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Aug. 14, 2004

ULM Summer 2004 Commencement

The University of Louisiana at Monroe held its 2004 Summer Commencement in Fant-Ewing Coliseum at 2 p.m. today. Dr. Jeffery Galle, Head of the English Department at ULM, delivered the commencement address to the 311 graduates.

Galle received his Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University. He began as an instructor at ULM in 1988. In June of 2001, he became the Head of the English Department. He was invited to present a paper at the Fifth International Marlowe Conference in Cambridge, England and at many other conferences in Louisiana and the nation. Dr. Galle has held three appointments to the honors teaching faculty. He is listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and he was honored with the Tom and Mayme Scott endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence.

"These brief remarks cannot express all that has gone into the making of your successes," Galle said. "To the families who have lent support in so many ways, I encourage you to remember all that has transpired in the years which have brought your daughters and your sons to this day. For many, the years have called for tremendous sacrifice, and for your sacrifices, support, and determination, we honor you. Your presence at this ceremony represents a clear indication of your success as well," he said.

Galle's remarks revolved around three words, "potential," "opportunity," and "achievement."

He said the meaning of potential was something like "that which CAN be one day but is NOT now in existence." Galle told the graduates, "throughout our lives we will be identifying and developing our potential in work, in our careers, in our relationships, even in our play."
He also touched upon neglecting potential. "We see what happens when we fail to give our best, and we've seen what frittering away talent, ability, and training has done in the lives of others. We know all too well the disappointment in the thought of what might have been," said Galle.
He went on to say that knowing the importance of potential, leads to the idea of opportunity. "We say, 'When opportunity knocks, I want to be ready,' and I would tend to agree, but I would add another idea. I would try to see in my circumstances opportunities that lie dormant like my own potential. We all live in the same world; it's just that some people have the knack for making it more than it generally is by seeing more in it than the rest. Do NOT wait until opportunity comes knocking. Rather, scan the lay of the land and sea for good things that will call for sensible risk and hard work," said Galle.
He finished his remarks by saying that achievement follows in many ways from the first two. "Achievement need not be thought of as trophies or as an end in itself but as the results (even byproducts) of many good efforts at challenging ourselves."

ULM President James Cofer also made brief remarks to the graduates. He said, "Go out from this place well prepared, confident, and eager for every challenge the new day will bring. And have no doubt that unto whom much is given, much will be required."

Two graduates are recognized this summer for their academic achievements at ULM. Trinitee Gale Green Hattaway is from Farmerville and is the daughter of Gene and Gale Green and the wife of Jesse Hattaway. She is an accounting major in the College of Business Administration. She completed her coursework at ULM with an overall grade-point average of 4.0. Jeanne Roy Pichoff is from Centerville and is the daughter of Cheryl and Joseph Roy, the granddaughter of Walter Schiemean and the wife of Dexter Pichoff, Jr. She is an occupational therapy major in the College of Health Sciences. She completed her coursework at ULM with an overall grade-point average of 4.0.

To put this honor in perspective, these are only two of 79 graduates who have earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and Top Honor recognition at the university since its inception.

Receiving the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership was Judy Webb Hubbell. Receiving the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Marriage and Family Therapy were James Kelly Barnett and Justin J. Moore. Receiving the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pharmacy was Sumit Jagdish Shah.

Dwayne McKinley Young was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on in the United States Army earlier this morning.

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