LCU Graduates Look Forward to Bright Futures

By Elizabeth Clarke

Desiree Squires, of Rosepine, graduated this past May with a double major in chemistry and criminal justice. She knew she wanted to go into federal law enforcement, so she applied for an opening with the Secret Service, that her father found online.

Squires has a conditional offer of employment with the U.S. Secret Service. She said she never imagined that would happen.

She said her Uncle Herb, a highly decorated Green Beret, taught her some of the most important lessons in her life. “You can do a lot of things in this world, but if people around you don’t feel loved, it doesn’t matter,” she said she takes to heart every day. Squires said she is surrounded by people with good hearts at home and at LCU.

As Squires heads to the U.S. Secret Service Training Center in Georgia, her classmates Ting Jiang and Shelby Cumpton are headed back to the classroom to pursue graduate degrees.

Ting Jiang, of Eunice, graduated with a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. He has been accepted into the Master of Science in Accounting program at the University of Louisiana – Lafayette in the fall, while he studies for the CPA exam and gains work experience in an accounting firm.

Jiang spent the first 13 years of his life in China until his family moved to Louisiana for a new opportunity. He is a first-generation college student, and he is making it count.

He received the Louisiana Society of CPA’s scholarship two years in a row. This difficult statewide competition in accounting is almost unheard of to win twice!

While Jiang has grown in his knowledge of his career pursuits during his time at LCU, his biggest growth has been in his faith.

“I learned about how to carry responsibility and become more mature. The biggest thing is I have put my faith in Christ.”

He said he is prepared for the next step in his journey.

Shelby Cumpton, of Quitman, who graduated with a history degree and political science minor, will pursue a master’s degree in communication before she attends law school.

Cumpton has taken her four years at LCU to get involved on campus and become a leader.

“My life has changed in so many ways while at LCU,” she said. “Prior, I just wanted to be invisible. I had no desire to be a leader, but fortunately, God had much better plans.”

Cumpton has served in several positions in the Student Government Association, was an all-star Debate Team member, was in the C.S. Lewis Honors Program, Phi Alpha Theta, a Wildcat navigator, a tutor in the Student Success Center, and was chosen for Honors Court in 2021 and Homecoming Court in 2022.

Cumpton said she has been challenged academically and personally.

“It’s my joy to watch these students grow intellectually and spiritually during their undergraduate journey at LCU. Indeed, our graduates are emblematic of the University’s Vision for Preparing Graduates and Transforming Lives.” said President Dr. Rick Brewer.