Congratulations, ECP Spring 2026 Graduates!

4/29/2026.

BATON ROUGE – The Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership (CCELL), in conjunction with LSU Campus Life, is pleased to announce that 36 seniors will graduate with the Engaged Citizen Program (ECP) medal and distinction for Spring 2026.

One senior will also receive the inaugural Community Impact Achievement, a recognition for both undergraduate and graduate students with outstanding records of civic engagement who complete a portion of the Engaged Citizen Program medal requirements.

Collectively, these Spring 2026 graduates have earned 307 service-learning credit hours and have volunteered approximately 5,240 hours across their local communities during their academic tenure at LSU. Some of this cohort’s volunteer opportunities include working with campus entities such as Greek Life sororities, their senior colleges' student ambassador programs and organizations, the LSU Food Pantry, LSU AgMagic, Project 225, and Geaux BIG Baton Rouge. 

Their individual engagement efforts also extend off-campus with organizations such as the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Claiborne Senior Living Center, BREC, Habitat for Humanity, Companion Animal Alliance, local and state hospitals, and with several East Baton Rouge Parish schools through Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS), local and state hospitals, and several East Baton Rouge Parish schools. Three students volunteered internationally in Mexico, Panama, and St. Lucia respectively.
 
“We are so proud of this year’s LSU's Engaged Citizen Program graduates,” said Dr. Sarah Becker, Director of CCELL. "They've worked with community-based organizations such as the Claiborne Senior Living Center and Habitat for Humanity, transforming local spaces and people’s lives in the process. We cannot wait to see the impact they will have in the future, as they go into the broader world and continue to create change."   

CCELL and LSU Campus Life established the Engaged Citizen Program and the Community Impact Achievement to support and recognize the accomplishments of students who engage significantly with their communities to address critical community needs. Any student, regardless of academic discipline, can apply to be a part of the program. 
 
“Engaged Citizens Distinction graduates have spent thousands of hours working on real challenges facing communities across Louisiana,” said Josh Finch, Director of Campus Life. “They’ve stepped up, taken responsibility, and made a real difference. Their work has made a tangible difference, and it reflects a strong sense of responsibility to something bigger than themselves. That mindset is what will continue to set them apart long after graduation.”
 
Our graduates represent seven LSU senior colleges, and 10 are members of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. Seven students are also graduating with double degrees, denoted by an asterisk.

The Spring 2026 Community Impact Achievement recipient is:

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Avery McLaughlin, Psychology, Covington, La., Honors College

The Spring 2026 Engaged Citizens are:

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
Chandler Collins, Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising (with a concentration in Apparel Design), Baton Rouge, La. 
Keana Howard, Environmental Management Systems, Vallejo, Calif.*
Madelyn Phillips, Nutrition and Food Sciences, McComb, Miss., Honors College

E.J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Chloe Chehardy, Finance, Mandeville, La. 
Christen Chehardy, Entrepreneurship, Mandeville, La.*

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Nhu-Thao Betsy Cao, Biological Engineering, New Orleans, La. 
Milain Marcel, Biological Engineering, Prairieville, La. 
Evan McConnell, Biological Engineering, Benton, La. 
Abigail Savoy, Biological Engineering, Branch, La.

COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Sneha Atluri, Kinesiology, Baton Rouge, La.
Katherine Bauer, Kinesiology, Clinton, La.
Olivia Daigle, Social Work, Brusly, La.
KaMyah Elias, Social Work, Gardena, Calif.
La'Keria Gayle, Sports Administration, Culver City, Calif.
Sara Hearn, Child and Family Studies, Keller, Texas
Elliena Ingraham, Human Development and Family Science, Metairie, La.
Julianne Lee, Social Work, Baton Rouge, La.
Marie Vilcin, Kinesiology, Harvey, La.
Victoria Williams, Social Work, Phoenix, Ariz.

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Margaret Akinola, Sociology, Baton Rouge, La.*
Lauren Butler, Political Science, Stroudsburg, Pa.
Keana Howard, Anthropology, Vallejo, Calif.*
Tess MacHugh, Interdisciplinary Studies, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Estelle Mensman, Communication Sciences and Disorders & Interdisciplinary Studies, Baton Rouge, La., Honors College*
Lan Qiu, Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies, River Ridge, La.
Lillian Sims, Psychology, Downsville, La., Honors College
Ellie Van Tuinen, Psychology, Tampa, Fla.
Morgan Wells, Sociology, Washington, D.C. 

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Margaret Akinola, Biological Sciences, Baton Rouge, La.*
Mihir Babbar, Biological Sciences, Covington, La., Honors College
Anne Brasseaux, Biological Sciences, West Haven, Conn., Honors College
Madison Cain, Chemistry, Geismar, La., Honors College
Christen Chehardy, Biochemistry, Mandeville, La.*
Alexis Larkin, Biological Sciences, The Woodlands, Texas, Honors College
Iresa Lincoln, Biological Sciences, Maple Grove, Minn., Honors College
Laila Plummer, Biological Sciences, Scott, La.
Faith Rispone, Biological Sciences, Greenwell Springs, La., Honors College
Melanie Suarez, Biological Sciences, Cypress, Texas

MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Anaya Dozier, Mass Communication (with a concentration in Political Communication), Houston, Texas

To earn the Engaged Citizen Program medal distinction, the students must meet the high standards of the Engaged Citizen Program. Requirements for this semester’s cohort include completing a minimum of seven credit hours of service-learning designated coursework, a minimum of 100 hours of community service with approved organizations, and a reflective paper.

To earn the Community Impact Achievement recognition, students must meet the high standards of the Engaged Citizen Program. Requirements for this semester’s cohort include completing a minimum of three credit hours of service-learning designated coursework, a minimum of 50 hours of community service with approved organizations, and a reflective paper. 

Visit www.lsu.edu/engagedcitizens for more information about the program.

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CCELL fosters the scholarship of community engagement by integrating teaching, research, and service that emphasize civic responsibility and social accountability. For more information about service-learning at LSU, visit CCELL’s website at lsu.edu/ccell.

Campus Life works closely with more than 400 student organizations, countless student organization leaders and advisors, and is home to some of LSU's biggest traditions. The department's mission is to enhance student learning through innovative initiatives focused on the tenets of involvement, leadership, and service that enrich the LSU experience. Campus Life serves a student population and strives to make LSU an increasingly vibrant campus community. 

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Media note: Please contact Taylor Armer (tarmer@lsu.edu) for headshots.