Colonel Magazine – Spring 11 - Nicholls State University Alumni

COLONEL
The
ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF NICHOLLS STATE
Spring 2011
UNIVERSITY
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Nicholls: Yesterday. Today. Always.
S
tate budget cuts, bad as they
have been, have nonetheless
managed to galvanize
alumni and rally student support
for Nicholls, “bringing all of us
together,” university officials report.
Alumni, students and others,
while demonstrating pride in
Nicholls, have effectively kept state
officials and the public informed of
university needs and the harmful
effects of budget cuts.
Among the positive effects of
the recent budget challenges have
been the creation of an Alumni
Federation Facebook fan page
(facebook.com/nicholls.alumni.
federation), a newly updated alumni
website (www.nichollsalumni.org),
a targeted letter-writing effort
and, most visibly, a television
commercial campaign featuring
Nicholls alumni.
Alumni Federation President
Glenn Chance Jr. signed a resolution
that was sent to the governor and
all legislators, asking “that the
Governor of the State of Louisiana,
the Louisiana State Legislature, and
the appropriate board governing
higher education develop a
long-term strategy and financial
resources to ensure the stable and
progressive growth of education
and to eliminate the continual
instability and uncertainty within
Nicholls State University and its
sister institutions in the State of
Louisiana.”
Alumni also assisted with a
student-organized “Stand Up”
campaign intended to minimize the
impact of budget cuts on Nicholls,
which, over the past two years, have
significantly reduced the number of
faculty, staff and degree programs.
Alumni have also written letters
to newspaper editors. For instance,
one alumnus wrote that “if our
elected officials do not devise a
long-term fiscally responsible plan
to prevent massive budget cuts [. .
.] Nicholls State University, as you
and I both know it, will be gone,
indefinitely.”
Five 15-second television
commercials featuring the theme
“In a Class of Its Own” began airing
this spring on WDSU, WGNO,
WVUE, WWL and Bayou Region
cable outlets in part to counter any
public notions that Nicholls would
be closed or become a community
college.
Also created was a 10-minute
v i d e o , o r i g i n a l l y s h ow n t o
outstanding prospective graduates
at the annual Scholars Night
event, which featured articulate
Nicholls stalwarts beginning with
1960 and ending with future
graduates. Amy Simon Breaux
and Edna Marie Sevin Pastor, for
instance, while holding a 1960
yearbook, call Nicholls “more than
a degree and a diploma; it was
our life, and it’s still part of our
life after 50 years.” Other alumni
featured in the commercials are
Jean Nunez Donegan (B.A. ’73),
Dr. Barry Landry (B.S. ’77) and
Kevin George (B.S. ’96).(The
commercials and video are posted
online at nicholls.edu/video).
The essential message is that
although state-imposed budget
cut amounts remain unknown,
what we do know is that Nicholls
is a well-respected university that
will continue to be the dynamic,
successful institution it has been for
more than a half century.
George
Donegan
Landry
Pastor and Breaux
Campus administrators say farewell .................................................................page 6
Colonel strong .................................................................................................page 8
Awards for Excellence recognizes diverse group............................................ page 10
Colonel pride .................................................................................................page 12
The Colonel
Dear fellow alumni!
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Dr. Stephen Hulbert
Welcome to the spring 2011 issue of The Colonel.
We have lots of good Colonel news to share with you – we’ve broken
ground on the new student recreation center, our men’s basketball team
made it to the Southland Conference tournament for the third consecutive
year, and despite the budget-cut concerns, Nicholls continues to provide
top-notch educational opportunities for the residents of the Bayou Region.
Your Alumni Federation has been making great strides to stay connected
to you. We’ve updated our website nichollsalumni.org to better serve you.
We’ve also created a Facebook fan page to better connect with you. Finally we’ve
changed the way we deliver The Colonel to better respect our environment.*
Spring is always a busy time at Nicholls, and this spring is no different.
We recently recognized our 2011 Awards for Excellence honorees and we look
forward to welcoming over 300 friends to our Alumni Federation’s annual
meeting and crawfish boil scheduled for Saturday, April 16. I do hope you’ll
be able to join us for an evening filled with delicious crawfish, good music and great friends. By the way, if you
are one of our many Georgia alums, mark your calendar – we’re bringing the crawfish to you Saturday, April 30.
Looking ahead to our fall semester, please plan to join us for the 2011 Homecoming festivities on Saturday,
Oct. 22, as the Colonels take on the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin, and we pay tribute to our class of
1961 graduates.
It’s hard to believe that thirty years ago I became your director of alumni affairs. The opportunity to serve
the university I love continues to be a blessing. Thank you so much for all of your support over the years.
I encourage you, if you have not already done so, to get involved with your alma mater – attend an event,
contribute to a scholarship fund, support the teams, join the Alumni Federation – the rewards are bountiful.
In the Colonel Spirit,
Spring 2011
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Dr. David Boudreaux
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Debbie Raziano (B.A. ’74)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Jessica Harvey (B.A. ’06)
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 4
Elizabeth Iver
EDITOR
Renee Piper
ART DIRECTOR
Jerad David (B.A. ’00)
PHOTOGRAPHER
Misty McElroy (B.A. ’03)
WRITERS
Dr. Al Delahaye
Charlie Gillingham
Graham Harvey
Jessica Harvey (B.A. ’06)
Mike Wagenheim
| Between
Important
Dates
Nicholls State University Alumni Federation
the LINES|
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events!
Alumni Crawfish Boil • Saturday, April 16
Spring Commencement • Saturday, May 13
Atlanta Crawfish Boil • Saturday, April 30
Family Day • Saturday, October 8
Women’s Night Out • Thursday, May 5
Homecoming Weekend • Friday – Sunday, October 21-23
A Thousand Words
Traditions
Western Week – hamburgers in
the quadrangle!
Smelling the aroma of grilled
burgers always brings me back to
my wonderful days at Nicholls.
Cynthia Barberot, Med Tech
B.S. ’76
Nicholls Alumni Federation Officers 2010-11
President - Glenn Chance Jr. (B.S. ’90, M.B.A. ’95)
President-Elect - Stella Chiasson Lasseigne (B.A.’67, M.Ed. ’80)
Vice President - Luke Ford Jr. (B.A ’63, M.Ed. ’69)
Secretary - Eddie Hebert (A.S. ’71, B.S.N. ’92)
Treasurer - Tommy Eschete (B.A.’80)
Past President - Herbie Kimble (B.S. ’75)
Board Members 2010-11
Martin Benoit (A.S. ’79)
Charles Bourg (B.A. ’93)
Terry Dupre (A.S. ’88, B.S. ’06)
Lynn Guidry (B.S. ’70)
Dr. Leslie Jones (B.S. ’91, M.Ed. ’92)
Stephen Peltier (B.S. ’75)
Mark Plaisance (A.S. ’82, B.A. ’83)
Paula Schouest (B.S. ’02)
Gayle Clement Tauzin (B.S. ’73)
Debbie Raziano (B.A. ’74)
Director, Alumni Affairs
*Since its inception in 1961, The Colonel has been mailed free of charge to all Nicholls alumni. However, starting
with this issue, The Colonel is being mailed to dues-paying members only. Dues-paying members who wish to receive The
Colonel via e-mail simply need to provide the alumni office with a current e-mail address. The Colonel is posted on the
Alumni Federation website for you to view and share.
