Zachary Goodnow receives his University Medal from Stuart Bell, LSU executive vice chancellor and provost. Goodnow earned his Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource and ecology management with a concentration in conservation biology.

Honor’s College Dean Nancy Clark congratulates Markita Lewis, who earned the University Medal. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and food sciences with a concentration in dietetics.

Jennifer West receives her University Medal from Stuart Bell, LSU executive vice chancellor and provost. West earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine.

News Release Distributed 05/15/14

BATON ROUGE, La – Four graduating seniors in the LSU College of Agriculture earned LSU’s top undergraduate academic honor, the University Medal. The students received their medals at a ceremony honoring the university’s 53 medalists at the LSU Union Theater on May 15, 2014.

“The University Medal was established as an award for undergraduate students graduating with the highest grade-point average in their class,” said Stuart Bell, LSU executive vice chancellor and provost. “It is considered the university’s highest honor.”

Zachary Goodnow, Kayla Krodinger, Markita Lewis and Jennifer West each graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average.

“This is an outstanding achievement,” said Bill Richardson, dean of the College of Agriculture and LSU vice president for agriculture. “We are very proud of these four students for their accomplishment.”

Goodnow is from Slidell and received a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource and ecology management with a concentration in conservation biology. He plans to pursue a career in a wildlife- or wetlands-related field.

Krodinger is from Lacombe and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and food sciences with a concentration in dietetics. Her goal is to become a registered dietician.

Lewis, of Gonzales, received a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and food sciences with a concentration in dietetics. Lewis also is graduating with college honors. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and pursue a combined master’s degree and dietetic internship.

West earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. She plans to attend veterinary school and open a private practice with a focus on small-animal medicine. She is from Geismar.

The students will receive their degrees May 16 at the College of Agriculture graduation ceremony at the Maddox Fieldhouse. The college has 183 students receiving Bachelor of Science degrees at the ceremony.