Alumni Spotlight - Lt. Vaughn La, Kinesiology '23
From LSU to the Air Force, Lt. Vaughn La shares insight on education, leadership, and his future.
Lt. Vaughn La, a recent graduate of the LSU School of Kinesiology and a commissioned
officer in the Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
, spoke passionately about his transformative college experience and his plans for
the future.
Reflecting on his time at LSU, Lt. La expressed his deep gratitude. "Transferring
to LSU was the best decision I have ever made in my life because of the opportunities
I was able to get here," said Lt. La. "The education, experiences, and people are
things I know I wouldn't have been able to get anywhere else."
Initially drawn to the field of kinesiology due to his interest in human movement,
Lt. La's perspective expanded throughout his senior year, revealing the broader significance
of the discipline. He recognized that kinesiology is about health promotion and enhancing
people's lives. Lt. La plans to leverage his knowledge to provide better care for
his parents. "They took care of me their entire lives; now it's my turn to take care
of them."
In addition to his academic pursuits, Lt. La credits his involvement in the Air Force
ROTC program for shaping him into the leader he is today. Through the program, he
gained profound insights into leadership principles and the importance of teamwork
and camaraderie. Lt. La cherishes the bonds he formed with fellow cadets, referring
to them as his "brothers and sisters."
"I have grown into the person I am today because of the experiences and challenges
I faced during my time in the ROTC program," Lt. La explained. "I couldn't be prouder
to have Commissioned into the Air Force."
As Lt. La embarks on his journey as an officer in the Air Force, he carries with him
the lessons and experiences gained at LSU and the AFROTC. His determination to serve
others and make a difference shines brightly as he looks to the future.
Latest College of Kinesiology News
- LSU Kinesiology's Amanda Benson Named "Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer" by the National Athletic Trainers' AssociationAmanda Benson, PhD, LAT, ATC, received the "Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer" honor at the 2024 NATA convention held in New Orleans. She joins the 2024 class with 13 other accomplished athletic trainers.
- LSU School of Kinesiology Announces Official Collaboration with the GO
- Celebrating Maggie Mac Neil: Olympic, World and NCAA ChampionMaggie Mac Neil, Olympic swimmer and LSU sports management alumna, announced her plans to retire from competitive swimming on September 26th, 2024. Mac Neil will be joining the inaugural advisory board for the LSU Women's Sport and Health Initiative in the College of Human Sciences and Education's School of Kinesiology.
- Two powerhouse health entities for Louisiana walk the walk on quality of life across the lifespan....LSU Kinesiology and Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic – BROC – are the epitome of innovative partnersBATON ROUGE, LA - Assisting a stroke survivor in regaining movement in their face. Teaching toddlers how to improve their fine motor skills to get them prepared for school. Helping our LSU football players off the field following a blow to the head.
- The Academics Behind "The Money Game"If sports are your passion, then make them your career. The LSU sport management program prepares students for careers regarding the business and managerial aspects of the sport and recreation industries. With Prime's release today of "The Money Game," it's an excellent time to shine a light on this program and the careers that exist in the world of sport.
- LSU Kinesiology Director Nauright Pushing Boundaries of Doping ResearchSchool of Kinesiology Director and Karen Wax Schmitt and Family Endowed Professor John Nauright presented and led the feature session on The Enhanced Games at the International Network of Doping Research Conference on August 15-16. The theme of the conference was "Pushing Boundaries in Enhancement." He presented his work Beyond Scapegoats: Money, Doping and the Myth of the Level Playing Field in Sports, which explored the cases of Romanian gymnast Andrea Raducan, Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva, and recent discussions about Chinese swimmers.