Student overcomes obstacles on path to graduation

When Alexandra Arceneaux crossed the stage with her service dog, Mishka, at the LSU College of Agriculture commencement ceremony on Dec. 16 at the Maddox Fieldhouse the crowd erupted with applause. To say Arceneaux’s journey to graduation had obstacles is to understate her struggle.

Arceneaux, of Bogalusa, came to LSU in 2008, but before she could finish her degree, she developed Neuromyelitis optica, a condition which left her paralyzed from the shoulders down.

“It’s sort of like a cousin to multiple sclerosis,” Arceneaux said, “But it comes on suddenly.”

This was in 2012. Arceneaux spent the next year and half recovering in therapy. She regained use of her arms, but remains in a wheelchair.

“I could have continued in therapy to focus on walking, but I wanted to come to back to school and get my degree,” she said.

Arceneaux received her degree in nutrition and food sciences with a focus on food science and technology. She hopes to work in quality assurance in the food industry.

“The program had everything I wanted out of science,” she said. “My food science professors have been so supportive realizing my limitations. I felt a sense of community in the program.”

Tea, Fashion, Fancies celebrates Seersucker Saturday

Laurie Lipsey Aronson, president and CEO of Haspel Clothing Co., tells attendees of Tea, Fashion and Fancies on Feb. 18, about the advent of the seersucker suit, which her family’s company is credited with creating. This event is an annual fundraiser for Friends of the LSU Textiles and Costume Museum and Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome declared Feb. 18 Seersucker Saturday in Baton Rouge for the event.

Students spend winter break in Greece

Lauren Martin, above, was one of eight students in the LSU College of Agriculture who traveled to Greece during winter break to study the country’s food and culture. Martin, a junior, said she is considering a career as a clinical dietitian and the experience will help her work with different populations. She is standing at the Palamidi Fortress in Nafplion, Greece.

Judy Myhand, nutrition instructor and director of this two-week study opportunity, which is in its seventh year, said her goal is to help broaden the minds of these students.

“If they think people are homogeneous, that limits them,” Myhand said. “I want them to approach life with the understanding that people have different likes and different experiences.”

The students spent time shopping for food and cooking with local residents.

“We spent a profoundly greater amount of time preparing meals, sitting at the table, lingering over food,” Martin said. “It was very different than at home, where I eat a lot of my meals alone.”

Martin received an international scholarship from the College of Agriculture to help fund the trip. She had never traveled abroad before visiting Greece. The other students who went were Alexa Bennet, Elizabet Trujillo, Mandy Gurtner, Sydney Mulroy, Alexis Agard, Lyell Turner and Allison Junca.

Escobar receives excellence award

Luis A. Escobar, professor in the Department of Experimental Statistics, received the RAMS Alan O. Plait Excellence Award for best tutorial presented at the 2016 Reliability and Maintainability Symposium. The tutorial was titled Experiences in Reliability Data Analysis, and the award was presented in Orlando, Florida, in January 2017.

Fashion students participate in Hemline for Hearts

Four students in the Fashion Association@LSU participated in the Hemline for Hearts paper heart dress competition on Jan. 28, in the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. The students are all studying textiles, apparel and merchandising. The event, sponsored by the American Heart Association, promotes the Go Red for Women campaign.

The students had three hours to complete a garment made entirely of paper hearts, some of which were signed by supporters. The competition took place on the ground floor of Macy’s, also a sponsor of the annual event. The dresses were on display in the store until they were moved to the Baton Rouge River Center for the Baton Rouge chapter of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women luncheon on Feb. 3.

“I feel like we have a good representation of different styles and years in school from our students competing today,” said Casey Stannard, assistant professor in the Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising

Senior Lauren Aymond, above, created a knee-length sleeveless dress with alternating red and white layers, which was complimented by a necklace and bracelet made entirely of clear and red plastic spoons. “I’m really happy with how my design came out,” Aymond said before judging began. Her design placed first and earned her an invitation to the Baton Rouge chapter of the American Heart Association’s Go Red luncheon as well as a Macy’s gift card.