The Colonel Spring 2018 by jerad.david

the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY

COLONEL

THE

HOMECOMING:

Get to know the Sixth Nicholls President Page 22

SPRING 2018 AUTISTIC CULINARIAN GAINS INDEPENDENCE AT NICHOLLS Page 12

ATHLETIC RENOVATIONS ADD TO SUCCESS OF COLONEL TEAMS Page 18

The Big Picture

Sneaux Day In an incredibly rare occurrence, the Nicholls campus was blanketed with snow just ahead of final exams on Dec. 8, 2017. 2 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY

COLONEL

THE

FEATURES A Land Before Time

Prehistoric cypress trees give the Center for Bayou Studies insight into the past.

Coming home Meet new Nicholls State University President Dr. Jay Clune.

Crossing the Bridge to Independence New Nicholls program promotes independence for students with down syndrome and autism.

Spring 2018

ON THE COVER

Nicholls State University recently selected alum Dr. Jay Clune to serve as University President.

2 | Spring 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ The COLONEL â&#x20AC;˘ Nicholls State University

20 28

DEPARTMENTS 17

1 The Big Picture 4 A Letter from the President 5 Colonel Pride 32 Alumni House 6

5 6 7 8 9 9

10 11 11 12 13 14

One Team Member, One Pride Relating the Cosmos Nursing Aims to Fill Workforce Needs Dressing for Success Preparing the Next Generation MBA Program Celebrates Birthday, Eliminates Prerequisites Nicholls Greek Life Grows Speaking Science Save the Date Gaining Independence at Bistro Ruth Capital One Creates College Opportunities Whatcha Got Cookin?

The Red Zone 16 Just getting started 17 Forward Momentum 18 Built for Success

34 Cooking with Confidence 36 Alumna of the Year Honored for Her Dedication 37 A Dream Come True 38 Former Professor Recognized for Impact 39 In Memoriam

40 Campus Cornerstone 40 Alum Uses Experience, Love for Nicholls in New Role 41 PETSM Uses Donations for Cutting Edge Lab 41 Nicholls, Entergy Partner to Get Students to Campus 42 Thibodaux Philanthropist Honored for Helping State’s Students with Dyslexia 43 Peltier Foundation Prioritizes Education

44 A Colonel of Truth Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

THE

the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY

SPRING 2018

COLONEL University President Dr. Jay Clune (BS ’86) Executive Vice President for Alex Arceneaux Enrollment and External Affairs

Executive Director of External Affairs Monique Crochet (BS ’98, MEd ’00)

Director of Alumni Affairs Katherine Gianelloni (BS ’14) Director of Marketing Jerad David (BA ’00) and Communications

NICHOLLS FOUNDATION Executive Director Jeremy Becker (BS ’95, MBA ’97) NICHOLLS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger PRESIDENT Christopher H. Riviere (BS ’78) VICE PRESIDENT Daniels Duplantis (BS ’69) SECRETARY/TREASURER Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr. (BS ’79) BOARD MEMBERS Hunt Downer (BS ’68) Alexis A. Duval (BS ’92) Hugh E. Hamilton R.E. “Bob” Miller (BA ’75) Pat Pitre (BS ’72) NICHOLLS ALUMNI FEDERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Paula Arcement Rome (BS ’02, MBA ’13) PRESIDENT-ELECT Archie Chaisson III (BS ’08) VICE PRESIDENT - ALUMNI RELATIONS Kristen Dumas Callais (BS ’10, MA ’11) VICE PRESIDENT - MARKETING Cody Blanchard (BS ’10) SECRETARY Sheri Haydel Eschete (BS ’84) TREASURER David Heltz (BS ’84) BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Tammy Cheramie (BA ’90, MEd ’93) David Ford (BA ’12, MEd ’16) Larry Howell (BS ’72) Brooke Huddleston (MA ’99) Lisa Daigle Kliebert (BA ’06, BA ’10, MA ’12, Ed. Cert. ’14) Shane Kliebert (BS ’06, MEd ’14) Deanna Duet Lafont (BA ’02) Grant Ordoyne (BIS ’15) Jennifer Smith (BA ’09) Business Admin. Chapter Pres. Margo Oncale Badeaux (AS ’84, BS ’11, MBA ’14) Education Chapter Pres. Sara Dempster (BS ’13, MEd ’15) Culinary Chapter Pres. Hillary Scott Charpentier (BS ’15, MEd ’17) THE COLONEL EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR Jacob Batte ART DIRECTOR Jerad David (BA ’00) PHOTOJOURNALIST Misty Leigh McElroy (BA ’03) CONTRIBUTORS Sean Adams • Dr. John Doucet (BS ’84) • Sharon Doucet (BA ’78) • Wade Faucheux • Dr. Gary Lafleur • Cain Madden • Auntea Marie • Tara Martin • Courtney Richard (BIS ’13) The Colonel is the official publication of Nicholls State University and is published twice a year by the Nicholls Foundation, Nicholls Alumni Federation and Nicholls Office of University Marketing and Communications. We welcome your story ideas, suggestions, alumni news and feedback. Contact The Colonel at: P.O. Box 2033 • Thibodaux, LA 70310 Phone: 985.448.4141 • Email:thecolonel@nicholls.edu

4 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

President Dr. Jay Clune interacts with the Nicholls community outside of Stopher Gym during Give-N-Day.

Thrilled to Be Here Dear Nicholls Alumni and Friends,

can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be writing to you today. I’ve been the President now for more than four months, but I approach every day with the same enthusiasm and anticipation as the first. I love Nicholls State University. It made a profound impact on my life and that drives me to make this institution better for the students on our campus and the students who will join us in the future. The excitement on our campus is invigorating, and we highlight a few of those important stories in this issue. You can read more about the passion of one alumni-turned-Nicholls department head, how one professor uses unique teaching methods to connect with her students and the lifechanging effect the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Disorders – located on our campus – has on its students. You may not know this about me, but one of my favorite sports is women’s basketball, and we talk about one of the rising stars in Nicholls Athletics, Cassidy Barrios, who led the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Nicholls is a wonderful place, and more than ever, we have folks who are beginning to see that. In the Spring, enrollment increased for the third year in a row. I believe we can continue to grow and serve a greater portion of South Louisiana and that our enrollment can reach 10,000. One way we can help recruit those students is by updating our facilities, particularly the Bollinger Memorial Student Union, Ellender Memorial Library and Babington Hall. I’ve spent much of my first few months meeting you, and I can sense that the passion and pride in this university is growing. My vision for Nicholls is impossible without your support. I encourage you to invest in our programs and our students, get involved with the alumni federation, attend campus events and tell your story of how Nicholls made an impact on you by contacting thecolonel@nicholls.edu. Nicholls State University is a school that you attend and graduate from, but Colonel Pride lasts forever. With Colonel Pride, Dr. Jay Clune (BS ’86) President

TEAM MEMBER DIRECTOR OF VETERANS SERVICES PRIDE Gilberto Burbante (BA '11) COLONEL SINCE 2006 Why did you decide to enlist in the military and, later, enroll at Nicholls State University?

That’s a funny story. I can remember the year, 1989, I was about 5 years old at the time and we were at a party in Brownsville, Texas, where my family is from. My cousin had joined the marines and was on leave from boot camp. He drove up in a brand new Mustang, and I saw how everybody treated him when he walked in. I was impressed and wowed by it, and that stuck with me and had a big impact on my life. From that point on, I had it in my head that I was going to be a marine. Later on, I found out it wasn’t as glorious as it looked, and that he had rented that car with the money he earned at boot camp, but that image I saw of him was why I wanted to be in the Marine Corps. When I got out of the Marine Corps in 2006, I wanted to go to college. I took a tour of LSU and I didn’t like it. My wife was a student at Nicholls before we got married and she told me to come check it out. When I was at LSU I was part of a big group, but when I visited Nicholls the atmosphere was more welcoming. The people here spoke to me directly and they remembered my name. I bought a house in Thibodaux and I’ve been here ever since.

What are your goals for the Nicholls State Veterans Organization?

When I was a student I wasn’t really aware of any other veterans on campus until I sat next to them in class. When I was a student I was appointed the veteran’s club leader, and I spoke at various events. But it wasn’t organized and that kind of bothered me a bit, and I always wished there was more of a unit here on campus. When I found out about this position, I jumped on it because I wanted to create an actual operating veteran’s unit here on the Nicholls campus. I’m trying to implement everything I wish had been available to me as a student.

Why should veterans consider attending Nicholls?

Nicholls is the right place for veterans because the faculty, staff and administration understand what veterans need and support us 100 percent. Professors know that some of our students are still actively serving in the U.S. Army National Guard, and they work with us to help foster whatever environment is necessary to help that guy or girl out. We also have a bigger voice on campus. We have a veteran who is a Student Government Association senator, and he is able to voice our concerns and issues. The veterans wanted a vending machine in the NSVO office. Our senator made the SGA aware of that and they’re getting it.

What does Colonel Pride mean to you?

Pride in general is a term I hold dearly. I take pride in everything I do. Every day at my house I raise the American flag and the Marine Corps flag in the morning and take them down in the evening. Colonel Pride is not just representing the university, but our veterans. I’m proud to have helped establish the Nicholls State Veterans Organization, and I love seeing the other veterans wearing NSVO gear around town. Colonel Pride strengthens that camaraderie that I’m trying to establish here, not only with the veterans, but also with the faculty, staff and the traditional student body. It’s more than just what it means to Nicholls. To veterans, we take pride in what we do. It holds a special place in our hearts. It means when we represent Nicholls, we’re not just representing the university, but veterans in the community.

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Colonel Pride

Relating the Cosmos W

Drs. Chad and Kaisa Young pose for a photo at Welcome Back Day. The pair have been teaching together at Nicholls for more than six years. Using special glasses, Nicholls students look up at the sun to view a partial solar eclipse on Aug. 21. More than 1,000 students, staff and community members attended the event held on the Nicholls campus.

hile Drs. Kaisa and Chad Young would not normally advise staring at the sun, for a once-ina-generation coast-to-coast solar eclipse, they made an exception. The Youngs, Nicholls State University physics professors and married couple, had 500 special eclipse viewing glasses through a NASA grant, but the number of people present far outnumbered the glasses. How many were present depends on who you ask. Kaisa, who organized the event, will tell you 1,000 people were at the viewing, while Chad puts the number at 1,500. “The solar eclipse was big news,” Kaisa says. “It was the first day of class and we felt a responsibility to share the eclipse experience with the students, faculty and community.” On that particular first day of class, instead of going over her syllabus, Kaisa chose to talk

6 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

about eclipses. An eclipse occurs due to our perspective from Earth making the moon appear to be as large as the sun, even though in reality the sun is about 400 times wider. “Just the fact that the moon appears to be the same size as our sun, from our perspective, is pretty amazing,” Kaisa says. “You can fit 1 million Earths inside the sun, and the moon is less than a quarter the size of the Earth.” On the afternoon of Aug. 21, from the field near the recreation center, the Youngs and many from the community went out to view the partial solar eclipse. “Even though it was only a partial eclipse, you could feel the change in temperature and the quality of light changes,” Kaisa says. “Everything looked sharper.” The solar eclipse viewing is not the only event the Youngs have hosted. Two Christmases ago,

they held a lecture discussing the astronomy, history and mystery of the Star of Bethlehem, and what the implications of the star might have been. Every semester the Youngs invite people together for regular telescope events. They are also often doing outreach with physics demonstrations on campus and in various schools. The pair have always loved science. Chad discovered astrophysics during his undergraduate years, after learning nuclear physics was not for him. “We were measuring radiation in dirt, and I found that pretty boring,” Chad says. Measuring the radiation from gamma rays at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, however, was not boring. “I realized the joy of physics, but in the universe,” he says. “We use the universe as a laboratory.”

People had suggested Kaisa, who always loved science, go into medicine. But then in school she went on a trip to a hospital. “I did not like the smell or the needles and I almost passed out,” Kaisa says. “They had to put me in another room with a 7 Up.” So in high school, she took every science class to figure out what she wanted to study in college, but she ended up figuring it out in another way. “I read Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ and ‘Pale Blue Dot’ and became fascinated with planets,” Kaisa says. “If you wanted to be an astronomer, you had to take physics, but I got to college and found out I like physics, too.” Now at Nicholls, the Youngs say it turns out working with your spouse is quite beneficial. Chad has been at the university since 2005, while Kaisa joined in 2012 once their youngest child was ready for school. “I came in as a better teacher because Chad had already been teaching,” Kaisa says. “I had his experience to build on and learned from what he learned.” “I became a better teacher and researcher,” Chad says. “We build on one another and each have ideas.” During the partial solar eclipse in August, students and the community shared glasses to get a glimpse of the phenomenon, while the organizers shared smiles about what their partnership was able to bring together. “The whole campus shut down for it,” Chad says. “Everyone was just blown away.” -Cain Madden

Nicholls assistant professor of nursing, Shane Robichaux, works closely with students on newly installed patient simulators. The new labs were made possible thanks to more than $400,000 in donations.

Nursing Aims to Fill Workforce Needs

ith Louisiana facing a shortage of qualified nurses at a time when they are needed the most, Nicholls State University is expanding and renovating its nursing facilities to produce more nursing graduates. Recognizing that need, the community is giving back to help the department. Over the summer, Nicholls completed more than $200,000 in upgrades to Ayo Hall to expand classrooms, add state-of-the-art simulation labs and other technology. The goal is to allow the program to increase the number of students each semester, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The need for nurses is expected to increase by 16 percent over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the baby boomer generation ages and their need for healthcare increases. But a shortage of nurses is expected to spread across the country, especially in the South, according to the United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast produced by the American Journal of Medical Quality. Of those employed, only an estimated 55 percent have completed an undergraduate degree. Helping pay for those upgrades are a pair of donations that total $435,000. Lakewood Foundation Inc. donated $155,000, while sisters Leah and Rachel Callais (BA ’83) donated $100,000 each. Mike and Blanche Callais, parents of Leah and Rachel, donated an additional $80,000 to create the Sister Mary Roland Bienvenu RSN Endowed Professorship.

