McNeese Announces Outstanding Graduates for Fall 2025 

McNeese State University students Ngozika Lilian Peter, of Mozambique, and Mackenzie Johnson, of DeRidder, were named the overall McNeese Outstanding Graduates for fall 2025.  

The McNeese Student Government Association and the McNeese Alumni Association worked together to create the Outstanding Graduate Awards. Students are nominated on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and the nominee’s impact on the college or on campus.    

Each of the five colleges at McNeese may nominate an outstanding undergraduate and a graduate student in their final semester. A committee from the McNeese Alumni Association then selected one undergraduate and one graduate student for the overall award.   

Peter, an undergraduate outstanding student in the College of Engineering and Sciences, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. A first-generation college student, she was involved in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and the Automotive Engineering Club. Peter was the president of NSBE, co-founder of the McHacks Hackathon event and named an outstanding senior resident assistant. She helped raise over $35,000 for the NSBE chapter and gave more than 100 hours of community service to various organizations. She plans to become a mechanical engineer for a major company, pursue a master’s degree and conduct research.  

Johnson, an outstanding graduate student in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, will graduate with a master’s degree in nursing to become a family nurse practitioner. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette while overcoming an inoperable cavernous malformation in her brain and months of therapy. During her career, Johnson became a certified trauma registered nurse and a flight nurse. While earning her master’s degree, she had the opportunity to work with Dr. Chuong Bui, the neurosurgeon who saved her life. She is looking forward to becoming a nurse practitioner and serving her community. 

The outstanding graduates from the Burton College of Education are Blaire Bowers and Kendra Petry. 

Bowers is an undergraduate student from Sulphur majoring in kinesiology with a concentration in pre-orthopedic physician assistant studies. She is a member of Phi Mu, where she held six officer positions, and the McNeese Honors College. While earning her degree, she interned at the Calcasieu Coroner’s Office and was a phlebotomist at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Bowers also shadowed several physician assistants in the area. She plans to attend graduate school to become a physician assistant and work in Southwest Louisiana. 

Petry is a graduate student from Gueydan and will earn a master’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in health and wellness promotion. She is a member of the Phi Epsilon Kappa honors fraternity where she served as vice president. Petry volunteers with the H.C. Drew School of Kinesiology’s T3 Event for high school students and the Southwest Louisiana Senior Games. Petry is also the assistant coach of the powerlifting team at Gueydan High School. Her plans include earning a doctorate degree and teaching at the college level.  

The outstanding graduates from the College of Business are Rachel Hawsey and Emily Brown. 

Hawsey is an undergraduate student from Billings, Montana, majoring in finance. She transferred to McNeese to earn a second bachelor’s degree. During her internship with the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, she discovered that she enjoys working in economic development and financial analysis. She plans to earn a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). 

Brown is a graduate student from Lake Charles and will earn an MBA with a concentration in accounting. She was the College of Business outstanding graduate in 2024 when she earned her bachelor’s degree. She has assisted several College of Business faculty members with their research and has tutored students. Brown plans to continue her career in public accounting. 

The outstanding graduates from the College of Liberal Arts are Elisa Hevia and Kyrsten Bertrand. 

Hevia is an undergraduate student from Lake Charles majoring in visual arts with a concentration in graphic design. Her art won the Student Juried Art Show Outstanding Achievement award in 2024 and 2025. She is a member of the Student Art Association, the Art and Design Collective, the choir and the jazz band. Her plans include living in Lake Charles and working on her graphic design and other creative fields to diversify her portfolio. 

Bertrand is a graduate student from Lafayette and will earn a master’s degree in criminal justice. She currently works as a parole officer for the Louisiana Department of Corrections in the Division of Probation and Parole in Iberia Parish. She plans to continue her work after graduation. 

Madelyn Foster, a nursing major from Sulphur, is the College of Nursing and Health Professions undergraduate outstanding graduate. Foster received the national Horatio Alger Scholarship, an award given to students who have overcome adversity. She plans to work at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas, and pursue a master’s degree in nursing.