Published June 26, 2015
The President鈥檚 Academy at the University of Louisiana at Monroe wrapped up its fourth
year as a premier academic and career exploratory camp for scholars. The academy provides
high-ability high school students with a week of university and career immersion.
鈥淲e are always proud to have these students come to our university to be a part of
this academy,鈥� said 四色AV President Dr. Nick J. Bruno. 鈥淚 only hope that when they are
considering their university in the future that they consider 四色AV. We would love to
have them.鈥�
President鈥檚 Academy partners with regional companies to give students real-world experiences,
or 鈥渆xternships,鈥� in their chosen career path. Career paths include law, computer
science, health science, and physical science.
The partner list for the academy has grown over the years, and now includes some of
the area鈥檚 top employers including: CenturyLink, ANGUS Chemical, University Health
Conway, St. Francis Medical Center, Monroe Surgical Hospital, P&S Surgical Hospital,
the Ouachita Council on Aging, and Escamilla and Poneck, LLC.
The academy model places students in university classrooms, with lessons taught by
四色AV professors. Students also enjoy other aspects of the university, including performances
in the arts from 四色AV Visual and Performing Arts students and faculty, and themed dinners
geared toward enriching the student academy experience.
Many students took away more than they expected.
鈥淭his was an experience, not a camp,鈥� said Keith Myles Jr. of Vidalia. "It was unbelievable,
and if I had the choice to go to 四色AV over anywhere else, I would choose 四色AV.鈥�
Throughout the week, students gathered the information learned in the classroom, and
the skills they obtained during their externships and applied them to develop a solution
and action plan to combat a fictional 鈥減andemic,鈥� which was presented to them at the
beginning of the academy.
Participants presented their findings as 鈥淴-teams鈥濃�攚hich are made up of various students
from each career path to create a balanced approach to the problem鈥攖o a panel of judges
on the final day of the academy.
鈥淴-team 1鈥� was named the overall winner for their response to solving the pandemic.
Each team member received a $250 scholarship to 四色AV and a first place medal.
鈥淴-team 1鈥� members include:听Kyleigh Chevis; Benjamin Finch; Robert LeGrande; Snehil
Tiwari; Michael Forte; Antonia Asher; Matt Ingram; Tucker Guilbeaux; Ferron Dollar;
and Aryanna Darby.
This year, students were also given an additional task. Representatives from P&S Surgical
Hospital asked the groups to come up with a name for their new MAKO robot, which the
hospital debuted in May.
The device performs precision knee resurfacing and total hip replacement procedures.
The five X-teams presented over 40 names.
鈥淲e always appreciate the opportunity to work with young students,鈥� said P&S Surgical
Hospital CEO Linda Holyfield. 鈥淭he President鈥檚 Academy students are our future surgeons,
lawyers, and IT professionals, and it is our privilege to engage their minds as they
imagine their futures. Our robot鈥檚 new name is a result of their incredible teamwork,
creativity, and innovation.鈥�
Ultimately, 鈥淴-team 3鈥� prevailed with the name, 鈥淜neezy.鈥� The team even came up with
an accompanying tagline, 鈥淜neezy does it!鈥� The winning team was presented with iTunes
gift cards.
鈥淴-team 3鈥� members include: Chadren Martin, Keith Myles, Jr., Kira Reney, Reginold
Boudreaux, Joanna Calhoun, Mack McElveen, Brennen Murphy, Gabrielle Stokley, Aidan
Reid, and Fatima Hussain.
In all, 49 participants attended the academy, hailing from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas,
and Colorado.听
President鈥檚 Academy participants:
Destiny Porter of Monroe; Snehil Tiwari of Little Rock, Ark.; Andrew Moore of Monroe;
Dawson Markham of Sarepta; Helen Casey Wilkinson of Alexandria; Robert LeGrande of
Coushatta; Colby Jabari Brown of Monroe; Chadren Martin of Winnsboro; Keith Myles
Jr. of Vidalia; Matt Ingram of Enterprise; Aryanna Darby of Lafayette; Reginold Boudreaux
of Lafayette; Isiah Chavis of Lafayette; Markaylon Boyd of Lafayette; Aleya Domingue
of Lafayette; Tucker Guilbeaux of Carencro; Kira Reney of Lafayette; Jared Crenshaw
of Marksville; Alyssa Ducote of Pineville; Caroline Moeller of Monroe; Michael Forte
of Monroe; Cassi McQuilling of Berwick; Nealy McCoy of Columbia; Maverick Grubbs of
Oak Grove ; Ferron Dollar of West Monroe; Brennen Murphy of Stonewall; Taylor Prudhomme
of Springfield; Gabrielle Stokley of Prairieville; McKayle Wilson of Elizabeth ; Anna
Yakaboski of Farmerville; Antonia Asher of Prairieville; Amber Estep of Monroe; Aidan
Reid of Gonzales; Clara Kolterman of Parker, Colo. ; Hannah Heyl of Detrehan; Tiona
Harris of Winnsboro; Elizabeth Ball of Baton Rouge; Fatima Hussain of Monroe; Kyleigh
Chevis of Beaumont; Tucker McCann of Marksville; Dylan Varnado of Covington; Anna
Marie Latham of Monroe Sarah English of Mandeville; Adam Hoxeng of Little Rock, Ark.;
Benjamin Finch of Leesville; Ruben Hatfield of Quitman; Joanna Calhoun of West Monroe;
Mack McElveen of Franklington; and Alexus Scalia of Monroe.