“We recognize that Nicholls plays an important role in our area and that the nursing program is important for our future,” Mike Callais says. “We know there is a great need for nurses, particularly in the Bayou Region.” Nicholls nursing graduates certainly don’t lack in quality. Nursing alumni regularly pass the National Council Licensure Exam on their first try at rates higher than their state and national peers. Last year, 100 percent of graduates looking for employment were hired in the industry. With the updates, the nursing department can add 30 more students per semester, or 60 more per year. Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sue Westbrook (MA ’78) says the program is turning away qualified applicants every semester because of space limitations. “There’s such a demand in our local area, as well as the state and nationally, so we’re primed and ready to meet that need,” Westbrook says. “It may not look or sound like a huge number, but it’s going to have a huge impact.” Producing an estimated 80 percent of the Bayou Region’s nurses, the demand for Nicholls graduates is high. “When I was interviewing for jobs in New Orleans, they were telling me how great the Nicholls program is,” says Anna Busalacchi (BS ’17), who was hired by Children’s Hospital of New Orleans after graduation. “In that moment, it made me so proud to be a Nicholls graduate.” – Jacob Batte Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Colonel Pride

Dressing for Success Business student, Niya Harding, peruses the Business Closet for a jacket to match her dress. The program has helped more than 75 students find professional outfits to be used for interviews and on the job.

icholls State University College of Business Administration students are trading in their rompers, athletic shorts and sandals for suits, ties and dresses with the opening of the new Business Closet. The Business Closet, housed on the third floor of Powell Hall, is a place where College of Business Administration students can pick out one professional outfit a year. Students need business attire in class for formal presentations, for job interviews and other professional events. The program is only open to College of Business Administration students, for now. After filing an application, the students are fitted head-to-toe in proper business attire. They can receive up to four new outfits before graduation. Dr. Krisandra Guidry, associate dean of the College of Business Administration and associate professor of finance, oversees the program. She says her goal is for students to own a full wardrobe before they leave Nicholls. Guidry, who along with her husband donates work attire every year to other charities, saw an opportunity to implement the Business Closet after reading about similar successful concepts on other campuses. Quickly and quietly, she and her husband began gathering donations from around the Nicholls campus and held a soft opening in Fall 2016. Over the course of the year, Guidry was able to provide new or gently used professional clothes to 15 students, several of whom would land internships wearing their new outfits. Now, more than 75 students have benefited from the program.

8 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Guidry says the closet allows the students to dress to match the reputation that the Nicholls College of Business Administration has built in the professional world. “We’re constantly working with our students on their soft skills — how can we better prepare them to speak, dress and act,” she says. “It’s more than just owning a suit or a nice dress. In the business world, it’s a necessity.” Sydni Faucheaux (BS ’17) is one of those students who landed an internship wearing an outfit she picked from the Business Closet. “I call it my good luck dress because it helped to land me a job,” Faucheaux says. “I was able to feel confident in what I was wearing without breaking the bank at all. It helped me feel like I had something to offer the business.” The Business Closet was created for those students who may not be able to afford professional clothes or who do not have the time to go through the process of picking something out. Nicholas Forsythe (BS ’17) was always told by his mother how important it is to look the part, but as he approached graduation, all he owned was a dress shirt and pants. And with a car note and other bills weighing heavy on his bank account, upgrading his clothes was an unlikely option. “You can probably find a suit for close to $100, but to get them tailored to you it would come out close to $300,” he says. “The Business Closet is a valuable asset to not have to spend that money up front to get a job. We can look the part and represent Nicholls State University well.” - Jacob Batte

Preparing the Next Generation

icholls State University student-teachers are excelling in local classrooms as part of a statewide effort to produce better-prepared teachers to address a nationwide teaching shortage. In 2016, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted regulations requiring teaching candidates complete a yearlong classroom residency. Though the regulations won’t go into effect until Fall 2018, Nicholls began implementing the program last fall with a select group of students. “Nicholls has always prioritized getting students into the classroom early and often, so it was a seamless transition to align with the state’s program,” says Dr. Leslie Jones (BA ’87, BS ’91, MEd ’92), dean of the College of Education. Student-teachers spend three days each week in local classrooms working alongside experienced mentor teachers. Their responsibilities evolve over the length of the school year from observing and assisting the lead teacher, to teaching small-group lessons, and

eventually, full lessons. Area mentors praised the full-year residency program for giving college students a more complete picture of what it means to be a teacher. In prior years, students would squeeze in observation, participation and teaching lessons in the span of a single semester. That constricted time frame often excluded crucial experiences, like the beginning of the school year and what goes on behind the scenes. “The students have a more realistic observation and experience in the classroom over the course of a year,” says Trinette Wallace, a sixthgrade social studies teacher at West Thibodaux Middle School. “They’re more comfortable as they become more familiar with the classroom.” Nicholls student-teachers laud the experience as they graduate into their own classrooms. The added time spent with their students and with a mentor allows them to build relationships and make mistakes, without the concern of how it will affect the class. “To get in front of that whole class with 25 students’ eyes on you where you could tell them anything

and they believe you, it’s definitely a feeling like no other,” says Taylor Bruce, who joined Emily Daigle’s (BS ’14) fourth-grade class at South Thibodaux Elementary School. “It’s very intimidating, but it’s the time to mess up. It’s a really good time to get your feet wet, to make mistakes and listen to what your professors and mentors are telling you.” As Bruce prepares for her first class as a full-time teacher, she knows she will make mistakes. But her experience learning from Daigle has better prepared her to handle it and move on. “She is much stronger and more prepared than when she first got to me and even more so than I was coming out of college,” Daigle says. “In the beginning, they would come to me a lot. ‘Oh my God, Ms.

Theriot, this happened and I don’t know what to do about it.’ In the spring, they still came to me, but it was more like ‘This is what happened and this is how I handled it,’” added Alyson Theriot (BA ’93, MEd ’98) , assistant professor of education and field experience coordinator. Students like Aldrian Smith (BS ’17), who had served as a substitute teacher before entering the program, were introduced to the other responsibilities of being a teacher, including lesson planning and attending various meetings with the other teachers. “This experience gives you the feeling of, ‘Yeah, I can do this,’” says Smith. “It was a little hard at first. But it was a great experience, and I think it’s a great opportunity that has helped prepare me.” - Jacob Batte

MBA Program Celebrates Birthday, Eliminates Prerequisites

fter 50 years, the popular Nicholls State University master in business administration degree is becoming more streamlined in an effort to remove barriers that have traditionally discouraged prospective students from applying. Beginning in Fall 2017, prerequisite courses in accounting, economics, statistics, management, marketing and finance were folded into existing curriculum, cutting down the amount of time required to

complete the program for nonbusiness graduates. That decision was made to help two types of prospective students: those without a business degree and those who earned their degree years ago and are thinking about returning to school. Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, dean of the College of Business Administration, and Dr. Luke Cashen, professor of management, noticed an overlap between the previous curriculum and the prerequisite courses.

Cashen says the MBA was created for non-business graduates to combine their knowledge of their undergraduate field with the program and create a unique business opportunity. “Over the years we’ve received numerous inquiries from interested, prospective students who don’t have a business background. However, more often than not they have shied away from the program because of the amount of work

they would have to do before entering the program,” says Cashen. “This change will not only boost enrollment, but it’s a way for us to serve our students better by bringing all of them up to speed.” A similar model has worked with the Executive MBA program, says Dr. Macik-Frey. “This will not only make us a more competitive program, but it also increases the success rate of the students who enter the program,” she says. -Jacob Batte

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Colonel Pride

Nicholls Greek Life Grows

Nicholls students celebrate Bid Day by joining a sorority (left) or fraternity (right).

ven though he’s only been involved in Greek life at Nicholls State University for a year, sophomore Teril Cooper can tell it’s growing. The number of students rushing grew so much that two chapters were added, Pi Kappa Alpha on the fraternity side and Gamma Phi Beta as a new sorority. They join fraternities Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Kappa Theta; and sororities Delta Zeta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Phi Mu, Alpha Phi Alpha, Sigma Gamma Rho and Omega Psi Phi. Cooper was one of the founding brothers who helped bring PIKE back to Nicholls. That said, when Cooper originally enrolled at Nicholls, he did not anticipate he would join a fraternity. “I thought it would just be a bunch of guys partying all day and night, but that’s not it at all,” Cooper says. “It stands for what I stand for, holding yourself to the highest

standards to be the best man you can be. The brotherhood is like a family away from your family, which is important to have in college.” Logan Borne (BS ’17) saw it all during her four years as an active member of Tri Sigma. She was one of 130 young women who rushed and 30 who joined the sorority in 2013. Last year, 250 went through recruitment, Borne says, and each sorority took on 40 to 50 members. The saying, “It’s not just for four years; it’s for life,” is true for Borne, who says the friends she made in the sorority will one day serve in her wedding and remain in her life beyond. “Some of my favorite experiences have been sisterhood events such as visiting the zoo, picnics in the front lawn of the library, movie nights, dinner at La Casa or just hanging out in the union,” Borne says. “These events allowed me to get to know more people in the sorority while having fun with them and hanging out with more than just my group of friends.” Director of Compliance and

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Ethical Development Dr. Tommy Ponson says the growth is natural. Between the philanthropy events and their presence in the community, schools and churches, Ponson says the fraternities and sororities do an excellent job recruiting. “High school students see them, and they think, ‘I want to do that,’” Ponson says. “Also, students are more aware of the Greek community because many of their parents were part of it and they have been around Greek activities their entire lives.” The university as a whole also benefits, Ponson says, because the exemplary Greeks can help the school recruit students to campus. The benefits are many. As both Borne and Cooper mentioned, the lifelong friendships are part of that, but Ponson says involvement in Greek programs also teaches students about teamwork, leadership and many other valuable skills. Borne says her experience was

not like the stereotypical portrait that movies paint of the sorority or fraternity student. “Greek life at Nicholls has truly evolved into something special,” Borne says. “All sororities and fraternities have won national awards and give back to the university and community. Greek life has introduced tremendous leaders to the university in other organizations such as the Student Government Association and the Student Programming Association. All members work hard in school, join more than one organization and are known in the community.” If you are a new Nicholls student or an incoming high school student thinking about joining a fraternity or sorority, Cooper says give it a shot. “It is a good time,” Cooper says. “You can make a lot of good friends, get a lot of things done in the community and get to know it, as the community will get to know you.”- Cain Madden

SAVE THE DATE JUNE 19

Fall Orientation

21-24 Manning Passing Academy

JULY 19

Fall Orientation

AUGUST 16

Fall Orientation

Move-In Day

20-25 Colonel Fest Dr. Aimee Hollander takes her class outside to demonstrate the effects of carbonation in soda.

Speaking Science

SEPTEMBER

ake a biology class with Dr. Aimee Hollander and you’ll learn about more than just bacteria. In fact, you may think you’re in an English or mass communication course. And that’s intentional. Dr. Hollander, an assistant professor of biological sciences, knows that if her students can’t communicate their research effectively, it may fall on deaf ears. The ability — or inability — to effectively communicate science and research to the general public has come to the forefront in recent years. Even peer-reviewed research with a scientific consensus, such as climate change and vaccinations, is not safe from political public opinion. “Being able to communicate science and our research to the general public is increasingly important in this political climate because it can impact public policy,” Dr. Hollander says. A study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute highlighted the decreasing readability of scientific abstracts. The abstracts, meant to summarize the research,

are increasingly using longer, more complex words and lengthier sentences. Dr. Hollander has spent much of her professional career coming up with innovative ways to get her students to learn how to better communicate with the public. Her classes are known to occasionally turn into game shows or crime scenes, and each comes with an underlying theme of communicating more effectively. That work won her an American Society for Microbiology travel award in 2016. She also coordinated the first Coastal Connections competition — which awards student research based on their ability to communicate — on the Nicholls campus. Last fall, Dr. Hollander teamed up with Dr. Scott Banville, assistant professor of English, to create a science communication course through a Louisiana Board of Regents eLearning Innovation grant. Developed for upperclassmen, the class covers basic communication skills, critical thinking and scientific integrity

through the use of blogs, social media and other forms of writing. Dr. Hollander noted that future classes may integrate podcasts into the curriculum. The course is not only geared toward biology, pre-med, nursing and dietetic majors but also toward mass communication majors who want to write about science. “We’re going to have them utilize what they’re already doing in their own courses,” Dr. Hollander says. “We’re not forcing them to reinvent the wheel, but take what they’re learning in their classrooms and communicate that to the general public.” – Jacob Batte

Fall 2018 classes begin

Investiture of Dr. Jay Clune

Football Home Opener vs. Sam Houston

70th Anniversary of the Opening of Nicholls State University

Family Day

OCTOBER 10

Sponsor A+ Scholar Wine & Food Tasting Extravaganza

Alumni Homecoming Jazz Brunch

21-27 Homecoming Week 27

Homecoming Football vs. Incarnate Word

NOVEMBER 10

Colonel Day

DECEMBER 15 Dr. Hollander’s students experiment with glow-inthe-dark bacteria.

Fall Commencement

Visit nicholls.edu/calendar for more details on upcoming events.

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Colonel Pride Gaining Independence at Bistro Ruth younger and not communicating and having aggressive behaviors, you would have never thought he would be in college,” Hope says. It was cartoons, like Gumby, that sparked Blake’s interest in food. That interest turned into curiosity in the kitchen. However, his reserved nature meant that his parents wouldn’t discover his passion until he was in the ninth grade, when he declared he wanted to go to Italy and Greece with his social studies class. His parents were initially concerned — they couldn’t trust him to go to the grocery store, let alone a foreign country — but instead of saying no, they issued him a challenge of raising the money necessary for him to go. So he did. The kid who would barely eat more than bread for meals hen Blake Wilson walked out began cooking chicken parmesan to serve his family at Bistro — inspired by his grandparents who Ruth, it was an emotional moment. emigrated from Italy — and sold the Twenty years earlier, a doctor meals door to door. told his parents, Hope and Richard “Chef Blake and Co. is just like Wilson, that moments like this would delivering pizza, but we don’t deliver not be possible. pizza, we deliver meals,” Blake says, Blake has moderate-toreciting an old sales pitch. severe autism, a developmental It was then that his parents got to disorder that impairs his ability to know the real Blake. communicate and interact. “All of the sudden, he was in his Hope recalls feeling an “out-ofelement. He has all of this knowledge body experience” when she heard the I didn’t know he knew about the news. Richard says the family began different cultures and foods,” Hope to grieve. says. “That’s when he shines. He’s the “You have all of these ideas about big, tall guy wearing whatever hat is how your kids are going to grow up of that country and telling everybody and what they’re going to become... what they should be eating.” you can never prepare for something “How can you not like watching like that,” Richard says. him do that?” adds Richard. “He’ll Without a lot of local resources, get so immersed in it and it’s the family had to implement refreshing because you don’t see that intervention measures at home. kind of passion in people.” Those challenges resulted in a Blake wasn’t done surprising his more tight-knit family and together family. He was eventually going to they helped Blake cope. finish high school, and to him the “If you had seen him when he was next logical step was college. That’s

12 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

what his sister and twin brother had done before him. But his parents weren’t initially convinced. After all, he had struggled socially and academically throughout middle and high school. But once he latched on to the idea, there was no stopping him. His determination combined with a family effort has helped Blake achieve his dreams. “For my other children, I took graduating from high school for granted. When Blake graduated, I broke down,” Hope says. “His determination was what inspired us.”

