Nunez Welcomes First Alum Commencement Speaker at 32nd Commencement Ceremony

Nunez Community College celebrated 387 graduates May 16 at the Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette during the college’s 32nd Commencement Ceremony.

This year’s ceremony marked the first time that a Nunez alum served as commencement speaker as celebrity chef, author and 2014 Nunez Culinary graduate Chef Toya Boudy addressed graduates and guests.

Chef Toya is a New Orleans native who has appeared on television on CBS, NBC’s Today Show, Guy’s Grocery Games, TLC, Food Network, and was crowned Best Home Cook by Hallmark’s Home & Family in 2017. In addition to her TV appearances, Chef Toya has released two cookbooks: 2017’s Cook Like a New Orleanian, and Cooking for the Culture: Recipes & Stories from the Streets of New Orleans to the Table in 2023.

Chef Toya was named one of Louisiana’s Best Chefs in 2018 and 2019 by the American Culinary Federation of New Orleans. She is also known for her YouTube channel, Cooking with Toya Boudy, which has attracted 24,000 subscribers, and her podcast The 5 Senses.

“There’s something special about Nunez. It’s a rare environment,” Chef Toya told the graduating class. “People are here because they want to be here. And that energy is what made me comfortable.”

She recalled the role that longtime Nunez Culinary Instructor Chef Ruth Varisco played in shepherding her through turbulence during her time in college, having left Nunez and returned multiple times due to various challenges.

“I especially want to thank you for telling me the truth that last time I dropped out,” she said addressing Chef Ruth. “She didn’t even look directly at me. Like a New Orleanian mother she looked from the side of her eye and she said ‘One day you’re going to have to put little girl Toya away for good,’ and then she kept grading papers.

“And I just said ‘okay.’ And it was the heaviest okay I ever had to sit with. But years later I put little girl Toya to rest and came back and finished school.”

Among the assembled graduates listening to Chef Toya’s remarks were Nunez’s youngest 2024 graduate at 16 years old, and the oldest at 64.

Graduates hailed from 45 cities in 3 states, including Kevin Yanez Orellana of Braithwaite, who graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Nunez’s class of ’24 also included 166 Dual Enrolled students who received a college credential in the same month they graduated high school, and 10 Adult Education students receiving their high school equivalency diplomas.

During the ceremony, Nunez 2023 Excellence In Teaching Award winner Dr. Alaa Khalil announced Kathleen Huff, Program Director for the Care and Development of Young Children and Teaching: Grades 1-5 programs, as the winner of the 2024 Excellence In Teaching Award, which is accompanied by the Lamarque Endowed Professorship.

The Excellence In Teaching Award nominees are selected each Spring by the Nunez faculty, and the winner is chosen by the Excellence In Teaching Committee.

“I remember a couple of years ago when I thought maybe I was getting a little old to still be here. And I was told, if I can still do what I need to do, it is perfectly okay,” said Huff. “So I want to challenge all the graduates, whatever age you are, you keep going. Next week I turn 72, and I still got it!”

Huff’s fellow nominees for the 2024 Excellence In Teaching Award included Brittney Zaffuto, Director of the Practical Nursing program, and Duane Jardine, Interim Program Chair of the Aerospace Manufacturing Technology program.

Registration is currently open at Nunez for the Summer 2024 and Summer Mini Session A terms, with classes scheduled to begin June 3. Registration is also open for the Fall 2024 semester, with classes beginning Aug. 20.

View available classes for all of the above terms at Nunez.edu/schedule. Assistance applying and registering for classes is available from our Student Success Team at Nunez.edu/advising.

