2000-4 Winter - Northwestern State University Alumni
2000-4 Winter - Northwestern State University Alumni
2000-4 Winter - Northwestern State University Alumni
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<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Louisiana<br />
A LUMNI<br />
COLUMNS<br />
Magazine <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong><br />
Homecoming <strong>2000</strong><br />
October 19-21
Dr. Randall J. Webb, President<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Dear <strong>Alumni</strong>:<br />
When speaking to alumni or civic groups, I am often fond<br />
of saying “Good things are happening at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.”<br />
And as we approach the holiday season, there are more<br />
positive achievements to share with you.<br />
Enrollment is at an all-time high this semester as 9,292 students signed<br />
up for classes at <strong>Northwestern</strong>. The university enrolled 1,855 first-time freshmen,<br />
the largest number since NSU began breaking down freshman enrollment<br />
in 1985. The average ACT score of first-time freshman improved to 20.33<br />
from 20.02, above the state average of 19.6. <strong>Northwestern</strong> also increased the<br />
number of high school valedictorians and salutatorians enrolling by 18 percent.<br />
Those figures show that we are attracting better students. That is a<br />
good sign for the university’s future.<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> is also continuing to take a leadership role in the electronic<br />
delivery of courses. This fall, 75 courses were offered electronically via the<br />
Internet, compressed video or desktop video.<br />
We will take our offerings to a new level in the spring with the unveiling of<br />
eNSU. Through eNSU, students will be able to access all available services<br />
through the Internet. They will be able to register, pay fees, buy books and<br />
take classes without leaving home. Six degree programs will be available completely<br />
online.<br />
The university has been aggressive in this area because we realize there<br />
are many people who want to take classes but cannot take classes in a traditional<br />
way because of work or family obligations. And if NSU does not offer<br />
these classes, other institutions will fill the need.<br />
Thank you for your continuing interest and support of <strong>Northwestern</strong>. I<br />
wish you and your families the happiest of holiday seasons and my best wishes<br />
for the New Year.<br />
Chris Maggio, Director<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Affairs<br />
Fellow <strong>Northwestern</strong> Graduates and Friends:<br />
I would like to take this time to wish each of you the<br />
happiest holiday season. Most of you remember the<br />
beauty of Natchitoches and <strong>Northwestern</strong> during December<br />
as the Christmas Festival weekend ushered in<br />
the holiday season. It is nice to know that a few things remain constant, and<br />
this Natchitoches tradition carries on today.<br />
I would like to reflect a moment on homecoming weekend, held in late October.<br />
It was a pleasure to see so many <strong>Northwestern</strong> alumni return “home” to<br />
rekindle old friendships and refresh memories of their days spent in college.<br />
Furthermore, it was a joy to honor so many alumni for their lifelong service<br />
and achievements. The homecoming banquet and induction ceremonies<br />
in the various colleges brought recognition to so many deserving alumni and<br />
a tremendous amount of pride to our university. The weekend was capped off<br />
by a thrilling football victory in front of more than 14,000 enthusiastic fans.<br />
It will be a homecoming that I will always remember.<br />
On another note, it is with pride that we announce that the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association<br />
has partnered with z<strong>University</strong>.com to bring you our first on-line<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Center – a fully integrated Web site that any true NSU alumnus can<br />
proudly call home. More on zNSUdemons.com can be found in this edition.<br />
I invite you to register at zNSUdemons.com today and start reliving the<br />
great memories.<br />
See you online!<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns<br />
Official Publication of <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Natchitoches, Louisiana<br />
Organized in 1884<br />
A member of CASE<br />
Volume XII Number 4 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong><br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Columns (USPS 015480) is published<br />
4 times a year by <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong>,<br />
Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71497-0002 Periodicals<br />
Postage Paid at Natchitoches, La, and at<br />
additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send<br />
address changes to the <strong>Alumni</strong> Columns<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Natchitoches, La,<br />
71497-0002.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Office Phone: 318-357-4414<br />
and 888-799-6486<br />
FAX: 318-357-4225<br />
Email: nsualumni@northwesternalumni.com<br />
NSU ALUMNI OFFICERS<br />
President.........Ginger Wiggins<br />
Jackson, Miss. 1986<br />
Vice President.......Dr. B.L. Shaw<br />
Shreveport, 1955,1960<br />
Secretary-Treasurer.........Chris Maggio<br />
Natchitoches, 1985<br />
Executive Director............Chris Maggio<br />
Natchitoches, 1985<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
Tommy Chester.....................Arcadia, 1969<br />
Glenn Talbert..................Shreveport, 1964<br />
Carroll Long....................Tyler, Texas 1970<br />
Dale Bernard...............Lake Charles, 1972<br />
David Morgan...............Austin, Texas 1973<br />
Bryant Lewis.................Haynesville, 1958<br />
Adrian Howard......Arlington, Texas 1989<br />
Leah Sherman..............Dallas, Texas 1986<br />
John Ramsey................New Orleans, 1986<br />
Joe Cunningham, Jr. ...Natchitoches, 1984<br />
Leonard Endris......Shreveport, 1974, 1975<br />
Jimmy Williams.................Winnfield, 1993<br />
Leonard Endris.......Shreveport, 1974,1975<br />
Ginger Wiggins..........Jackson, Miss., 1986<br />
K. Michael Sawrie...........Alexandria, 1972<br />
Gail Jones...................Natchez, 1981, 1998<br />
Dr. B.L. Shaw.........Shreveport, 1955, 1960<br />
Carlos Jones...........................Ruston, 1995<br />
F.Allen Horton Jr....New Iberia, 1957,1962<br />
Jerry Brungart....Natchitoches, 1969, 1971<br />
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE<br />
David Gunn..........Slidell<br />
SGA President<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Columns is published in<br />
spring, summer, fall and winter.<br />
STAFF<br />
Publisher<br />
Chris Maggio<br />
Editor<br />
Leigh Flynn<br />
Writers<br />
Adrienne Acosta<br />
Doug Ireland<br />
David West<br />
Photography<br />
Gary Hardamon<br />
Cover Design<br />
Steve Evans<br />
Design/Layout/Art Direction<br />
NSU<br />
PRESS PM001003<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> is accredited by the Commission<br />
on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and<br />
Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097:<br />
Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award Associate, Baccalaureate,<br />
Master’s, Specialist and Doctorate degrees.<br />
It is the policy of <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Louisiana<br />
not to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion,<br />
sex, national origin, age, or disability in its educational programs,<br />
activities or employment practices as required by Title<br />
VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination<br />
in Employment Act of 1967, the Equal Pay Act<br />
of 1963, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Executive<br />
Order 11246, Sections 503 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation<br />
Act of 1973 and Section 402 of the Vietnam Era<br />
Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974.
