ESA Alumni

08/18/2026

Today’s alumni update features brothers Mateo Atwi ’15 and Tiago Atwi ’14, founders of US Frame Factory, a fast-growing manufacturing company located just around the corner from ESA.

After earning degrees in mechanical engineering— Mateo from Georgia Tech and Tiago from UL Lafayette—and gaining experience in the engineering industry, the brothers returned home with a vision to build something of their own that would have a positive and sustainable impact on their community. Today, US Frame Factory is helping meet the growing demand for cold-formed steel framing while investing in the future of Acadiana through innovation, entrepreneurship, and local manufacturing.

Their work has not gone unnoticed. As one of Acadiana's emerging business leaders, Mateo was recently chosen to participate in Acadiana CEO Roundtable, an honor that highlights the impact they are making in the region and the momentum behind their growing company.

Looking back, Mateo and Tiago credit ESA with laying an important foundation.

"ESA prepared us to approach problems creatively and people with grace. It also gave us lifelong friendships and instilled the morals, work ethic, and principles that continue to guide us today."

Their advice for future Falcons is simple:

"Dream bigger. Work harder."

We're proud to celebrate Mateo and Tiago and all that they're building here at home. Their story is a reminder that the lessons learned at ESA don't just prepare students for college. They prepare them to create opportunities, lead with integrity, and invest in the communities they love.

08/07/2026

We’re proud to celebrate alumna and faculty member Jennifer Desormeaux Graycheck '01, whose work has been selected for the Louisiana Contemporary 2026 exhibition on display at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans until February 14.

Jennifer's journey with ESA has come full circle. After graduating in 2001, she earned a bachelor's degree in studio art from Sewanee: The University of the South and an MFA in photography from the University of Georgia before returning to Louisiana in 2010. Over the next 15 years, she wore many hats for ESA - visual arts teacher, volleyball and cross country coach, department chair, class dean, ExLabs co-founder, communications team member, and vice president of the Falcon Club Board - all while inspiring students to live out the school’s mission.

This fall, Jennifer returns to ESA as Content Strategist and Visual Arts Teacher to share the school's story while inspiring students through the visual arts.

Jennifer credits ESA with instilling the curiosity and courage that have shaped both her teaching and her artistic practice. Although the school is small in size, she says it has always made the world feel limitless. "No topic is ever too small to unravel or too big to conquer."

Now, having experienced ESA as both a student and an educator, she says her perspective has only deepened.

"There is often a reciprocal relationship that develops between teachers and students at ESA. As much as we are there to impart our knowledge and expertise to our students, our students are there stoking that fire within us and keeping our passions alive. My practice as an artist will always be influenced by the questions and challenges I ask of my students. I hope to model bravery in this way."

Jennifer's advice to future Falcons is simple: “Take risks. Be bold. Be open to constructive feedback. Put yourself and your work out there because at some point along the journey, someone will connect with what you are creating, and that part of the human experience is worth living for.”

We’re excited to welcome Jennifer back to ESA this fall. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Jennifer!

07/20/2026

Sharing Coach Q’s story with gratitude. We’ve been blessed to share our days with her and to benefit from all of the ways she has made a difference at ESA!

07/16/2026

🏓 IT'S BACK. The event everyone is still talking about is officially on the calendar for 2026-2027 — ESA Pickleball Tournament & Social, August 22!

Whether you're a dink-shot legend or you've never picked up a paddle in your life, this one's for you. Grab a team and compete, or just come hang out, grab a drink, and cheer on the chaos. Either way, you're part of the fun. 🎉

This year we're going bigger — more spirit, more color, more Falcon pride, and funds raised for both Arts and Athletics at ESA. Expect the energy to be unmatched.

📍 Lafayette Pickleball Club
🗓️ August 22, 2026
🔗 Registration is live — bit.ly/esapb26!

Wear your ESA colors, bring your people, and join the best social of the fall. See you on the courts (or the sidelines)!

07/14/2026

UPDATE: Look for Coach Q between 8:30 and 8:45 Monday morning!

Coach Ursula Quoyeser will be featured on CBS Mornings on Monday, July 20th at 8:40 ET, 8:40 CT, and 8:40 Pacific.

A CBS crew spent time with Coach Q on the Cade campus and in her home to talk about her journey with ALS and her ESA legacy. What an exciting opportunity for a national audience to learn about how she has left her mark on ESA and Acadiana. Set a reminder for Monday morning!

05/31/2026

The ESA Board of Trustees recognized longtime ESA coach and teacher Ursula Quoyeser with the Trustee Award for her extraordinary contributions to the ESA community.

Board Chair Dr. Lon Baronne, '00, honored Ursula, saying, "For Coach Q, life is an adventure, and she made sure her students got to live it: rock climbing, paddle boarding, archery, camping, learning to build a fire from nothing.

Underneath all of it she was teaching the things that outlast any sport — how to be kind, how to make room for people who are different, how to leave the world a little better than they found it."

Thank you, Coach Q, for giving so much to our community and to each of us!

05/29/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/21/2026

Our next 2026 Legacy Graduate is Colby Huffman. Colby is the son of Dr. Laurie Edler Huffman, '86. Laurie has an undergraduate degree in biology from Stanford University, and a master's degree and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She teaches upper school math here at ESA. Some of Laurie's favorite ESA memories are cheering at basketball games, especially in remote locations like Pecan Island, homecoming bonfires, field day, biology trips to Spanish Lake, and the senior trip to France and England (follow for highlights from the 2026 trip). Colby is headed to Texas Christian University, where he plans to study finance and mathematics. Congratulations, Huffmans!

05/15/2026