Brody Viator, son of Kenneth and Shirley Viator of Erath, has been named the overall Fall 2003 Outstanding Graduate at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
One student from each of the university’s nine academic colleges is selected as an Outstanding Graduate. Viator was nominated by the College of Engineering. The nine students were honored during their respective college’s graduation ceremonies on Dec 13. During Graduate School commencement in the Cajundome that day, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduate was selected from the nine finalists. The students are nominated by their deans and judged upon leadership, scholarship and service.
Viator, a telecommunications engineering major, has been on the Dean’s List every semester. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and is currently the chapter’s president. As president, he is working on a scholarship fund to be awarded to freshman or sophomore engineering students.
He is also a member of Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society and served as the bridge correspondent for one year. As correspondent, he designed a chapter website to promote the organization and to improve communication among officers, members and other engineering students.
In 2003, Viator was selected for the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He is also the recipient of the 1999 Patriotic Award and the 1999 Catholic Youth Leadership Award presented by the Knights of Columbus Council #3872. He also received the 1999 Patriotism Award presented by the American Legion.
His scholarships include an academic scholarship, the UL Lafayette Alumni Scholarship and Louisiana Telephone Association Scholarship among others. He was a member of the Honors Program and Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society.
In May 2003, he was appointed to the Student Technology Enhancement Program committee and is responsible for overseeing the proposal process, maintaining bylaws and identifying student technology initiatives.
His community involvement includes serving as assistant youth minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Erath. Viator has been involved with the Life Teen program since its inception. He helps to conduct organizational meetings, attends youth conferences and retreats and ministers and counsels teens. He is also involved with a retreat team in which he helps to organize and put on retreats about once every two months.
Upon graduation, Viator plans to relocate and pursue a career in electrical engineering. He has already passed the Engineer in Training exam. He plans to attain CCNA, CCNP, CCIE and PE certifications in the near future.
Other Outstanding Graduates honored were Mandy Richard of Kaplan, Applied Life Sciences; Michael Lahey of Lafayette, Arts; Sarah Bolding of Lafayette, Business Administration; Crystal Compos of Sunset, Education; Amanda Babineaux of Arnaudville, General Studies; Stephanie Etie of Breaux Bridge, Liberal Arts; Travis Lukasik of Lafayette, Nursing; and Stacy Crochet of Loreauville, Sciences.