During a dorm move-in, his twin brother Reed says he came back from running errands to find his brother — who had few friends in high school — joking around and laughing at the pool. “He had a bunch of friends at the pool and he had them all laughing,” Reed says. “They were like, ‘Is this your brother?’ Yeah, it is.” Nicholls has allowed Blake to become more independent from his family and the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute has only fanned the passionate flames of his culinary interest.

“It makes me feel like a new person, because at college I get to live independently.” Nicholls was the obvious choice for Blake. His interest was in the culinary arts and his parents wanted to keep him close by. The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute met both needs, providing a highquality culinary education a short car drive away. “The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute is one of the most prestigious culinary institutes in the United States,” Blake says. “John Folse is an ambassador; he’s the chef who introduced Cajun cuisine to the world.” Helping ease the transition for the Wilson family was a faculty and administration that has been willing to work with Blake and his family to aid him along the way. His family is quick to point out the life-changing impact the regional university in Thibodaux has made on the quiet kid from Mandeville.

“It makes me feel like a new person, because at college I get to live independently,” Blake says. “It feels like growing up. It’s taking that step and transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.” Working at Bistro Ruth has doubled as Blake’s toughest challenge and most enjoyable experience. While it takes up a majority of his time, he takes pride in the experience that comes with the work. “It makes me feel empowered,” Blake says. That night at Bistro Ruth, seeing Blake working among the other culinary students was “like seeing whatever dream you have for your kid, come true,” Richard says. “It was such a joyful experience,” Hope adds. “It was all of the years and hard work and that moment had paid off to see him smile and know he’s so proud of himself.” - Jacob Batte

Capital One Creates College Opportunities

his summer you’ll find students sleeping in the dorms, meeting with their professors and participating in campus activities, and not all of them will be Nicholls students. For a two-day, three-night stretch during June, local high school students from lowincome families or potential first-generation college students – traditionally disadvantaged and underrepresented groups – will spend time getting to see what life is like on a college campus as part of the College Access Conference by Capital One. “When I was a junior in high school, I had no idea where I wanted to go to college. Then after visiting a college campus for a couple of days, I knew I wanted to attend that university. It did turn out to be the right decision for me, and that campus experience is one I cherish to this day,” says Robbie Naquin, Tri-Parish market president at Capital One. “The College Access Conference by Capital One is a great initiative for students and their families who may not know that college is an option for them. Having more of our students on a college campus is great for this region.” Numerous studies have shown

the benefits of a college degree. College graduates earn more money, live longer and are more involved in their communities compared to their peers who stopped after high school. Despite the benefits, many students from low-income families or whose parents didn’t go to college often don’t see college as an option. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 72 percent of high school graduates whose parents have no college experience enrolled in college within a decade. That number drops to 69 percent for students from low-income families. The national average is 84 percent. And of those groups, one-third will drop out within three years. The conference, funded by a $30,000 donation from Capital One, will be operated by the Bayou Education Opportunity Center, which is housed on the Nicholls campus. The Center partners with local school districts and adult education centers to provide readily accessible college guidance to qualifying high school seniors, adult education graduates and parents of low-income, first-generation college students. Nicholls will work with high school counselors to identify potential first-generation or low-

Robbie Naquin (right), Tri-Parish market president at Capital One, presents former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lynn Gillette (left) and former Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy (middle) with a check for $30,000.

income, rising high school seniors from Assumption, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes who meet the university’s admissions criteria. Those students will have the opportunity to spend June 1-3 on campus for a comprehensive and intensive academic and social experience. Students will stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, work closely with faculty in their chosen

major and participate in campus activities. The students will be able to meet with the financial aid office, academic advisors and various clubs and organizations on campus. “We want to create an environment where they can see themselves coming to a college campus and being successful,” says Alex Arceneaux, executive vice president for enrollment and external affairs. – Jacob Batte

C. C. ELKINS HALL

Everyone has a story... we want to hear yours! Reach out to us at TheColonel@nicholls.edu Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Colonel Pride Whatcha Got Cookin’?

Crawfish & Goat Cheese Doughnut For the Dough:

With Cream Cheese Pepper Jelly Serving size: 12 For the Filling:

1 (¼-ounce) package ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons ¼ cup ½ cup

active dry yeast sugar, divided warm water, about 115 degrees whole milk

½ cup 1¼ cups 2 tablespoons 2½ teaspoons

minced shallot goat cheese minced chives salt, divided

½ teaspoon 2 each 1 each 3 cups ¾ teaspoon ½ cup

vanilla extract large eggs egg yolk all-purpose flour kosher salt butter, softened

12-ounce

crawfish tails, drained

For the Glaze: 8 ounces 2 ounces 2 tablespoons

cream cheese, softened pepper jelly powdered sugar

For the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine yeast, ½ teaspoon

sugar and ¼ cup warm water; let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add milk, vanilla, eggs, egg yolk and remaining sugar. Beat at low speed until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Turn mixer off, and add flour and salt. Mix at medium speed until dough just comes together. Mix at high speed for 4 minutes. Add butter, and continue mixing until dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, about 6 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until doubled in size, 1 ½ to 2 hours. Punch down dough and turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into an 18-inch square, about ¼-inch thick. Cut the dough into 2-inch squares.

For the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine shallot, goat cheese, chives and 2 teaspoons salt; gently fold in crawfish. Cover and refrigerate.

For the Glaze: Mix together cream cheese, pepper jelly and powdered sugar until smooth. For Assembly: Heat 3 cups of vegetable oil for frying to 375 degrees. Place 2 teaspoons of crawfish

filling on half the squares; wet edges with water and top with remaining squares, lightly pressing edges to seal. In batches, fry dough, flipping as needed until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from oil and let drain in a small bowl with paper towels to remove excess grease. Brush each doughnut with the pepper jelly glaze and serve. Leftover glaze can be used for dipping. A Thibodaux native, Chef Nathan Richard is the executive chef of the New Orleans restaurant, Cavan, and adjunct professor at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls. Richard has worked at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans and under Chef Sean Brock at Husk in Charleston, South Carolina. He was previously the chef at Kingfish. 14 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

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Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

The Red Zone

Just Getting

Started

he Nicholls Colonels basketball team was the Southland Conference regular season champions, and two freshmen were in the middle of it. Guard Kevin Johnson led the Colonels in minutes and also had the best assist-toturnover ratio, while center Ryghe Lyons led the team in blocks and was in the top two for field goal percentage. The Thibodaux native and former E.D. White star, Johnson, says the 2017-18 season is one to remember for the program. “I have been loving every minute of it,” Johnson says. “I think when we look back on it, this will be the start of building a winning culture at Nicholls.” Lyons says that sometimes it’s hard for a freshman to come onto a team and make an impact, but guys like seniors Tevon Saddler, Roddy Peters and Jahvaughn Powell made it easy for the two freshmen to fit into the rotation. “I think it is great me and Kevin had an impact on the team,” says Lyons, who is from Slidell and went to John Curtis Christian School. “In some places, the older guys will get mad or jealous, but they had our backs. They picked us up.” Both Johnson and Lyons say their main role was to get back on defense, and that’s exactly what they did. Johnson led the Colonels in steals while Lyons paced the team in blocks. The 6’10” and 230 pound Lyons says he likes to use that big presence in the paint to block shots and move around to help his teammates on defense. His 44 blocks, or approximately 1.6 blocks per game this past season, finished in the top 5 in the Southland Conference. At 5’10” and 160 pounds, Johnson is considerably smaller than his freshman counterpart, but he doesn’t need size to be

16 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

effective. Johnson finished with 61 steals, which was third best in the conference. Johnson also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of approximately 2.3, which would be a conference high, but Johnson did not have enough assists per game to make the cut-off. The pair were roommates this season and they each had to step up and show their older teammates that they were capable. Lyons and Johnson say that helped bring them together as friends. “Ryghe? We call him Caddie. That’s my righthand guy,” Johnson says. “That’s my big man. We are like a one-two punch.” The nickname, which Lyons earned while running, is a reference to him resembling the size of a Cadillac car. Former Nicholls State University head basketball coach Richie Riley recruited the pair and coached them during their freshman year. “Both of these guys are unbelievable kids who want to be coached,” Riley says. “They have winning traits and they show up to practice every day with the desire to get better.” Lyons and Johnson are both looking forward to the next season in which the team’s other big impact players will graduate. “We have a new team coming in,” Lyons says. “Me and Kevin, we have to step up and show the new recruits how to be physical, how to have an impact and basically how to do things.” Growing up with Nicholls in his backyard, Johnson says it was good to see the community get together for the Colonels during this winning season, and he hopes for it to be the start of many more. “I plan to be a part of keeping this winning culture going,” Johnson says. “I look forward to next season and many years to come.” — Cain Madden

True freshmen Kevin Johnson (25) and Ryghe Lyons (22) started for a Colonels basketball team that won a share of the Southland Conference regular season championship. Both Johnson and Lyons are looking forward to next season in which they will have to take on leadership roles.

Forward

Momentum

Cassidy Barrios, a junior guard, helped lead the Lady Colonels to Nicholls’ first NCAA Tournament appearance. Barrios was also named the Southland Conference’s Player of the Year and she became the 15th Lady Colonel to score 1,000 points.

f Nicholls State University head women’s basketball coach DoBee Plaisance had her way, her star guard Cassidy Barrios would stay a junior forever. And why not? The 5’10 Raceland native has a chance to finish her career as the university’s top scorer and just led the Colonels to their first Southland Conference Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. During this campaign, she became the 15th Lady Colonel in Nicholls’ history to score 1,000 points on Jan. 10 against McNeese State and went on to be named the Southland Conference Player of the Year. “I knew going into the game that if I scored 7 points I would get there. And I scored 7,” Barrios says with a laugh. “I had to get to 1,000 points exactly.” While after the game Barrios says she was more concerned the Lady Colonels got the win than her hitting 1,000, the moment would catch up to her during the next home game against Central Arkansas. “They presented me with the ball and brought my family out onto the court,” Barrios says. “That was a special moment for my family and I.” While recruiting Barrios, Plaisance says seeing the guard play at Vandebilt Catholic and AAU basketball, she knew Barrios would reach the 1,000-point milestone. “I always knew Cassidy was special,” Plaisance says. “For me it was not a matter of if she would score 1,000 points, but when.”

Plaisance also pointed out the environment in which Barrios scored 1,000 points. “I have been here for 10 years, and the last 6-7 years we have been consistent in making the (Southland Conference) tournament,” she says. “So Cassidy has scored these points with other Nicholls Hall of Fame players. It was not a situation where she was the only scoring option. She has earned it with a lot of hard work and also plays defense.” Barrios says Nicholls State University had long been on her radar during the recruitment process. “I had always been a fan of Nicholls since it is right up the road,” Barrios says. “I always had a closet full of red Nicholls shirts. I wanted to stay close to home so coming here was a dream come true.” “Actually coming to Nicholls and playing has been a wonderful experience,” Barrios says. “I love the atmosphere of the small campus where you know everyone,” she says. “The studentathlete community is very supportive. It’s been a great opportunity for me, and I thank Coach Plaisance for giving me the chance.” At Nicholls, Barrios was able to play in the conference tournament during her first two years and hoped to continue that tradition. Actually winning the tournament, however, was one of the best moments in her life. “It was an opportunity that not a lot of players get to experience, so we had to take full advantage of it,” Barrios says. “To be the first Nicholls

women’s basketball team to reach the NCAA tournament was a dream come true and it shows how much work this team has put in.” Other honors include being Third Team All-Southland and Second Team Southland AllAcademic during her sophomore campaign, in which she led the team in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage. During her junior season, Barrios prioritized being the conference player of the year and was able to achieve the honor. “I got in the gym as much as I could to better myself and be a top contender for that spot,” Barrios says. “I was very honored and excited to see all my hard work pay off.” Plaisance says Barrios is the type of studentathlete who prioritizes grades, faith and family. And while she will be sad to see Barrios become a senior and ultimately graduate, Plaisance says she has comfort knowing Barrios will do the right thing in life. “I love her with all of my heart,” she says. “God totally blessed me when Cassidy Barrios said yes to Nicholls State University. The program and the campus have been better for it.” Barrios says the team can’t let the 2018 success diminish their drive for next season. “We have to keep the momentum going and have an even better season,” she says. “We can’t take any games for granted to continue what we have started.” — Cain Madden Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

BUILT FOR

The Red Zone

SUCCESS

Guidry Stadium Gets New Video Scoreboard, Turf

uidry Stadium, home of Nicholls football for nearly 50 years, unveiled a few major upgrades during the 2017 season, including safer turf, a video scoreboard and a sound system. The upgrades were made possible thanks to generous donations from Tommy Meyer of the Meyer Financial Group of Ameriprise Financial and former Nicholls football player Cooper Collins. The new turf was installed by the

Baton Rouge-based Geo-Surfaces, a leader in the synthetic turf industry and creator of the GeoGreen Replicated Grass system and the GeoFlo shock pad technology. Combined, these two technologies make the new field one of the safest in the industry. “This enhancement will impact our University, department and program in several ways,” says Matt Roan, Nicholls athletic director. “First and foremost, its safety and

18 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

playability are first-in-class. The welfare and experience of our student-athletes is of supreme importance. Additionally, its durability will allow us to host other events, it will enhance our fan experience, and it will provide us a boost in recruiting.” The substantial donations gave Nicholls Athletics the ability to amplify the fan experience with the installation of 18’x32’ full-color LED video scoreboard by Nevco, as well as

a new sound system, giving Nicholls Athletics the ability to engage fans during the game, increase in-game promotions and show live game action. “It is extremely important that we strive to improve our fan experience and our customer service in all of our athletic venues,” Roan says. “These initiatives in and around Guidry Stadium will go a long way toward our goal of providing one of the best gameday experiences in all of FCS.”

