Molly Goforth is the Â鶹ҹÊÐ’s overall Fall 2025 Outstanding Graduate.
Goforth is among eight award finalists who will be recognized Friday, Dec. 19, during Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies.
Each spring and fall semester, deans from the University’s academic colleges nominate a student as Outstanding Graduate. Nominations are based on leadership, scholarship and service. An Alumni Association committee interviews candidates and selects one to receive the overall award.
In addition to being the fall semester’s overall honoree, Goforth is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering. An electrical engineering major, her GPA is 4.0.
Goforth earned a master of music degree in cello performance from DePaul University in Chicago. As a professional musician, she performed with major symphonies, collaborated with Grammy-nominated artists and taught as an adjunct instructor of cello in the Â鶹ҹÊÐ School of Music. A tendon injury prompted her to change course and study electrical engineering at the University.
Goforth will be graduating with her undergraduate degree in just two and a half years. She has been inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society. She is working toward licensure as a professional engineer.
Her husband is William Plummer, director of choral activities and an associate professor in the School of Music and Performing Arts. She is the daughter of Jeane Goforth and Alexander and Janet Goforth.
Emma Richard is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for University College. She is a general studies major. Her GPA is 3.97.
Richard is a member of Ragin' Rescue, a student-run animal welfare organization, and an avid animal shelter volunteer. She also volunteers at Healing House, which supports children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
After graduation, she plans to pursue a master's degree in criminal justice.
She is the daughter of Erin Hazelwood and Frank Richard.
Isaiah Crawford is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Education & Human Development. He is a kinesiology major. Crawford has a 3.62 GPA.
Crawford served as the Student Government Association senator for the College of Education & Human Development. He received numerous academic scholarships, including the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, the Christiana Smith African American Alumni Chapter Scholarship, the David Trosclair Memorial Scholarship and the Cedric Richmond Scholarship.
As a member of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Men's Basketball team, Crawford earned the Men’s Basketball Academic Achievement Award and placement on the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Following graduation, Crawford will work for CGI.
He is the son of Lasean Daniels and Bobby Crawford.
Carley Dupré is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of the Arts. She is a visual arts major with a 3.67 GPA.
Dupré has received an Advance Student Research Travel Grant, the Beatrice Joseph Boustany First Generation Endowed Scholarship and an Acadiana Arts Access Microgrant. She served as the vice president of the Â鶹ҹÊÐ Ceramics Club and was president of Educators Rising in 2021. She also completed a French immersion program at Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia.
Dupré has participated in 17 art exhibitions, including two solo exhibitions since 2022. She plans to pursue a master of fine arts degree in studio art and become a professor of ceramics.
She is the daughter of Heidi Dupré and Roy Robin III.
Sharissa Morrison is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. She is a biology and chemistry major with a 3.98 GPA.
She served as co-president of the Women’s Chemist Society. Morrison is a member of the Pre-Professional Society, Biology Society and University Honors Program. She has been a member of the Developmental Science Research Laboratory since 2023 and presented her research at the 2024 Southwestern Psychological Association Convention and the 2025 Association for Psychological Science Convention.
Morrison plans to attend medical school after graduation to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
She is the daughter of Melissa Joshua and Shawn Morrison.
Debra Crawford is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. She is an accounting major with a 3.6 GPA.
Crawford completed the Advance Student Research Experience Pathways with distinction. Crawford has co-authored an article that will appear in The CPA Journal, a peer-reviewed academic publication. She was also a scholarship recipient and vice president of service for Beta Alpha Psi, the international honorary organization for accounting students and professionals.
In addition to her undergraduate studies, Crawford is pursuing a master’s degree in accounting at Â鶹ҹÊÐ; she will graduate in July 2026. She will then work for EisnerAmper, one of the nation’s largest accounting firms.
She is the daughter of Julia and William Crawford.
Haley Montet is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Liberal Arts. A criminal justice major, her GPA is 3.96.
She is the only Fall 2025 graduate to complete and defend an Honors Baccalaureate Thesis. She presented her work at the Undergraduate Research Conference and the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit. Monet served as an Honors Ambassador, president of the Criminal Justice Society and member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Montet's future plans include pursuing a master's degree in criminology at either Michigan State University or Rutgers University.
She is the daughter of Tim and Christine Montet.
Tia Miller is the Outstanding Graduate Finalist for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences. She is a nursing major with a 3.45 GPA.
Miller has received the Delores Bess Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, the Dr. Harold P. Chastant Award for Clinical Excellence Scholarship, the Lafayette General Auxiliary Scholarship and the Lucie and Yvonne Webb Endowed Nursing Scholarship.
She currently serves as a conference delegate for the National Student Nurses' Association and is an active member of the National Black Nurses' Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Following graduation, Miller plans to remain in Lafayette and work as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit setting. She plans to further her education and become an advanced practice registered nurse.
She is the daughter of Cherie and Derrick Miller.
Photo caption: Â鶹ҹÊÐ’s Fall 2025 Outstanding Graduates are, from left: Isaiah Crawford, College of Education & Human Development; Sharissa Morrison, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences; Emma Richard, University College; Molly Goforth, College of Engineering; Carley Dupre, College of the Arts; Debra Crawford, BI Moody III College of Business Administration; Tia Miller, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; Haley Montet, College of Liberal Arts. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / Â鶹ҹÊÐ