Znsudemons.com<br />
is your alumni<br />
connection to<br />
northwestern<br />
The latest campus news and sports are<br />
just a click away for <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> alumni, as well as a way to give<br />
back to the <strong>University</strong> through a new interactive<br />
World Wide Web portal launched recently<br />
by the NSU <strong>Alumni</strong> Association.<br />
zNSUdemons.com, a new connection to campus and<br />
community news as well as the world, is a customized<br />
Internet site that provides users with links to information,<br />
entertainment and commerce while bringing<br />
Demons around the world together online.<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> has partnered with z<strong>University</strong>, the<br />
premier online and offline affinity marketing company<br />
for higher education, to create<br />
zNSUdemons.com.<br />
Through a customizable Web platform,<br />
which includes community,<br />
e-mail, career center and chat, the<br />
zNSUdemons site enables the<br />
NSU <strong>Alumni</strong> Association to maintain<br />
contact with more than<br />
50,000 alumni throughout the<br />
world, online, while contributing<br />
a percentage of all proceeds back<br />
to the university.<br />
NSU’s Director of <strong>Alumni</strong> Affairs<br />
Chris Maggio said the new Web site<br />
is “a powerful communication tool<br />
that provides another way to keep our<br />
alumni around the world informed about<br />
what is going on here in Natchitoches. Everything<br />
is at their fingertips.”<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> is the second university in Louisiana<br />
to partner with z<strong>University</strong>. Universities such as LSU,<br />
Florida <strong>State</strong>, Ole Miss, Indiana <strong>University</strong> and Arizona<br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> are among the 86 universities throughout<br />
the United <strong>State</strong>s and Canada that are currently<br />
zPartners.<br />
The zNSUdemons site is customized to reflect<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s unique identity and personality. It<br />
includes: <strong>University</strong> and alumni association news and<br />
content; free e-mail; news from reliable content providers<br />
in the business, finance, national and international<br />
news, technology, sports, weather and entertainment categories;<br />
stock quotes and portfolio services; a career center;<br />
and online access to retail stores, name-brand catalog<br />
and local merchants.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 1
CAMPUS NEWS<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> merchandise is also available on the site<br />
through a partnership with Campus Corner, Maggio said.<br />
“There are revenue streams built into the platform site, from<br />
which NSU gets a percentage of those sales,” he said. “So not<br />
only will our alumni be able to shop at places like Amazon.com,<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association will get a percentage of that money.”<br />
In addition, alumni will be able to connect with other alumni<br />
throughout the world. The “community building” aspect of the<br />
zNSUdemons site allows alumni groups to build Web sites and<br />
communities geared toward their specific interests or graduation<br />
year.<br />
“The zNSUdemons.com site is designed to strengthen <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s relationship with its graduates,” said<br />
W. Grant Gregory, chairman and CEO of z<strong>University</strong>. “ This is<br />
a global communication tool that will reconnect and provide<br />
valuable resources to alumni worldwide.”<br />
“They can post calendars for reunions and photos and chat<br />
with one another,” Maggio said. “The possibilities are endless.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> can make zNSUdemons their homepage, and they don’t<br />
have to go any further.”<br />
“<strong>Alumni</strong> live busy lives, and zNSUdemons.com is a convenient<br />
way for them to access personalized features and a wonderful<br />
communication tool for staying connected to NSU and<br />
not losing touch with classmates,” noted Tommy Chester, a 1969<br />
graduate of <strong>Northwestern</strong> and president of the NSU <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Association. “It will give all graduating classes the opportunity<br />
to create a special site just for them. It will be their own private<br />
club to help stay connected.”<br />
The zNSUdemons.com site is just one of the many university-branded<br />
customized platforms developed in the past few<br />
months by z<strong>University</strong>, representing a total of more 18.1 million<br />
constituents.<br />
z<strong>University</strong>, based in Stamford, Conn., represents the largest<br />
interactive network of universities connecting alumni, students,<br />
fans, parents, faculty, staff and friends within each distinguished<br />
institution, while generating revenue that benefits<br />
both the university and its constituents.<br />
The company has hired Kristi Cooley, an NSU graduate, as<br />
the manager of university relations for northern Louisiana. She<br />
has worked with <strong>Northwestern</strong> to implement and promote the<br />
zNSUdemons site. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 2
CAMPUS NEWS<br />
ensu<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> takes major step<br />
in electronic course delivery<br />
Beginning this spring, students will be able to take classes<br />
and earn a degree at <strong>Northwestern</strong> without setting foot on<br />
campus.<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> will unveil a new web site, ensu, which will allow<br />
students to apply for admissions, receive financial aid, pay fees,<br />
purchase textbooks, get assistance from an advisor and receive<br />
any other needed service online. The site will soon be available at<br />
www.nsula.edu/ensu. Also this spring, six degree programs will be available<br />
completely online. After receiving approval from the <strong>State</strong> Board of<br />
Regents and the <strong>University</strong> of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.<br />
Students will be able to get an Associate Degree in General Studies,<br />
Masters of Education with a concentration in Educational Technology<br />
and a Masters of Education with a concentration in Adult Education<br />
from NSU.<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s RN to B.S.N. (registered nurse to Bachelor of Science<br />
in Nursing) and RT to B.S.R.T. (registered technologist to Bachelor of<br />
Science in Radiologic Technology) will also be available electronically.<br />
NSU previously received approval to offer the Associate Degree in Criminal<br />
Justice online.<br />
“The start of ensu is very important for <strong>Northwestern</strong> as we maintain<br />
a leadership position in the electronic delivery of courses,” said<br />
NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “The development of ensu will<br />
allow us to serve students wherever they are. If a student wants to gain<br />
a college education, this will allow them to receive a first-rate education<br />
from an accredited institution that is seeking to serve their needs.”<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> offers more electronic courses than any other higher<br />
education institution in Louisiana. NSU is offering 75 electronic classes<br />
this semester. These classes are delivered by compressed video, desktop<br />
video and the Internet.<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Louisiana System President Bobby Jindal commended<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s continued leadership in the development<br />
and application of distance learning for Louisiana.<br />
“This is a great move for <strong>Northwestern</strong> which has long been a leader<br />
in the development and offering of courses through distance learning<br />
technologies,” said Jindal.<br />
“Through these interactive courses and degrees, <strong>Northwestern</strong> is responding<br />
positively to several ULS priorities. The university is 1) using<br />
the latest technologies to deliver courses to thousands of students where<br />
they need them, 2) expanding the effectiveness of the university, and 3)<br />
giving students the practical education they need to excel in their fields.”<br />
Total enrollment in the electronic classes is 1,788, a significant increase<br />
from last fall. The number of students in these courses should increase in<br />
the spring when 96 courses are scheduled to be offered electronically.<br />
This semester, 356 students are<br />
taking only electronic courses. Students<br />
from 16 different states are<br />
taking electronic classes which includes<br />
students in the military and<br />
overseas.<br />
“When you look at a non-typical<br />
student who works full-time, and has<br />
parental responsibilities, the ability<br />
to take classes from home at any time<br />
is a tremendous advantage,” said<br />
Darlene Williams, electronic learning<br />
systems coordinator at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
“One of the trends in education<br />
is that students are requesting<br />
educational opportunities that do<br />
not fall within the traditional boundaries<br />
of time and place.”<br />
Williams emphasized that all<br />
services available to students who<br />
attend classes in person can be<br />
used by students taking classes<br />
