About 100 Northwestern State University students joined more than 2,000 others from community colleges and universities from around the state for a rally in support of higher education on the steps of the state capitol in Baton Rouge Wednesday. The rally, organized by the Council of Student Body Presidents, featured speakers representing more than 200,000 students enrolled in Louisiana post-secondary institutions who urged legislators to oppose further cuts to higher education in Louisiana. Gov. Jon Bel Edwards addressed the students saying, “It’s a sad fact that Louisiana has disinvested what we have in higher education. I do not want to cut higher education and I do not want to end TOPS.  I do not want universities and community colleges to close.”

Northwestern State University will open its International Student Resource Center Wednesday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. in Russell Hall. The public is invited to attend.

The opening signifies the growth in the number of international students at Northwestern State and the university’s effort to better serve those students and to encourage NSU students to seek out opportunities to study internationally.

“We want to help international students through the applications and admissions process and with all the paperwork once they get here,” said Telba Espinoza-Contreras, director of the International Student Resource Center. “Then we want to provide additional services that will improve their experience at Northwestern such as specialized activities and an orientation program that focuses on their specific needs.”

For the past several years, the Office of University Affairs under Vice President for University Affairs Marcus Jones has been helping international students. Jones has made several international trips establishing ties that have lead to increased international student enrollment.

“As a student who came here from another country, I know what these students are going through,” said graduate assistant Vivian Pedroza, who is working with Espinoza-Contreras. “Most of them come from non-industrialized countries and are in a new country and culture. It will help them to have someone they can talk with and answer questions and make them feel a bit more at home.”

Espinoza-Contreras is looking to connect with the community and arrange for people to serve a role similar to that of a host family. The local families would not be required to provide accommodations for the students but would be asked occasionally invite the student to dinner and find other ways to help them better experience our culture.

There are also plans to provide a shuttle service for international students, most of who do not have transportation.

Northwestern is a member of the International Student Exchange Program under the coordination of Associate Professor of Philosophy Dr. Keith Dromm. Espinoza-Contreras said she would be working with Dromm to increase awareness and opportunities available for NSU students.

This semester, three Northwestern State students are studying at the University of Angers in France, an institution that offers classes in English. Espinoza-Contreras said NSU is discussing possible collaborations with universities in France, Cuba, and Mexico.

Espinoza-Contreras is in her second year at Northwestern State, joining the faculty in 2015 as an instructor of Spanish.

She earned a bachelor’s in social anthropology from Universidad de Quintana Roo, Mexico, a masters in social anthropology from CIESAS (Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropologia Social) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and a master’s in Hispanic studies from Louisiana State University. Espinoza-Contreras is working toward a doctorate in comparative literature at LSU.



 

CBS News national security producer Mary Walsh will lecture at Northwestern State University Thursday, March 10 at 2 p.m. in the Ora G. Williams Studio in Kyser Hall. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend.

Walsh is coming to Northwestern State to speak to a class being taught by Raymond Strother, the Erbon W. and Marie Wise Endowed Chair in Journalism at Northwestern State University.

In her time as a journalist, Walsh has covered the explosion of space shuttle Challenger, the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, Geraldine Ferraro’s vice presidential campaign and then-Vice President George H.W. Bush’s successful campaign for president.

Walsh, a winner of multiple Emmy awards, produces stories for "The CBS Evening News" and "60 Minutes." Walsh has also been assigned to the Pentagon since 1993 covering the American military throughout Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Her outstanding work has won her two Alfred I. DuPont awards from Columbia University, the Joan Shorenstein Barone Award for Excellence in Journalism and a Wilbur Award from the Religious Communicators Council.

As CBS News producer in Tokyo from 1989 to 1993, Walsh was responsible for news coverage in all parts of Asia. A graduate of the University of Texas where she was editor of the Daily Texan in 1976-77. Walsh began her career as a journalist at the Rome Daily American in Italy in 1977.
 

Northwestern Theatre and Dance will perform the drama “Really Really” March 9 – 13 and 16-19 in Theatre West Show time is 7:30 p.m. except for a March 13 matinee at 2 p.m. The play contains content that may not be suitable for children.

Tickets are $15, $12 for children and seniors and Northwestern State, BPCC@nsu and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D. For ticket information, call (318) 357-4483.

“Really Really” is about a group of Generation Me college students in the aftermath of a wild campus party. The play, one of off-Broadway’s most acclaimed hits upon its New York premiere, takes a disturbing look at Generation Me and its unstoppable quest for success at all costs. “Really, Really” is edgy, funny, caustic, and shocking, but thoughtful and weighty enough to hold its own even among audience members who think tweeting’s for birds and “Glee” is an after school activity.

