Graduation For 1,615 UL Students Held Today

1,625 grads were part of the largest contingent of UL graduates ever today.

Bachelor degrees were awarded to 1,350 graduates, 229 masters degrees were awarded and two graduates received post masters certificates.

All-pro NFL player Charles "Peanut" Tilman, a 2002 UL graduate was the keynote speaker. After playing as a four-year letterman and all-American Tilman played for the Chicago Bears. Tilman was awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award this year. Through his Cornerstone Foundation in Chicago Tilman has raised over a $1 million.

Tilman encouraged graduates to continue learning and to have a positive impact on people and said,

Some believe you have to be famous, wealthy or influential to be memorable. Those who inspire me the most are the ones that follow their passions in life and strive to help others.

Eleven students achieved 4.0 averages including Matthew Ross Hartley who was named UL's outstanding graduate. Those 4.0 graduates were named summa cum laude.