New Basketball Court Named After Colonels Legend

ew names are as synonymous with Nicholls athletics as former coach Rickey Broussard is with Nicholls men’s basketball. And now Coach Broussard’s legacy will be further remembered with the naming of Coach Rickey Broussard Court in Stopher Gymnasium. Fans inside Stopher Gym experienced all-new portable goals, Nevco LED scorers tables, premium courtside seating and a portable court. These enhancements were made possible by significant gifts made by the

Thibodaux-based nonprofits One Shining Moment Foundation and the Lorio Foundation. One Shining Moment Foundation is a nonprofit, serving sports and education-related initiatives in South Louisiana. The Lorio Foundation is a Thibodaux nonprofit that supports higher education, among other interests. “Coach (Broussard) was incredibly successful during his tenure here and uplifted Nicholls, our department and the basketball program,” Nicholls Director of Athletics Matt Roan says.

Nicholls Supporter Improving Facilities, Honoring Family

ay E. Didier Field received an upgrade to its infield and foul territory thanks to a transformative pledge made by longtime Nicholls supporter Tommy Meyer. The Nicholls baseball complex will now be known as Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field, in honor of Tommy’s brother, a Nicholls student who died in a car accident during his time at Nicholls in 2001 at the age of 23.

Ben Meyer Diamond features a Geo-Surfaces ‘replicated grass’ surface with the patented GeoFlo shock pad and drainage blanket. Geo-Surfaces is a Louisiana-based company that has installed more artificial turf fields in the state than all other companies combined. Geo-Surfaces utilizes the highest density turf product in the industry and is the only company that uses shock-pad technology as a standard practice on all installations.

Colonel Softball Complex Morphs Into Swanner Softball Field

icholls Softball has been one of the best programs in the Southland Conference in recent years. Now they have the facilities to match their success thanks to a donation from Neal Swanner and the Norman Swanner Foundation. “Norman and I always said that if we were successful, we wanted to give back to our community,” says Neal Swanner. “How awesome is it for the legacy of

my brother Norman and to honor the Swanner Family with naming the field ‘Swanner Softball Field.’ Thank you, Nicholls.” The renovations will include an all-new Geo-Surfaces synthetic turf infield, as well as lights, dugouts, bleachers and other aesthetic improvements around the park. In recognition of this leadership gift, the playing surface will be renamed Swanner Softball Field. Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

e m i T e r o f e B d n a L

20 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

rom Elkins Hall, the first building on the Nicholls campus constructed in 1948, to the state-of-the-art Lanny D. Ledet Building that houses the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, the Nicholls campus is filled with structures representing different eras. But what was here before Nicholls? Before the sugar cane fields? A recent discovery may grant some insight to those questions. In early 2018, the Center for Bayou Studies was invited to two separate cypress forest sites by two community leaders, Jake Giardina and Tommy Rouse. Rouse was in the process of clearing a former sugar cane plot for development near Bayou Lafourche adjacent to the Nicholls campus and within a pond he unearthed a cypress forest. During an excavation closer to the country club, Giardina uncovered cypress trees with root material as deep as 30 feet below the present ground level. “We certainly would not have had these opportunities were it not for local landowners that noticed them and notified us,” says Dr. John Doucet (BS ’84), dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “If it weren’t for the generosity of those two folks, we wouldn’t have learned as much as we know in this little bit of time.” “We want the Center for Bayou Studies to be here for these kinds of opportunities that connect our students to cultural history,” adds Dr. Gary LaFleur, associate professor of biology and director of The Center for Bayou Studies. Geologists and historians can show you how and why the Mississippi River shifted and how that shaped the land that Nicholls now sits on. But with the discovery of the cypress trees, we can gain a better understanding of what Thibodaux might have looked like hundreds or even thousands of years ago, says Dr. LaFleur. “It makes you think, ‘Wow, this used to be

marsh right here, 30 feet underneath us,’” says Dr. LaFleur. “When that was a marsh, Thibodaux must have looked pretty different then.” Samples found on the Rouse property were sent back to LSU for analysis with Clay Tucker, who was involved in “The Underwater Forest” of cypress trees found off the coast of Alabama in 2017. Those samples are estimated to be between 200-300 years old. “It just reminds us how it was right in front of campus,” Dr. LaFleur says. “Before there were buildings, before there was sugar cane, before there were Europeans, it was a wild bayou with a cypress swamp on either side.” Dr. LaFleur describes the pit on Giardina’s property as looking like an amphitheater, with clam shells lining the walls and cypress trees populating the interior. Because of how deep the roots are sunk into the soil, it’s possible these trees were around more than a thousand years ago. “The fact that trees grew here, that they were toppled down here, helps us remember that this nice level farmland that we’re seeing in our lifetime, in our parents lifetime and even in our grandparents life time, was once marsh,” Dr. Doucet says. With continued access to both sites, Nicholls professors and students will have opportunities for further scientific research and analysis, as well as ways to enhance the educational experience for students, who will be able to see, touch, feel and smell organisms they’ve only ever learned about in textbooks. “It’s a holistic way of viewing prehistoric life in Lafourche Parish,” says Dr. Doucet. “We don’t have many prehistoric fossils or dinosaur bones, but when you talk about trees, those are great lessons for our students.” “This is just the start of a collaboration that will lead to several more years of investigation and teaching,” adds Dr. LaFleur. “It’s like time traveling without really time traveling.” – Jacob Batte

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

HO By Jacob Batte Photography by Misty Leigh McElroy

ow much can change in 19 days? For Dr. Jay Clune (BS ’86), the answer is, well, a lot. Serving as an administrative yeoman at the University of West Florida, Dr. Clune was offered a job as the director of their graduate studies program. He asked for an opportunity to look around at other jobs before committing to Pensacola for the long-term. The Houma native was searching for provost jobs when he saw his alma mater was looking for a new president. What happened next was nothing short of a whirlwind.

22 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

OME E Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Dr. Jay Clune addresses the faculty and staff for the first time at University Convocation in Peltier Auditorium.

In less than three weeks, the University of Louisiana System Search Committee whittled down applicants to 15. Six were then invited to campus for public interviews with faculty, staff, students and the search committee. That number was cut to three. And then, after interviewing with the ULS Board of Supervisors, one. Dr. Clune spent every day preparing for interviews. He called staff, faculty and student leaders days before meeting them during public interviews on campus. He took days off of work and went to hotel rooms to prepare without distraction. “I never disengaged from the day they cut it from 15 candidates to six,” he says. “I wanted to know as much about Nicholls as anyone here. And at no time did I have second thoughts. I feel like I was meant to be here.” Those who have met him know he doesn’t give way to emotion easily. But when his name was called by the ULS Board of Supervisors, “those emotions came out.” “I was overcome with joy,” he says. “My life changed, and my family’s life changed in those 19 days.” Though it took less than three weeks to be named president, his path to the position began more than three decades prior.

school before transferring to somewhere bigger and presumably better. It didn’t take long for those plans to change. “I fell in love with the place,” he says. “I developed many good friends, loved the campus and the culture. I loved going to athletic events, Crawfish Day, pirogue races, and I lost the desire to leave.” He already had an interest in Latin American studies and history, but it was the campus environment that left the biggest impact on him. Whatever his future held, it was going to be on a college campus. “There’s something special about being on a campus,” he says. “The beauty, relaxed atmosphere, the vibrancy. It’s invigorating.” His future path now outlined, the young Dr. Clune was still lacking the maturation necessary to take the next step. Enter the Peace Corps. Assigned to Guatemala, he was on his own in a foreign culture, speaking a language he was only mildly familiar with and living in a village without the comfort and amenities he’d had back home. “You have to adapt and become a part of the community and put yourself out there,” he says. And he did, organizing 4-H clubs, writing grants and leading projects to build latrines, chicken coops and ovens for the locals. “Over the course of two years, I became a much different person,” he says. “There’s an old saying, 'To whom much is given, much is expected.’ You see people with nothing and you think ‘why squander what I have.’” He went on to receive his masters in Latin American studies from the University of Alabama in 1990 and his doctorate in history from LSU in 1997. His time in Baton Rouge included a Fulbright scholarship to After graduating from Vandebilt Catholic High School, John “Jay” Clune Seville, Spain. enrolled in but never intended to graduate from Nicholls State University. But completing the transition from boy to man took place shortly after he Like many of his peers, he planned to spend a year, maybe two, at the local returned to the U.S. from Guatemala when he met his future wife, Allison.

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED

24 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

“That was the final piece of the puzzle. Who you choose in life as your spouse is the most important decision you’ll ever make,” he says. “Allison and I are very much a team. She’s my better half, my rock and I’m going to depend on her a great deal to help me make this place more successful.”

CHALLENGES AWAIT When he approached his president at the University of West Florida, Dr. Martha Saunders, about the Nicholls job, she raised an eyebrow at him. She didn’t say anything but Dr. Clune knew what she meant: “They do budget cuts there.” Florida is no stranger to talks of budget cuts. But headlines in the Sunshine State center around their rapid enrollment growth while Louisiana has cut more per student than any other state since 2008, and the future of the state-sponsored scholarship program, TOPS, is unclear. That doesn’t phase Dr. Clune, though. “This is personal for me because it’s home,” Dr. Clune says. “My family is here, my friends are here. “But I don’t think there’s any more pressure. In fact, I think it’s easier now. This is my alma mater. I have a vested interest. What I tell people is heartfelt, and they can see that.” Dr. Clune has expressed confidence that the state legislature and Gov. John Bel Edwards will solve their issues and continue to fund higher education. “I know everyone in our delegation has Nicholls’ best interest at heart,” he says. “I’ve sat down with all of them, and they say they’re confident we’ll find a solution. They want to do whatever they can to help.”

MAKING AN IMPACT A portrait of Mima Babington hangs behind Dr. Clune’s desk in his office. She serves as reminder that buildings on this campus have not been maintained throughout the years. Though he prides the familiar feel of the campus – noting it has barely changed since he was a student in 1986 – Dr. Clune has plans to revamp a few major buildings, including Babington Hall, the Ellender Memorial Library and the Bollinger Memorial Student Union, while also preparing a master plan for the future of the campus. “Nicholls is as I remember,” he says. “The people have changed, but the place still feels the same. That’s special because campuses do evolve quickly and often the alumni come back and don’t recognize the campus, but this is different.”

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

“We need a campus master plan and we don’t have one. We wouldn’t know where we would put a new building if we needed one,” he says. “We don’t have a strategic spacialization plan. We have buildings we need to utilize. I don’t know the solution, but we have to have a plan for every acre of our campus.” Besides planning a facelift for the campus, it hasn’t taken Dr. Clune long to leave his mark on the University. He streamlined the university administration by naming Alex Arceneaux as executive vice president and moving university advancement under his watch. That doesn’t mean he’s ignoring the all-important fundraising side of the institution. On the contrary, he’s placed full faith in Nicholls Foundation Executive Director Jeremy Becker (BS ’95, MBA ’97) and moved Monique Crochet (BS ’98) in charge of external affairs. Up next are plans to create donor and development plans and to expand the office. He’s surrounded himself with more advisors by adding university deans and graduate studies to his council. In an effort to increase diversity, he’s charged Dr. Michele Caruso, now dean of students, with strengthening and updating the university’s inclusion practices. And he’s begun to address the rising cost of attendance for students

by working with the staff at the library to offer general education books through the reserves section. Another priority is making sure that faculty and staff salaries are supported.

WE CAN’T FAIL More than anything else, Dr. Clune says he wants to change the narrative around higher education from one of budget cuts, to the stories of the talented professors who have stuck it out and the successes of the students who are, as Dr. Clune says, “much more engaged and dedicated than I was in school.” “The people here are not only tough but exceedingly kind and gracious and you don’t get that anywhere else,” Dr. Clune says. “That’s been a reminder for me, just how wonderful the people are. I couldn’t be happier.” To Dr. Clune there is no other option than success. After all, Nicholls is home. “Nicholls is going to be successful because it can’t fail. Nicholls can’t fail because it’s too important to the region. And the region can’t fail because my family is here.” ■

Opening up N

icholls State University holds a special place in Allison Clune’s heart. After all, if it were not for Nicholls, she would have never met her husband and university president, Dr. Jay Clune, who spent his undergraduate years at the school. “Several of my friends came to Nicholls and they were friends with Jay,” she says. “They always talked so highly of Jay.” The couple would not meet until after Dr. Jay Clune returned from his service in the Peace Corps. After he returned, Allison’s friends, who had gone to school with her future husband at Nicholls, threw a party in New Orleans and invited Dr. Clune. “I had heard nice things about him, and I told them to introduce me,” Allison says. “After we were introduced at the party, we started dating. Two years later we were married. “Everything I had heard about Jay being kind and sweet was true.” She graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and became an accountant, working for Entergy for 10 years until Dr. Clune received a Fulbright Grant while he was working on his doctorate at LSU to go to Spain.

26 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Upon returning home to the bayous of Louisiana, Clune re-embraced the culture of the region by serving as the grand marshal of the St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School’s annual Mardi Gras parade.

the home During their time in Spain, the couple had their first child, Gabrielle. Clune took a part-time accounting job once the couple returned to the U.S. until the birth of their second child, Caroline. “For each child, I stayed home until they were in kindergarten,” Clune says. “Then I went back part time, which allowed me to volunteer at their schools.” For the past 10 years, Clune had worked for Baptist Hospital in Pensacola until her husband accepted the position at Nicholls State University. Growing up in the New Orleans area, Clune says coming to Thibodaux is like coming home. Plus, she had already spent a lot of time on campus over the years. “Jay is from Houma, and for most holidays, we were in Houma,” Clune says. “Jay loved the campus and his time here, so we would always ride to Thibodaux to walk the dogs on campus.” With Gabrielle now a graduate student at the University of Michigan and Caroline attending E.D. White Catholic High School, Clune says she will not return to work but instead focus on being the First Lady of Nicholls State University.