through ensu. Designated faculty<br />
in each academic program will<br />
work with students to schedule<br />
classes and handle other academicrelated<br />
needs. Students taking<br />
electronic classes can also contact<br />
counselors and other campus staff<br />
for help whenever needed.<br />
Early registration for the spring<br />
2001 semester began Wednesday,<br />
Nov. 8. Spring classes begin Jan.<br />
8, 2001. For more information on<br />
ensu, call (318) 357-6355 or e-<br />
mail e-learning@nsula.edu. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 3
CAMPUS NEWS<br />
NSU radiologic technology<br />
program will be offered in<br />
Alexandria<br />
In an effort to meet an increasing demand in central<br />
Louisiana and statewide, Rapides Regional<br />
Medical Center and <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
have joined together to offer a four-year radiologic<br />
technology program in Alexandria.<br />
Beginning in the fall of 2001, <strong>Northwestern</strong>’s baccalaureate<br />
degree program in radiologic technology<br />
will be expanded to better serve central Louisiana.<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s program, which was started in 1970,<br />
is one of only 23 four-year programs nationwide that<br />
is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education<br />
in Radiologic Technology.<br />
“The expansion of this program is part of<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s continuing effort to provide educational<br />
opportunity for the people of central Louisiana,”<br />
said <strong>Northwestern</strong> President Dr. Randall J.<br />
Webb. “The strengthening of our program in radiologic<br />
technology is an example of the type of growth<br />
and improvement we look for in all academic programs.”<br />
Webb credited Cheryl Wilson, chief financial officer<br />
at Rapides Regional Medical Center, for her efforts<br />
in helping this joint effort take place.<br />
“There has been a tremendous increase statewide<br />
in the demand for radiologic technologists,” said<br />
Laura Carwile, director of <strong>Northwestern</strong>’s radiologic<br />
technology program. “<strong>Northwestern</strong> and Rapides<br />
Regional are working to meet that demand.”<br />
Bobby Jindal, president of the <strong>University</strong><br />
of Louisiana System, commended<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> and Rapides Regional for<br />
joining forces in an effective public-private<br />
partnership that “meets a real state need.”<br />
“This is the type of partnership we encourage<br />
at our universities throughout the<br />
UL System,” Jindal said. “We commend<br />
Rapides Regional and <strong>Northwestern</strong> for<br />
combining their clinical, academic and<br />
technological resources to meet the need for<br />
more radiologic technologists. In the process<br />
of being trained for meaningful careers,<br />
our students also will be exposed to<br />
the latest clinical equipment and research.”<br />
“This is a great opportunity for students in central<br />
Louisiana and the hospital,” said Mary Reed, the<br />
hospital’s radiology coordinator. “The students can<br />
stay here at home and get a full, four-year degree,<br />
and the hospital has another source to draw from for<br />
quality staff.”<br />
The hospital is providing NSU with two endowed<br />
professorships for the program, which will help fund<br />
faculty development, classroom media and other needs<br />
of the program, Carwile said. III<br />
N<br />
Howell is recipient of<br />
President’s Distinguished<br />
Service Award<br />
E<br />
Howell<br />
ven after devoting more than 50<br />
years of his life to teaching and coaching, Dr. Ernest<br />
O. “Slim” Howell is truly dedicated to his students and<br />
his alma mater.<br />
The Natchitoches resident drives to Zwolle to teach a<br />
class at the Willamette Industries plant because “it’s fun.”<br />
He also teaches a course on campus. “I help where<br />
they need me to,” he said. He retired from <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
in 1986, “but I have never left.”<br />
Howell’s continued service to the university, both in and<br />
outside the classroom, were the reasons he was presented<br />
the President’s Distinguished Service Award recently.<br />
The award is intended to honor those who have given<br />
of their time, talents or resources over an extended<br />
period of time in an effort to enhance the <strong>University</strong>,<br />
and NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb said Howell has<br />
given of all three.<br />
“He has lived a life of service – to his country, to his<br />
community, to the fields of education and coaching, and to<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> in particular,” Webb said.<br />
“Coach Howell has been active in efforts to advance<br />
and enhance <strong>Northwestern</strong>, his alma mater,” Webb continued.<br />
“Dr. Howell has been and continues to be an<br />
ambassador for <strong>Northwestern</strong>.”<br />
Howell earned his bachelor’s degree in health and<br />
physical education from <strong>Northwestern</strong> in 1950. He later<br />
earned his master’s degree from the <strong>University</strong> of Arkansas<br />
and his doctorate in health education from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Southern Mississippi.<br />
Howell said he has “always tried to stay involved with<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>. The university has given us a lot. I just<br />
want to give back.”<br />
He played a key role in the development of the Coach<br />
Jack Clayton Plaza between the south end zone of Turpin<br />
Stadium and the Athletic Fieldhouse. He also assisted<br />
the Office of <strong>Alumni</strong> Affairs by contacting graduates of<br />
the class of 1950 for their 50-year graduation ceremony.<br />
He also plans to get additional projects going at <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
and rally support from local business people and<br />
alumni to make those projects a reality. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 4
Campus News<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Board expands<br />
The board of directors of <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong>’s <strong>Alumni</strong> Association has again<br />
expanded, and new officers have been elected.<br />
Ginger Wiggins, a 1986 graduate from Jackson, Miss.,<br />
was named president of the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association, and<br />
Rep. B.L. “Buddy” Shaw was named vice president.<br />
Wiggins succeeds Tommy Chester, who served for 10<br />
years as president. Wiggins was the first female elected<br />
to the board in 1987 and is the first female president of<br />
the board.<br />
Chester, of Arcadia, was reappointed as a board member,<br />
and three members were added during the group’s<br />
Homecoming meeting. The new members are Carlos<br />
Jones of Ruston, F. Allen Horton Jr. of New Iberia and<br />
Jerry A. Brungart of Natchitoches.<br />
Chris Maggio, alumni director, said the alumni board<br />
is continuing to expand “so our alumni will have more<br />
representation. As our alumni base continues to grow,<br />
it is good to have additional board members who are<br />
demographic representations of <strong>Northwestern</strong> alumni.”<br />
Wiggins, who attended <strong>Northwestern</strong> in the late<br />
1970s and completed her degree in 1986, has<br />
served on the alumni association board since 1987.<br />
She worked for Deposit Guaranty for 18 years in<br />
investment management, but two years ago she opened<br />
“Absolutely Greek,” a specialty store in Northpark Mall<br />
in Jackson, Miss.<br />
Wiggins decided to sell Greek items because she was<br />
active in Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority while at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
She was also a national officer for seven years.<br />
Her husband, Randy, was a member of Kappa Sigma<br />
while at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
Her father-in-law, Parker Wiggins, was also on the<br />
alumni board for many years, and several members of<br />
her family are graduates of <strong>Northwestern</strong>. Her sister,<br />
Summer Miller, is currently a student at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
Dr. B.L. “Buddy” Shaw, Louisiana’s District 6<br />
Representative, was elected to the board in 1999.<br />
He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1955 and his master’s<br />
degree in 1960.<br />
Shaw is former principal of Byrd High School, Caddo<br />
Parish School Board member and senior admissions<br />
counselor at East Texas Baptist <strong>University</strong>. He served<br />
on the Louisiana School Board Association for six years<br />
and was president in 1993. He was named a Danforth<br />
Fellow in 1982.<br />
Tommy Chester, a <strong>State</strong> Farm agent in Arcadia for<br />
24 years, was president of the board for 10 years<br />
and served on the board prior to becoming president.<br />
He earned his bachelor’s degree from <strong>Northwestern</strong> in<br />
1967 and his master’s degree in 1969.<br />
He is a longtime member of the Athletic Association<br />
Board of Directors and served on the NSU Foundation<br />
board as an ex-officio member.<br />
Chester is president of the Lions’ Club and a life member<br />
of the Arcadia Jaycees. He has also been new program<br />
manager for Jaycees statewide, and has served<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Board of Directors meet during Homecoming activities.<br />
