A publication for prospective
students of Xavier University
of Louisiana, their parents,
and High School counselors
Volume 18
Winter 2012
RUN FOR FUNDS:
More than 400 Xavier students, faculty, staff, and alumni turned out in
force for the 25th annual UNCF 5K Walk for Education, which was held at
the Audubon Park and Zoo’s Riverview Area.
XU First in African American
Med School Graduates
Xavier is first among the nation’s
colleges and universities in the
number of African American
graduates who go on to complete
medical school, according to data
compiled by the Association
of American Medical Colleges
(AAMC).
Xavier had 60 African-American
graduates earn medical degrees
in 2011, the latest year for which
complete data is available.
Howard University was second
with 43 graduates, followed by
the University of Florida with 26.
The remaining schools ranked in
continued on page 3
descending order are Harvard
University, Yale University, Duke
University, Stanford University,
Spelman College, the University
of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
Pharmacy Introduces
Contingent Admit Program
Exceptional high school seniors
considering a career in pharmacy
now have a unique opportunity to
get a leg up on their professional
education through a new program
being offered by the University.
Under Xavier’s new Contingent
Admit Program (CAP), students
can apply for admission into the
College of Pharmacy as seniors
in high school. Those who qualify
and are accepted into the CAP
will be guaranteed a seat in the
professional pharmacy program if
they satisfactorily complete all of
their pre-requisite courses in two
continued on page 3
years.
Previously, all applicants for the
four-year professional program
were required to complete the
same requirements either at Xavier
or another college before they
would even be considered for
admission into pharmacy school.
Did you
know?
- One hundred and fifty
XU student scholars
will appear in the 2013
edition of Who’s Who
Among Students in
American Universities
and Colleges, an annual
chronicle of the nation’s
outstanding campus
leaders.
- Xavier was singled out
as one of the nation’s
best institutions for
undergraduate education
by The Princeton
Review in the 2013
edition of its annual “The
Best 377 Colleges” guide.
- The 2013 edition of the
Fiske Guide to Colleges
tabbed Xavier as among
its “Best Buy Schools”
continued on page 2
Did you know?
continued from page 1
for academics and
affordability. Only 41 such
institutions (20 public and
21 private) received the
distinction. XU was the
only college in Louisiana
and one of only three
Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs)
to make the list.
- Sophomore Zahri
Jackson of Kingwood
TX (Kingwood Park
High) and senior Matt
Pieri of New Orleans
LA (Bro. Martin High)
took individual titles at
the Gulf Coast Athletic
Conference Cross
(GCAC) Cross Country
Championships, leading
the both the XU men
and women to team
championships for the
seventh consecutive year.
- Taylor Reuther,
a sophomore prepharmacy major from
Metairie LA (Dominican
High), has earned both
athletic and academic
honors for the 2012
volleyball season. She
was named Gulf Coast
Athletic Conference
Player of the Year for
leading the Gold Nuggets
to their second straight
GCAC conference
championship and
named to the Capital One
Academic All-District 4
college division team.
- The U.S. Department of
Education has awarded
Xavier a new five-year,
$1.2 million grant in
support of its Ronald E.
McNair Postbaccalureate
Achievement Program,
a federal TRIO program
designed to prepare
undergraduate students
for doctoral studies
through involvement in
undergraduate research
and other scholarly
activities. Xavier places
95 percent its McNair
participants into graduate
and professional school.
2
- The XU Department
of Business was one
of 66 U.S. colleges and
universities recognized
as a “Top University
Sales Program for 2012”
by the Sales Education
Foundation (SEF). The
selected schools were
cited for demonstrating a
strong sales curriculum,
university recognition
and support, and
the opportunity for
experiential learning such
as internships.
- Xavier’s business team
was named a regional
champion and Rookie
of the Year at the
SIFE (Students In Free
Enterprise) USA Regional
Competition held in
Dallas, TX. Xavier is one of
nearly 600 SIFE programs
in the United States.
Participating students
use business concepts
to develop community
outreach projects that
improve the quality of life
and standard of living for
people in need.
- Lauren Day, a third-year
(P3) pharmacy student
from Missouri City TX
(Hightower High School)
has been selected as
one of 10 New Orleans
Schweitzer Fellows by
The Albert Schweitzer
Fellowship (ASF). She
joins approximately 240
other new Schweitzer
Fellows across the
country.