Ride with
Colonel Pride!
Can a picture really be worth 1,000 words? We think so. Share
your stories about this 1961 photo or the memories it brings to
mind. Send to: [email protected] or The Colonel,
Office of Alumni Affairs, P.O. Box 2158, Thibodaux, LA 70310.
Call (985) 448-4111 for more information.
The Colonel is published twice each year by the
Nicholls State University Alumni Federation.
Send comments and address corrections to:
Office of Alumni Affairs
Nicholls State University
P.O. Box 2158
Thibodaux, LA 70310
phone: (985) 448-4111
e-mail: [email protected]
web: nichollsalumni.org
facebook.com/nicholls.alumni.federation
2 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
Visit http://omv.dps.state.la.us/ to get your Nicholls license plate.
The Nicholls General Scholarship Fund receives a portion of the
fee charged in addition to the regular vehicle registration.
Burning
Question
It’s not too late to join us for
our annual Alumni Federation’s
annual meeting and crawfish boil!
Come pass a good time!
Call 985-448-4111
to reserve your place at the table.
What were your favorite Nicholls traditions? Write in and
tell us about the traditions that make you yearn for your days as
a student. We’ll feature responses in the next issue. Send to:
[email protected] or The Colonel, Office of Alumni
Affairs, P.O. Box 2158, Thibodaux, LA 70310.
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 3
(
Around Campus
)
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Around Campus
)
Technological outreach
impacts thousands
S
ocial-media applications and other technological outreach initiatives at Nicholls
expanded to include several thousand users in 2010 and early 2011, with more
users and at least one additional media service expected by mid-2011.
Current tools include:
• Facebook – facebook.com/nicholls.state.university and
facebook.com/nicholls.alumni.federation
• Twitter – twitter.com/nichollsstate
• YouTube – youtube.com/nichweb
• iPhone App – itunes.apple.com/us/app/nicholls/id374916929?mt=8
• University Website – nicholls.edu and nichollsalumni.org
University personnel also plan to launch an expert database and speakers
bureau on the Nicholls website in 2011. Members of the public will be able
to access the user-friendly interface at no charge.
“As the world becomes more and more dependent on technological outlets
such as these, it is imperative that institutions of higher education innovate
and expand their communication practices for the benefit of students, faculty,
staff, alumni, media personnel and the public at large,” Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert,
university president, said.
“Nicholls has always been committed to keeping its constituents informed
and engaged, and as technology improves and expands, we pledge to keep that
commitment.”
To learn more about Nicholls social media and other technological outreach
tools, go to nicholls.edu and scroll to the links at the bottom of the page.
Alumni Affairs welcomes Iver
R
ecent visitors to the alumni
house have noticed a new face
in the front office. Elizabeth
“Liz” C. Iver, a four-year Nicholls
employee whose most recent post was
in the Office of Continuing Education,
is the Office of Alumni Affairs’ newest
administrative assistant.
“Liz joins a tradition of
outstanding administrative assistants
in our office,” Deborah Raziano,
director of alumni affairs, said.
“Her positive attitude and upbeat
personality make her a pleasure to
interact with on a daily basis. We
are fortunate to have her as a part of
our staff.”
A resident of Thibodaux and
native of Montegut, La., Iver said
her primary goal is to provide a
cooperative, efficient and friendly
environment for all.
“I’m here to help, and if I don’t
4 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
have the answer for you, I will certainly
find it,” Iver said. “I truly feel blessed
to be a part of the Nicholls family, and
now the alumni family.”
Iver’s interests include cooking,
gardening and family. She has three
daughters and three grandchildren.
Callais recreation center construction under way
Nicholls became a tobacco-free campus Jan. 1, 2011, joining more than
360 other college and university campuses where tobacco use is prohibited.
Funding approved for new
culinary institute facility
I
D
ozens of campus and community leaders attended the ceremonial
groundbreaking of the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation
Center on Wednesday, Dec. 15, near the corner of Bowie Road and
Ardoyne Drive.
“This recreation project will do more to improve the quality of life for our
students since Nicholls built her first dormitories in 1963,” Michael Matherne,
director of campus recreation, said. “The facility will provide an excellent
opportunity for users to balance academics, work and play through a variety
of modern and technologically advanced activities.”
With completion expected in 2012, the center will include a cardiovascular
exercise room, a strength exercise room, two aerobic exercise rooms and two
intramural basketball and volleyball courts with a running track. The center
will also create approximately 50 student jobs and require three or four new
full-time employees.
Construction and operation of the new 63,000-square-foot facility will
be funded with student fees – measures that were previously approved via
student referenda.
For a live-cam shot of the construction site, updated every five seconds,
go to nicholls.edu/recreation/photos/.
n October 2010, the State Bond Commission approved $700,000 for the
planning and design of the new John Folse Culinary Institute facility on
the corner of Louisiana Highway 1 and Bowie Road, moving Nicholls one
step closer to breaking ground.
“After so many years of waiting, I could not have been more excited when
hearing of the decision,” Chef John Folse, the institute’s namesake and chairman
of the board of advisors, said. “With the rapid growth of enrollment in the
culinary program at Nicholls, the timing of this initiative could not have been
better. We are simply out of space.”
Chef Randy Cheramie, executive director of the institute, said the new
facility will “become the regional epicenter for culinary arts training, as well as
opportunities for teaching the wider community what we do, and who we are.”
The institute is currently housed in Gouaux Hall on the Nicholls campus,
with more than 300 students enrolled.
For additional information, go to nicholls.edu/culinary/.
Pictured from left are Dr. Sonya Premeaux, board chair of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce; state Rep. Joe Harrison of Napoleonville; Brittany Taraba,
president of the Nicholls Student Government Association; Corey Callais, son of Harold J. Callais; Gloria Callais, widow of Mr. Callais; C. Michael Callais,
son of Mr. Callais; Dr. Stephen Hulbert, university president; Charlotte Randolph, president of Lafourche Parish; Tommy Eschete, mayor of Thibodaux;
Eugene Gouaux Jr., chairman of the Nicholls Facilities Corporation; Dr. Eugene Dial, vice president for student affairs and enrollment services; Michael
Matherne, director of campus recreation; and state Sen. Norby Chabert of Houma.
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 5
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Around Campus
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(
Campus administrators say farewell
Naquin retires after 35 years
L
ionel O. Naquin Jr., former
vice president for finance and
administration at Nicholls,
retired effective Jan. 18, 2011.