on the board of directors for Cedar Creek School. He<br />
serves on the Chamber of Commerce and has been an<br />
officer on that board. He has also been active in the Dixie<br />
baseball league for seven years and is a deacon in First<br />
Baptist Church.<br />
Chester’s wife, Cindy, is a 1969 graduate of <strong>Northwestern</strong>,<br />
and all three of his children attended <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
Jerry Brungart earned his bachelor’s degree at <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
in 1969 and his master’s in 1971.<br />
He is a sales agent for New York Life Insurance Co.<br />
Prior to that, he sold insurance for Lincoln Financial<br />
Advisors, Modern Woodmen of America, Business Men’s<br />
Assurance and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. He<br />
served as head of the physical education department at<br />
Natchitoches Central High School from 1974 to 1980 and<br />
was wrestling coach and assistant football coach. He also<br />
coached football and track at Springhill High School.<br />
He has earned several awards related to insurance<br />
sales, and he is a member of the General Agents and<br />
Managers Association, the Chamber of Commerce of<br />
Central Louisiana, the Natchitoches Area Chamber of<br />
Commerce and the Bolton Avenue Lions’ Club. He is also<br />
on the Folk Festival Steering Committee and the Jazz<br />
Festival Steering Committee.<br />
Brungart has helped cook food for the alumni tailgating<br />
tent for <strong>Northwestern</strong> home football games.<br />
F<br />
. Allen Horton Jr. earned his bachelor’s degree from<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> in 1957 and his master’s in administration<br />
and supervision in 1962.<br />
He was a teacher and coach for six years in Terrebonne<br />
High School, LaCache Junior High School and Eunice<br />
High School. He retired as an administrator from New<br />
Iberia Junior/Senior High in 1977, after serving in various<br />
teaching and administrative positions for 14 years.<br />
From 1979 through 1997, he was a sales associate for<br />
Union Camp Corporation of Lafayette.<br />
His late wife, Lelia Elizabeth “Betty” Millspaugh, was<br />
a 1952 graduate. His son, Steve, is former executive director<br />
of the NSU <strong>Alumni</strong> Association and is head of the<br />
Department of Journalism.<br />
Carlos Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from North<br />
western in 1992. He served as a recruiter for <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
in 1995, and was facilities director for the Athletic<br />
Department in 1997. He has been a claims adjuster<br />
and underwriter for <strong>State</strong> Farm Insurance and was a<br />
safety director of Willamette Industries in Ruston.<br />
His wife, Yulonda E. Washington Jones, is also a<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> graduate. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 5
CAMPUS NEWS<br />
S<br />
Some of the latest training tools will now be available to graduate students in<br />
psychology at <strong>Northwestern</strong> due to a donation to the NSU Foundation. The Foundation<br />
has received a donation from Mental Health Resources to provide<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s Department of Psychology with some of the latest software and equipment<br />
needed to train students.<br />
Mental Health Resources is a full-service mental health clinic that provides both inpatient<br />
and out patient psychiatric treatment and therapy. Mental Health Resources provides<br />
services to people of all ages but has programs which specialize in working with<br />
emotionally disturbed children and adolescents and their families. MHR has clinics in<br />
Lafayette, New Iberia, Alexandria and Natchitoches.<br />
“We see our relationship with <strong>Northwestern</strong> as a win-win situation for our organization<br />
and the students,” said Dr. Ron Ray, chief executive officer of Mental Health Resources.<br />
Department of Psychology receives grant to assist in student training<br />
“We gain access to the best and brightest<br />
students in this region and our growing<br />
organization can possibly provide employment<br />
to some graduates. These are bright,<br />
motivated students who will get experience<br />
they could not get easily elsewhere.”<br />
According to Dr. Patrice Moulton, head<br />
of the Department of Psychology at NSU,<br />
Mental Health Resources’ contribution is<br />
an important step in the development of<br />
the university’s program.<br />
“This donation allows us to have graduate<br />
training materials we would not be<br />
able to have otherwise,” said Moulton. “We<br />
are very fortunate to have Dr. Ray provide<br />
Mental Health Resources as a<br />
practicum site for our students and support<br />
our department by providing resources<br />
for gradute training.”<br />
In addition to providing software, the<br />
donation will also be used to furnish an<br />
observation room used by students. Funding<br />
to renovate the observation room was<br />
provided by a grant from the Board of Regents<br />
Support Fund. III<br />
N<br />
D<br />
rs. Carter and Bernadette Boyd<br />
opened their home to host the Second<br />
Annual Basketball Extravaganza in mid-<br />
October. The evening brought<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s basketball staff to Bossier<br />
City for fellowship with alumni and friends<br />
interested in helping support the Demon<br />
basketball program through contributions.<br />
Anyone interested in contributing to the<br />
basketball program should contact the<br />
Athletic Association or the basketball office<br />
at (318) 357-4274. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 6
Faculty Notes<br />
Elliott selected as Kilpatrick Life<br />
Professor of Insurance<br />
Dr. Stephen Elliott has been<br />
named the Kilpatrick Life<br />
Professor of Insurance at <strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong>. Elliott<br />
has been a member of NSU’s faculty<br />
for 20 years.<br />
Elliott earned his doctorate in economics and finance<br />
at Louisiana Tech <strong>University</strong>. He has extensive<br />
experience in insurance, financial planning, banking,<br />
real estate and as an economic consultant.<br />
While on <strong>Northwestern</strong>’s faculty, Elliott has consulted<br />
with most of the major textbook publishers on<br />
finance texts. His research has also been published<br />
regularly in a variety of national and international<br />
professional journals. Elliott has also been a frequent<br />
presenter at regional and national conferences.<br />
“This professorship will be a tremendous benefit<br />
for me in my teaching and scholarship,” said Elliott.<br />
“I will be able to conduct research that will keep me<br />
up to date in my field. That knowledge will be brought<br />
back to the classroom and shared with the students.”<br />
The professorship was created with a $60,000 donation<br />
from Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company. The<br />
donation was matched with an additional $40,000<br />
from the Board of Regents Support Fund. A portion of<br />
the interest generated by the endowment each year will<br />
be used to fund classroom instruction, faculty research,<br />
purchase needed software and hardware and cover<br />
needed travel to professional conferences. The remaining<br />
portion will be used to build up the endowment.<br />
The College of Business is accredited by the American<br />
Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business<br />
(AACSB), the primary accrediting agency and service<br />
organization for business schools in the United<br />
<strong>State</strong>s.The accreditation covers baccalaureate degree<br />
programs in business offered by <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
Elliott plans to conduct research on several aspects<br />
of insurance including consumer purchasing of insurance,<br />
regulations affecting insurance and how consumers<br />
make decisions on the purchasing of insurance. III<br />
Pollacia is recipient of<br />
the BellSouth Endowed<br />
Professorship in<br />
Telecommunications<br />
When Dr. Lissa Pollacia, an associate professor<br />
of Computer Information Systems at <strong>Northwestern</strong>,<br />
taught her first course via the Internet in<br />
1996, it was to a group of students with little or no<br />
knowledge about the Internet.<br />
“My thinking was, what better way to teach the<br />
Internet than to utilize the Internet,” she said.<br />
Pollacia, who was one of the first faculty members at<br />
NSU to teach an undergraduate course entirely online,<br />
is the first recipient of the BellSouth Endowed Professorship<br />
in Telecommunications. Her Internet course,<br />
“Understanding and Utilizing the Internet,” was the<br />
first online course accepted by the Southern Region<br />
Electronic Campus from the state of Louisiana.<br />
Pollacia has been on NSU’s faculty for 13 years. She<br />
earned her bachelor of science in mathematics education<br />
and her master of science in mathematics from<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong>. She earned her master of science in<br />
computer science and her doctorate in computer science<br />
from the <strong>University</strong> of Southwestern Louisiana.<br />
She was the principal investigator for a Board of<br />
Regents grant for training in the theory and practice of<br />
online education. The grant “Creating Global Classrooms<br />