- Devinn Rolland, a
sophomore chemistry/
pre-pharmacy major
from Harvey LA, has
already carved a unique
niche in Xavier history.
She is the first XU
freshman to be named
an athletic All-American
(in track and field) as well
as the first to record a 4.0
grade-point average for
both semesters during
that All-American year.
continued to page 4
WHITE COAT CEREMONY:
First-year College of Pharmacy students – (from left) David Jones of LaPlace
LA, Jaime Johnston of New Orleans, Katerra Williams of Hammond LA,
Kelly Giardina of New Orleans and Brittany Porrier of Kenner LA – sign their
professional oaths at the 11th annual White Coat Ceremony.
THE RIGHT FIT:
Enthusiastic members of Xavier’s incoming Freshman class – (front, L-R) Taylor
Brazley, Chelsey McDonald, Kennedy St. Charles and Kaylen Temple (back, L-R)
Kadedra Murph, Thomas Nash III and Roland Daniels – proudly display their
new Class of 2016 baseball caps for the first time following the annual “capping”
ceremony, part of the University’s week-long New Student Orientation program.
CORONATION BALL:
Nikki Odofin, a senior psychology/premed major from DeRidder LA, is officially
crowned Miss Xavier 2012-13 by XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis before
a packed University Center Ballroom audience during the Annual Ball and
Coronation.
XU First...
NEW DIGS:
Senior guard Wanto Joseph of New Orleans goes
in for a layup vs. Morehouse College during the
Gold Rush’s 80-66 win in the first game played in
the University’s new state-of-the-art Convocation
Center, new home of the men’s and women’s
athletics programs.
continued from page 1
The statistics, which were published in
the June 7 issue of Diverse Issues in
Higher Education magazine, are not
altogether surprising, since for the past
three decades Xavier has been one of
nation’s leaders in preparing and sending
graduates to medical and professional
schools. In fact, Xavier was No. 1 in the
nation in placing African Americans for
15 straight years before an enrollment
drop due to the six-month closure of
the school following Hurricane Katrina
curtailed its numbers. Even still, in 2011
the University placed 68 students into
medical school according to AAMC
data, second only to much larger
Howard University.
Nor is it surprising in light of some
recent grants Xavier has received
designed to help the university continue,
build upon, and share with other
colleges and universities the programs
and practices that have helped build it
into a powerhouse of science education.
Earlier this year The Howard Hughes
Medical Institute (HHMI) announced
that Xavier was one of 47 U.S. colleges
and universities selected to participate
in a $50 million initiative that will enable
the school to create more engaging
science classes, bring real-world research
experiences to students, and increase
the diversity of students who study
science.
Identified as one of the best universities
in the nation at producing graduates
who go on to science careers, Xavier was
given a Capstone Award of $1 million.
Pharmacy Program...
“This is a significant step that takes
some of the anxiety out of the
admissions process,” said Dr. Kathleen
Kennedy, dean of the XU College of
Pharmacy. “Students in the Contingent
Admit Program will know exactly what
is expected of them, allowing them to
focus on what is really important – their
academic work – with the assurance of
enrollment in the pharmacy program.”
SHOWTIME:
The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha show off their
steps before a packed house in The Barn at the
recent Greek Neophyte Show.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
(L-R) P3 Mona Khashan of Flowery Branch GA and
pharmacy professor Dr. Kendrea Bryant provide
a Lakeside Shopping Mall visitor a free blood
pressure test and diabetes consultation during the
College of Pharmacy’s annual “Operation Diabetes”
community outreach event. Scores of pharmacy
students and faculty participated.
Xavier is the only college in the state,
and one of a handful nationwide that
offers this option. To be considered
for contingent admission, high school
students must have a minimum
composite ACT score of 23 (or
equivalent SAT score) and a minimum
cumulative high school GPA of at
least 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) in a college
preparatory curriculum. They will also
need to submit an online application, a
personal statement, and two letters of
reference from their high school math
or science teachers. An on-campus
personal interview is also required.
Once admitted into the program,
students must take 66 hours of
continued from page 1
prescribed courses and maintain
a minimum 3.0 GPA in the prepharmacy curriculum. They will also be
required to take the Pharmacy College
Admissions Test (PCAT) in the fall
semester of the second year. Students
admitted to the program who do not
maintain the requisite GPA will be
withdrawn from the program, but may
still apply for admission into the college
along with the remainder of the class.
