building Institute
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are in the top 10 – for service.
Student-athletes led the Sun Belt Conference in community service hours during the Fall 2022 semester. Among all Division I schools, the men’s golf program ranked highest; the women’s tennis team was the second-ranked women’s program.
The baseball program knocked it out of the park, too, by ranking first against like programs. Overall, Louisiana logged the sixth-most service hours in Division I.
Photo credit: Doug Dugas
Here’s something to cheer about: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Cheerleading is No. 9 in the nation. The team finished in the top 10 in the Division 1A coed competition at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship in January. It’s the second national championship for the squad since 2019, when it ranked 8th.
These articles first appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of La Louisiane, The Magazine of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.