“Lionel has served Nicholls for
35 years and is one of the most
experienced and highly respected
chief financial officers in Louisiana
public higher education,” Dr. Stephen
T. Hulbert, university president,
said in an e-mail to faculty and staff.
“The regard with which Nicholls
and Lionel Naquin are held in the
financial world was again recognized
this year when the university and its
$17 million Callais Recreation Center
project received an A- bond rating. In
light of the current financial hardship
facing Louisiana, such a high rating
is a remarkable testament to the
university’s stability and the reputation
of its financial management team.”
A native of Thibodaux and
an alumnus of Nicholls, Naquin
graduated magna cum laude in
business in 1968 and received his
Master of Business Administration
from Nicholls in 1972. He became a
certified public accountant in 1975.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree,
he landed a position at St. Joseph Hospital
in 1968 as an accountant and later as
assistant administrator. In 1976, Naquin
joined the Nicholls staff as an auditor and
became the controller in 1980. He was
promoted to vice president for finance
Falcon retires after 31 years
D
r. Carroll J. Falcon, a 43-year
veteran of higher education
with more than 31 years of
service at Nicholls State University,
retired effective Wednesday, June 30,
2010. Falcon served as provost and
vice president for academic affairs at
Nicholls since July 2004.
“Carroll’s commitment to higher
education is an inspiration to anyone
who ever had the privilege of serving
with him,” Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert,
university president, said. “The
Nicholls family is fortunate to have
benefited from his service for so long,
and we wish him and his family well
as they begin this new stage of life.”
A native of Rayne, La., Falcon
earned his bachelor’s degree in
animal science from the University
of Southwestern Louisiana, now the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
He then advanced to the University
of Kentucky where he earned his
master’s and doctoral degrees, also in
animal science.
Falcon joined the Nicholls
faculty in August 1967 as a professor
of animal science. He was soon
promoted to department head and
finally to dean of the College of Life
Sciences and Technology, a position
he held for 15 years.
In 1993, Falcon temporarily left
Around Campus
)
2010 Homecoming Royalty
and administration in 1986.
Naquin is married to the former
Sharon Metcalf and has a son, two
daughters, three stepdaughters, three
grandsons, one granddaughter and
seven step-grandchildren.
“Certainly my family and I will
always be a part of this university,”
Naquin said. “We have 13 degrees
from Nicholls within my immediate
family alone! I love this institution
and will miss all of my colleagues and
friends. We are so fortunate to have
been a part of the Nicholls family.”
Naquin’s position was filled by Mike
Naquin (B.S. ’78), former assistant vice Naquin
president for finance. The two are not
related.
Nicholls to accept a position with
the University of Louisiana System
as senior vice president and chief
academic officer. For three of his
11-year stint with the system office,
Falcon was acting system president
and board secretary. He returned to
Nicholls in 2004.
A member of numerous civic,
school and social organizations, Falcon
has served on the board of directors
of the Thibodaux Rotary Club, the
Lafourche Parish Fair Association and
Leadership Lafourche.
He resides in Thibodaux with his
wife, Deanna. They have two grown Falcon
children and three grandchildren.
2010 Homecoming King John Lombardo and
Queen Lacey Angeron.
Saturday, Sept. 25, Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president, crowned the 2010 Homecoming
Queen, Lacey Angeron, at half-time of the Homecoming football game. The Colonels defeated the
Warriors of Bacone College 44 to 28.
Bonin retires after 17 years
L
Join the
Nicholls State University
Alumni Federation
today!
For more information,
call 985.448.4111.
6 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
ouise “Do” Bonin, former
associate athletics director and
senior woman administrator
retired Dec. 17, 2010.
Bonin, a 17- year Nicholls employee,
also served as the women’s basketball
coach for 10 years.
Hired in 1994, Bonin said the
moment she set foot on the Nicholls
campus, she “felt at home.”
“Nicholls has been everything to
me. It was a good fit for me; it wasn’t
a win-at-all-cost place. It was do the
right thing, and let the winning take
care of itself,” Bonin said.
Three years into her coaching
tenure, Bonin accepted the role of
senior woman administrator and later
associate athletics director.
“Do was a powerful voice for
women’s athletics,” Robert Bernardi,
Nicholls athletics director, said.
“She was the first person to hold
the position of associate athletic
director, and she did so much in that
role to improve Nicholls athletics.”
Bonin
The 1971-72 nationally ranked men’s basketball team and coaching staff gathered on Saturday, Feb. 19 for a reunion. Pictured from left: Chuck Taylor
(’74), Jerry Sanders (’66 and ’69), Don Landry, Cleve Hill (’73 and ’79), Dale Menard (’72), Dick Hansen (’74) and Dr. Larry Ferachi (’74).
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 7
Colonel Strong
I
Alumni director on the job for 30 years
t’s hard to believe, but Deborah
“Raz” Raziano, the Nicholls
director of alumni affairs for
the past three decades, first came
to Nicholls as a student in 1969
against her will. As a recent high
school graduate, Raz wanted to
enroll at USL (now University of
Louisiana at Lafayette), but her
father wouldn’t allow his oldest
daughter to go to USL because the
university had recently been named
to Playboy Magazine’s infamous
Party School list. He insisted Raz
enroll at Nicholls with the promise
that she could transfer anywhere
she wanted after completing her
first year of college. “The rest is
history,” Raz says. “I fell in love
with Nicholls and never wanted
to leave.”
In December of 1973, Raz
earned a bachelor’s degree in
elementary education and soon
after accepted a job with her
sorority, Delta Zeta. During the sixyear stint with ∆Z, Raz racked-up a
lot of frequent flier miles traveling
around the country on official
sorority business. It was in January
of 1981 that Raz returned to the
Nicholls campus as the university’s
fifth director of alumni affairs.
LOOKING BACK
Although the top priority of the
alumni director remains the same
today as it was 30 years ago – to
foster and promote Nicholls State
University – the tools used to do
the job have changed significantly.
“We didn’t have computers. We kept
track of our alumni with alpha-sort
cards and typewriters,” Raz recalls. “I
remember how excited my secretary
and I got when a fancy typewriter we
ordered was delivered!”
Raz has seen a lot of change
during her tenure. In 1981 Nicholls
only had 12,468 graduates. Today,
that number has grown to over
36,000. “I have been fortunate
enough to see the biggest growth
in alumni in the history of the
university, simply by virtue of being
here this long,” she says.
She’s witnessed the physical
transformation of campus as well.
“The growth that I have seen on
this campus in my time has been
unbelievable. I was here for Millet,
Zeringue and Long halls when they
were at their finest, and I was here
when we knocked them down,” she
recalls.
As Raz reflects over the last 30
years, perhaps the thing she is most
proud of is how much the alumni
federation has helped the university.
“We’ve been able to give assistance to
every area of Nicholls – academic,
social and athletics,” she says.