The play raises questions about a generation so quick to demand things (money, sex, power) that is doesn’t stop to consider what they cost.

“(Artistic Director) Scott (Burrell) challenged me to find a play that would engage our student audience by presenting something they would be interested in,” said director Pia Wyatt. “The play raises a lot of questions that people don’t want to talk about, but need to be talked about.”

Members of the cast are Hannah Hays of Baton Rouge as Leigh, Chelsey Goldsmith of Edmond, Oklahoma as Grace, Alyssa Farmer of Shreveport as Haley, Thomas Hadzeriga of Edmond, Oklahoma as Cooper, Luke Matherne of Monroe as Davis, Sean Grady of Leesville as Johnson and Asher Van Meter of Edmond, Oklahoma as Jimmy.

A post-show discussion of issues raised in the play will be held after each performance.

 

Northwestern State University will open its International Student Resource Center Wednesday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. in Russell Hall. The public is invited to attend. The opening signifies the growth in the number of international students at Northwestern State and the university’s effort to better serve those students and to encourage NSU students to seek out opportunities to study internationally.  

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NATCHITOCHES – Several Northwestern State University graduate students completing Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Education degrees in special education were awarded mini-grants from the Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children (LA-CEC).  Each will receive a $500 grant for their classrooms.

            “Every year, LA-CEC awards 12 mini grants and every year NSU students receive the majority of the grants,” said Dr. Barb Duchardt.  “For 2016, NSU students received 11 out of the 12 grants awarded.”

            The assignment for the students was to follow the LA-CEC guidelines to apply for funding for a class project.  Students learned the step by step grant writing process that included project description, statement of need, description of the population to be served, objectives, activities and timeline, evaluation procedures, project benefits, budget and letter of endorsement.

            LA-CEC awards the grants for projects that educate children with exceptionalities, improve relationships within families of children with exceptionalities, developing independent living or employment skills for students with exceptionalities or use technology to enhance education for children/youth with exceptionalities.

            Students awarded grants were Adrienne Benavides of Picayune, Mississippi, Amy Hensley of Anacoco, Ashbrooke Hogan of Sulphur, Terry Jopling of Rosepine, Angela Jordan of Saint Amant, Charleen Long of Prairieville, Donell McLean of Holden, Jasmine Newton of Montgomery, Carley Walker of Baton Rouge and Aubrey Weeks McAnn of Jena. Topics ranged from using technology to improve reading fluency to helping students improve daily function through sensory integration.

            Jenae Williams of Natchitoches said the process taught her not only to write a grant, but also how to budget for supplies and to identify specific benefits for her students.

            “I learned how to write different forms of grants,” Williams said. “I used the technology grant, but I learned how to write for grants that improve relationships between families and educate children with exceptionalities.”

            Many of the students participated in poster presentation to discuss their grants during the La-CEC Super Conference in Lafayette and were recognized during an awards ceremony.

Do you want the opportunity to attend one of the nation’s most up and coming music festivals? KNWD is giving away a pair of tickets to a lucky NSU student to attend the Buku Music + Art Project in New Orleans, LA.

From February 29 to March 4, students can enter in the competition by taking a selfie in a DemonFest shirt from previous years and posting it to Instagram. After following @knwdradio and @thebukuproject, participants should tag both accounts in their photo. Both #DF16 and #BUKU2016 should be included in the caption in order to win.

If students do not have an old DemonFest t-shirt, they can visit the KNWD studio and borrow one to wear for the photo.

This is an excellent opportunity for the students at NSU who love live music and an urban music festival atmosphere. This ticket giveaway is just another way for KNWD to give students the chance to discover their own creativity, in correlation with this semester’s objective.

About KNWD:

KNWD is a student-run radio station at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Since 1973, KNWD has catered to the interest of NSU students. KNWD provides on-air experience, volunteer opportunities and leadership experience for students. To learn more visit www.knwdradio.org , or call us at 318-357-KNWD (318-357-5693).

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s third annual President’s Command Performance will honor three individuals who will be inducted into the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice Estelle Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame.  Honorees are Dr. Colleen Lancaster, Dr. Jerry Payne and Mrs. Lenn Dohmann Prince will be recognized for promoting the arts through their work with NSU and in the community during NSU’s third annual President’s Command Performance on March 18.