“I see myself as an ambassador of Nicholls,” Clune says. “As first lady, I want to open up the president’s residence and bring students, faculty, staff and the community together.” Besides opening the residence, Clune says other goals include creating a stronger retirement association, showcasing the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and using the house to bring together downtown Thibodaux and the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She would also like to demonstrate that Thibodaux is a great place to come to school, work and retire. “Everyone we have met in Thibodaux has been so nice and they make you feel so good when you are around them,” Clune says. “I feel like everyone treats you as family.” Ultimately, as first lady, Clune says she sees her role as helping her husband in what he does best. “One of Jay’s greatest strengths is he forms great relationships with people,” Clune says. “I see myself facilitating that. I want to open the house to bring everyone together so he can do what he does best.” — Cain Madden Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

CROSSING the Bridge to Independence by Jacob Batte

et me tell you about Nicholls student, Paige Faucheux. At Lutcher High School, she was a member of the tennis team, was named homecoming queen and earned her drivers license. She fulfilled her dream of going to college by enrolling at Nicholls State University. She joined Delta Zeta sorority, works with children at Little Colonel’s Academy and has a boyfriend. Paige also has Down Syndrome. And prior to 2016, college wasn’t a guarantee. But her parents, Lisa and Wade, learned about the Bridge to Independence program at

Nicholls and knew it was perfect for their daughter. Housed in Polk Hall with the College of Education, the Bridge to Independence program is designed to work with students in two categories. The first group are enrolled as degree-seeking students but have been diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder. The second are students with intellectual disorders, like Paige. Those students audit classes and earn job-skill certificates. The goal, program director Tara Martin says, is for students to either finish their degree or obtain meaningful employment related to

Lutcher native Paige Faucheux works with a student employee in the Bridge to Independence classroom located in Polk Hall. Faucheaux has flourished in the program, according to her parents.

28 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Bridge to Independence student Lauren Gennaro plants seeds into rockwool cubes as Bridge student worker Gabby Champagne oversees at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. The Bridge students are partnering with the Culinary Institute to grow herbs and vegetables as part of a Tower Garden system that the institute will use to help the program save on ingredient costs.

Nicholls State University â&#x20AC;˘ The COLONEL â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2018 |

Sean Adams is a certificate student in the Bridge to Independence Program at Nicholls. Sean, who has Down Syndrome, has overcome his social struggles and was elected to the Student Government Association Senate. Special Olympics Louisiana athletes, including several Nicholls students, spent a day being coached and having fun with the Nicholls men’s and women’s tennis teams.

30 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

their certificate. Students progress to living in university housing and their final project is to secure a place to live on their own. Prior to the creation of the program before the Fall 2016 semester, students with cognitive disabilities remained in public school until they aged out at 22 years old. At that point, their options were limited. “If this program didn’t exist, many of our students would just be sitting at home,” says Martin. In its first semester, the program included nine students but that number more than doubled in a year. “We’re getting an overwhelming response from prospective parents,” says Dr. Mary Breaud, assistant professor of education and Bridge program advisor. What makes Bridge to Independence at Nicholls unique in Louisiana is a federal designation that allows the students to qualify for financial aid. That opportunity has drawn the attention of parents from around the state, including Paige’s. It didn’t take long for Paige to figure out where her life was taking her. After interning with Little Colonels Academy, Paige is now determined to find a job with the St. James Parish School District upon graduation. “I really like Nicholls State University. I like going to class, getting a job and doing fun stuff,” Paige says. “I love moving away from home, but I miss my family. I know they miss me, too.” “This college has embraced this program,” Lisa Faucheux says. The students in the program are not unlike their peers across campus. Most arrive on campus immature and shy. When it comes to social skills, Paige is the exception, not the norm. Most of the students in the program struggle with social skills, like freshman mass communications major, Ezra Robichaux. Robichaux was diagnosed with autism at the age of 9. His parents, Adrian and Angie, say the news was a relief. They knew something was wrong with their oldest child but hadn’t been able to find an answer. Ezra assimilated to life in public school but there had always been a disconnect between him and his peers. He was bullied in school, and even after that subsided, he shied away from groups and graduated from Central Lafourche High School with few close friends. His parents thought college was a distant dream. As Ezra approached graduation, no school in the state had programs designed to help him. They searched universities in surrounding states but didn’t find anything suited to their needs. His parents assumed he would have to start at a community college first but then discovered Bridge to Independence. “It was bittersweet to drop him off, but the Bridge program has given us some peace of mind,” Angie says. “I think the program is great for Nicholls and you can see the success in the growth of the program.” Robichaux originally struggled to adjust to life away from home.

Nicholls Bridge to Independence student, Hannah Hotard, receives a medal for her performance at Special Olympics Louisiana.

“We don’t have to walk through this alone.” A self-professed lover of video games and rock music, he played video games into the morning on school nights and would forget to complete homework or miss class altogether. The resident assistant at the dorm also reported him and his roommate for blaring loud music late at night. But over the course of a semester, Robichaux and other students in the program began to come out of their shell. “I see him growing up, becoming more independent,” Adrian says. “The program has helped me keep track of my assignments, made me more social and more friendly,” Robichaux added. “I can see it in that I’m able to keep a conversation going. It’s because of the staff. (Tara Martin) has always been there for us. She’s like a second mom and has made a pretty big impact on my life here at Nicholls.”

The success stories are many and varied. Caroline Owens was born with Down Syndrome and has struggled to interact with others. Now, she can’t stop talking, mostly about her friends in the Bridge program. Cooper Crosby, who has autism, has struggled with social skills and eating but is now trying new foods in Galliano Hall and is described by his friends as “the life of the party.” Sean Adams, another student in the certificate program, overcame his social struggles and is now a member of the Student Government Association. And each student credits Bridge to Independence for their transformation. “Kids with disabilities should be able to come to college and get that experience,” Robichaux says. “We don’t have to walk through this alone.” ■ Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Alumni House Trend of Involvement on the Rise

hen I travel across the region for Nicholls Alumni Federation events, our alumni often tell me about the influence that Nicholls has had on their lives. They can describe in detail the benefits of their Nicholls education on both their personal and professional lives. Memories are told in such great detail you would think they just left campus

yesterday. In my first year as Alumni Director, I’ve seen that passion for Nicholls boom throughout the community. This past fall, as the Nicholls football team earned its first playoff home game, I saw more Colonel Pride than ever before. Whether I was going out to eat or heading to the grocery store, it was like looking at a sea of red and gray. That trend then continued with the success of our men’s and women’s basketball teams. But it’s more than just sports. Take the 2018 Alumni Board elections, for example. We saw the most participation ever and many of our new board members have already reached out with ideas on how to make the alumni experience even better. We have also debuted a new culinary alumni group. Graduates of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute are some of our most visibly successful alumni. You eat at their restaurants, follow their recipes from their books and watch them compete on cooking game shows on the Food Network (check pg. 34 for a feature on Chef Kenneth Temple). Don’t wait for one of our many alumni events to become an active Alumni member. Reconnect with an old classmate or professor through the federation. Come back to campus and soak in the Colonel Pride. I hope to see you all on Oct. 27 for Homecoming as the Colonels take on Incarnate Word. And don’t forget to wear red on Fridays! With lots of Colonel Pride, Katherine Gianelloni (BS ’14) Director, Alumni Affairs katherine.gianelloni@nicholls.edu 985.448.4109

Nicholls Alumni Federation Lifetime Members Robert Acosta Pat Adams Lawrence Albarado Donald Ayo Paul Babin Jennifer Baker Alison Balfantz Allayne Barrilleaux Renee & Jeffery Barrilleaux Marilyn Barrios Kilgen Donaldo Batiste David Belanger Andrew Bergeron Matthew Beyer Lester Bimah Lauren & Michael Bordelon Joseph Boudreaux Geralyn Boudreaux Haan Michael & Lauren Bourg Charles Bourg, II David Bourgeois Roger Bourgeois Michael & Christine Bourgeois Edward Bouterie Toby & Stacy Brady Collette Breaux Vance & Deirdre Broussard

Kylee Brown Sonya Buccola Virginia C. Mire Harold & Kristen Callais, II Edna Marie Campbell Sevin Brett Candies Kelly Candies Sidney & Kelly Candies Danny & Belinda Cavell Alaina Cavell Nugent Archie & Ashley Chaisson III Gregory & Vina Chase Craig Cheramie Rene Cheramie Tammy Cheramie Tony & Jamie Cheramie III Kevin Chiasson Marie Elise & Robert Cipolla Paul & Donna Conner Gregory & Tonia Cook Roy & Kathi Daigle Thomas & Sara Daigle Geri Danna Parra Welch Dave & Mona Defelice Sara Dempster Mickey Diez Carmelita Escalante

32 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Nolan Falgout III J Robert Field John Ford Miles Forrest Trisha Fuhrman Raleigh & Dawn Galiano, Jr. Susan & Walter Gilbert Gene & Toni Gouaux Nicole Gould Linzie Green Albert Gros Julie Hebert Mark & Rachel Hebert Bill Hochstetler Herbert Hodovsky Alaina & Allen Hood Malik Hossel Patricia Hotard Larry & Suzanne Howell Laurie Hubbell Wood Lucas & Brooke Huddleston Stephen & Rebecca Hulbert Patrick James Johnathan Johnson Albert Jones Donald Kasten Michael Kieffer

Betty Kleen Marguerite Knight Erwin Toby Lafont Michael & Deanna Lafont Marvin & Barbara Lagarde John & Loretta Landry Chris & Colette Lapeyre David LeBoeuf Buddy Ledet Adam Lefort Stacy LeJeune Jacqueline & James LeJeune Susan Leonard Giardina John Lombardo Glenn Mason Louis Mason Dawn Matherne Meyer Cecily McMahan Barry & Patricia Melancon R. E. "Bob" Miller Gary & Lauren Moore Kim Nannie Richie Naquin II Jerry & Sandi Nini Michael & Marie Ordogne Grant Ordoyne Charles & Renee Ordoyne

Joseph & Angela Orgeron Megan Oubre Hymel Joe & Judith Owens George Parker, Jr. Alice Pecoraro Drew & Linda Peltier Stephen & Martha Peltier Raymond & Diane Peters Patrick & Deanie Pitre Mahlon Poche, Jr. Jenna Portier Kenneth Portier Monica & Portier Jason & Lisa Ray Francis & Helen Richard Anne Richard Lejeune Kim Richard Thompson Elizabeth Riviere Robert Riviere William Riviere Kelly & Kelley Rodrigue Gregory & Paige Roussel Roderick Russell Ross Schexnayder Kristine Schexnayder Ourso Frank & Debbie Sevin Derek & Cindy Shavor

Andrew Simoncelli Frank Simoneaux Wendy Simoneaux Novella Smith Donovan Soignet Kerry & Laura St. Pe Glynn Stephens, Jr. Billy Talbot, II Billy Tauzin Kristie Tauzin-Goulas John Theriot Gerald & Cheryl Thibodaux Wendell Thomas Thomas & Martha Thomassie III Brandie Toups Lance & Lori Trotti Bruce & Martha Vicknair Roland Waguespack Stephen Watson Elizabeth Wigginton Glenn Williams Robert & Robin Wittmann Gregory & Mindy Wood Sonia Zeringue

Colonel Notes denotes Alumni Federation member

1950s Sid Dugas (attended 19551957) was elected president of the Virginia Association of Student Financial Administrators (VASFAA) and received VASFAA’s highest award, being named a Life Member. 1970s Dr. O. Cleveland Hill (BA ’73, MEd ’79) was named Mr. Louisiana Basketball 2018 by the Louisiana Association for Basketball Coaches on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Lenny Zdanowicz (BA ’74) donated his CD and DVD collections to Nicholls. His CD collection, which dates back to the early/mid-80s, contains hundreds of CDs as a result of his career in the music industry in the 1970s, and his active career as a disc jockey (KHOM-FM Houma) in the 1980s and club disc jockey at “Yesterdays” in Houma. Kevin Harrison (BA ’77) is franchising a Walk On’s restaurant in Prairieville, Louisiana. They broke ground on June 20, 2017. 1980s Peter Boudreaux (BS ’81) has been appointed as the director of human resources for the St. Mary Parish School System. Boudreaux has served St. Mary Parish for the past 29 years. Before becoming the career and technical supervisor for St. Mary Parish, he served as assistant principal of Hattie Watts Elementary and as

principal of both Maitland Elementary and Morgan City High School. DesLey Viator Plaisance (BS ’81, MS ’83), 2017 recipient of the James Lynn Powell Outstanding Alumni Award, and her husband, Mark Plaisance (AS ’82, BS ’83), announce the birth of their grandchild Avery Kate Plaisance on Nov. 2, 2016. Sheri Eschete (BS ’84) is now the process improvement manager at Ochsner Health System for the Bayou Region. Mary Cosper LeBoeuf (BA ’84) was named Public Library Director of the Year for the Louisiana Library Association Public Section for 2017. LeBoeuf has been director of the Terrebonne library system since 1995. James Callahan (BS ’85, MBA ’90) has transitioned to the role of vice president of project services at Danos. Suzanne Delaune Troxclair (BA ’88, MEd ’06) has been named the superintendent of catholic schools for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. Suzanne supervises thirteen catholic schools in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary Parishes.

Workers. Medlen has served as a school social worker for the Terrebonne Parish School District for 16 years. Sam Barbera III (BGS ’91) was recently named assistant director of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation. He was also cohost of BIGFISH Television in New Orleans and worked for the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, serving as STAR tournament director and helping to fundraise for their events. Dr. Albert DuPont (BS ’91) is the owner and founder of ADP Consulting Group LLC. He is also the executive director of The John Maxwell Team, he is certified to facilitate, speak, train and coach individuals and groups in the areas of leadership development, professional skills and personal growth. Marie Ledet LeBlanc (AS ’91) and Rodney LeBlanc (BS ’82) announce the birth of their grandchild, Frances Marie LeBlanc, on May 22, 2017. Marie’s son and daughterin-law, Jordan LeBlanc (BS ’11) and Lesley Bonvillain LeBlanc (BS ’11), are also both graduates of Nicholls.

