Tulane celebrates exceptional cohort of 2023 graduates during Tulane 34 Awards

At the heart of Tulane’s uptown campus, the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life was abuzz with excitement and pride as faculty and staff honored a select cohort of high-achieving graduates as part of Commencement weekend. The event marked the culmination of years of dedication and hard work by these exceptional Tulanians who embodied the university’s motto “Non sibi, sed suis” — Not for oneself, but for one’s own.

     Click here to read the full list of Tulane 34 recipients. 

The Tulane 34 Award is presented to 34 graduates who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate life. Students are recognized for their exemplary leadership, service and academic excellence. Named for the year Tulane University was founded, 1834, Tulane 34 is amongst the most coveted universitywide honors bestowed upon students. 

Tulane President Michael Fitts congratulated recipients and expressed heartfelt admiration for the entire graduating class, commending members of the Class of 2023 for their unwavering commitment to knowledge, their relentless pursuit of excellence, and their admirable determination to make a positive impact on society. The graduating class boasted an impressive array of achievements, with numerous members earning distinguished accolades and distinctions.

“While other universities began with an inward focus, Tulane looked outward — always asking how we can face the challenges ahead of us,” shared Fitts. “You, the graduates of 2023, carry on our tradition — our unique combination of innovative academic excellence and connection to our community.”

Eight of the Tulane 34 honorees hailed from Louisiana, with other honorees from Canada and China, bringing a global perspective to their academic experience. The group of students included Tulanians at various points in their academic journeys, from undergraduate, to graduate to professional schools. Uniting this group was the common determination to excel academically while selflessly looking outward to make an impact.

“You know how to make a difference and you know how to be leaders, which is critical to your time at Tulane and critical to our society,” Fitts reminded the students, who were joined by family and friends at the ceremony.

Fitts also acknowledged the unprecedented challenges the 34 honorees faced over their academic careers, stating, “We asked you to adapt to periods of remote learning, and then we asked you to adapt to learning in large auditoriums, stadiums, and temporary, socially-distanced classrooms. Above all else, we asked you to be leaders — to be role models to your classmates, your friends and your neighbors.”

The high point of the ceremony was the honoring of each student individually. Joining Fitts on stage to present certificates and embroidered stoles were Provost Robin Forman, Dr. Dusty Porter, vice president for Student Affairs, and Carolyn Barber-Pierre, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Intercultural Life. As the students’ individual stories were highlighted, proud parents, friends and faculty cheered on these remarkable Tulanians.

To learn more about the Tulane 34 awards and read the list of this year’s honorees, visit the Division of Student Affairs website.