            The President’s Command Performance is an annual celebration of the arts showcases the talents of Northwestern State’s CAPA student and faculty while honoring the three inductees.  Individuals inducted into the CAPA Hall of Fame are recommended and chosen based on their lifetime achievements and contributions to the arts at NSU and in Natchitoches, the region, the state, nationally and internationally. 

            Lancaster was a teacher and administrator for more than 30 years in NSU’s women’s physical education program where she directed the department’s multiple areas of dance, including ballet, folk and square, tap, ballroom and contemporary while working to establish accreditation for the Department of Dance.  She was the coordinator of the very first aerobic dance program in north Louisiana. In 1979, she became the first chair of the NSU Department of Dance, formulating within the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Creative and Performing Arts, separating from the Department of Physical Education and Recreation.

            Lancaster, a native of Mississippi, arrived in Natchitoches in 1946 as a junior majoring in physical education at Northwestern State. After graduation, she earned a master’s degree at Texas Women’s University and a Ph.D. from Indiana University, where she was an instructor, before returning to NSU.  As a nationally recognized dance educator, Lancaster worked closely with local, state, and national programs and organizations.  She helped organize the Louisiana Dance Symposium and directed NSU’s Christmas Dance Concert, which evolved into the enormously popular Christmas Gala.

            After 30 years of teaching, Lancaster retired to New York City for 10 years where she was recreation director at a nursing home.  She returned to Natchitoches in 1997 and is active in genealogy and volunteerism for the city and Natchitoches First Presbyterian Church, for which she was named a Natchitoches Treasure.

            Payne is a resident of Marshall, Texas, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education at NSU in 1957 and 1968, specialist in education in 1969 and doctorate in music education in 1973.   In a career spanning 45 years, he was a music educator for 20 years in Louisiana and 25 years in Texas, including four years as Director of Bands at NSU. During that time, Payne led his bands in numerous outstanding competitive performances and was recognized with several professional honors.

            Payne attended NSU on a band scholarship and became the student leader for the popular Demonaires.  During his undergrad years, he played a critical role in helping charter the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, serving in numerous leadership roles, including a term as president in 1957.  He began his teaching and band director career at Alexandria Junior High School and Alexandria Senior High. After receiving his doctoral degree, Payne finished his final four years in Louisiana as director of bands at Northwestern State University, his alma mater. He then retired in Louisiana and moved to Marshall, Texas, hoping to rebuild the struggling band program there. Under his leadership, the program grew in size and quality and earned numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards. Fourteen years after his Alexandria Band was the Louisiana Honor Band at Four States, his Marshall Band was selected as the Texas Honor Band.

            Payne has served as a guest conductor and clinician for numerous honor bands in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas and has been a clinician and judge for festivals and contests in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He is active in Phi Beta Mu, TBA, TMEA, TMAA, and is a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International. He is a semi-professional jazz and concert saxophonist, is active as an arranger of band and jazz ensemble music, and performs with the East Texas Baptist University Saxophone Quartet. Payne performed a solo saxophone concert at the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi’s 50th anniversary in 2006.  He is a member of the NSU Band Directors’ Hall of Fame at NSU, the Louisiana Music Educators Hall of Fame, the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and NSU’s Hall of Distinguished Educators.

            Payne and his wife, the former Marilyn Pippin, have five children and seven grandchildren.

            Prince is a native of Opelousas who began studies at Northwestern State in 1972, where she was a member of the NSU Chorale and played French horn in the NSU Orchestra.  She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and represented NSU in the 1974 Miss Louisiana Pageant as the Lady of the Bracelet. She graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance education and later earned a master’s degree in vocal performance form the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

While living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Prince continued to continue her vocal studies with teacher and pedagogue Jane Snow, performing in many vocal ensembles in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and with the Southwest Opera Chorus in Albuquerque.  While working towards her master’s degree, Prince was awarded a scholarship from the University of Miami to study in Salzburg, Austria, during the Salzburg Opera Festival where she studied and was coached by numerous world renowned opera performers and teachers.  Some of her solo performances included the leading role of Sonia in Franz Lehar’s “Merry Widow” and Laetitia in Menotti’s “The Old Maid and the Thief.” 

            After moving to Ruston in 1992, Prince was host for many years to Northwestern State’s north-central Louisiana recruiting reception in her home. She was also a member of the Ruston Masterworks Chorus and the soprano soloist for many performances, including the Mozart’s “Requiem,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Handel’s “Messiah,” Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Concert” and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Haydn’s “Creation.”    