via Internet Technology” provided both equipment<br />
and training to expand online offerings to include<br />
other computer courses and a mathematics course.<br />
The BellSouth Endowed Professorship in Telecommunications<br />
was established in 1998. BellSouth donated<br />
$60,000, which was matched with $40,000 from<br />
the Board of Regents’ Support Fund. When the professorship<br />
was established, Herschel Abbott, president<br />
of BellSouth’s Louisiana operations said the professorship<br />
would mesh with the company’s goal of<br />
utilizing telecommunications technology to bring<br />
about change in the state’s educational system. III<br />
Leading literary journal publishes faculty member’s poem<br />
The experiences of a summer job several years ago are still vivid to Julie Kane. The assistant professor of<br />
English at <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> expressed those experiences in a poem published in a prestigious<br />
literary journal.<br />
Kane’s poem, “The Bottle Factory” appears in the fall edition of The Southern Review.<br />
“The poem is about the summer between high school and college when I worked in a bottle factory,” said Kane,<br />
who joined NSU’s faculty last fall. “I did packing and was a machine operator silk screening onto plastic bottles.”<br />
“In the poem, I drew a contrast between working with one’s mind and with one’s body doing physical labor. You<br />
get satisfaction from physical work that one does not get immediately from mental work even though both are<br />
difficult. With physical labor, you see the accomplishments immediately.” III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 7
ALUMNI EVENTS<br />
NSU’s College of Education established the Hall of<br />
Distinguished Educators in conjunction with Homecoming<br />
<strong>2000</strong>. The 10 charter members of the Hall are Dr. Lisso<br />
Simmons, Shelby M. Jackson, Rep. Jane Smith, Linda B.<br />
Day, William “Bill” Dodd, Dr. E.B. Robert, Stanley Powell, Dr.<br />
Arnold Kilpatrick, T.H. Harris and Dr. George Walker. Seated<br />
are Simmons; Dr. Sally Hunt (representing Shelby Jackson),<br />
Smith, Day and Bill Dodd Jr. (representing his father). On<br />
back are Dr. Thomas Hennigan (master of ceremonies), Bill<br />
Robert (representing Dr. E.B. Robert), Powell, Kilpatrick and<br />
Dr. John Tollett, dean of the College of Education (representing<br />
T.H. Harris).<br />
Virginia K. Shehee of Shreveport was recently<br />
inducted into the NSU College of<br />
Business Hall of Distinction. She is president<br />
and chief executive officer of Kilpatrick Life<br />
Insurance Company and Kilpatrick’s Rose-<br />
Neath Funeral Homes and Cemeteries, Inc.<br />
Shehee was recognized by the Shreveport<br />
Times as one of the100 most influential people<br />
in northwest Louisiana in the 20 th century.<br />
The College of Business at <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
recently inducted nine distinguished alumni and<br />
one of Northwest Louisiana’s most accomplished business<br />
leaders into Hall of Distinction as part of Homecoming activities.<br />
Those inducted were (front from left): Robert R.<br />
McGuirt, James Lynn Bordelon, Lynn Lyle, Gary L. Pittman<br />
Sr., Lawrence Screven Pinckard (back from left) Harvey<br />
Marcus, Keith Bergeron, Rudy Hines and Burton D. Weaver<br />
Jr. Also inducted was Virginia K. Shehee.<br />
N<br />
SU President Dr. Randall J. Webb recognized<br />
Dr. Ernest “Slim” Howell of Natchitoches for<br />
his continued service to the community and to the<br />
university by presenting him with the President’s<br />
Distinguished Service Award. Howell has spent<br />
more than 50 years teaching and coaching in high<br />
schools and at <strong>Northwestern</strong>.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 8
ALUMNI EVENTS<br />
The expansion of the golf course<br />
at the Robert W. Wilson Recreation<br />
Complex was dedicated during<br />
the Homecoming <strong>2000</strong> weekend.<br />
Unveiling the plaque commemorating<br />
the event are David Gunn, president<br />
of the Student Government Association;<br />
Sarah Griffith, president of the<br />
Student Activities Board; NSU President<br />
Dr. Randall Webb; and Tommy<br />
Chester, former president of the NSU<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association.<br />
S<br />
ix noted alumni were inducted into the Long Purple<br />
Line during Homecoming <strong>2000</strong> activities. Those<br />
alumni are, on front, Joe Sampite and Elise James. On<br />
back are Louis Ropp ( representing his father Col. Ralph<br />
Ropp), Jackie Smith, Dudley Fulton and Larry Rivers.<br />
Four former athletic standouts were inducted into the Graduate<br />
‘N’ Club Hall of Fame at <strong>Northwestern</strong>. Those four are<br />
football standouts John Wayne Odom (front) and John Dilworth<br />
(on left), women’s basketball great Linda Grayson and track<br />
star Harold Smith.<br />
Basketball reunion to be Feb. 10<br />
The annual Demon and Lady Demon basketball reunion will be<br />
held Feb. 10 in conjunction with the NSU – Southeastern Louisiana<br />
doubleheader.<br />
A luncheon will be held at noon in the Friedman Student Union.<br />
The Lady Demons play Southeastern at 2 p.m. followed by the Demons<br />
at 4 p.m.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong>/ 9
CLASS NOTES/PROFILES<br />
1925<br />
Marie E. Toups is a retired<br />
teacher – principal of 42<br />
years. She will be 96 in<br />
December, and she lives in<br />
Lockport.<br />
1929<br />
Eunice A. Enright was<br />
involved in the Homemakers<br />
Club while at NSU.<br />
She now resides at Mary<br />
Anna Retirement Home in<br />
Wisner.<br />
1932<br />
Ella Grant Lieux is a<br />
retired teacher living in<br />
Shreveport. She has seven<br />
children. Four are NSU<br />
graduates.<br />
Ivens Lawton Sibley is the<br />
owner and manager of his<br />
farm in Shreveport. He<br />
and his wife live in<br />
Shreveport.<br />
1935<br />
Jean Courtney lives in<br />
Grand Cane. She teaches<br />
Latin at Central School<br />
Corporation. Jean has one<br />
child.<br />
1945<br />
Joyle Kenneth Murphy is<br />
the owner of Murphy<br />
Electricity of Alexandria.<br />
He has retired after 35<br />
years at the company. He<br />
and his wife have four<br />
children.<br />
1949<br />
Roy Remont and his wife,<br />
Bettye Remont, celebrated<br />
their Golden Anniversary<br />
on Oct. 7, <strong>2000</strong> with a<br />
reception cruise on the<br />
Belle Riverboat of Hot<br />
Springs.<br />
1950<br />
Betsy Smith Morris lives<br />
in Green Bay, Wis. She<br />
has four children and four<br />
grandchildren.<br />
1952<br />
Marjorie White Tucker is a<br />
real estate broker<br />
employed by Clyde Tucker<br />
and Associates. She and<br />
her husband live in Baton<br />
Rouge and have three<br />
children.<br />
1953<br />
Patsy LeRoy Longlors<br />
retired in December of<br />
1999 as the supervisor of<br />
finance for the<br />
Natchitoches Parish School<br />
Board after 45 years of<br />
service. She is married<br />
and has three children.<br />
Hardy Nicholas Rose lives<br />
in Prescott, Ariz., where<br />
he plays in a local band.<br />
He is also a member of the<br />
Central Arizona Concert<br />
Band and the Yavapai<br />
College Symphonic Band.<br />
1955<br />
Anna Torrans is a retired<br />
professor at LSU-<br />
Shreveport. She lives in<br />
Shreveport.<br />
1960<br />
Mary E. Williams received<br />
her bachelor’s degree in<br />
1960. Then in 1971, she<br />
received her master’s. She<br />
retired from the<br />
Natchitoches Parish<br />
School System as a<br />
secondary teacher in 1985<br />
and is currently working<br />
as an adjunct teacher at<br />
NSU.<br />
1961<br />
Jessse Gilbert Bergeron is<br />
a retired high school<br />
principal. He lives with<br />
his wife in Yellville, Ark.<br />
They have four children<br />
and two grandchildren.<br />
1962<br />
Frances Anne Parker<br />
Campbell recently retired<br />
as a first grade teacher.<br />
She is living in Shreveport.<br />
1963<br />
Leonard Donald Bush has<br />
retired and is living in<br />
Florien. He and his wife<br />
have three children.<br />
Wayne R. Parker is<br />
currently the vice<br />
president of human<br />
resources at Sterling<br />
Chemicals Inc. He is<br />
married and lives in<br />
Houston, Texas. They have<br />
one daughter and two<br />
grandchildren.<br />
1964<br />
Thomas Morris Adger is<br />
the retired port director at<br />
the Port of Fort Pierce. He<br />
is married and has three<br />
children.<br />
1965<br />
Carolyn Ann Bellue Holly<br />
and Dr. James Larry Holly<br />
live in Beaumont, Texas.<br />
They have two children<br />
and four grandchildren.<br />
Carolyn is an active<br />
grandmother and<br />
homemaker, and Larry is<br />
the managing partner of<br />
Southeast Texas Medical<br />
Associates.<br />
1966<br />
Cynthia Ann Vaughan is<br />
currently employed by the<br />
Department of Veteran<br />
Affairs at Bay Pines VA<br />
Medical Center. She also<br />
works in the patient care<br />
arena of the medical center<br />
as a nurse case manager.<br />
In addition, she volunteers<br />
for the Gulf Coast Museum<br />
of Art.<br />
1968<br />
Judith A. Wells Burgard is<br />
currently employed with<br />
Illinois First Realty, L.L.C.<br />
as a realtor. She is married<br />
and has two children.<br />
Judith is living in<br />
Sherman, Ill.<br />
1969<br />
Bill Eugene Boston retired<br />
from the Alabama<br />
Department of Education<br />
in 1996. He is married and<br />
living in Coalmont, Tenn.<br />
They have two children.<br />
