Published July 11, 2014
The President’s Academy at the University of Louisiana at Monroe has been a highlight
of the summer for the past three years. The academy—envisioned by ULM President Dr.
Nick J. Bruno—invites high ability high school students to the ULM campus for a week
full of university and career immersion.
“It was always my intent to bring the best and the brightest to Monroe to work with
our business partners and to see what our region has to offer,” said Bruno. “We were
interested in making sure that high school students would be exposed to careers. We
hope this helps them cement their career decision. I want to encourage the students
to not let up on the great work they have already done. “
President’s Academy partners with regional employers to give the students real-world
experiences in their chosen career path. Career paths include law, computer science,
health science, and physical science.
This year, the academy teamed with CenturyLink, Angus Chemical Company, a subsidiary
of Dow Chemical Company, University Health Conway, St. Francis Medical Center, Monroe
Surgical Hospital, P&S Surgical Hospital, the Ouachita Council on Aging, and Escamilla
and Poneck, LLC.
On campus, students were given full-scale college-style course lessons and lectures,
with laboratory experiences to accompany what they learned in the classroom.
Each day students were exposed to language lessons from ULM Latin instructor Bryan
Butler; performances in the arts from ULM Visual and Performing Arts students and
faculty; and themed dinners geared toward enriching the student academy experience.
The students then take their in-class and externship experience, and are divided into
“X-teams” to develop a solution and action plan to combat a fictional “pandemic,”
which is presented to them at the beginning of the academy.
Students use their new knowledge to create their solution project, which is presented
to a panel of judges on the final day of the academy.
The winning group for the 2014 academy was X-Team 3, comprised of Amia Green, Mary
Alice Hazelwood, Morgan Guillory, Dalton Gibson, Raymonde Armoo, Samuel Dailey, Mi’Kira
Jones, Aryiana Moore, Lauren Latham, and Aidan Reid. The team was guided by ULM PREP
staff members Natalie Kern and Wyatt Medlin.
This year’s academy welcomed 51 students from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
President’s Academy participants:
Hannah Freeman of Calhoun; Adam Crawford of Ruston; Aidan Reid of Gonzales; David
Miller of Winnfield; Caitlyn Breaux of Prairieville; Steven Jacob Lowrey of Monroe;
Godis Jackson of Baton Rouge; Lauren Latham of Monroe; Blair Jason of Monroe; Kelly
Wallace of New Orleans; Leslie Gray of Little Rock; Aryiana Moore of Leesville; Katherine
Isabella McJunkins of Monroe; Bryan Thomas of Sorrento; Sean Hughes of Gonzales; Bobbi
Fields of Monroe; Reid Roberson of Brookhaven, Miss.; Haley Harmon of Luling; Macy
LeBleu of Sterlington; Morgan Guillory of West Monroe; Robbie "Tyler" Jester of Monroe;
Kristen Robinson of Monroe; Rheanna Fontenot of Carencro; Baylee Leavitt of West Monroe;
Jessica Huddleston of Flowood, Miss.; Mary Alice Hazlewood of Greenville, Miss.; Savannah
Dorking of Benton; Kristen Nugent of Calhoun; Navy Griffin of Sherwood, Ark.; Terri
Drake of Baton Rouge; Amia Green of Jackson, Miss.; Sarah Crowell of Sterlington;
Zana Callahan of Gray; Alyssa Humphries of Deville; Naomi Long of Calhoun; Mi' Kira
"Alex" Jones of Monticello, Ark.; Maverick Grubbs of Oak Grove; Lexie Richard of Monroe;
Caitlin St. Blanc of Franklin; Amber Crawford of Ruston; Samuel Dailey of Gueydan;
Paige Price of Monroe; Loveis Jackson of Baton Rouge; Christopher Carter of Geismar;
Raymonde Armoo of Alexandria; Sierra Napoleon of Ruston; Taylor Prudhomme of Springfield;
Michaellah Shelton of Homer; Cole Wilson of Monroe; Dalton Gibson of Jackson Miss.;
and Jacqueline Begue of Port Allen.