            Prince and her husband Danny have four children and 11 grandchildren.  They own and operate several businesses in several states, including nursing and rehabilitation centers, pharmacies and therapy companies, as well as Port au Prince restaurant on Lake Claiborne and Port au Prince Cross Lake.  They are active in the NSU Foundation, supporting professorships in voice and music, as well as the renovation of the CAPA music library.

            The President’s Command Performance will begin with music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Plaza in tandem with a silent auction.  The main performances, featuring musical ensembles, vocalists and dance performances, will take place in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. 

            Sponsorship opportunities for the President’s Command Performance are available at the $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250 levels.  Individual tickets are $65 per person and $125 per couple in advance or can be purchased at the event for $75 per person and $150 per couple. Program ads are also available for $500, $250 and $100. 

            For tickets, sponsorship and program ad information, call NSU’s Office of University Advancement at (318) 357-5213 or visit northwesternalumni.com/PCP16.

NATCHITOCHES – The organizing committee for the Louisiana Studies Conference is accepting presentation proposals for the eighth annual conference, set for Sept. 16-17 at Northwestern State University.  This year’s theme is “Sacred Louisiana.” 

            “Although we are especially interested in proposals that deal with the theme of ‘Sacred Louisiana,’ all papers, creative writing, and short performances (dance, music, or theatric) that address any aspect of Louisiana studies are welcome,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, conference chair. 

            Proposals are being solicited for 15-minute presentations from scholars at all career stages as well as graduate students. Creative work (creative non-fiction, short fiction, and poetry) is welcome. Undergraduates are invited to submit, provided they are working with the guidance of a trained scholar. Conference registration is free for all faculty, staff and students affiliated with Northwestern State University, Bossier Parish Community College, the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, as well as State and National Park Service personnel situated in Natchitoches Parish.

            Abstracts (300 words max) for scholarly proposals, creative writing, films, and short performances (dance, music, or theatric) should be sent as e-mail attachments to Rasmussen at rasmussens@nsula.edu. Presentations should run no longer than 15 minutes. Briefly detail the audio / visual tools (laptop, projection screen, data projector, DVD or VCR player, etc.) or space (the stage in the Magale Recital Hall will be provided for short performances) presentations will require, if any.

            Individuals should include a separate cover page with your name, affiliation, mailing and e-mail address and the title of your presentation. E-mails should be entitled Louisiana Studies Conference Submission. Individuals will receive an e-mail acknowledgement of having received each abstract within one week of having received it.

            The deadline for submissions is July 18. Accepted presenters will be notified via e-mail by July 31 if not before.

            This interdisciplinary conference will be accepting proposals from the following disciplines: American studies, anthropology, architecture, archival studies, communications, craft, creative writing, criminal justice, cultural studies, cultural tourism, dance, design, education, English and literary studies, environmental studies, ethnic studies, fashion design, film studies, fine arts, folklore, gender studies, geography, heritage resources, history, interior design,  journalism, linguistics, media studies, museum studies, musicology, music performance, philosophy, photography, political science, preservation studies, psychology, queer studies, religious studies, Romance languages, social work, sociology, theatre, and vernacular architecture.

            Presentations on all religions are welcome, including non-institutional spiritual pathways. Individuals can consider the following possibilities for presentation topics relating to the theme Sacred Louisiana:  American Indian religious traditions, cemeteries, conversion narratives, folk congregations, funerals, holy figures, Louisiana icons and iconography, Louisiana pilgrimages, Louisiana saints, miracles, mythic Louisiana, Old World traditions, preaching styles, preserving sacred spaces, religion and educational curriculums, religious foodways, religious humor, revivals and call downs, sacred architecture, sacred crossroads, sacred music in Louisiana, sacred sites, secular and sacred artifacts, Southern church culture, spiritual identities, spiritual texts, syncretism, the secular made sacred (and/or vice versa) and vernacular religion.

            A selection of scholarly and creative work presented at the conference will be solicited for publication in the Louisiana Folklife Journal, a peer reviewed academic journal produced by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University. Additional information is available on the website for the Louisiana Folklife Center, louisianafolklife.nsula.edu.

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will sponsor the 28th session of the ADVANCE Program for Young Scholars July 10 – 30. ADVANCE is the only summer residential program for academically gifted youth in the state of Louisiana that is affiliated with the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP).