NEVER SATISFIED
“I really love my job. No two days
are ever the same, and that energizes
me,” Raz says. “I truly enjoy meeting
new alums and spending time with
the older alumni and sharing stories
about being a Colonel.”
Several times a year, Raz takes
the alumni show on the road, visiting
alumni scattered throughout Texas
and Georgia. “I tell you what, that
feeling I get when I bring Nicholls to
our out-of-state alumni is awesome.
I always go to the campus bookstore,
and load up on Nicholls gear to bring
with me. When I can bring Nicholls
to them, they are so excited and
appreciative.”
Even though this hardworking
director has much to be proud of, she
says “I’m never satisfied. Everything
that we do, I want it to be bigger and
better. When the day comes that I
am satisfied with what we’re doing,
that’s the day for me to leave, because
I want to see us grow. I’d like to see
everything we do get bigger.”
CHANGING TIMES
Over the years, the self-described
traditionalist says she’s learned to
embrace change. “I’m a traditionalist
at heart, but with the help and
patience of my staff, I’ve made
changes, and we’ve become more
sophisticated at what we do. It’s not
always been easy along the way, but I
can say that for every step backwards,
we’ve taken 10 leaps forward.”
The Alumni Federation has
definitely evolved under Raz’s
leadership. She’s overseen the
implementation of a structured
membership program; addition of
annual events – crawfish boil and
awards for excellence; introduction
of the one ring program; and
development of the alumni website
and Facebook fan page.
Raz is quick to point out that
the changes weren’t done singlehandedly. “You can’t do this by
yourself – it takes the help of many,”
she says.
The Alumni Federation has
two paid staff members, Jessica
Harvey, assistant director, Liz Iver,
administrative assistant, and a bevy
of student workers and volunteers.
“Volunteers are the heart and soul
of the Alumni Federation. They are
an extension of the alumni staff, and
they are the ones that help infiltrate
the community. We couldn’t do what
we do without them.”
FAMILY TIES
Since 1981, Raz has commuted
to the Thibodaux campus from her
family home in Luling, La. “I enjoy
living in Luling. It’s good to be close
to my family, and the drive to and
from Thibodaux provides lots of good
thinking time.”
Raz’s closeness to her family
isn’t just logistical, it palpable. She
fills with tears as she talks about her
love for family. Raz is the oldest of
three siblings. Her brother Benny
and his wife Audrey also live in
Luling, and together they have a
daughter, Angela. Angela and her
husband, Jerad, recently gave Raz
her first great-nephew, Ty. “Another
beautiful baby for me to spoil,” she
says with a mischievous giggle.
Raz’s sister, Tasha, lives just a
short distance away in Gretna. She
and her husband, Daniel, have a
daughter, Emma whom Raz proudly
calls “the apple of my eye.”
Raz’s godchild, Ryne Chiasson,
recently enrolled as a freshman at
Nicholls. “I just think the world of
Ryne,” she gushes.
R a z’s p a re n t s , Be n n y a n d
Anna Mae (Himel) Raziano, are
deceased, but her eyes sparkle as
she fondly recalls spending time
with them at their family-owned
restaurant. “Right next to my
parents, that’s where I developed
my love for cooking,” she said. “My
parents are the ones that I owe all
my success to. They are the ones
that instilled in me a work ethic
and value system that I still hold
true to today.”
RAZ RECHARGES
Raz spends her time away from
Nicholls shopping, gardening,
cooking, traveling and enjoying time
with family and friends. “I have a
support system of friends and family
that put up with my foolishness and
put up with my complete dedication
to Nicholls,” she says.
Raz took-up gardening after her
father died in 2003. “He always had
a garden, and after he passed away, I
just had to have a garden. Maybe it
was the Italian blood in me, I don’t
know, but I wanted a garden too. I
still feel connected to him when I’m
in the garden,” she says.
Within the Colonel
community, Raz is known for
her lively, extroverted personality.
But people might be surprised to
know that she’s uncomfortable
in the spotlight. “I do not like
attention on me. I know I’m always
out in front, but it’s because I’m
representing the university or the
alumni – not representing myself.
I guess there’s a shy side to me, but
when I’m representing Nicholls, no
one sees it.”
A LOOK AHEAD
“I’d like to be able to look into
a crystal ball to see where Nicholls
will be in 10 years. I hope that it will
continue to grow and flourish as it
has over the past 30 years,” she says.
“After spending over 30 years of my
life at Nicholls, I can honestly say,
I’ve loved my time here.”
“I’ve been through some times
that were difficult, but I survived. I
want to stay as long as I have energy
and enthusiasm. I don’t know if it’s
possible to love this university more
than I do.”
QUICK QUOTES
“Raz never meets a stranger and
goes the extra mile to help students,
visitors, faculty and staff no matter
what problems they are facing.
Raz represents the university with
great pride and spirit.”
Liz Iver, administrative assistant,
Office of Alumni Affairs
“Raz is fun to work with. She is
relaxed but on top of things, and
has more energy than most people
I know.”
Jessica Harvey, assistant director,
Office of Alumni Affairs
“Raz lives for Nicholls – bleeds red
and gray! If one were to look up
the definition of a Colonel fan, they
would find the name ‘Raz’ listed
first.”
Mike Davis, assistant vice
president for facilities and
former 1970s classmate of Raz
“I remember Raz best as a student
in the dormitory. She was the
housemother’s favorite because
she knew everyone and everything.
Raz is vivacious, has an outgoing
personality, and is entirely dedicated
to Nicholls.”
Dr. Bonnie Bourg, former vice
president for student affairs
“Raz does her best to promote
Nicholls within the community and
to build a coalition of support for
the many key issues facing the
university.”
Glenn Chance Jr.
President of the
Alumni Federation
“Raz exudes enthusiasm, projects
confidence, promotes Nicholls
continuously and makes others feel
good about themselves.”
Dr. Ridley Gros Jr.
former vice president for
institutional development
8 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 9
Awards for Excellence recognizes diverse group
T
h e A l u m n i Fe d e r a t i o n
honored those who have
contributed the most to
the university and the federation
at its annual Awards for Excellence
reception, Sunday, March 20.
T h e J a m e s Ly n n Po w e l l
Award, the highest honor awarded
to an alumnus or alumna, was
presented to Tim Emerson, senior
vice president of Morgan Stanley
Smith Barney in Houma. A wealth
management specialist with several
professional certifications, Emerson
is a member of the Terrebonne
Chamber of Commerce, South
Central Industrial Association,
Nicholls State University
Foundation, Nicholls Alumni
Fe d e r a t i o n a n d C o l l e g e o f
Business Administration Alumni
Association. He also serves on the
United Way board and is a member
and past president of Kiwanis of
Houma. Emerson graduated magna
cum laude from the College of
Business Administration in 1990
with a bachelor’s degree in finance.