Pharmacy graduates receive a Pharm.D.
degree, providing access to an exciting
and dynamic role in the healthcare
industry. Pharmacy practice settings
include retail pharmacies, hospital
and clinics, and long-term care
facilities. Pharmacists also work in the
pharmaceutical industry, state and
federal government, academia, research
organizations, and a variety of other
professional settings.
For more information on the program,
including application deadlines, visit the
Xavier website at http://www.xula.edu/
cop/contingent.php or call 520-5397.
For more information or to submit an online application for admission,
please visit the Xavier website at www.xula.edu.
Office of Admissions
Phone: (504) 520-7388 | Toll Free: 1 (877)-XAVIERU
Fax: (504) 520-7941 | Email: apply@xula.edu
3
Xavier University of Louisiana
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans LA 70125
www.xula.edu
Did you know?
continued from page 2
- Two P4 pharmacy
students – Breannie
Charles of Lafayette LA
(Northside High) and Jonn
Bailey of New Orleans
(Bonnabel High) – were
awarded scholarships from
the Louisiana Pharmacists
Association at the annual
LPA convention in
Lafayette LA.
- Five XU student-athletes,
led by three-time recipient
and Gold Rush basketball
standout Jamaan Kenner
of LaPlace LA (Jesuit High),
were recognized as Arthur
Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for
2011-12.
- Thirty-three Xavier
students studied abroad
during the 2011-2012
academic year, completing
full-time coursework and
conducting research in
Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
England, Ghana, Honduras,
Peru, South Africa and
Spain.
- Kearston Barnes, a P2
student from Fort Valley
GA (Peach County High),
served as a summer
trainee in the James
A. Ferguson Infectious
Diseases Fellowship at
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in
Atlanta GA.
- Mylinh Hoang, a senior
mass communications
major from New Orleans
(Edna Karr High), was
selected as one of 12
summer 2012 Diversity
Institute Multimedia
Scholars. She completed
an 11-day immersion
multimedia course,
followed by a paid, 8-week
internship.
- Maya Jones, a 2012 mass
communications graduate
from Plano TX (Plano West
High), was been selected
as a 2012 Chips Quinn
scholar and to the national
Sports Journalism Institute.
As a Chips scholar, she
Non-Profit Organization
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attended training at the
Freedom Forum’s Diversity
Institute in Nashville TN
before heading to the
University of Missouri’s
School of Journalism to
participate in a sports
journalism “boot camp”
and a paid internship at
the Detroit News.
High) has been awarded
a $10,000 Future Leaders
in Pharmacy Scholarship
from WalMart/Student
National Pharmaceutical
Association (SNPhA)
in recognition of his
academic record and
winning the Region 4
SNPhA competition.
- Two freshmen – political
science major Devon
Pruitt of Meridian MS
(Meridian High) and
English major Mia Ruffin
of Baton Rouge LA (Baton
Rouge Magnet) – were
named to the Kemper
Scholars Program’s Class
of 2013. Designed to
prepare students for
leadership and service,
the prestigious program
promotes education in the
liberal arts while providing
opportunities for career
exploration and practical
experience through
internships.
- Tracey Thomas, a P1
pharmacy student from
Baker LA (Baton Rouge
High) has been awarded
an academic scholarship
from United Health
Foundation’s Diverse
Scholars Initiative to
pursue a career in health
care.
- Joseph McDonald, a
third-year (P3) pharmacy
student from New
Orleans (St. Augustine
- Loic Didavi, a junior
business major from
Cotonou, Benin, was
named to the 2012 NAIA
Men’s Tennis All-American
first-team as well as the
Louisiana Tennis Player of
the Year by the Louisiana
Sportswriters Association.
- Quinton Guillory, a
sophomore biology/premed major from Lake
Charles LA (WashingtonMarion High), was chosen
to attend a six-week
summer program at the
Columbia University
College of Physicians and
Surgeons. He worked ith
top students from other
universities as they engage
in intense coursework, labs
learning-skills, and career
development courses for
six weeks at the medical
school.
- Michael Seaberry, a
junior biology/pre-med
major from Lake Charles
(Alfred Barbe High), was
one of six students chosen
by the American Heart
Association Founders’
Affiliates for a ten-week
independent research with
Dr. Craig Morrell at the
University of Rochester
Medical School.
- Lester Bell Jr., a senior
psychology major from
Axis AL (Satsuma High),
has authored a book,
Command Your Destiny:
The Key to Living the Life
You Want.