1971<br />
Anita L. Barrow Helton<br />
lives in Alpharetta, Ga.<br />
She is the associate<br />
director for BellSouth<br />
Business, Inc.<br />
Charles Alvin Knicely is<br />
married to Linda Johnston<br />
Knicely (1975), and they<br />
have two children. He is<br />
the president of his own<br />
building company. Charles<br />
and his family live in<br />
Shreveport.<br />
1972<br />
J. Rodney Barron is the job<br />
coach for the Mary Biggs<br />
Training Center in Oak<br />
Grove. He is married to<br />
Ann Trotter Barron (1974),<br />
and they have three<br />
children.<br />
Charlotte Ann Broussard<br />
is married, and they have<br />
two children. She is<br />
currently employed as the<br />
librarian at Kaplan<br />
Elementary School and is<br />
active in the Vermilion<br />
Association of Educators<br />
and the Vermilion Parish<br />
Librarians Associations.<br />
1973<br />
Dennis A. Bozeman is the<br />
regional sales manager for<br />
Presstemps of Texas. He is<br />
married and has five<br />
children. He is currently a<br />
resident of Irving, Texas.<br />
Tony Carter and his wife<br />
have two children. Tony is<br />
the vice president and<br />
partner of the Pinnacle<br />
Rehab and Pharman<br />
Services. Tony and his<br />
family live in Baton Rouge.<br />
1974<br />
Richard Ferriss is<br />
employed by Adkins<br />
Supply Inc. He is married<br />
and has a 10-year-old<br />
daughter. Richard and his<br />
family live in Spring,<br />
Texas.<br />
1976<br />
Linda Voss Smith is<br />
employed by the Bossier<br />
Parish School Board as the<br />
assistant principal of<br />
Curtis Elementary. She<br />
lives in Bossier City.<br />
1979<br />
Thomas S. Brassell is the<br />
vice president of commercial<br />
lending for VanGuard<br />
Bank and Trust. He is<br />
married and has two<br />
children. Thomas and his<br />
family live in Fort Walton<br />
Beach, Fla.<br />
1980<br />
Donald Pistorius is a sales<br />
engineer employed by<br />
Wood Group Logging<br />
Services. He is married,<br />
and they have four<br />
children. They live in<br />
Sugar Land, Texas.<br />
1981<br />
Martha Williams<br />
Collinsworth graduated<br />
with a Bachelor of Science<br />
in Nursing, and is now the<br />
school nurse at Lake<br />
Sherwood School. She is<br />
also a computer instructor<br />
for pre K – 8 at Lake<br />
Sherwood. She is married<br />
and has one son who is 15<br />
years old.<br />
Frank M. Tritico is<br />
married to the former<br />
Melinda Palmore (1981),<br />
and they have two<br />
children. He is a pilot for<br />
the United Airlines, and<br />
she is an elementary<br />
school teacher. The family<br />
lives in Sparta, Tenn.<br />
1982<br />
David Ulmer is the<br />
manager of the Video<br />
Production Account at<br />
Vision Design Productions.<br />
He is married and has one<br />
child. David and his family<br />
live in Pensacola, Fla.<br />
1983<br />
Robby A. Medlin is the<br />
senior project manager for<br />
Panel Constructors, Inc.<br />
He and his wife have one<br />
daughter and one on the<br />
way. The family lives in<br />
Lewisville, Texas.<br />
Mike Robinson is employed<br />
at <strong>University</strong> of Nevada as<br />
a strength coach. Mike,<br />
his wife, and three<br />
children are living in<br />
Fallon, Nev.<br />
1984<br />
Maher El-Safarini majored<br />
in computer science and<br />
information systems and is<br />
now working with Turner –<br />
Projacs Joint Venture. She<br />
is married and has one girl<br />
and three boys.<br />
Janice M. Williams earned<br />
her bachelor’s degree in<br />
1984 and is now the state<br />
coordinator for the<br />
Louisiana SADD Program.<br />
She lives in Alexandria.<br />
1986<br />
Mark Stephen Freshley is<br />
married and has three<br />
children. He has been<br />
working in the Vernon<br />
Parish School System for<br />
13 years. He has worked<br />
as a special education<br />
teacher and most recently<br />
as an industrial arts<br />
teacher. He also coaches<br />
soccer, cross country, and<br />
track. Mark and his<br />
family now live in New<br />
Llano.<br />
1987<br />
Sandra Prudhomme Payne<br />
is married and practices<br />
law at Rountree Cox<br />
Guinand Achee. Sandra<br />
and her husband live in<br />
Shreveport.<br />
1988<br />
Suzanne Fox Knippers<br />
lives in Benton with her<br />
husband and two children.<br />
She is a kindergarten<br />
teacher at Meadowview<br />
Elementary.<br />
David Steinke is married,<br />
and they have three<br />
children. He is a partner<br />
with the CPA firm Steinke<br />
and Associates, PLLC.<br />
David lives in Many.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 10
CLASS NOTES/PROFILES<br />
1989<br />
Holly Barton lives in Dry<br />
Prong. She has a degree in<br />
business administration<br />
and is employed by the<br />
Forestry Service as a<br />
hunting permit volunteer.<br />
She is married and has two<br />
children.<br />
Jay Roy Mount has a<br />
bachelor’s degree from<br />
NSU. He is the head<br />
football coach at Pickering<br />
High School. He is married<br />
has one child named.<br />
Lisa Michiels Stelly<br />
received her degree in<br />
accounting in December of<br />
1989. She is an investment<br />
representative for Edward<br />
Jones Investments. She is<br />
married and lives in Boyce.<br />
Virginia Stuchlik Cole<br />
received a degree in early<br />
childhood education and is<br />
employed by Grant Parish<br />
School Board as a<br />
kindergarten teacher at<br />
South Grant Elementary.<br />
Virginia and her husband<br />
live in Dry Prong.<br />
1990<br />
Cindy Wilson Ankrom is a<br />
teacher at Cy-Falls High<br />
School. She is married and<br />
has three children. Cindy<br />
and her family live in<br />
Cypress, Texas.<br />
Terri Steadman Cedars<br />
received a degree in<br />
elementary education and<br />
is employed with the<br />
Louisiana Technical<br />
College. She is the<br />
workforce and industrial<br />
coordinator. She is married<br />
and has three children.<br />
1991<br />
Brian Lindstrom works for<br />
the Oakdale Federal<br />
Penitentiary as a<br />
correctional officer. He is<br />
married and has one child.<br />
Harry Elton Welch is<br />
married to Kelli Carruth<br />
Welch (1991). Harry is the<br />
assistant principal at<br />
Alexandria Senior High<br />
School and was inducted<br />
into the Louisiana College<br />
Sports Hall of Fame in<br />
October. Kelli is the<br />
guidance counselor at<br />
Alexandria Senior High<br />
School. They have three<br />
daughters and live in<br />
Boyce.<br />
1992<br />
Lynda Hernandez Lowery<br />
is the computer support<br />
specialist for the Business<br />
Affairs Office at NSU. She<br />
has one child, Jennifer<br />
Michelle, who is also a<br />
graduate of NSU. Jennifer<br />
is the manager of Sherwin<br />
Williams in Sulphur.<br />
Kanat Ransibrahmanakul<br />
graduated from the<br />
Louisiana Scholar’s<br />
College at NSU. Then he<br />
attended Louisiana <strong>State</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong> in New<br />
Orleans. He is currently<br />
an Internist for the<br />
<strong>University</strong> of California<br />
Medical Group. He lives in<br />
Folsom, Calif.<br />
Lucky Sprowl has a<br />
bachelor in electronics<br />
engineering technology,<br />
electronics technology,<br />
computer technology and<br />
general studies from NSU.<br />
He is now employed with<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong>.<br />
William Edward <strong>Winter</strong> is<br />
married and live in Silver<br />
Spring, Md. He is working<br />
as a physician at the<br />
Walter Reed Army Medical<br />
Center.<br />
1993<br />
E. Christian Clark<br />
majored in advertising<br />
design while at NSU. He is<br />
the senior designer at<br />
Second Baptist Church<br />
and recently moved to<br />
Houston, Texas.<br />
Virginia Keasler<br />
Dierksmeier is currently<br />
working in the Office of<br />
Community and Corporate<br />
Relations at George<br />
Washington <strong>University</strong>.<br />
Virginia lives in South<br />
Riding, Va., with her<br />
husband and three<br />
children.<br />
John Donald Howell is<br />
married to Amy White<br />
Howell (1994), and they<br />
have one son. He is an<br />
agent for Allstate<br />
Insurance in Natchitoches.<br />
Bryan Wayne Randolph<br />
works for The Foot<br />
Institution of Natchitoches<br />
and Shreveport. He is also<br />
involved in NSU and<br />
Natchitoches community<br />
activities. Bryan is<br />
married.<br />
Ashley White Trahan<br />
works for the Girl Scout<br />
Council of Central<br />
Louisiana in Pineville.<br />
D &oris orothy<br />
Shell<br />
Class of 1937<br />
Doris and Dorothy Shell have seldom been apart since birth. They<br />
even made similar career decisions, neither one leaving their home<br />
for long. They also share a fondness for the institution that prepared<br />
them for their careers.<br />
In the fall of 1933, the twins from Winnfield began their quest to<br />
become teachers by enrolling at Louisiana <strong>State</strong> Normal College.<br />
Because they wanted to become teachers, their decision to attend the<br />
Normal College was not a difficult one.<br />
“We wanted to go to the Normal College because that was the school<br />
you attended if you wanted to teach, and because it was close to home,”<br />
Doris Shell recalls.<br />
The Shell twins had a unique experience in college. They both wanted<br />
to be home economics teachers, so most of their classes were together.<br />
They also were roommates during all four years at the Normal College.<br />