“Nicholls means a great deal to
me, so I am very humbled to receive
this award, particularly when I look
at the names of the past recipients
and the economic contributions
they made to this state,” Emerson
said. “It is truly an honor.”
The Marie Fletcher
Distinguished Service Award, the
only Alumni Federation honor
that carries with it a cash stipend,
was presented to Dr. John Doucet,
distinguished service professor,
head of the Department of
Biological Sciences and director
of the University Honors Program.
A n a c c o m p l i s h e d re s e a rc h e r,
administrator and educator, Doucet
became Louisiana’s first certified
public health geneticist in 2010.
His distinct contributions to
academia include more than 150
extramural presentations, letters
and workshops and more than 50
full-length publications, including
stage plays and history books.
Doucet’s grant-writing skills have
secured more than $1 million in
competitive research grants, and
Emerson
Doucet
Callais
Clement
Hebert
Schexnayder
he is a three-time chairman of the
board for Leadership Lafourche Inc.
“I am truly honored by this
award,” Doucet said. “Praise,
however, should be less for me and
more for the Alumni Federation.
By supporting this service award,
the Alumni Federation reminds the
public that professorship doesn’t
end when teaching hours are over,
a fact more important than ever in
this day and age when the true value
of higher education is forgotten in
light of dramatic budget cuts to
universities.”
The Harvey Peltier Award, the
highest award presented to a nongraduate of Nicholls, was awarded
Bonin
Hunter
to Gloria Callais, wife of the late
Harold J. Callais, a Louisiana Nicholls supporter. Mrs. Callais Harold J. Callais Endowed Chair
Board of Regents member and and her family established the at Nicholls to memorialize her
10 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
husband, along with three endowed
scholarships. The gift was the
largest gift to Nicholls or the
Nicholls Foundation up to that
time. Callais and her family also
support Bite of the Arts, the John
Folse Culinary Institute’s largest
annual fundraising effort.
“I was both honored and
humbled to receive this fine
award,” said Callais, whose sons
accepted the award on her behalf,
as she was out of state. “My late
husband thought Nicholls was a
wonderful university, and I learned
so much about it through him.
I love Nicholls as well, and I
consider this award a prestigious
acknowledgement.”
Tw o h o n o r e e s r e c e i v e d
the Ramon J. Labat Award –
presented to former or current
civil service employees who have
shown exceptional professionalism.
Recipients are Chris Clement,
facility assistant maintenance
manager B, and Jenny Schexnayder,
administrative assistant 4 for the
Office of Institutional Advancement.
Honorary alumni this year are
Louise “Do” Bonin, former senior
woman administrator for athletics
and former head women’s basketball
coach, and Jim Hunter, head tennis
coach for men and women.
A final award, the Corporate
Mark of Honor, was presented to
the Stephanie Hebert Insurance
Agency Inc., an Allstate business
based in Houma, for Hebert’s
consistent support of Nicholls
activities and functions, including
w o m e n’s a t h l e t i c s a n d t h e
Sponsor A+ Scholar Wine and
Food Extravaganza. Hebert also
established an endowed scholarship
for students with dyslexia.
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TODAY
Outstanding alumni of 2010 honored
T
he Outstanding Alumni
award honors a Nicholls
graduate from each college
who excels in his or her chosen field.
These alums’ successes illuminate
their own endeavors and reflect
positively on their alma mater.
The College of Arts and
Sciences announced Jonathan
Foret (B.A. ’01) as its Outstanding
Alumnus as a result of his postgraduation humanitarian efforts
with the Peace Corps and his
service as executive director for the
Terrebonne Historical and Cultural
Society and as development director
for the South Louisiana Wetlands
Discovery Center.
Tim Emerson (B.S. ’90), senior
vice president of Morgan Stanley
Smith Barney, was chosen as the
College of Business Administration’s
Outstanding Alumnus as a result of
his community involvement and
support of Nicholls.
Outstanding Alumna
Kristin Johnson (B.A. ’98, SSP
’01) represents the College of
Education. Johnson completed a
school psychology specialist degree
and won an internship with the
Louisiana Psychology Internship
Consortium. After completing a
Monroe-Meyer doctoral internship,
Johnson joined the faculty of
Mi s s i s s i p p i St a t e Un i v e r s i t y
where she trains future school
psychologists.
After graduation, Rachel Main
(B.S. ’02), the Outstanding Alumna
for the John Folse Culinary Institute,
worked as an executive chef for a
private school in Santa Barbara while
also placing chefs in private area
homes. Main next took on the role
of executive chef for the owners of
the University of Phoenix.
Ma r t i n a Mu s m e c i Sa l l e s
(B.S. ’00), a registered dietitian
and licensed nutritionist, is the
College of Nursing and Allied
Health’s Outstanding Alumna. She
consulted as a nutrition expert,
served as a speaker for businesses,
professional organizations and
local clubs and has been cited
as an expert dietitian in several
newspapers and publications.
The Outstanding Alumna for
University College, Amy Ponvelle
Hebert (BGS ’00, M.Ed. ’08),
serves as assistant director of the
Academic Advising Center at
Nicholls. After developing and
facilitating workshops on an array
of topics, she is known on campus
as one of the go-to people when
someone has an advising or student
progression question.
Foret
Emerson
Johnson
Main
Salles
Hebert
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 11
(
C o l o n e l Pri d e
)
(
14 former student athletes
return to alma mater
Gisclair
“C
olonel Pride.” You’ll
see that motto
printed all around
the Nicholls athletic department.
It’s on signs hanging in the locker
rooms. You can find it on T-shirts,
posters and banners.
But, it’s not just a slogan. For
more and more former studentathletes, Colonel Pride is something
more tangible. It’s about embracing
the underdog status and outworking
the competition. Now more than
ever, it’s bringing them back to
the Nicholls campus to join the
coaching and administrative ranks
after their playing careers are over.
A total of 14 former Colonels
currently pepper the department,
with duties ranging from head
coach to volunteer assistant and
from marketing to strength and
conditioning.
“When I first arrived, we didn’t
have any (former student-athletes)
working here,” Rob Bernardi, 10thyear athletics director, remembers.
“It speaks well for the department
and our coaches that these athletes
enjoyed their time at Nicholls so
much that they want to continue
here. It demonstrates that their
experience was a positive one.”
For Dustin Gisclair (B.A.
’ 0 7 ) , a Cu t O f f n a t i v e a n d
standout linebacker on the
Colonels’ Southland Conference
championship football team in
2005, the offer
to return as a
defensive line
coach was too
good to pass
up. “I was 23
years old when
I took the job,” Gisclair
explained Gisclair. “Growing up
and hearing about Nicholls and
then to be able to come here as a
player was a dream come true. The
chance to be one of the youngest
position coaches in the country was
great. But to go back to my alma
mater that I love is more than I can
put into words.”
When men’s basketball guard
Mike Czepil’s (B.S. ’10) career was
cut short by injuries, head coach J.P.
