海角社区

Four 海角社区 College of Agriculture students represent the 海角社区 Tiger Twelve Class of 2022. 海角社区鈥檚 Tiger Twelve is an initiative that highlights a select group of undergraduate seniors who have contributed to 海角社区 campus life and positively impacted the Baton Rouge community. Each spring, 12 distinguished 海角社区 seniors receive this prestigious recognition.

Josephine Engelman

Major: Environmental Management Systems
Concentration: Resource Conservation
Minor: Political Science
Hometown: Queens, New York

Josephine Engelman, a native of Queens, New York,  is graduating with a degree in environmental management systems with a minor in political science. Engelman spent her time at 海角社区 working to improve sustainability efforts on campus and in Baton Rouge.

Engelman heavily immersed herself in student life by taking on various extracurricular activities. She held leadership positions for 海角社区 Student Government, 海角社区 Rowing Team, and Les Voyageurs for the College of Agriculture. She was also an active member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the 海角社区 Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

She considers these organizations to be a driving force in defining her identity and finding her passion for the environment. As president of the 海角社区 Rowing Team, she spent much of her time in 海角社区 Lakes.

鈥淥ne of my absolute favorite campus memories is waking up at 5:30 a.m. for rowing practice,鈥� said Engelman. 鈥淲atching incredible sunrises, seeing pelicans, herons and ducks fly above, and just being on the water with my teammates is something that I really cherish from my time on campus.鈥�

Engelman participated in Louisiana Wildlife Federation鈥檚 Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps, a prestigious program designed to develop students' leadership skills to analyze and institute conservation policies. This experience helped her solidify her career aspirations in environmental policy.

Josephine has accepted an internship in Washington D.C. with a lobbying firm focusing on agricultural issues.

鈥淏eing recognized as one of the Tiger Twelve is so exciting and incredibly humbling,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a huge honor, and I鈥檓 so proud of myself for being a positive and powerful enough influence around campus that I was chosen to receive this recognition.鈥�

 

Maia Williams

Major: Animal Science
Concentration: Science and Technology
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas

Maia Williams, a native of Missouri City, Texas, is an 海角社区 Ogden Honors College student graduating with a degree in animal sciences. At 海角社区, she experienced growth and self-discovery, taking on leadership roles as an 海角社区 Honors Ogden College Scholar and undergraduate researcher.

Williams is proud to have contributed to a variety of on-campus organizations. She held leadership positions for the 海角社区 Black Women鈥檚 Empowerment Initiative and the Pre-Veterinary Club at 海角社区. Williams was also an active member of the Black Honors Initiative, Minority Science Pre-Professional Society, and Student Christian Medical Association.

Williams credits her experience with undergraduate research as a driving force for her professional and personal development. She was an undergraduate researcher for the 海角社区 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences鈥� Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research and contributed to feline stem cell research manuscripts. 

鈥淚 want to thank Dr. Lopez, Catherine Takawira, and Takashi Taguchi, who has been instrumental in my development as a scientist and researcher. As well as Dr. Moreira and Dr. Coulon for their mentorship and assistance throughout my undergraduate career,鈥� said Williams.

Upon graduation, Williams plans to pursue a master鈥檚 in public health at the University of Texas Public School of Health in Houston.

鈥淏eing a part of the Tiger Twelve Class of 2022 is an incredible honor and signifies that the work and effort I put in during my time at 海角社区 was impactful and meaningful,鈥� said Williams. 鈥淚 am so honored to be recognized among this elite group of students who reflect the diverse opportunities and culture at 海角社区, as well as the tremendous contributions 海角社区 students make to our campus and the community at large.鈥�

 

Alexia LaGrone

Major: Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Concentration: Ecological Restoration
Minor: Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana

Alexia LaGrone, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, is an 海角社区 Ogden Honors College student graduating with a degree in natural resource ecology and management with a minor in oceanography and coastal sciences. LaGrone is passionate about the coastal environment and finds fulfillment in helping communities.

LaGrone spent her college career spearheading numerous service projects. She helped establish Collegiate 4-H at 海角社区 and 海角社区鈥檚 Water Brigade Chapter. She is a member of the 海角社区 Ogden Honors College鈥檚 Louisiana Service and Leadership Program, an educational program dedicated to studying and improving the state of Louisiana. She was active in Sigma Alpha, and the organization named her the 2020 National Outstanding Leader.

LaGrone is a Stamps Scholar, and she received the Dean Carolyn Collins Award by the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus in 2019 and the Laborde Leadership Scholarship by the College of Agriculture in 2021. She also participated in Louisiana Wildlife Federation鈥檚 Edgar Veillon Conservation Leadership Corps. In 2021, LaGrone was named a National Udall Scholar.

鈥淥ne of the proudest achievements that I have had in the past four years was being named a Udall scholar in 2021 for my interest in the environment,鈥� said LaGrone. 鈥淏ecoming a Udall recipient felt like a culmination and recognition for the work I have been putting in to improve my community and the world around me. It is an honor that I will never forget.鈥�

She also participated in undergraduate research with 海角社区鈥檚 Freshwater Ecology Lab, working on her honors thesis research project. She is currently completing an internship with the Water Institute of the Gulf Applied Geosciences Division. 

After graduation, LaGrone plans to spend her time working with environmental policy or community services before pursuing a master鈥檚 in the environmental justice field.

鈥淏eing a part of 海角社区鈥檚 Tiger Twelve means so much to me,鈥� said LaGrone. 鈥淚 love Louisiana State University, and I have always worked hard to find ways to improve it over the past four years in any way possible. Being recognized for my efforts in doing so is amazing and humbling.鈥�

 

Taylor Perrodin

Major: Agricultural Business
Hometown: Crowley, Louisiana 

Taylor Perrodin, a native of Crowley, Louisiana, is an 海角社区 Ogden Honors College student graduating with a degree in agricultural business. Perrodin took advantage of her time at 海角社区 to better the Baton Rouge community and prepare herself for law school. 

In addition to focusing on her studies, Perrodin was heavily involved in campus life throughout her college career. She held leadership positions for 海角社区 Student Government, Les Voyageaus, and Alpha Kappa Psi. Through her involvement with 海角社区 Student Government, she contributed to creating a pilot program that helped combat food insecurity on 海角社区鈥檚 campus.

Perrodin interned with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry for three years, taking a special interest in the international trade program. From this experience, she secured a government relations internship with the International Fresh Produce Association for summer 2022.

After graduation, Perrodin will be attending New England Law School in Boston on a full-ride scholarship to study environmental law. 

鈥溾�婩or me, receiving the Tiger Twelve recognition shows me that it is possible to make an impact on the environment and those around you, and that hard work pays off,鈥� said Perrodin. 鈥満＝巧缜� was my dream school, and it means the world to me to be recognized as a committed leader to the university that has given me so much.鈥