The Nicholls chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management competitive team isn’t among the best in the state – it is the best in the state. They have won three consecutive state competitions dating back to 2016. From left, Melanie Boudreaux, Paige Thomas, Josie Graham, Peyton Chiasson, Olivia Lege and Taylor Boudoin. the largest Medicaid dental

provider in the state. Darren recently sold a practice in New Hampshire, Dental Expressions, and was named New Hampshire’s Top Dentist for the past 5 years by New Hampshire Magazine. He has also gone on numerous mission trips, including trips to Honduras and Belize.

Chad Mire (BS ’92) has recently been elected to serve as the fire chief for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. Having been a member of the department for almost 30 years and serving as assistant chief for the last ten years, he is looking forward to continuing to lead the department like all of his predecessors have done. Chad says that many of the chiefs of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department have graduated from Nicholls and currently all four chiefs are alumni of Nicholls.

Jacque Blanchard (BSN ’92) was selected as a Healthcare Hero by New Orleans City Business. Jacque works at Terrebonne General Jeremy Becker (BS ’95, Medical Center as the cardiac MBA ’97) was named 1990s catheterization laboratory executive director of the manager. Tammy Medlen (AS ’90, BGS Nicholls Foundation in ’91) was named School Social April 2017. Darren Boles (BS ’92) is Worker of the Year for 2017 the owner/dentist of by the Houma-Thibodaux Buffy Fegenbush (MEd ’95) has St. Johnsbury Dental chapter of the National been appointed secondary Associates in Vermont. It is supervisor of instruction Association of Social

for St. Mary Parish School System. Fegenbush has been an educator for 25 years and served as guidance counselor and assistant principal at Centerville High School before becoming the principal of Berwick High School in 2002. Kenneth Holmes (MEd ’95) has been appointed supervisor of child welfare and attendance for St. Mary Parish School System. Holmes is presently completing his 14th year as the principal of Morgan City Junior High School and 35th year in St. Mary Parish. Prior to becoming Morgan City High School principal, Holmes served as assistant principal of Centerville High School and principal of Norman Elementary. Kevin George (BGS ’96, BS ’99, MEd ’03) received this year’s “VH1 Save The Music Foundation Superintendent of the Year Award.” George is superintendent of St. John the Baptist Parish School District. Under his leadership, he hired 10 music teachers to implement in-school music education in all of his elementary and middle schools since 2013.

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Alumni House

Cooking

Confidence

elebrity Chef. Nicholls’ first black homecoming king. New Orleans ambassador. Author. These are just a few of the descriptors you could use for Chef Kenneth Temple (BS ’08). The confident, personable Nicholls alum is anything but ordinary. “My goal is to build a brand that not only positions me as an expert in creole and southern cuisine, but also as a reliable source in the culinary industry,” he says. In the decade since his graduation from Nicholls, Temple has become one of the most well-known chefs across the country. He owns a private chef company and has cooked for Lil Wayne, Soledad O’Brien, Mitch Landrieu and professional athletes, including NBA players Solomon Hill and Greg Monroe. The roots of his success date back to his senior year in high school, when a younger Temple didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. The Gentilly native knew he had to leave New Orleans but didn’t want to stray too far from home. Enter Nicholls State University. A culinary recruiter sold Temple on the program. “I never imagined it would reveal my passion and give me the foundation to build my empire,” he says. Nicholls culinary professors Chef Randy Cheramie (BA ’76) and Chef George Kaslow played important roles in Temple’s development. “It was my second class getting into the culinary curriculum and (Cheramie) says this is the class where we’ll know if we should stay or pursue another major,” Temple says. “He gave me a recipe, and I went against the grain. Even with that, he told me there was no doubt this was for me.” As he grew up in the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, his future became clear. Though many associate a culinary degree with restaurants or bakeries, there are dozens of fields a culinary graduate can enter. For Temple, traveling and cooking up dishes for celebrities as a private chef was perfect. “The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute played a huge role in my success because it shortened the learning curve and taught me how to survive

with

and grow in the field,” he says. “I had many great teachers who were straight shooters and would call you out if you were slacking. That either made you better or made you quit. I knew I was going to make something of myself.” The host of Hunger Trap, a Facebook live cooking show watched by approximately 15,000 viewers each week, has seen his brand jump in the last year thanks to his appearance and subsequent victory on the Food Network show, “Chopped,” as well as with the release of his new book, “Southern Creole,” and seasoning, Savory Seasoning. “I wanted to go on a show like ‘Chopped’ to test my chops, per se; to see how much culinary knowledge I had and how I would handle the pressure,” he says. “My favorite thing to cook is something new, so I was ready for the experience.” It doesn’t take much to know that Temple hasn’t reached the ceiling of his potential. His first commercial seasoning and cookbook are just the beginning, and he’s already planning to expand his brand with a series of cooking videos to be released online. Though it’s difficult to predict what will happen next, its a safe assumption it will be anything but ordinary. – Jacob Batte

34 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Nicholls Honors Outstanding Alumni

The Nicholls Alumni Federation honored the university’s top alum from each academic college during its 2017 Awards for Excellence ceremony.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Dr. Ronnie Self (BS ’03, MS ’05)

CHIEF PATHOLOGIST AND MEDICAL LABORATORY DIRECTOR AT CHABERT MEDICAL CENTER “I don’t remember how I felt when I came to Nicholls that first day. I don’t know if I was excited to come to Nicholls. What I do remember now is how fond I am of this university. I really do miss it. And that says a lot.”

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Shawn Mauldin (BS ’79, MBA ’87)

DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR OF THE RICHARD C. ADKERSON SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY “I’m honored and humbled to receive this award and beyond proud to be a graduate and alumni of Nicholls State University. Nicholls provided me with the academic foundation for my entire professional career. I know I would not be where I am today without this great university.”

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Britney Smith (BS ’12, MEd ’14)

SUPERVISOR AT ASCENT HEALTH INC. “This is such an honor. I want to thank the professors here in the program. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to thank my family for all of the love because I wouldn’t be here with their support.”

COLLEGE OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH Shelly Redmond (BS ’01)

AUTHOR AND REGISTERED DIETITIAN “This is a great honor. Years and years ago I never imagined I would be up here. By being active in the student dietetic association and local Bayou District Dietetic Association, I was able to attend meetings to learn more on nutrition, mingle, shadow professionals and land summer work. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support I received at Nicholls.”

2017 GOLF TOURNAMENT

SPONSORS

Colonel Clubhouse Sponsors Michael Rieth (BA ’96, MEd ’00) was named Raceland Lion Club Citizen of the year in July 2017. Michael is the supervisor of continuous improvement and wage administration at John Deere.

Kitchen, in February 2017. She runs Skinny Louisiana, a weight loss firm, and is a partner at Eberhardt Physical Therapy in Shreveport. Shelly also hosts a monthly news segment on KTAL NBC 6 News.

Stephen Watson (BS ’97, MBA ’98) is president & CEO of The National WWII Museum. He was named one of New Orleans Magazine’s 2017 People to Watch and serves on the board of directors for the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Heidi Broussard (BGS ’02) has been appointed assistant principal of David Thibodaux STEM Academy. Heidi was a teacher for five years at D. F. Huddle Elementary, Vernon Middle and N. P. Moss Middle schools. She has served as the academic behavior coordinator at Faulk Elementary School and the GEAR UP college career coach/cohort manager for the Lafayette Parish School System GEAR UP grant.

Latatia Johnson (BA ’98, MEd ’05) has been appointed instructional supervisor for elementary education for Ascension Public Schools. Prior to becoming the instructional supervisor, she enjoyed a 10-year journey as an administrator at G.W. Carver Primary. Johnson is also the 2017 recipient of the TAP Founder’s Award, the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) top honor. 2000s Jerad David (BA ’00) has been promoted to director of University Marketing and Communications at Nicholls State University. Christy G. David (BS ’01, MBA ’04) was promoted to learning advisor at BP America in upstream learning. She has been with BP for 10 years. Shelly Redmond (BS ’01) released her first cookbook, Skinny Louisiana...in the

Herman Mitchell (BS ’05) has been hired by the Omni Riverfront Hotel in New Orleans as the executive chef. Herman will oversee the food and beverage operation of the hotel, which will include planning and directing culinary activity. Amy Ford Dehrer (BS ’06) and Daniel Dehrer (BS ’06) announce the birth of son, Oliver Ford Dehrer, on Jan. 13, 2017. Amy is a ProStart instructor at West Feliciana High School, and Daniel is the co-owner/chef of Fresh Kitchen in Baton Rouge. Lauren Ledet Bordelon (BA ’06) has been hired by Assumption Parish Library as the new library director. Her tenure began on July 5, 2017.

• Callais Capital Management LLC • Taco Bell

Colonel Cart Sponsor

• Major Equipment & Remediation

Colonel Beverage Cart Sponsor • Mayor Tommy Eschete

Map and Program Sponsor • Archie Chaisson

Green Hole Sponsors

• Synergy Bank • Acadia Land Surveying LLC • LANCESCAPING LLC • Duplantis Design Group PC • Cypress Pond Farm • LA Contracting Enterprises LLC • Lee, Dougherty & Ferrara LLC • Otto Candies LLC • Christian D. Lapeyre, RHU

Hole Sponsors

• American Sugar Cane League • Barbera Chevrolet • BAY LTD. • Bridal Corner • Bubba's II PoBoys • Byron E. Talbot Contractor, Inc. • Cam Morvant District Attorney • Chris Fakier Farm Bureau • College of Business Alumni Chapter • Crown Marketing • Daigle Himel Daigle PT & Hand Center • Dr. Jason R. Ray, D.D.S. • Gary W. Barbaro Inc. • Gaubert Oil Company • Jones Insurance Services • Luke Ford • Mark & DesLey Plaisance • MidSouth Bank • National American Sales Corporation • Dr. Neil J. Maki, M.D. • New York Life • College of Business MBA Programs • Peltier Insurance & Travel Agencies • Phi Kappa Theta Alumni • Reeco Rentals • Ribuck LLC • Riviere Insurance Agency Inc. • Riviere Law Firm • Senator Gary L. Smith Jr. • Senator R.L. Bret Allain II • State Farm Insurance • Tee to Green Golf Magazine • TKE Mu Zeta Alumni Association • Turner Industries Group • Whitecar Marketing

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Alumni House JAMES LYNN POWELL AWARD

Alumna of Year Honored for Dedication

sk anyone about Dr. DesLey Plaisance (BS ’81, M.S. ’83), and they’re sure to mention one word: passion. “If the word passionate comes to mind, that is the manifestation of DesLey. She’s passionate about Nicholls, passionate about math education and she’s good at what she does,” says Dr. John Doucet (BS ’84), dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Every interaction, it’s heartfelt and dedicated and passionate about her students’ success and helping teachers better prepare students in mathematics.” That passion was rewarded when Plaisance received the James Lynn Powell Award for alumni of the year. Plaisance approaches everything with her brand of devoted passion. Whether it’s a committee meeting, standing up for her alma mater in the community or even helping get a university canned food drive started. “She came to the first meeting for Nicholls Can, and she was very active, very giving of herself for the cause,” says Jean Donegan (BA ’73), associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “She did everything she could. She counted cans, she talked with faculty, you name it. She’s one of the reasons we were able to get this off the ground.” Grant Ordoyne (BIS ’15), a grad student working as the administrative assistant for Plaisance, still remembers the impact she had on him when he was an undergrad. “She always made us think outside of the box and she made us think for ourselves,” he says. “Since then she’s had a tremendous impact on my life. She’s taught me how to be a stronger person Shane Kliebert (BS ’06, MEd ’14) was promoted to assistant principal of St. James High School. Prior to his promotion, he taught world geography and world history at St. James High School for ten years. Stephanie Detillier Verdin (BA ’06) is the senior communications assistant to the President & CEO at The National WWII Museum.

Nicholls Alumni Federation Board President Paula Rome presents the James Lynn Powell Award to Dr. DesLey Plaisance.

and how to stay positive.” The New Iberia native first chose Nicholls on the prestige of its math and education programs. It didn’t take her long to make lifelong friends and bond with professors. Even after she left to become a math teacher in Iberia Parish, she says “I always knew I would come back to Nicholls.” The call to come back home came after time spent teaching math in Iberia Parish and nearly two decades at LSU. Plaisance reconnected with friends, former roommates and, to her own delight, found herself teaching alongside some of the same professors she looked up to as a student, including Dr. Don Bardwell, Larry Howell and Angela Hammerli.

Stephanie Gautreaux (MEd ’07) has been appointed assistant principal of Edgar Martin Middle School. Stephanie has spent two years in the Lafourche Parish School System, one year in the Assumption Parish School System, eight years in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and seven years in the St. Mary Parish School System.

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Cody Stogner (BGS ’07) and Tabatha Davis Stogner announce the birth of their son, Cody Wolf Stogner, on March 19, 2018. Cody is the head baseball coach, assistant football coach and special education teacher at Picayune Memorial High School. Ashley Comeaux-Foret (BA ’08, MAT ’15) started a new job working for the Lafourche Parish

“When I think about Nicholls, I know I got a good education here, but I think about the relationships that I built,” she says. “They are lifelong relationships where, no matter how long it’s been, you can always pick it right back up. That kind of connection has been really strong for me.” “I worked really hard at LSU and I loved the people I was working with but to be able to come here and do those same things and give back to my alma mater is something special; it’s a different kind of feeling,” she says. “It’s an honor to return to Nicholls and spend nearly half of my career at the place my teaching career began.” — Jacob Batte

School Board as a special education teacher. Ashley will assist students with everyday interventions and also teach incoming freshmen effective study strategies. Tina Granger (AS ’08, BA ’08) developed the Social Work Concentration in 2014, the Applied Sociology Concentration in 2017 and co-developed the

PETSM Disaster Response Management Concentration in 2015 at Nicholls State University. Tina sits on the Honor’s Committee and the University Health and University Counseling Center Advisory Board. Clyde Verdin Jr. (BA ’08) is the sports social media producer for NOLA Media Group, which operates NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune.