Piper approached him about staying
on as an assistant coach. “It was a
no-brainer,” Czepil said. “When
I first got here, I was studying
medicine. Coach Piper said he
didn’t know why. He told me then
that I was going to coach. We
have very similar views on a lot of
things - basketball and life. I had an
understanding of what he wanted as
player and coach. We’ve been on the
same page from day one.”
Cze p i l n ow f i n d s h i m s e l f
among the rare coaches mentoring
their former teammates.
“ My b i g g e s t c o n c e r n w a s
coaching my friends, but the guys
have been good about it,” said
Czepil. “We had respect for each
other when I played. Nothing
has changed in that regard. I only
played 50 games in four years. What
drives me now is trying to be a part
of something that I couldn’t do as
a player. For me, it’s unfinished
business.”
Women’s soccer assistant coach
Kristen Fillmore (B.A. ’07, M.Ed.
’10) made an immediate impact
upon her arrival as a student-
12 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
athlete at Nicholls. The defender
was named to the all-conference
list as a freshman, but, like Czepil,
knee injuries hampered her for the
remainder of her playing days. “I
always loved the small, country
town feel here,” said Fillmore. “It
reminds me of home (Waco, Texas).
There’s a sense of community; a
sense of ownership. Nicholls is so
friendly, so open and the people
are so welcoming. You want to
represent not only Nicholls, but
Thibodaux, too.”
Fi l l m o re j u m p e d a t t h e
opportunity to stay with the team
and help recruit players who share
her passion for Nicholls. “I still
want to be part of a program that
can be successful. It’s going to
happen. It’s just a matter of how
quickly. It’s important that we find
those players who understand what
Nicholls is all about.”
C z e p i l ’s
f o r m e r
backcourt
m a t e , Justin
Pa y n e ( B . S .
’09), is hard
at work on
the other side Payne
of Stopher
Gym as a member of the women’s
basketball coaching staff. “When I
was a senior, Coach Piper asked me
to write down my long-term goals,”
said Payne. “I did it weekly and
every time, I found myself writing
down ‘teaching’ and ‘coaching.’ I
come from a family of coaches and
teachers. Once my career on the
court was over, it was the people
here that made me want to return.
I love the Nicholls community.
They’ve treated me so well from my
first day on campus.”
Rudy Darrow (B.S. ’06), a
former Colonels pitcher, saw his
professional career come to an end
recently after four seasons with the
Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves.
But his continued involvement
with the Colonels program, even
after his collegiate days ended,
facilitated his return this year as a
volunteer assistant. “I’ve come back
each off-season to work out with
the program,” explained Darrow.
“I’ve always wanted to coach, and
to be able to do it here is more than
I could have hoped for. Outside of
your parents, coaches are among the
few people who make a real impact.”
Former softball infielder Brandi
Hahn (B.S. ’06) was working in the
cosmetics industry last year when
one of her frequent return visits
to campus opened the door for a
new opportunity. “I liked to stop
by Barker Hall when I could to
catch up with old friends,” Hahn
said. “Rob (Bernardi) mentioned a
partnership between KP Sports (the
Colonels’ new multi-media rights
holder) and Nicholls and said they’d
be looking for a corporate sales
See Athletes, page 13
Colonel PRide
)
Record-setting season for
men’s basketball
D
espite injuries, illnesses,
a tough non-conference
schedule and the tightest
conference race in the country, the
2010-11 men’s basketball team had
a watershed season. The Colonels
tied a school record by earning their
third consecutive postseason trip,
racked up historic wins, and turned
heads in the national basketball
community by producing one of
the top ten scorers in the nation.
After qualifying for consecutive
conference tournaments in 2009 and
2010 and welcoming back senior
forward Anatoly Bose, who finished
ranked 16th in the nation with a
21.1 point/game scoring average as
a junior in 2009-10, the Colonels
began the season picked first in the
Southland Conference East Division
in the preseason head coaches’ poll.
The Colonels opened the season
with a heartbreaking one-point loss
in overtime to 2009-10 Conference
USA champion and NCAA
Tournament qualifier Houston, but
the Colonels rebounded with one of
the biggest wins in program history.
On Nov. 16, 2010, LSU’s streak
of 82 consecutive home court wins
over Louisiana schools finally came
to an end thanks to a 62-53 decision
in favor of the Colonels. It marked
the first time in 17 matchups
that Nicholls prevailed against
LSU. However, the Colonels
had a few more tricks up their
sleeve. After a loss to perennial
national power Oklahoma State, the
Colonels turned in another shocker
as Nicholls welcomed Tulane into
Stopher Gym for the Colonels
2010-11 home court opener. The
Black Friday duel marked the first
time in 19 years that the Green
Wave ventured into Thibodaux.
With a perfect 18-0 mark against
the Colonels heading into the game,
Tulane was feeling confident, but
the Colonels defended their homecourt with a convincing 66-52
victory over the Green Wave.
As Southland Conference play
began to heat up, the Colonels
found themselves in the middle of
the closest conference race in the
nation. With two weeks left in
the regular season, the
top ten teams in the
12-team league were
separated by just 2.0
games.
Nicholls quest to
advance to the 2011
Southland Conference
Tournament was made
even tougher on Feb.
8 when Nicholls lost
junior guard/forward
Fr e d Hu n t e r t o a
season-ending knee
injury. Hunter’s injury
contributed to a threegame losing streak late
in the season, but the
Colonels survived and
advanced to the SLC
tournament only to
match up against regular season
champion and No. 1 seed McNeese
State. After falling 16 points behind
in the second half, the Colonels
mounted a furious comeback,
rallying to within two points with
two minutes left, but the Cowboys
held on for the win to eliminate
the Colonels.
With one of the most successful
seasons in school history now in
the books, the Colonels now turn
their attention to reloading for
next season. If the 2010-11 season
proved anything, it’s that Nicholls
knows how to comeback.
affinity for Nicholls.”
Hahn is absorbing some of the
duties of Brandon Ruttley (B.S.
’05) a former point guard for the
basketball team, who now serves as
the Colonels’ associate director of
marketing and development and
executive director of the Colonel
Athletic Association.
Another former student-athlete
who left campus, only to return at
the first chance, Ruttley was forging a
successful career in medical sales and
serving as a volunteer on the CAA
board of directors when a position
on campus opened. “I can honestly
say I do not know where I would
be without having the opportunity
to have played sports here,” Ruttley
said. “I know I would not have
gotten my degree and I would
have most certainly not met my
beautiful wife, Georgia, who is from
Thibodaux. It brings me tremendous
pleasure being back on campus. I am
indebted to the university and I plan
on paying it back ten-fold.” Meanwhile, a former teammate
of Hahn’s, Kat Harrell (B.S. ’08),
serves as a graduate assistant under
former Nicholls fullback Brian
Thomas (B.S. ’03), who manages the
Colonels’ strength and conditioning
program. “Who wouldn’t want to
come back here?” asked Thomas,
who worked at rival Southeastern
Louisiana before returning home.