Nunez graduates for 2024 are listed below by hometown:

Addis
Charles Guidry II

Arabi
David Marlon Alvarez           
Sierra Leolen Bargky           
Breiana C. Braxton
Beatrice Rose Cage             
Esmeralda Jaylene Esparza
Marcela Estrada
Jared James Lachney            
Kayla L Courtney Mann
Michael Martin Jr.
L'Oreal Yvette Parker
Kaitlyn Mae Schlumbrecht

Barataria
Ra'Shanda Bailey

Baton Rouge
Aidan Lambert                  

Bay Saint Louis, Miss.
Temple T. Chriss
Tyler Gomillion

Belle Chasse
Tristian Adams
Jade L. Arenales               
Seth R. Billingsley
Kelsey M. Dayton
Eric Dobson
Vincent Keith Drake, Sr.
Reese J. Espenan
Cole J. Foret
Daxton C. Hemming
Jace P. Jones
Blair Bryan O'Keeffe           
Jonathan J. Penisson
Jordan Rampon                  
Colby Stubbs
Alex J. Tate
Tyler P. Tauzin

Boutte
Jalissa Marie Young

Braithwaite
Jamiya Denise Addison
Kalan D. Bush
Shamanda Lenise Davis
Jaylon G. Sino
Kevin Cecilio Yanez Orellana

Buras
Emmitt L. Brooks, Jr.
Darren B. Fontaine, II

Chalmette
Ryan Christopher Abadie
Brenny J. Aleman Fonseca
Bayan Abdul Altayeb
Glen A. Alvarez
Yasmyn V. Ancalade
Neyri Ayala                    
Jordan A. Bartholomew          
Kayla Laurrin Bartholomew      
Russell J. Beaty, Jr.
Jacob C. Bell
Alex L. Blanchard              
Landyn Blanchard
Garrett Lee Brown
Dylan C. Bryan                 
Brayen E. Canas
Madison Andrew Chambers
Ashleigh Ann Chiek             
Jesse Ray5 Cochrane
Estelle N. Conners
Salma J. Darawsheh
Shirley Renee Doggett
Candice R. Edwards
Brandon A. Enclarde
Dionnel Evans
Jeremy M. Forvendel
Alaina Michelle Francingues    
Cristhian Rene Garcia Espinal  
Thomas Gaspard
Hasan H. Ghanim
Tylor P. Glassman
Hailey Ann Gonzales
Trent Gonzales
Denita Danielle Hawkins        
Kevin Timothy Hubble
Bethany Humphries
Gavin J. Imbornone
Brandon L. Jackson
Evan J. Jacob
Sean Xavier Jacobs
Simon Frances Jesusa
Jorge Christian Lee Jimenez
Dairon A. Joaquin Alfaro
Jacob J. Johnson
Stevenisha Journee
Kelsey Juan                    
Cain M. Landry
Kelsey L. Laris                
Raymond C. Lubrano, III
Akevion Micheal Lucien
Darryl Andrade Mancinares      
Bayron Matos
Tayah M. Mcnab
Leindre Moore
Taniell Nelson                 
Bao Nguyen
Daniel T. Nguyen
Nathan H. Nguyen
Michelle Anne Payton           
Brant L. Peterson
Kassidy Lee Potter             
Sabrina Rachel Powers          
Gregg B. Prater, Jr.
Richard C. Quiroz
Hunter J. Retif
Justin Daryl Ritchie
Ricky Mckayle Robin            
Tyler B. Rushing
Kenneth J. Sanchez
Sergio Alejandro Sanchez Miranda
Vickie Santalucito
Crystal Schaub
Quinten A. Shelling
Daniel Joseph Sherlock         
Brandon Shipley
Lyric Lashee' Smith            
Brandon L. Steward             
Hadeel Tamimi
Nashaun D. Thomas
Kyle A. Vicknair
Jonathan Alan White
Corey Micheal Williams
Tayla L. Wilson

Covington
Cleo Catherine Estopinal
Bradley Fields
Samuel Jacob Ridge             

Des Allemands
Landon Micheal Cortez

Donaldsonville
Lani Lemann

Edgard
Karlyn A. Favorite

Gramercy
Noah Detillier

Greensburg
Logan R. Coley

Greenwell Springs
Ronald Wilson III

Gretna
Maxwell E. Agee
Tondranette Ross Brown         
Terra Lynndajah Coffil
Sanyika C. Farrar              
Renan Gabriel                  
Cayla Green
Tia Chenzira Hubert
Kenetria Kierra Jackson
Dominique Jean
Candice Johnson
Warren Kelly, III
Darrielle Odoms
Zelika Ahoua Ouattara          
Magnolitha Pierre
Eric St Romain, Sr.
Jada Ventris
Mya Christie Williams

