New Orleans – Tulane University awarded degrees this month to approximately 2,300 graduates. The following local residents were among those students:

Sharita F. Cenac of LaPlace graduated from the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Max J. Koeck of LaPlace graduated from the Tulane University School of Law with a Master of Laws, Admiralty degree.

Casey M. Robottom of LaPlace graduated from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science, management degree.

Ryan M. Roussel of LaPlace graduated from the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Rekha G. Wadhwa of LaPlace graduated from the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering

with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Gary P. Boe of LaPlace graduated from the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Rebekah R. Sadaiappen of Norco graduated from the Tulane University School of Medicine with a Master of Science degree.

Nyla R. Smith of Norco graduated from the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Tulane’s Unified Commencement was held May 12 in the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The ceremony featured keynote speaker Thomas Friedman and honorary degree recipients Cokie Roberts, Stevie Wonder and Nobel Laureate Walter Gilbert.

These local residents and fellow class members were honored at the ceremony, which included all the pomp and circumstance of a traditional commencement but with a New Orleans twist, including bagpipes, herald trumpets and a second-line jazz procession. Music was provided by Dr. Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band and jazz singer Topsy Chapman with impromptu performances by Stevie Wonder, including a Tulane-centric rendition of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”