“We have so many young coaches
who understand what it means to
be a Colonel. It creates such a high
level of enthusiasm.”
Bernardi has watched the
evolution and growth of “Colonel
Pride” and is thrilled to see it
being instilled from one generation
of Nicholls student-athletes to
the next. “Personally, it’s really
rewarding to see them come in as
freshmen and now to have them
providing guidance and a real
positive influence. They were all
team leaders in their time. I feel
great that our future is in their
hands,” Bernardi said.
Bose
Athletes, from page 12
representative. I felt so fortunate
when I landed the job. It honestly
feels like I’m back home.”
Hahn, like many other former
and current student-athletes, credits
Nicholls’ unique environment with
creating a bond with the school.
“What I loved about Nicholls
was that I wasn’t just a number,”
Hahn said. “I was a person. You
could always walk into the athletic
department and it felt like family
instead of a business entity like
other schools. With my past in
sales, I learned quickly that you
have to have a passion for what
you’re selling. It’s very much a
benefit that I have such a strong
Payne
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 13
*
C o l o n e l N otes *
1950s
Richard “Dickie” Barker
(DIP ’55) received the President’s
Award from the South Central
Industrial Association for 2010.
This award is presented to someone
from Terrebonne, Lafourche or St.
Mary parish who has excelled in
business and community service.
Luke Ford Jr. (DIP ’54,
B.A. ’63) was inducted into the
E.D. White Catholic High School
Hall of Fame in December 2010.
This honor is bestowed upon
those individuals who display
outstanding Christian values at
work, at home and in their local
and religious communities.
1960s
Stella Falgout Lasseigne
(B.A. ’68, M.Ed. ’80) was reelected to the Lafourche School
Board District 5 seat in October
2010.
1970s
D o n a l d o Bat i s t e ( B . A .
’75) was presented the “Those
Who Excel” award given by the
Illinois State Board of Education
for, among other things, nearly
quadrupling the rate of schools
meeting their annual growth
goals under his supervision as
superintendent in Waukegan.
Dennis Jean Chiasson (B.S.
’74) continues to hold the title
of longest-serving member of the
Lafourche School Board with
his re-election to a sixth term in
October 2010. Chiasson represents
District 10.
Steven “Rock” Ruiz (B.S.
’76) works to help individuals and
small businesses develop long-term
security and growth strategies
through Rock Ruiz Insurance
& Retirement Services, LLC.
He served for eleven years on
Louisiana’s Insurance Rating
Commission after receiving a
gubernatorial appointment in
1996.
Ken Wells (B.A. ’72) released
“Rascal: A Dog and His Boy,” his
first juvenile novel in September chief financial officer, assistant vice
2010.
president for budget and finance
and comptroller for the LSU
1980s
System. She previously held the
Peggy Melancon Clement position of associate commissioner
(B.A.’80) attended a book signing for finance and administration for
at Cherry Books in Thibodaux for the Louisiana Board of Regents.
her new children’s book, “Queen
of the Castle,” in October 2010.
2000s
Gloria Mendez Navarro
Greg Beyer (MBA ’04), a
(MBA ’81) became Business First senior manager of Beyer, Stagni
Bank’s newest senior loan officer & Co. CPAs, now serves on the
in August 2010. She worked as a LCPA’s Young CPA Board as a
senior commercial lender for over member at large. He represents
20 years prior to her appointment the association’s South Central
with Business First Bank.
Chapter.
Ann Bouvier Sanamo (B.A.
Kimberly Billiot (B.S. ’08)
’87) was elected to the Lafourche owns Fitness for Life Studio,
School Board District 12 seat in an atypical gym that helps its
October 2010.
clients, many of whom are middleaged and have medical problems,
1990s
become healthy enough to wean
Dawn Autin Dupre (B.S. ’93) off of their medications.
was appointed president of CCO
Jennifer Boquet (B.A. ’00),
Investment Services Corp., Citizens previously a reporter and copy
Financial Group Inc.’s full-service editor at The Daily Iberian in New
brokerage and investment advisor Iberia, and before that a copy editor
unit. Dupre has 17 years of at The Citrus County Chronicle
experience in financial services.
in Crystal River, Fl, has joined
Graham Douglas (M.Ed. The Times-Picayune’s River Parish
’98) is the Terrebonne High School bureau. She will cover education,
principal and a senior deacon at courts and housing authority in
New Rising Sun Baptist Church. St. Charles and St. John the Baptist
He has two children.
parishes.
Benjamin Hymel (B.S. ’99,
Mark Carrier (B.S. ’04) was
MBA ’01) was named city president inducted into the 2010 Class of
and commercial loan officer at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
MidSouth Bank in Houma.
Carrier earned All-American status
Bryce Ledet (B.S. ’97), owner as a Nicholls wide receiver, then
of a CPA firm in Thibodaux, was began a twelve-year career in the
named 2010-2011 president of the NFL. He enjoys spending time
Society of Louisiana CPAs’ South with his wife, children and family.
Central chapter.
Kimberly Fanguy (BSN ’06)
Angela Simmons Pitre (B.A. was named the 5 north clinical
’95, M.A. ’01) is the director of coordinator at Terrebonne General
counseling and advising at Fletcher Medical Center. She has been
Technical Community College; she employed at TGMC for four years.
has held this position since 2008.
Beau Leonard (BSN ’08), a
Dodie Rogers Plaisance critical care unit nurse at Houma’s
(B.A. ’92), in 2008, was named Terrebonne General Medical
principal of Westwego’s Myrtle C. Center, was recognized with the
Thibodeaux Elementary School, Daisy Award for Extraordinary
the school she attended as a child. Nurses in December 2010. Fighting
Wendy Cicet Simoneaux diseases of the immune system is
(B.S. ’93, MBA ’94) was named the Daisy Foundation’s goal, but
14 | The COLONEL Spring 2011
*
it also recognizes the sometimes
overlooked nurses who handle
the day-to-day care at hospitals
nationwide.
Nicholas Matherne (BGS
’06) has been hired by Terrebonne
Parish as head of its coastal
management office. Matherne
previously held the same position
in Lafourche Parish.
James Miller (B.S. ’04) was
named dean of students at East
Central Community College in
Mississippi.
Steven Oubre (B.S. ’04), a
professional chef who has served
as both a restaurant and personal
chef, began teaching two cooking
classes called ProStart 1 and 2 at
Woodlawn High School in August
2010. This is the first time a
professional chef has taught these
courses.
Jennifer Pensoneau (A.S.
’02, B.S. ’03) has J Fires’ Market
Bistro in Waterloo, Mo. It was
named to St. Louis Magazine’s A
List as the “Best Reason to Cross
the River.” The Bistro only serves
what Pensoneau can make without
preservatives and additives.