Harvey
Keyanna Shontrell Cobb         
Elroy Trent Duncan             
Derrick Encalade
Jessica Danielle Gaudet        
Ashley Angel Santiago
Percy James Saul               
Hermanese Walker               
Deztanee's Secret Ward

Kenner
Christiana Ceann Dickerson     
Jamie Everson
Jonathan Glover Jr.
Joseph Poon
Tarocheann Sterling            

Kentwood
Eli Wrangler Woodard

La Place
Courtney E. Billiot

Lacombe
Julian Chapman

Livingston
Brock Adams

Loranger
Ryan C. Rivers
Jakob Scott Spencer

Mandeville
Alexander R. Roux
Andre Rene Roux

Marrero
Irlenys B. Ayala
Chase Edwin Cunningham         
Samantha M. Dendy
Ashely Elizabeth Foret         
Trey Green
Niki Kondylis
Kiante Tia Symone McCollum     
Amron G. Pimentel
Tyler Rhodes

Meraux
David Leo Balser Jr.
Nicholas A. Bayhi
Hayden J. Blum
Reiss P. Bowen
Jasmine Bradley
Ty'sha M. Bryant
Leopold Vincent Fischer        
Joshua P. Gerrick              
Scott Anthony Grimaldi
Colin P. Huff                  
Shawn Edward Kelt
Konner E. Landry
Donovan J. Martin
Brock William Plaiscia
Leini Elizabeth Spears         
Landon S. Stasney
George E. Wehrlin IV
Austin H. Wheaton
Victor Joseph White Jr.

Metairie
Ira Conrad Austin              
Jasmine Michelle Brinker
Rechelle Butler
Steven J. Darby
Aidan Christian Davis
Megan Dubuc                    
Mark N. Giacontiere Jr.
Cullen A. Johnson
Raymond John Johnson III
Logan LeJeune                  
Kyle Noel LeRouge
Qiliang Liu
Josh Sullivan
Travis Thiel
Kaci Ward

New Orleans
Nathan Albert II
Frank Bartholomew Sr.
Ashton Christopher Bates
Taylor Bendeck
Derrick J. Brocks II
Leslie Lynell Castro           
Cameron N. Claude
Jalaya Dotson
Thomas Dozier
Sierra Fairley
Megan K. Forbes
Joseph Michael Garrison
Emily Kay Gaudreau
Brittney George
Brandon M. Gibson
Mike'Kael Ro'Shea Gilmore      
James Goodall
Alnesha Marie Greenberry
Alexus Greer                   
Briana Griffin
Melvin Hamilton Jr.
Benard Harris
Brione Harris
Kyle C. Harris
Nattassia Lechelle Hawthorne-Binalla
Nicholas Michael Herbert Jr.
Asha Briyante Holmes
August Christian Homrighausen  
Sheila A. Howard
Stacey Polk Hurley
Jasmine Germaine Jackson       
Mark Douglas Johnson
Michael J. Joseph
Rochelle Beatrice Lawrence     
Adrian Tre LeBlanc
Brandy Livas                   
Cristian Martinez
Kierra B. Mash
Azizi Raheen Mathews
Cyntrell Mcdonald
Brittany Mikia Mitchell
Stephen Fuller Neeley
Trieu Nguyen
Keiondra Norman                
Matthew J. Parker
Kirsten Pate
Fransheska Pena De La Cruz
Cody Petrovich
Thuy Phan                      
Ronnie Phillips
Ronjae Pleasant
Jacques Robichaux Jr.
Janae J. Sanson
Robert L. Savage Jr.
Caleb Keenen Simon
Cristy Lillian Smith           
Lymonique Stevenson P. Landry  
Thomas Charles Sutherland
Troy Taylor
Kentrell Patricia Thomas
Kevin Fitzgerald Thomas Sr.
Arlo Soffer Townsley
John Hans Tsai                 
Rodshanda C. Turner            
Dominisha Walker
Jade Taylor Warren
Tarase T. White                
Ahmad Williams
Lakisa Monique Williams
Alaina M. Young

