Papajohn addresses 686 LSU grads

Published Aug 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Aug 3, 2012)

LSU alumnus, former Tiger baseball player and actor Michael Papajohn delivered the address today to 686 students receiving degrees at LSU's 278th commencement. Of those new graduates, 212 earned master's degrees, four received a certificate of education specialist and 100 received doctoral degrees. Eleven students graduated with honors, including Hayley Alexandra Kropog of Hammond, who received the University Medal for graduating with the highest undergraduate grade-point average. The August 2012 graduating class represented 45 Louisiana parishes, 35 U.S. states and 28 foreign countries. Women made up about 52% of the graduates. The oldest graduate was 62, and three graduates shared the distinction of being the youngest, at 20. In one of his final acts as LSU chancellor, Mike Martin presided over the ceremony. William Jenkins, interim president of the LSU System, conferred degrees; and Kevin Cope, LSU Faculty Senate president, served as mace bearer. The invocation and benediction were given by the Rev. Steve Crump, senior minister at Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. You can see lists of all those receiving degrees today, including honor graduates, at the LSU commencement website here.