Freshmen welcomed to Wildcat family at Tuesday’s Convocation

August 24, 2023

Louisiana Christian University welcomed the Class of 2027 in Freshmen Convocation Tuesday.

LCU President Dr. Rick Brewer and Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Cheryl Clark welcomed 250 freshmen, offering information to them on the traditions and the campus they are now part of.

“Christian education is about preparing you for life; we at LCU seek to prepare graduates and transform lives,” LCU President Rick Brewer told the packed Guinn Auditorium. “We believe that transformed people transform communities, transform culture, transform families and others’ lives.”

Freshmen attended in their major cohorts with their faculty mentors.

Brewer recognized LCU athletes and others for their many accomplishments last year, including:

  • LCU received the Red River Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row.
  • Olivia Scott was named recipient of the first Clarence & Rose Fields Emerging Black Leader Scholarship
  • Josie Holt was crowned Miss LCU and a Top 10 Finalist for Miss Louisiana.
  • Addition of a new Master of Strategic Leadership degree
  • Updated nursing program approved by Louisiana Board of Nursing
  • Convergence Media students and faculty took nine awards at the Southeast Journalism Conference, including Educator of the Year, Dr. Elizabeth Clarke.

Brewer also gave updates on major projects.

  • A major renovation to Hattie B. Strother Dining Hall including new furnishings and a new menu
  • The Joshua D. Perry Prayer Garden completion with dedication set for Oct. 3

LCU will go through the Book of Galatians this academic year in Chapel. Brewer delivered the inaugural message from Galatians 5:1.

Lastly, in what has become an annual event, President Brewer named this year’s “President for a Day,” Jamael Owusu, an MBA student from Simmesport. Owusu graduated from LCU in May and plays for the men’s basketball team.

“My illustration of granting Jamael both a Ph.D. and Honorary President role was to demonstrate how someone (Christ) paid the price and placed him in a position of honor (Ph.D./President) through his (Christ’s) finished work at the Cross,” Brewer said. “All Jamael had to do was to receive the gift and step into his “calling” (putting on the robe, doctoral hood, cap & medallion).”

Owusu’s first order of business as president: Free snow cones for all immediately following Chapel.

It was a very cool move—on a very hot day!

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Media Release     |     Aug. 24, 2023     |     Pineville, Louisiana
Contact: Dr. Elizabeth B. Clarke, Director of University Communications | Elizabeth.clarke@lcuniversity.edu