Dr. Jacqueline Thomas, Texas A&M University- Kingsville Regents Professor of French, was honored with the Ordre des Palmes Academiques—a French order of chivalry for academics and educators originally established by French emperor Napoleon at the turn of the 19th century-during a special ceremony held Tuesday. Pictured is Pierre Grandjouan, consul general de France of the French Consulate in Houston, pinning the medal on Thomas and officially welcoming her into the order. Thomas joined the Texas A&M-Kingsville faculty in 1981 and called this achievement the height of her career. (Photo by Erika Hernandez)