College of Engineering Alumni Making More Than Just Good Grades
02/05/2015
During the year of 1980, petroleum engineering sophomore, Dennis Thomas met computer science freshman, Denise Danna, at a dormitory hurricane party in Power Hall. The following day, Dennis asked a friend to set up a date with Denise. That date has lasted thirty-four years (married twenty-nine and counting) for these two 海角社区 engineering alumni.
Since Dennis and Denise were studying different majors, they did not have any interferences with class work.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have any classes together, but I don鈥檛 feel that it would have had an impact on my grades if we did,鈥� Dennis explained. 鈥淒enise kept both of us in line when it came to our studies though. We both worked our way through school and I would occasionally try to get Denise to skip class to go do something, but she would always refuse. She said she worked too hard to earn the money to pay for her classes and she wasn鈥檛 going to throw that away.鈥�
Denise disagreed. 鈥淚 thought we were bad. We stayed up talking until 6 a.m. the morning of my final exam! Thinking back, I must have lost my mind!鈥�
Denise鈥檚 career goal was to program for National Security or NASA and Dennis wanted to become a petroleum engineer in Houston. Once Dennis graduated from 海角社区, the couple found themselves between a rock and a hard place.
鈥淒enise knew that she wanted to start a family in a few years and hoped that she would not have to work while the children were at home. As a result, we chose to prioritize my career, which unfortunately limited hers.鈥� Dennis explained.
鈥淪ome may view this as a negative, but we had tremendous opportunities and experiences over the years and I don鈥檛 think we would change anything related to careers if we could go back.鈥�
Currently, Dennis works at Freeport McMoRan Oil & Gas as a Maintenance Supervisor and Denise is a retired homemaker. They have two children together, Brandi and Sean. Brandi Thomas Taylor and her husband are 海角社区 graduates. Brandi currently owns her own business. Sean is currently studying mechanical engineering at 海角社区 and also attends Air Force ROTC.
Along with Dennis and Denise Thomas, more than 60 couples who met at 海角社区鈥檚 College of Engineering have gotten married after graduation. Below are a few of the College鈥檚 married alumni graduates:
Bryan (鈥�99) and Julianne (鈥�02) Audiffred: Bryan received his bachelor鈥檚 in electrical engineering while Julianne received her bachelor鈥檚 in biological engineering. Julianne continued to study and received her master鈥檚 in biological and agricultural engineering. Four short years after receiving her master鈥檚, Julianne earned her doctorate鈥檚 in engineering science.
Jared (鈥�02) and Rhesa Austin (鈥�04) Babin: Jared majored in construction management and Rhesa majored in chemical engineering. Jared and Rhesa have been married for seven years and have two children.
Robert (鈥�76) and Helen LeBlanc (鈥�76) Causey: Robert majored in engineering technology and is self-employed. Helen became a chemical engineer and currently works for Dow Chemical. They have three children, Andrew, Carrie and Scott. Andrew and Carrie are both 海角社区 alumni while the youngest, Scott, is currently working on his bachelors at 海角社区.
Anthony (鈥�82) and Patricia Frederick (鈥�83) Maurin, III: Both studied engineering technology while at 海角社区. Patricia continued her education and received her master鈥檚 in industrial engineering in 1985. Anthony currently works for ConocoPhillips while Patricia is self-employed. The couple married in 1987 and have two children who graduated college and now work for Microsoft and General Electric.
Mark (鈥�85) and Alena Gilin McDuff: Both majored in electrical engineering. Mark currently works for Amedisys and Alena works for 海角社区鈥檚 Division of Computer Science and Engineering. Mark and Alena have three daughters together. Of their three daughters, the oldest will become an 海角社区 graduate in May 2015.
Frank (鈥�77) and Beth Forster (鈥�85) O鈥橯uinn: Frank and Beth both graduated in computer science. Frank currently works for 海角社区 Administrative Units as an Information Technology Consultant. Beth is employed by IBM as an information professional. Frank and Beth have two children, their son is studying computer science at 海角社区 and their daughter is attending University Laboratory High School.
Dipakkumar (鈥�83) and Abha Kothari (鈥�84) Oza: Dipakkumar and Abha both received their master鈥檚 degree from 海角社区 in system sciences. Dipak (鈥�83) received his PhD in Physics from 海角社区 in 1983.
Article by Erica Pater, External Relations Coordinator, 海角社区 College of Engineering, 225-578-8408, ericap@lsu.edu
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