            ADVANCE is a three-week residential program that offers a challenging and rewarding curriculum for gifted or talented students entering grades 8 through 12 next fall. ADVANCE provides a unique learning environment designed to motivate academically gifted students and set them on a path toward a lifetime of high academic achievement.

            Minimum ACT or SAT scores must be met for admittance or the student may enter through the Alternate Admissions Policy.

            Students enroll in one intensive fast-paced course that normally covers an entire year’s worth of high school material or a semester of college level material. ADVANCE is offering 15 courses from the following disciplines: computer sciences, humanities, mathematics, and the natural sciences.

            The residential life portion of ADVANCE is an equally important aspect of the program, offering balanced leisure and cultural activities to complement the intensive academic curriculum. ADVANCE has wonderful traditions and a strong community of staff and students that keep students returning year after year, according to Harriette Palmer, assistant director.

            “Our students work hard, play hard and go home happy.  Then they come back,” Palmer said.

            Applications are now being accepted for qualified students and children of NSU employees receive a $200 discount. For more information, visit advance.nsula.edu, or contact at palmerh@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4500.

  
The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will perform Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is musical director of the orchestra. Tickets are $10. Northwestern State University, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D.

The concert will feature winners of the NSU Concerto/Aria Competition. This year’s winners are The Millennium Horn Quartet, Brandon Garrison of San Antonio, Texas, Joshua Waldrop of Benton, Blayne Fugere of Dallas, Texas, and Laura Chicarello of Londonderry, New Hampshire, sopranos Leanny Munoz of Abbeville and Juliana Handy of Coushatta and Fernando Zuniga of Duncanville, Texas, on euphonium.

The program is “Concert Piece for 4 Horns” by Robert Schumann featuring the Millenium Horn Quartet, “Quando m’en vo” from “La Boheme” by Puccini featuring Munoz, “Regnava nel silenzio” from “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti featuring Handy and “Concertino Op. 4” by Ferdinand David featuring Zuniga. The orchestra will also play “Overture” to “Ruslan and Ludmilla” by Mikhail Glinka and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1.”

The Millennium Horn Quartet was founded last spring. The ensemble was a finalist in the 2015 Southeast Horn Workshop’s quartet competition and performed in a recital tour at the University of Southern Mississippi last October. The quartet has also performed in a chamber masterclass for the Boston Brass. Chicarello holds a master’s degree in performance from Northwestern State University and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from University of New Hampshire. Garrison will receive his bachelor’s degree in music education in May. Waldrop will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in performance in May along with an associate’s degree from Bossier Parish Community College. Fugere will receive his bachelor’s degree in performance in 2017.

Muñoz is a senior vocalist majoring in liberal arts with a concentration in fine and performing arts in the Louisiana Scholar’s College. She is interested in studying musicology and furthering her vocal training in graduate school. Munoz has been admitted to Louisiana State University’s Master of Music program, where she will major in musicology. She has sung with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony during Natchitoches’s Tri-Centennial Symphony Gala and Extravaganza. Later this semester, she will perform with the Northwestern Opera Theater Ensemble in Mozart’s “Magic Flute” as Pamina on April 8 and 10 and end her semester with a senior recital on April 30.
 
Handy has been featured as the leading role in "Gallantry,""The Old Maid and the Thief" and "The Impresario" with Opera Louisiana College. She won the Tri-State National Association of Teachers in Singing Competition in Fall 2010 and is a two-time holder of the ALSUP Vocal Award given at Louisiana College. She has also been featured as a soprano soloist with the Louisiana College Chorale and Northwestern State University Chamber Choir. Handy earned a bachelors of music from Louisiana College and is pursuing her Masters of Music at Northwestern State studying with Terrie Sanders. She will appear as the Queen of the Night in the Spring 2016 production of “Die Zauberflote;” by Northwestern State’s Opera Theatre Ensemble under the direction of Stefan Gordon and Michelle Lange.

Zuniga is studying euphonium under Dr. Masahito Kuroda. He was the first prize winner of the First National Kappa Kappa Psi Wind Solo Competition in 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky and was selected as a member of the National Intercollegiate Band 2015. Zuniga was a recipient of McCutcheon Honor Award in 2013 and 2014. He was also an alternate semi-finalist to the International Falcone Euphonium Competition Student Division 2014. Zuniga is a member of NSU Wind Symphony, NSU Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band.


 

NATCHITOCHES – Dr. Greg Granger, professor of history and political science at Northwestern State University was elected vice president of the Louisiana Political Science Association at the group’s annual meeting recently.