HONORARY HONORARYALUMNA ALUM

Alyssa Daigle DiSalvo (BA ’09, SSP ’13) and Nicole DiSalvo (BS ’11) announce the birth of their daughter, Edie DiSalvo, on July 29, 2016. Alyssa is a nationally certified school psychologist for the Plaquemines Parish School Board. Nicole is a high school special education teacher at Chalmette High. Jamie Folse Geesling (BA ’09, MAT ’15) and Michael Geesling announce the birth of their daughter, Helen Renee Geesling, on April 11, 2017. Jamie currently serves Jane Long Intermediate School in Bryan, Texas, as a sixth grade science teacher. Brandi Jones (’09, ’16) started a new job working for the St. Mary Parish School Board as a school counselor. Chris Jones (BS ’09) is currently an operations manager responsible for a team of 110 employees in Houston, Texas.

prestigious events, as well as presenting research at various conferences. Some additional achievements of hers include: 2018 LSU Honored Faculty Member Guest Coach, 2017 Franklin High School Commencement Speaker, ULL Recognized Dissertation Award and ULL Graduate AfricanAmerican Honor Student. Michelle Felterman (BS ’11, MS ’15) was selected to be a 2018 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow by the national Sea Grant Program. The Fellowship program matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington D.C. area. Michelle is the first Nicholls graduate to become a Knauss Fellow.

Sierra Kennedy Trosclair (BS ’11) was awarded Teacher of the Year at East Houma Elementary. This is her 2010s second time receiving this Dr. Marquia V. Whitehead (BA award in her five years of teaching. This award ’10) is a full-time faculty is granted to those who member in the English show professionalism, Department at Louisiana collaboration and expertise in State University in Baton education. Rouge. She is also a parttime English teacher for Alicia Kozak (BA ’12, MA ’14) the TRIO program at married Jonathan Henry (BS Baton Rouge Community ’11) on April 4, 2015. Alicia is College, a Bootcamp and Professional Development a functional family therapist facilitator with a company, at Start Corporation. Jonathan is the quality in which she travels all control manager at Gulf over the United States teaching ACT preparation, Coast Manufacturing and Machine Shop. and the owner of her own writing business, Miss Educated. She has served as a motivational speaker for many

A Dream Come True

hen Marguerite KnightErwin was named Honorary Alumna by the Nicholls Alumni Federation, she described it as being a dream come true. Though circumstances forced her to attend LSU, her heart was always with the regional university in Lafourche Parish. “I am thankful for my college education from LSU, but I’m really honored by the honorary alumna award,” Knight-Erwin says. “In a way, it’s a step above my LSU degree.” The Baton Rouge native grew up spending summers in Lafourche Parish with her family and fell in love with the Bayou Region. She moved to Thibodaux after college to settle down with her husband, Louis Erwin, and started working at Terrebonne Bank. After more than four decades in the finance sector, Knight-Erwin is now a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley. She was recognized for her industry contributions by the Louisiana Center for Women in Government and Business, which is housed on the Nicholls campus, when the Center inducted her to its Hall of Fame. “I was very flattered and caught off guard by that,” Knight-Erwin says. “It was a fun day because my family flew in and shared that experience with me. And I was recognized along with some other great inductees, as well.” When she’s not working, Knight is an advocate for Nicholls and the community. She is the former chair of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, is chair of the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Board and serves on the Nicholls College of Business Administration Advisory Board. She also works with the Lafourche Education Foundation and the South Central Industrial Association, among others. With the Chamber, Knight-Erwin led an initiative to create banners at the beginning of the fall to hang around the city welcoming back Nicholls students. With Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Knight-Erwin has coordinated partnerships that have helped with the 2017 Mardi Gras Invitational, Manning Passing Academy and the Nicholls football home playoff game in 2017. “Nicholls defines Thibodaux,” Knight-Erwin says. “We’re so fortunate to have this University here. It’s one of our top employers and it’s an economic force. It truly makes Thibodaux a special place to live, work and play. The entire region should hang red, white and gray flags at their homes.” — Jacob Batte Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Alumni House HONORARY ALUMNUS

Former Professor Recognized for Impact

r. Jimmy Ponder Sr. was passionate about higher education. He knew its value because he had experienced the benefits first hand. It was that experience that made him such a dedicated and impactful teacher at Nicholls for nearly three decades. The Nicholls Alumni Federation recognized Dr. Ponder Sr. by posthumously naming him an Honorary Alumni. “I think this would have meant the world to him because Nicholls was family and for his family to give him that recognition would be such an honor,” says son, Dr. Jimmy Ponder Jr. Born into a poor family in rural Arkansas, Dr. Ponder Sr. had to borrow money to attend the University of Mississippi. He later earned a master’s degree from

Loyola University in New Orleans and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. “His education brought him out of poverty,” says daughter, Mimi Wilson (BS ’89). “He thought education was the best way to make himself better and give himself a better life.” He joined the Nicholls staff as a professor in 1968, where he would stay for 28 years, the last 23 as the accounting department head. He was named professor emeritus in 1997, the year after he retired. “Nicholls was his family,” says Jimmy Jr. “He enjoyed going to work every day. He enjoyed interacting with his students. He was friends with everyone and the faculty were like family to him.” One of his proudest accomplishments was the design and implementation

of the first microcomputer lab on the Nicholls campus, which he named after his wife. Today, the Marilyn Gaubert Ponder Collaborative Learning and Resource Center is a study area and one of the most commonly used rooms in the College of Business Administration. Dr. Ponder passed away in 2016, but his legacy lives on at the campus he loved so much. An endowed scholarship set up in his name benefits an involved, high-achieving accounting student every year. “He would be so proud. He would have been on cloud nine,” Wilson says. “The scholarship would have meant so much to him because he believed in education so much, and the honorary alumni award would have been the icing on the cake.” — Jacob Batte

Katelyn Thibodeaux DeLaune (BS ’12) has started a new job at Terrebonne High School. She will be an English teacher and the assistant volleyball coach.

Ryan Trahan (BS ’12) has been named Outreach Athletic Trainer of the Year. This honor is awarded by the Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association. Ryan works for Thibodaux Regional Medical Center as an athletic trainer.

Jeremy Davis (BA ’13) recently received the 2017 Terrebonne Young Achievers Award.

Kendrick Green (BS ’12) is currently working in medical sales. He worked for numerous pharmaceutical companies like Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca and Takada and has led a region in sales, received promotions and built working relationships with over 1,200 different physicians and professionals.

Sara Dempster (BS ’13, MEd ’15), instructor of teacher education at Nicholls State University, has been Jessalyn Bourgeois ( BS ’13, named the president of the MEd ’17) has been teaching new College of Education for five years. She is currently Alumni Chapter. a middle school science Samantha Etherington (BS ’13) teacher at Gonzales Middle School in Ascension Parish. is the current head women’s She is a member of the PBIS soccer coach and health & PE instructor at Louisiana committee for GOMS and College. Once she graduated was recently selected as the 2018-2019 Gonzales Middle from Nicholls, she went to the University of Dubuque as the School Teacher of the Year.

38 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

Dr. Jimmy Ponder Jr. with his father, the late Dr. Jimmy Ponder Sr., who was named an honorary alum by the Nicholls Alumni Federation.

graduate assistant soccer coach where she got her master’s degree, and won an IIAC conference and conference tournament championship, as well as going to the NCAA Tournament. During her first summer as head coach, she was named in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America 30 Under 30. Abby Gros (BS ’13) married Mark Dufrene (MA ’17) on May 19, 2017. Abby is an occupational therapist at the Center for Pediatric Therapy. Mark works for Magnolia Family Services as a caseworker.

Natalie Gros (BS ’13, MEd ’16) married Anthony “Tony” Landry II on April 21, 2017. Natalie is a teacher at Napoleonville Primary School and Tony works for Acadian Ambulance as a paramedic. Matthew Jewell (BS ’13) married Cera Boatwright (BSN ’14) on March 21, 2015. Matt started a new job working for the U.S. Department of Energy as the legislative affairs advisor. Matthew serves as a presidential appointee at the Department of Energy

Hey, Nicholls alums! Did you get married? Move to another town? Find a new job? Let us know and we’ll include you in our next edition of Colonel Notes. Keep us up-to-date with your life at thecolonel@nicholls.edu

In Memoriam where he acts as a liaison between Congress and the Department. Cera is a nurse at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. Meggie Mayberry (BS ’13, MEd ’15) married Daniel LeBlanc (BS ’14) on Nov. 19, 2016. Meggie is a first grade teacher at St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary School. Daniel is a project manager at Performance Energy Services. Stephanie O’Gwynn (BS ’13) married Drew Eschete (BS ’14) on May 13, 2017. Stephanie works for the LSU Department of Gastroenterology in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at University Medical Center as a physician assistant. Drew is an athletic trainer for the Community Sports Institute at Terrebonne General Medical Center. Katie LeBouef-Giroir (BA ’14, MAT ’16) married Jonah Giroir (BA ’14, MBA ’16) in November 2017. Jonah is a credit analyst at Pedestal Bank. Katie is a fourth grade teacher at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School.

FACULTY/STAFF

Hillary Scott Charpentier (BS ’15, MEd ’17) married Garett Charpentier (AGS ’12) on June 23, 2017. Hillary is a recruitment and outreach coordinator at Nicholls State University, and Garett is a mortgage loan originator for American South Financial.

Dr. Aaron Caillouet (BS ’64, MBA ’70), age 73, deceased on June 19, 2016, was a former Lafourche Parish president, taught accounting at Nicholls for 23 years and also served as a parish and city councilman.

Kristen St. Pierre (BIS ’15, MEd ’17) has been hired as a school counselor at Dutchtown High School right after graduating.

Zara Mae Daigle Blanchard, age 84, deceased April 30, 2017, was a secretary under James Lynn Powell at Nicholls in the 50s.

Rory Eschete (BS ’15) was one of three medical students to receive an Alumni Heritage Scholarship Award from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC).

Dr. Ronald H. Kilgen (BS ’64), age 73, deceased April 20, 2018, was a member of the biology department faculty at Nicholls from 1970 to his retirement 1991.

Sarah Lambert (BS ’15) is now working at her alma mater, Lutcher High School, where she teaches English I and English III and is an assistant volleyball coach. Megan George (BSN ’16) recently received the Daisy Award from Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. Katherine Hoffmann (BS ’16) has been promoted to operations manager at Benny’s Car Wash.

Shane Smith (BIS ’14) is currently serving in the Army and training for his job Ross Joseph Guidry (AS ’17) as a food service specialist. was recently promoted to personnel coordinator with Chris Thompson (BIS ’15) Danos where he has worked returned to coach for for over thirteen years. Nicholls after playing in the NFL for three years and Kalie Levron Martin (AS ’17, Canada for eight years. BS ’17) has been hired by the Terrebonne Parish School District as a second grade teacher.

Anne Trahan (BA ’67, MEd ’69), age 81, deceased July 31, 2017, worked at Nicholls for 37 years as a professor of English before her retirement.

ALUMNI Geraldine Gayral (DIP ’52, BS ’62), age 84, deceased December 17, 2017, was a supporter of student scholarships and the Nicholls Alumni Federation. Douglas Landry (BA ’59), age 79, deceased August 23, 2016, served the Assumption Parish School System for 37 years as a teacher, principal and administrator. Laura Bollinger Champagne (BS ’72), age 68, deceased December 16, 2017, taught

for 46 years at South Lafourche High School and Deacon Daniel V. Blake (BSN then Holy Rosary Catholic ’95), age 53, deceased School. June 26, 2017, was a U.S. Army Blackhawk pilot who Greg Martin (Honorary became a nurse and was Alumnus), age 69, deceased awarded the U.S. Army February 19, 2018, was, Spirit of Nursing Award. with his wife Becky (BA He was ordained a deacon ’72), a proud supporter of for the Diocese of HoumaNicholls. He was a member Thibodaux in May 2015. of the Nicholls Alumni Federation and attended Ricardo Wilson (BA ’98), many Nicholls events over age 41, deceased May 7, the years. 2017, was the first AfricanAmerican SGA president Dolores Gomez (BA ’73), age and was a member of the 85, deceased February 23, football team for three 2018, was a teacher for 20 years. years in Luling, Louisiana, before she retired. Kaycee Chouest Keller (BSN ’02), age 38, deceased Dr. Harold Daigle Jr. (AS ’76), July 24, 2017, received age 61, deceased October her master’s from LSU in 2016, was a research Nursing in 2010. She was a associate at Louisiana State nurse anesthetist. University. Elizabeth Trahan Korf (BS Arthur E. Stagni (BS ’77), age ’06), age 33, deceased 63, deceased November January 10, 2017, worked 7, 2017, was a CPA for 27 at St. Mary’s Seminary years for his own firm, as the accent reduction Beyer, Stagni, & Co. specialist for ESL students, helping them Colonel Fazzio (AS ’83, BGS to communicate better ’84), age 65, deceased as priests. She and her August 20, 2017, had a husband, Josh, also worked great love for his alma as youth directors at Our mater. He frequently Lady of Walsingham enjoyed visiting the Catholic Church in Nicholls campus. Houston, Texas. Jonathan Galliano (BS ’81, MBA ’89), age 57, deceased December 6, 2016, continued his studies at the University of New Orleans after receiving two degrees from Nicholls. Bridget Freeman (BA ’90), age 55, deceased January 28, 2017, was a school teacher for 20 years.

Lesley Bonvillain LeBlanc (BS ’11), age 29, deceased April 4, 2018, was the marketing assistant at Duplantis Design Group PC. Gerard Lombardo (BS ’11), age 30, deceased April 21, 2018, was working on a Master of Environmental and Marine Biology degree.