After graduating in 1937 with degrees in home economics, Doris and<br />
Dorothy Shell went their separate ways, each taking a job in a different<br />
area of the state.<br />
Doris was offered a teaching job at Dodson High School, where she<br />
taught home economics for five years. She then became an extension<br />
agent for the next 17 years.<br />
Dorothy Shell’s first teaching job was at Singer High School in<br />
Beauregard Parish. She taught there for four years before taking a job in<br />
Homer as an extension agent.<br />
The Shell sisters enjoyed teaching, but they loved working as home<br />
economists for the Extension Office. “ We had fun everyday,” Dorothy<br />
said. “When we worked as extension agents, we did something different<br />
every day. One day we canned beef and pork, another day we worked<br />
with fruit trees, and some days we sewed aprons.”<br />
Both Doris and Dorothy Shell attribute their success in their fields to<br />
the education and training they received at NSU. In a classroom of only<br />
30 students, the professor was able to spend more time with each<br />
student. “We always did interesting experiments in our chemistry class,<br />
and our professor would always come around and help us and give us<br />
one-on-one help,” Doris recalls. “So when we became teachers we felt<br />
very comfortable doing our job.”<br />
Before retiring, Doris worked for 22 years and Dorothy for 33 years.<br />
“We loved our jobs,” Doris said. “Back then, women worked as teachers or<br />
in the home, and we taught the things you do at home like cooking and<br />
sewing.”<br />
Ms. Minnie Lee Odom, a home economics professor, taught many of<br />
their classes at the Normal College, and “our Chemistry professor Mr.<br />
(A.L.) Ducournau always played tricks on us when we did experiments,”<br />
Doris said.<br />
Doris and Dorothy attended all the home football and basketball<br />
games. “We stayed on campus nearly every weekend. We would go to the<br />
movie or football game, but we were always back in our dorm by 5:30,”<br />
Dorothy said.<br />
The sisters are members of First United Methodist Church in<br />
Winnfield. And they remained active in the Home Demonstration Club at<br />
Winn Parish Fair until several years ago. They still attend alumni events<br />
and enjoy reminiscing about their time in college.<br />
“We enjoyed our time at college. We have many fond memories and<br />
still keep in touch with several friends that we made at the Normal<br />
College,” Doris said. III<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 11
CLASS NOTES/PROFILES<br />
She is married and lives in<br />
Rosepine.<br />
1994<br />
Kimberly Browning Blaine<br />
majored in business<br />
administration while at<br />
NSU. She works for<br />
Denny’s Restaurant in<br />
Seattle, Wash. She is<br />
married.<br />
1995<br />
Judy Francis Cooley is a<br />
scheduler for U.S.<br />
Representative John<br />
Cooksey in Washington<br />
D.C. She and her husband<br />
live in Alexandria, Va.<br />
Karen Current is director<br />
of recruiting at Roadrunner<br />
Trucking, Inc. She is<br />
currently living in<br />
Albuquerque, N.M.<br />
Scott Joseph Hanegan<br />
currently works as a<br />
podiatrist at Foot Clinic of<br />
Meridian (Miss.). Scott is<br />
married to Amanda Lord<br />
Hanegan (1995). Amanda<br />
is the algebra teacher at<br />
Northwest Junior High<br />
School in Meridian.<br />
Donald W. Horton majored<br />
in electronics engineering<br />
technology and computer<br />
technology while at NSU.<br />
He is an electronic<br />
maintenance specialist<br />
employed by Willamette<br />
Industries. He lives in<br />
Robeline and has two<br />
children.<br />
Sean F. Huggins was a<br />
member of the ROTC when<br />
he attended NSU. He is<br />
now a captain in the<br />
United <strong>State</strong>s Army. He is<br />
married and has four<br />
children and lives in Fort<br />
Rucker, S.C.<br />
Donna Elliott Hunt is an<br />
LTC Army Nurse with the<br />
United <strong>State</strong>s Army. She is<br />
the chief nurse of the 228 th<br />
Combat Support Hospital.<br />
She lives in Converse,<br />
Texas, with her husband<br />
and two children.<br />
Eric D. Lancelin graduated<br />
in general studies and is<br />
now a credit analyst at<br />
Pennzoil-Quaker <strong>State</strong>. He<br />
lives in Houston, Texas.<br />
Wendy Ropelewski Lott is<br />
married to Donald Jason<br />
Lott (1999), and they have<br />
one child. They live in<br />
Natchitoches. Wendy is the<br />
research assistant for the<br />
Department of Social<br />
Sciences at NSU.<br />
Jerry Mullins graduated<br />
from NSU in Theatre and<br />
has gone on to receive his<br />
Master’s in Fine Arts from<br />
Virginia Commonwealth<br />
<strong>University</strong>. His acting<br />
career has taken him<br />
places abroad such as<br />
Greece, Romania and<br />
London. Within a year, he<br />
plans to move to New York<br />
City to continue pursuing<br />
his acting career.<br />
Dian Terr Prestwich has a<br />
bachelor’s degree in<br />
elementary education and<br />
is now working for Dupont<br />
Elementary School as a<br />
fourth grade teacher. She<br />
is married and has one<br />
son.<br />
Christopher Shane<br />
Stephens received his<br />
bachelor’s degree in<br />
mathematics in 1995 and<br />
earned his master’s degree<br />
in education in 1998. He is<br />
the technology systems<br />
planner for Coushatta<br />
Tribe of Louisiana. He is<br />
married.<br />
1996<br />
Shanda Marie Ables lives<br />
in Shreveport. She works<br />
as a Registered Nurse in<br />
labor and delivery. She is<br />
employed with Willis<br />
Knighton-South.<br />
Secunda Mosley Bey is<br />
currently working for Kids<br />
at the Crossroads at the<br />
Rapeutic Foster Care<br />
Placing Agency. She is also<br />
pursuing her master’s<br />
degree in counseling at<br />
Texas Southern <strong>University</strong>.<br />
She has one daughter who<br />
is three years old.<br />
Kristen Hood Harrison<br />
graduated from NSU with<br />
a Bachelor of Science in<br />
Nursing. She is an RN in<br />
the Neonatal Intensive<br />
Care Unit at the Women’s<br />
Hospital of Greensboro.<br />
She and her husband live<br />
in Greensboro, N.C.<br />
Barbara Taylor McHenry<br />
is the coordinator of<br />
education and research<br />
programs at LSUHSC-<br />
Shreveport, Micro<br />
Department. She also<br />
writes articles for Forum<br />
News, a bi-weekly journal.<br />
She lives in Belcher with<br />
her husband, two children<br />
and six stepchildren.<br />
Eric Thompson and<br />
Christy Elston (1999) were<br />
married in Natchitoches in<br />
March of this year. They<br />
are currently living in<br />
Atlanta, Ga. Eric works as<br />
a corporate senior<br />
engineer, and Christy is an<br />
RN in a neonatal intensive<br />
care unit.<br />
1997<br />
Jamie Harris Cochran is<br />
living in Alexandria with<br />
her husband and is an<br />
athletic t rainer for the<br />
Christus Louisiana Sports<br />
Medical Center.<br />
Stacey L. Michaels is an<br />
advertising account<br />
executive with the Times-<br />
Picayune in New Orleans.<br />
She lives in New Orleans,<br />
La.<br />
Tracy Mitchell lives in<br />
Gulfport, Miss., and is<br />
engaged. She is a sales<br />
manager at the Grand<br />
Casino.<br />
Michelle Montgomery<br />
graduated with a Bachelor<br />
of Science in Nursing and<br />
is a staff nurse at Norman<br />
Regional Hospital in<br />
Norman, Okla. She is<br />
married and has one child,<br />
who is 15 months old. The<br />
family lives in Oklahoma<br />
City, Okla.<br />
Sandie Morton graduated<br />
in accounting and is an<br />
accountant for Centex<br />
Development Company in<br />
Dallas. She lives in<br />
Garland, Texas.<br />
Matthew Mularoni<br />
graduated in 1997 as a<br />
business administration<br />
and military science major.<br />
He is now the battalion<br />
tersonnel officer for the<br />
793d Military Police<br />
Battalion in Bamberg,<br />
Germany.<br />
Jeremy Lloyd Thomas is<br />
employed by Quinlan<br />
Independent School<br />
District as the instructional<br />
technology<br />
coordinator. He is also part<br />
of a Texas grant called<br />
Technology Integration in<br />
Education. Jeremy is<br />
married, and they are<br />
living in Greenville, Texas.<br />
Elizabeth Crump Winn is<br />
employed at Venus Middle<br />
School in Venus, Texas, as<br />
the sixth grade reading<br />
and English teacher. She is<br />
married to Wess Winn, and<br />
they have one child. They<br />
live on Mount Lebanon<br />
Baptist Camp where they<br />
are involved in many<br />
activities and their youth<br />
group all year round.<br />
1998<br />
Jeffrey B. Chavez is<br />
married to Allison R.<br />
Chavez (1998). They live in<br />
North Little Rock, Ark. He<br />
is the owner and manager<br />
of Arkansas Outfitters,<br />
Inc.<br />
Leslie G. Green graduated<br />
with a business education<br />
degree in 1998. She is a<br />
business teacher at Port<br />
Allen High School. She<br />
lives in Abbeville.<br />
Daniel Hardin is currently<br />
employed at Northsood<br />
High School as the special<br />
education English teacher.<br />
He lives in Shreveport.<br />
Bradley L. Jones graduated<br />
with a Bachelor of<br />
Science in Nursing. He is a<br />
graduate student at Texas<br />
Wesleyan <strong>University</strong> in the<br />
graduate program of nurse<br />
anesthesia. He lives in<br />
Fort Worth, Texas.<br />
Ramel Lydia Knapp is the<br />
current Americorps team<br />
leader and assistant<br />
program director for the<br />
Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis<br />