Picayune, Miss.
Myles Quincy Agee              
Ishicia Marie Russell
Vincent Josiah Stallings

Ponchatoula
Tosha M. Evans

Port Sulphur
Gavin M. Dinette               
Erin Michelle Leboeuf

River Ridge
James P. Bendeck

Slidell
Kevin Paul Addison             
Crystal Danielle Allen         
Rayshal Dewansha Badon
Kristina Michelle Binney       
Bryson W. Brown
Matthew Tyler Busbee
Brittany Chambers
Hannah Kyleigh Chuter          
Rajon' Copelin
Johnny Jahir Cubas-viera
Redic C. Davis
Colby Gerard Dowden            
Kesslar J. Beverly             
Tiara L. Expose
Jose Manuel Galvez Jr.
Kailey Gillen
Sondra Elizabeth Groby
Marcus A. Hempfling
Megan Marie Holmes             
Ryan M. Johnson
Gabriela N. Juarez
Wendy M. Keller                
Tierny Legier
Victoria Martin
Tristyn Lori Matte             
Sidney Malik Mcmillan
Robert Monnier-Quick
Bianca Maria Morris
Michelle Goubler Palmer        
Kendranika Shanell Phillips    
Demaris C. Pierce              
Jaron A. Robinson
Benjamin Kaiser Runnels
Callie Reagan Sigsworth        
Shantel Renee Smith
Shantell S. Stewart
Caleb Stiegler                 
Alicia Marie Terre             
Abbie Thibodeaux
Jessica Lesette Thomas         
Shantell M. Tiffith            
Megan M. Troyani
Dominic Veals
Tyler Joseph Veron             
Sarah Verret
Emilie Elizabeth Vidrine
Meagan Black White
Brent Williams                 
Iria Dmeesheya Williams        

St. Bernard
Ashley Adams
Kennedy Asevado                
Reggie Bergeron
William M. Bertoniere
David P. Deselles Jr.      
Kevin N. Evans
Colby M. Gilchrist
Caden P. Guerra
Brady I. Nunez
Yovanny Ramirez Mancilla
Daniel T. Randazzo
Hayden M. Tregle
Kris A. Matute Torres
Victoria Mira                  
Emily N. Muller
Ethan Gregory Phelps           
Brooke Nikolle Ricouard        
Joseph Anthony Ricouard        
Eves J. Savoie                 
Michael E. Winesberry Jr.
Caleb Joseph Young

St. Martinville
Dorien Jackson

Tomball, Texas
Tashell D. Parks

Violet
Alexandria S. Aisola
MacKenzie Aryn Bonvillian      
Laurence Bright Jr.
Julio Cabrera III
Devan Dale
Phil Dees Jr.
Austin Elisar
Ronald P. Eschete III
Bridget Marie Evans            
Kristy Lynn De Franza          
Colby R. Guerra Jr.
Joseph Landix
Andon Steven Long
Shane M. McCarthy              
Barry T. Ramirez Jr.
Mariah W. Ranko
Ashley Elizabeth Rodriguez     
Jamie Corine Sino              
Leon E. Swindler V
Callie Rose Topey              
Tiara Janae Tyler
Demetria Montrice Williams     
Tanya Josette Williams         

Walker
Casey J. Bryant

Westwego
Zabrelle L. Nicholas

Zachary
Amare Jamal Bailey

About Nunez Community College
Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution that delivers relevant and innovative curriculum integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez serves a vital role in the community by engaging with partners to support student success and personal growth. Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.