May 3, 2002

Outstanding graduates receive special awards

The Ignatian Award is presented annually to two graduating seniors, one male and one female, who best represent Loyola through their involvement in campus life, faith commitment and high academic standing. The presentation takes place at the University Baccalaureate Mass.

This year's female recipient is Derika Legg, a triple major in communications (advertising), Spanish, and religious studies. The epitome of Jesuit education, Legg not only sports a 3.8 grade point average (GPA), but also is involved in a seemingly endless list of extracurricular activities.

Legg has been the account executive position with the Loyola Advertising Team, president of the Loyola Ad Club, member of the Loyola University Honors Association, advertising director of the Loyola University Community Action Program (LUCAP), adviser of the Loyola Residence Hall Council, student ambassador, director of the tutoring program Esperanza, Director of SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), and was a participant in the Hunger Relief program and the Lourdes tutoring program. Legg also is the president of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and is the chair of the Loyola University Pack Pride Committee, a campaign she began in fall 2001.

In addition to the above clubs and activities, Legg also has been the Loyola intramural team captain, participating in volleyball, flag football, soccer, basketball, racquetball, floor hockey, water polo, and softball. She was also on the Loyola Women's Rugby team from 1999 - 2001, and the Loyola Women's Volleyball team from 1998 - 1999. Legg, in addition to being a Loyola Ignatian Scholar, has also been named as the AAF 7^th District Winner in the National Student Advertising Competition (2002), is a two-time ADDY Award Winner from the Advertising Club of New Orleans, was presented with the Ignatian Award for Outstanding Senior Female, served as President of Sigma Delta Pi (the Spanish honor society) and Kappa Tau Alpha (communications honor society), is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit honor society), was Loyola's Ignatian Student of the year for the 2000 - 2001 academic term, and was Loyola's homecoming queen for 2002.

This year's male recipient is Joshua DeCuir, a history major with a minor in philosophy and religious studies. A member of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society), DeCuir is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, and was among the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for 2001.

DeCuir has also interned in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, served as Department of History representative to the Dean's Student Advisory Committee (DSAC) and College Assembly, and has been a student representative for the University Ministry Policy Advisory Committee (UMPAC). In addition, DeCuir has been president of the Loyola University Student Historical Association, a member of the Philosophy Club, and served as vice-president of Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honor society.

What sets DeCuir apart from many students is his active involvement in the spiritual community; DeCuir served as the rector of the Awakening Retreat in fall 2001, served as eucharist minister in the Ignatius Chapel from August 1998 to present, and has been a charter member of the Loyola Life Group since 1999.