Camp. She lives in Little<br />
Rock, Ark.<br />
Amy Magladry works for<br />
Towson Sports Medicine<br />
and Rehabilitation Clinic.<br />
She also teaches First Aid<br />
and CPR for the American<br />
Red Cross, and covers high<br />
school athletics as an<br />
athletic trainer. She lives<br />
in Hampstead, Md.<br />
Chuck Weaver lives in<br />
Dallas, Texas. He has been<br />
in sales since graduation,<br />
and is currently an<br />
account executive for Cap<br />
Roke Communications in<br />
Dallas.<br />
Rachel White graduated in<br />
broadcast journalism and<br />
is now the news director at<br />
KNTS-TV 17. She lives in<br />
Natchitoches.<br />
1999<br />
Andra Ralene Cruse is a<br />
mathematics teacher at<br />
Delta High School. She is<br />
married and has one child.<br />
The family lives in<br />
Cummings, Ga.<br />
Jim Gist is married to<br />
Megan Gist (1998). They<br />
recently moved to Paris,<br />
Texas. Megan will be<br />
teaching fifth grade<br />
language arts at Aikin<br />
Elementary, and Jim will<br />
be teaching percussion and<br />
band at North Lamar High<br />
School.<br />
Connie Renee Hayes<br />
currently works as the<br />
assistant banking center<br />
manager at Bank One.<br />
She and her husband live<br />
in Shreveport.<br />
Valerie Rohrer Mitchell is<br />
the secretary for the NSU<br />
Department of Industrial<br />
and Engineering Technology.<br />
She and her husband<br />
have one daughter.<br />
Bonita S. Remedies<br />
graduated from NSU with<br />
a degree in business<br />
administration. He now<br />
lives in Zwolle.<br />
Leslie Sargent is currently<br />
a graduate assistant at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Nebraska at<br />
Omaha. She is also<br />
working toward a master’s<br />
degree in health promotion.<br />
She lives in Omaha,<br />
Neb.<br />
Cynthia Dorris Thames<br />
received a degree in<br />
psychology from NSU. She<br />
now works at Exchange<br />
Bank in Natchitoches. She<br />
is married and has one<br />
daughter.<br />
<strong>2000</strong><br />
Crystal Nichole Boggs is<br />
currently employed by<br />
Vernon Parish School<br />
Board. She is a fourth<br />
grade teacher at South<br />
Polk Elementary. Crystal<br />
lives in Dry Creek.<br />
Angie Kathleen Kulaga<br />
lives in DeRidder. She is a<br />
music and P.E. teacher at<br />
Oakdale Elementary<br />
School.<br />
Amanda Claire Wardell<br />
and Pete Wardell are <strong>2000</strong><br />
graduates. Claire works as<br />
the ticket manager for<br />
NSU Athletics. They live<br />
in Nachitoches.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2000</strong> / 12
In Memory<br />
’31 Narvis M. Webb<br />
Natchitoches, Aug. 30, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’34 Olive Jones Cameron<br />
Shreveport, July 13, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’35 Carlie B. Floyd<br />
Jena, May 18, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’38 Odessa J. Winn<br />
Natchitoches, May 24, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’39 James Denmom<br />
May 5, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’40 John Sims Jackson<br />
Shreveport<br />
’41 Elizabeth Parrott Hebert<br />
Baton Rouge, June 12, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’45 Mamie Louise Johnson Pilkinton<br />
Bosier City, Aug. 10, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’45 Freddie W. Rachal<br />
Natchitoches, May 9, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’45 Ruth Threatt<br />
Springhill, May 10, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’50 Fred Moore<br />
Lake Charles, July 18, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’51 Mildred Boone<br />
Homer, Aug. 4, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’51 John B. Keaton<br />
Lake Charles, July 10, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’52 Sidney Morell<br />
Shreveport, Aug. 5, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’52 Mae Iruin Parker<br />
July 3, 1998<br />
’53 J. P. Johnston<br />
Bossier City, Aug. 27, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’57 Bettye Gail Epperson<br />
Slidell, Dec. 22, 1998<br />
’61 George Betar Jr.<br />
Alexandria, Sept. 23, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’63 Hugh C. Durham III<br />
Shreveport, Oct. 3, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’68 Lynn McGuirt McMichael<br />
Natchitoches, May <strong>2000</strong><br />
’81 Pamela Sherrie Sanders<br />
Lake Charles, July 25, <strong>2000</strong><br />
’88 O.G. “Buddy” Bolton, Jr.<br />
Shreveport, July 29<br />
Ione McPhearson Bossier<br />
Converse, Aug. 8, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Christina Chicola<br />
Pineville, Jan. 5, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Myrtle Suggs Greer<br />
Monroe, July 12, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Charles Harrington<br />
Natchitoches, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Ruth Mulder<br />
Sun City, Calif. July 21, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Hazel Bounds Russell<br />
July 11, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Russell Paul Seeser<br />
Tioga, Aug. 10, <strong>2000</strong><br />
Troy Woodburn<br />
June 8, <strong>2000</strong><br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Information Update<br />
Please fill this page out as completely as possible. We are constantly<br />
revising our records and your information updates are vital to making the<br />
system work. The information from this form is also used for entries in<br />
the “Class Notes” section. Please make a copy of this page and give it to<br />
any NSU graduate who may not be on our list. We can't keep in touch<br />
with you if we can't find you! Thank you.<br />
Date_____________________<br />
SSN:_________________________________<br />
Name_____________________________________________________________<br />
Last First Middle Maiden<br />
NSU Undergraduate Degree(s):__________________ Year(s):__________<br />
NSU Graduate Degree(s):______________________ Year(s):____________<br />
Years Attended NSU :_____________________________________________<br />
Organizations involved with at NSU:________________________________<br />
__________________________________________________________________<br />
__________________________________________________________________<br />
Current Address:_________________________________________________<br />
City:____________________________<strong>State</strong>:________ Zip:_______________<br />
Phone number:_____________________E-Mail:_______________________<br />
Place of Employment<br />
or Business:_____________________________________________________<br />
City:_______________________<strong>State</strong>:_______Zip:_____________________<br />
Job Title:________________________________________________________<br />
Phone number:_________________Marital Status:___________________<br />
Spouse NSU Graduate?________Year:________<br />
Name:_________________________________________________________<br />
First Maiden Last<br />
Number of Children:____________<br />
Please return to: <strong>Alumni</strong> Center<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Natchitoches, LA 71497<br />
If you would like information from Admissions, Financial Aid or the NSU<br />
Athletic Association, you can contact them at the following address:<br />
Director of Admissions<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Room 103, Roy Hall<br />
Natchitoches, LA 71497<br />
(318) 357-4503<br />
800-426-3754 (in state)<br />
800-327-1903 (out of state)<br />
Director of Financial Aid<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Room 109, Roy Hall<br />
Natchitoches, LA 71497<br />
(318) 357-5961<br />
Athletic Director<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong><br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Room 101C<br />
Athletic Fieldhouse<br />
Natchitoches, LA 71497<br />
(318) 357-5251
A<br />
fter winning the <strong>2000</strong> Southland Conference regular season title, the <strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> Demon soccer team celebrates<br />
after defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 1-0, to capture the <strong>2000</strong> Southland Conference Tournament title, their second<br />
tournament championship in four years, to advance to the NCAA Play-In game, which they lost at Montana. The Demons are<br />
the only team to ever win both the regular season conference title and the conference tournament title in the same season and<br />
finished the year a perfect 9-0 at home, including a 2-0 record during the conference tournament. Pictured with the Southland<br />
conference Tournament Championship trophy are (Kneeling, from left to right): Christy McInnis, Kathryn Latiolais, All-<br />
Tournament selection Tiffany Swingler, Tournament Most Valuable Player Britiany Cargill, All-Tournament selection Shawna<br />
Bailey, All-Tournament selection Missy Payne, All-Tournament selection Hillarie Marshall and Kim Weber. Second row (from<br />
l to r): Shannon Tenney, Jennifer Robbins, Assistant Coach Mandy Cromwell, Holly Horn, Tori Carlino, Jill Lowe, Nikki<br />
Hernandez, Joanne McKee, Kerri Kahanek, Kate Tsakanikas, Tenille Fogel, Monica Lovett, Nina Myllyluoma, Romy Marroquin<br />
and Carolyn McInnis. Back Row (from l to r): Assistant Coach Tony Shard, Athletic Trainer Micah Nicholson and Head Coach<br />
Jimmy Mitchell.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Columns<br />
<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Natchitoches, LA 71497-0002<br />
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