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Campus Cornerstone Nicholls is Life-Changing Alum Uses Experience, Love

hink about how much Nicholls changed your life. It’s where we gain the education – academically, socially and emotionally – to become the successful and active members of society that we are today. I know that my time here helped mold me into the man I am today, and new Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune has said time-andtime again about what Nicholls means to him. Thanks to contributions from Capital One and Entergy, Nicholls is going to be bringing that opportunity to many of this region’s underserved families. Tour Tuesday by Entergy (Pg. 41) brings high school students from area schools to spend a day on the campus, while the College Access Conference by Capital One will house low-income and potential first-generation students for a few days so that they can experience what college life is all about. If you want a perfect example of how philanthropy can truly change the lives of students, look no further than my friend Jake Giardina (Pg. 42). Jake’s contributions over the years have led to the creation of the Max Charter School and the Center for Dyslexia and Other Learning Related Disorders. Both of these programs are housed on the Nicholls campus and provide resources for students from all over the state. Your contributions continue to enhance our students’ learning experiences. Take, for example, the new well control lab in Gouaux Hall (Pg. 41). Nicholls Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management students are learning how to identify and stop events like the Deepwater Horizon spill by using technology that even major players like Chevron don’t have. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have Jeremy Becker as the executive director of the Nicholls Foundation. He exudes Colonel Pride and has had a long, successful career fundraising for groups such as the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux and Habitat for Humanity. He’s going to do an excellent job in helping to make Nicholls a better institution. Dr. Clune has shared with me his vision for Nicholls and the Nicholls Foundation is going to play a prominent role in raising money to strengthen this university’s role in our community and across South Louisiana. As you consider your gift this year, I encourage you to contact the Nicholls Advancement Office at (985) 448-4005 to discuss how your donation can leave a lasting legacy and help generations of Colonels to come. Sincerely, Christopher H. Riviere (BS ’78) President, Nicholls Foundation

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for University in New Role

or years, Jeremy Becker’s (BS ’95, MBA ’97) friends and colleagues thought he worked for Nicholls State University, but, at the time, he didn’t. That is until spring 2017 when he was named the Executive Director of the Nicholls Foundation. He grew up at Guidry Stadium, Didier Field and in Stopher Gym attending Colonel football, baseball and basketball games with his father and uncle. “That’s where the first attraction, you could say, between myself and Nicholls took place,” Becker says. He later earned both his marketing and master of business administration degrees from Nicholls. Even after graduation, Becker has been a mainstay on campus, volunteering for alumni events, committees and being a regular season-ticket holder with Nicholls athletics. Now, Becker will combine his passion for Nicholls with his talent for fundraising. His experience is extensive. He served as the executive director of the Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity and the executive director of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He also served on the Colonel Athletic Association board, including two years as president. Nicholls Foundation Board President Chris Riviere pointed to Becker’s experience as a driving reason why they targeted the Thibodaux native. “We were hoping to find someone with roots in the area, a

love for Nicholls and an extensive fundraising background. We believe that we found that person in Jeremy,” Riviere says. Becker says he hopes to accomplish three main goals as executive director: to increase membership to the Nicholls Foundation, show how their donations are being put to work and develop relationships with donors. “There are people who want to make that transformational gift that Nicholls has never had before, and I want to help facilitate that,” Becker says. But his job won’t be easy. The need for assistance has never been greater after years of continued cuts by the Louisiana legislature to higher education, but the capacity to give has been handicapped by a local economy that has dipped in recent years. “The idea of the challenge is what interests me. To put what I’ve learned to good use for Nicholls,” Becker says. “It’s always been fun for me to help promote Nicholls. To do it as a fulltime position is great.” — Jacob Batte

PETSM Uses Donations for Cutting Edge Lab

Sam LeBouef Jr. monitors the Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management department’s well control simulation lab. The system enables students to simulate the process of preventing or directing the flow of oil from the well.

he Nicholls State University Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management department is hoping its new state-of-the-art technology will not only educate future industry leaders, but also save lives. Thanks to thousands of dollars in private and industry donations, the Nicholls PETSM program installed a well control simulation lab in Gouaux Hall. Well control technology is the process of maintaining pressure on open formations to prevent or direct the flow of oil into the hole that forms the well. The lab simulates that experience. PETSM Executive Director

Michael Gautreaux says that instructors can simulate the events that led up to the infamous Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The technology places Nicholls in a unique position, being the only university in the Gulf South with a well control simulation lab on its campus. The technology and the equipment were paid for with a combination of industry donations and student fees. The Lafayette and New Orleans chapters, as well as the national American Association of Drilling Engineers, donated a combined $56,272. The Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo donated $9,000. — Jacob Batte

Nicholls, Entergy Partner to Get Students to Campus First-generation and low-income juniors and seniors were brought to the Nicholls campus as part of Tour Tuesday by Entergy. Students came from Assumption, Lafourche, St. James and Terrebonne parishes, where they were able to learn about the campus and potential programs.

eeks are often defined by two days: Monday and Friday, the beginning and end of the work week. But on the Nicholls State University campus, Tuesdays now hold a special meaning for local high school students. Nicholls and Entergy Corp. teamed up to create Tour

Tuesday presented by Entergy, a program that sends charter buses to local high schools to bring underrepresented students to campus. Nicholls has worked with schools in Assumption, Lafourche, St. James and Terrebonne parishes to identify first-generation and low-income juniors and seniors who meet

Nicholls admissions standards. Nicholls transports the students to campus where they are given a tour of the facilities and amenities. They also receive an overview of the academic programs and student organizations. Students interested in attending college then meet with admissions counselors, who help them fill out applications

and financial aid forms. Entergy has paid $20,000 over two years to fund the program. Tour Tuesday is a way for Nicholls to keep an open line of communication with area high schools and provide opportunities for students who may not have seen a college campus before, says Becky Durocher, director of admissions. — Jacob Batte

Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

Campus Cornerstone HARVEY PELTIER AWARD

Thibodaux Philanthropist Honored for Helping State’s Students with Dyslexia

ack when Jake Giardina’s youngest son was born, the local businessman and philanthropist did not even know what the word “dyslexia” meant, let alone how much of his time and money he would donate to aid Louisiana students who have been diagnosed with the learning disorder. Several decades later, Giardina, a Thibodaux resident whose house neighbors the Nicholls campus, was honored by the Nicholls Alumni Federation with the Harvey Peltier Award, the highest recognition given to a nongraduate of Nicholls State University. Giardina helped create the Max Charter School nine years ago and is a supporter of the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders, which is located on the Nicholls campus. Max Charter School was created with the help of Nicholls State University to provide students with dyslexia resources they need in a school setting. Giardina had first created a private school with a similar goal in Houma, but relying 100 percent on tuition for funding was a hardship. “This was getting way too expensive for parents to be able to handle,” Giardina says.

“Then after discussion with the president of Nicholls, who at that time was Stephen Hulbert, he was very agreeable to working with us on it.” Since Thibodaux had nothing like it, the Giardinas decided to go forward with the school, which is named after Jake’s wife, Maxine Giardina. The school’s charter allows for 110 students, and Giardina says they have been at that number for years. Having something local for students is important to Giardina, who had to send his son to a school in New York for two years because it was the closest school they could find. “They’re usually good students, they just learn differently,” Giardina says. Giardina has remained involved with The Center for Dyslexia because he believes it plays an important role for the entire state. The Center offers teacher training, provides support to Nicholls students who suffer from dyslexia and offers assessments for people of all ages. “They’ve helped many, many students,” Giardina says. “We, through the Giardina Family Foundation, have done a lot of teacher training throughout the years. When you add it up, we’ve trained from 5,000 to 6,000 teachers in the state to recognize

42 | Spring 2018 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University

students with dyslexia and at least be able to know how to handle them get an idea of what is required and see how these students can learn differently. We’ve been deeply involved in it and it’s going very well.” Center Director Karen Chauvin (BA ’88, MEd ’92) says Giardina was instrumental in helping with the legislation that led to the center at Nicholls being opened. “Without Mr. Jake’s support

and the support of others like him, we probably wouldn’t have the Dyslexia Center at Nicholls, therefore the students who came through would not have had opportunity to maybe attend college or even be successful in college,” Chauvin says. “He continues to support the center at Nicholls and has helped us create the charter school, even though his children are in their 30s and 40s and there is no personal benefit for him.” — Cain Madden

CORPORATE MARK OF HONOR

Peltier Foundation Prioritizes Education

The Peltier Foundation received the Corporate Mark of Honor from the Nicholls Alumni Federation for its contributions, which have led to scholarships and upgrades to various buildings. From left, Former Vice President of Advancement Dr. Neal Weaver, Peltier Foundation Board Member Stephen Peltier (BS ’75) and former University President Dr. Bruce Murphy.

ou may not know much about the Peltier Foundation, but its influence is spread across the Nicholls campus. The foundation’s donations have helped create Nicholls Online, provided scholarships and helped improve facilities. It’s no wonder the nonprofit received the Corporate Mark of Honor from the Nicholls Alumni Federation. Located in downtown Thibodaux, the nonprofit foundation began in the mid-1990s to support other nonprofit organizations, churches and schools that have a public function. Peltier Foundation Board Member Stephen Peltier (BS ’75) says he views the organization’s primary function as supporting education, which is where more than onethird of its funding is spent. At Nicholls, the Peltier Foundation provided the seed money to start Nicholls Online, which now has more than 400 students, and funding that went toward the

renovation of important buildings, both academic and athletic. The Peltier Foundation helped finance projects including the Mary and Al Danos Theater renovations, the Ledet Culinary Institute Building, Peltier Hall, Nicholls Soccer Complex and the Stopher Gym renovations. Since the foundation’s inception, the group has donated more than $3 million to Nicholls. To reward their generosity, the Peltier Foundation was honored with the Corporate Mark of Honor at the 2017 Nicholls Alumni Awards for Excellence Banquet. “The Peltier Foundation has been a great friend and a loyal supporter of Nicholls State University over the years,” says Dr. Jay Clune, university president. “On behalf of Nicholls State University, I would like to extend the gratitude of the entire institution to Stephen and Dr. James Peltier of the Peltier Foundation for decades of support to Nicholls, which is a better institution

because of their vision and generosity.” Stephen Peltier says Nicholls State University is a valuable resource for the entire community. “I think Nicholls is extremely important to the area from the Mississippi River, New Iberia, down to the coast over to Grand Isle and into the New Orleans area,” Peltier says. “It’s an important educational base for the whole region.” Peltier says being recognized with the Corporate Mark of Honor is nice, but more importantly, he is glad to see that the money contributed has been used to make a difference. “Look at Nicholls, the quality of the buildings we’ve assisted with, the quality of the athletic programs we’ve assisted with, we’ve assisted with professorships and scholarships,” Peltier says. “It all helps Nicholls fulfill its function as a full-service university.” — Cain Madden Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Spring 2018 |

A Colonel of Truth

101 Graduations Ago

hen composer Richard Wagner premiered his opera Tannhäuser in Dresden in 1845, little did he know that it would be featured over 100 years later in Thibodaux at the first graduation ceremony of Nicholls in 1950. There and then, the LSU Brass Ensemble trumpeted the opera’s Grand March in honor of our inaugural junior college graduates. In the opera, the Grand March opens Act II, Scene 4, when heroes and guests assemble in Singer’s Hall of Wartburg Castle for a contest that featured songs. Interestingly enough, the first graduation at Nicholls followed a similar narrative, with family and friends gathered in the gymnasium of Mt. Carmel Academy for a ceremony that featured songs. The 1950 graduation ceremony was held on a balmy Friday, June 2, beginning in the evening, after a long day of classes, or a long day of work, or a long day of riding the bus to campus. Soon after the ceremony began, the printed program tells that the brass ensemble played “Awake, My Heart, and Sing,” as if to encourage graduates to stay alert for the hard day’s night ahead. “Having satisfactorily completed the requirements for graduation of the Francis T. Nicholls Junior College,” each of the 107 inaugural graduates received a Diploma under purple leatherette cover lined by gold taffeta. At this point, the program tells that the brass ensemble played “Now Thank We All Our God.”

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But atop the cane fields upon which the little junior college was built, and during the bus rides that took students to and from it, it’s likely that students had been singing the whole time, from Art Mooney’s “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover,” when doors of Elkins Hall first opened for students, to Bing Crosby’s “Now is the Hour,” when they sat for their first exam. And, after a day spent studying all those things that Sam Cooke would later admit he didn’t know much about, Nicholls students enjoyed their own wonderful world with archery, fencing, afternoon teas and dancing—perhaps to Patti Page’s “The Tennessee Waltz.” If you see any official photographs of Nicholls first graduates, you might be hard-pressed to recognize anyone. Nicholls graduates were routinely photographed in cap and gown from behind. You might think this anonymity was to guarantee Perry Como’s promise to meet a stranger on “Some Enchanted Evening.” Rather, the photos were carefully choreographed so that the graduates would always be remembered as “looking forward toward the future.” It wouldn’t be long after that first graduation before art students plied the color wheel to extract red from LSU purple and before chemistry students applied the old alchemic transformation of LSU gold into lead gray. Nicholls soon had its own colors and soon was its own college. And then one day it had its very own gymnasium. And

Illustration by Sharon Doucet (BA ’78)

then another day a football field, upon which this past December the university celebrated its 101st commencement ceremony for one of the largest graduating classes in its seven-decade history. Much has changed at Nicholls over the years, of course, especially among graduating classes. In 1950, the percentage of graduates whose last names ended in “-aux” was 6.5 percent. In 2017, the “-aux index” was down to 3.1 percent. In 1950, the farthest hometown of a graduate was Golden Meadow, at about 50 miles. In 2017, that was Victoria, Australia, at about 9,250 miles. Yes, little did Wagner know that Tannhäuser would play Thibodaux. And despite the Class of 1950’s penchant for songs, little did they know the significance of hearing the Grand March as they filed out of Mt. Carmel Gymnasium onto St. Charles Street on that enchanted evening in June. The opera itself runs nearly four hours, and I certainly hope the first Nicholls commencement didn’t last that long. But in that duration, Wagner jams not one but two legends into three acts and eleven scenes, wherein the hero is naughty, and then good, and then subliminally naughty, and then good again. To summarize, Tannhäuser is about triumph over self. And that summary remains a fair assessment of the achievement of college graduation, at Nicholls and elsewhere, then in 1950 as well as looking forward toward the future. – By Dr. John P. Doucet (BS '84)

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