Jeremy Perque (B.A. ’03)
married Lindsay Barocco in
July 2010. Both of her parents
graduated from Nicholls; her
father, Manny Barocco, played
baseball for Nicholls in the ’70s,
and her mother, Linda Marcel
Leblanc, who passed away in
2000, was a ’70s graduate as well.
2010s
Lauren Arcement (B.S. ’10)
and her teammates at Destrehan
High School in Destrehan won
the USA Rice Federation’s annual
Healthy Bowls Contest for school
foodservice. They created a “BuildA-Bowl” rice bar featuring the
sweet and spicy chicken bowl, the
Thai curry bowl and the California
sushi rice bowl.
Samantha Barnes (B.A. ’10),
a graphic designer, has been added
to Mudbug Media’s graphic design
team. She creates custom websites
and designs online and for print
advertisements.
Capt. Cortrell Davis (A.S.
’10), who began working for the
Lafourche Parish Jail twelve years
ago, was appointed warden in
November 2010. Davis plans
to offer his staff more training
opportunities and implement
programs that aim to keep inmates
motivated to stay out of trouble.
Elise Hotard (B.A. ’10), a
graphic designer, has been added
t o Mu d b u g Me d i a’s g r a p h i c
design team. She designs custom
websites as well as online and print
advertising projects.
Antonio Robinson (BGS
’10) signed an undrafted free-agent
contract with the Chicago Bears
following the NFL draft in April
2010.
Nicole Russo (B.S. ’10) will
open her own restaurant this spring
at 163 Verret St., in Houma, a
former downtown home currently
being converted into Coley’s Café.
As a teenager Nicole and her twin
sister, Ashley opened their own
shoe store called Sorelle’s.
C o l o n e l N otes
*
Leave a legacy and pave the way for students at
with a commemorative brick in
the campus quadrangle.
In Memoriam
Susan Olivia Diket, B.S. ’74, of
Las Vegas, on July 3 at age 58.
Anne Carol Theriot Watson
of Elizabeth City, N.C., B.S. ’75, on
July 16 at age 57.
K e l ly G ro s Au t h e m e n t
McCarthy, B.A. ’87, of Naples, Fla.,
a graphic designer, on Aug. 1 at age 45.
John F. Hoffmann of Thibodaux,
member of the first junior college
graduating class of 1950, at age 80
in Houma on Aug. 16. The retired
campus engineer was well known as
“Uncle Noon,” the Cajun storyteller.
Gene “Luke” Simmons of
Houma, B.S. ’66, Hall of Famer
for basketball and baseball and a
teacher-coach for 35 years, on Sept.
8 at age 68.
Dr. Gina Macdonald, professor
of English, on Sept. 10 in New
Orleans at age 65; she taught from fall
2000 until illness required a sabbatical
leave.
Edith Peterson Taylor, 82, of
Spring, Texas, on Oct. 1. She was a
Nicholls librarian from 1984 to 1994.
Vernon E. Toups Jr., B.S. ’63, of
Thibodaux, a past president of Acadia
Dairy, on Oct. 1 at age 68.
Cedric Marie, B.S. ’99, M.S.
’01, a seven-foot member of the
1997-98 Southland championship
basketball squad, on Oct. 6 at age 36
in Paris, France.
Melissa Anne Foret, B.S. ’91, of
Raceland, an employee of Shamrock
For more information, call (985) 448-4134.
Management Inc., on Oct. 13 at
age 41.
David C. Gaudet, B.S. ’75
magna cum laude, M.B.A. ’84, of
Destrehan on Oct. 25 at age 57; he
was an analyst with Shell Norco/
Motiva where he was employed for
31 years.
Harry F. Hellier Jr., B.A. ’69,
of Houma at age 66 on Oct. 29; he
was a schoolteacher from 1969 to
2001 when he retired from Ellender
Memorial High School.
Dr. Sidney D. Thibodeaux, 71,
of Dutchtown, retired member of the
agriculture faculty, on Nov. 28.
Hubert J. Baudoin Jr., B.S. ’59,
of Lockport on Dec. 1 at age 73; his
careers included Sealtest Ice Cream,
Breaux Petroleum and Southern
Guard Service.
Helen Naquin Hodnett, B.A.
’60, of Thibodaux on Dec. 2 at age 89;
she was a retired schoolteacher.
Gwenette Zeringue Ledet,
B.A. ’93, of Houma, an Oakshire
Elementary schoolteacher, on Dec.
5 at age 59.
Dale R. Hester, 91, who taught
mathematics from fall 1966 to spring
1988, on Dec. 19 in Thibodaux. A
World War II Navy pilot, he flew
more than 100 missions from carriers
in the Pacific.
Genevieve Smith, M.Ed. ’68,
of Houma, a longtime educator who
helped racially integrate Terrebonne
school buses bound for Nicholls, on
Dec. 27 at age 77.
Frances Hawkinson, B.A. ’69, a
schoolteacher for 30 years, on Jan. 2
at age 63 in Vicksburg, Miss.
David Simpson Smith, B.S.
’81, of Lafayette, who worked for
companies in Houston and Lafayette,
on Jan. 22 at age 52.
Benjamin Cortez of Thibodaux,
student union custodian since Dec.
30, 2009, on Jan. 31 at age 40.
J o s e p h “ J o e y” S u i t t o f
Thibodaux, B.A. ’05, University police
sergeant since August 2006, on Feb.
5 at age 30.
Darnell Marie Foret Fazende,
B.G.S. ’91, of Baton Rouge, a jewelry
design company office manager, on
Feb. 14 at age 42.
Manuel Joseph Rodrigue of
Vacherie, a University police officer
from 1990 until his 2007 retirement,
on Feb. 16 at age 61.
Bet t y Ann Hebert of
Thibodaux, secretary in Student Life
for many years between Oct. 1966
and Feb. 1997, on Feb. 26 at age 73.
Audrey Bergeron Krieg of
Thibodaux, a Nicholls staff member
from Aug. 1977 to Feb. 2000 and best
known as a housemother in Ellender
Hall, on March 2 at age 79.
Dr. Alton F. Doody Jr., dean of
the John Folse Culinary Institute from
Oct. 2007 to May 2010, at age 76 on
March 2 in Columbus, Ohio.
Hey, Colonels fans! Looking
for the latest in Colonels
gear? Be sure to check out
the Nicholls merchandise at
these local retailers.
Thibodaux
Birdsall
CVS
Johnny’s Men’s Shop
Mary’s Embroidery
Nicholls Bookstore
Rouses
Sidney George Jewelers
Three Stitches
Tiger T’s
Walgreens
Wal-Mart
Houma
Academy Sports
Bed Bath & Beyond
Sports Avenue
Slidell
Sports Avenue
Online
nichollsgear.com
southerndesigns.net
uniquelymine.com
yahoosports.teamfanshop.com
The COLONEL Spring 2011 | 15
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