Granger joined the conference organizer, Dr. John Sutherlin of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Dr. Carol Strong of the University of Arkansas at Monticello in a panel discussion of contemporary Middle East geopolitical issues.  Granger organized the topics for the panel, which included the Iran nuclear deal as well as U.S., Russian, Saudi Arabian and Iranian policies and relationships. 

As vice president of the organization, Granger will host the spring 2017 annual meeting at Northwestern State. NSU last hosted the organization in 2013.
 
 

Several Northwestern State University graduate students completing Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Education degrees in special education were awarded $500 mini-grants for their classrooms from the Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children (LA-CEC).

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University opened the doors to its new International Student Resource Center Wednesday, an office that will assist not only international students enrolled at NSU, but also students interested in studying abroad.  The center, located in Russell Hall Room 227, will help international students navigate a new environment and become more involved with student life on campus.

            Telba Espinoza-Contreras, ISRC director, said the ISRC will maintain a website with relevant documents and agreements for students and she hopes to develop programs and activities to help the international students get the most out of their time at Northwestern State, such as a shuttle program, a closet for furnishings and household items, excursions to destinations in the region and engagement with local residents for dinners and outings.  She also plans to host study abroad fairs and develop ways to inform the students of activities and organizations on campus in which they can get involved.

            The center will also provide information to students interested in studying abroad.  Northwestern State has had a long relationship with the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) and is developing more opportunities for short- and long-term study abroad.  The university has developed agreements with universities in Colombia and France and hopes to grow those opportunities, including placement where students can take classes in English, according to Dr. Marcus Jones, vice president for University Affairs, who has led efforts to recruit students from central and Latin America.

            “NSU currently has about 89 international students enrolled and we hope to increase that number. We get or so new students every year,” Jones said. Three Northwestern State students majoring in hospitality management and tourism are studying in Angers, France, this semester and Jones hopes that number increases as well.

            At the ISRC , “students can visit with Telba or [graduate assistant] Vivian Pedroza and get whatever assistance they need.  We will also be working with the Student Government Association to bridge the gap and integrate the international students into student life,” Jones said. “International students bring an interesting dynamic to the classroom, to their fellow students and also to the university.”

            For information on the ISRC, contact Espinoza-Contreras at (318) 357-5937, visit nsula.edu/international or email international@nsula.edu.

Northwestern State University Assistant Director of Bands – Percussion Oliver Molina will present a recital at NSU Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

The recital, Solo Sounds, includes several works for percussion performed on some unusual instruments and on some instruments that are performed in unusual ways.  

“The recital aims to be an aural and visual treat for the audience, opening up their eyes, ears and imagination,” said Molina, who is in his first year on Northwestern State’s faculty.

Molina is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa.  He is an active percussion performer, educator, arranger, adjudicator and clinician and has performed at several conferences and colleges across the United States.  
 

Hannah Hays’ final role at Northwestern State University will be her most challenging. The senior theatre major plays the role of Leigh in the drama “Really Really,” which will be performed March 9 – 13 and 16-19 in Theatre West Show time is 7:30 p.m. except for a March 13 matinee at 2 p.m. Pia Wyatt is the director. After each performance of “Really Really,” there will be a talk back session, allowing the audience to discuss the play with members of the cast.

Tickets are $15 and $12 for children and seniors.  Northwestern State, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D. The play contains content that may not be suitable for children. For ticket information, call (318) 357-4483.

“Really Really” is about a group of Generation Me college students in the aftermath of a wild campus party. The play, one of off-Broadway’s most acclaimed hits upon its New York premiere, takes a disturbing look at Generation Me and its unstoppable quest for success at all costs. “Really, Really” is edgy, funny, caustic and shocking, but thoughtful and weighty enough to hold its own even among audience members who think tweeting’s for birds and “Glee” is an after school activity.

The play raises questions about a generation so quick to demand things (money, sex, power) that is doesn’t stop to consider what they cost.

“My character is someone who in order to further herself and make a solid future weaves a web of lies,” said Hays, a graduating senior from Baton Rouge. “She gets what she wants but ruins a lot of people’s lives in the process.”

Hays said the play is powerful and should speak to NSU students who see it.

“The play discusses issues that are very current with my generation. One is the selfishness of Generation Me,” said Hays. “So many of them are focused on now and what they need to get instead of caring about relationships and the sacrifices they make in those relationships because of careless mistakes.”

Social media is one of the important parts of the lives of many in Generation Me. Hays, like most of her peers is on social media, but she did give it up for a year at one point because she didn’t like what she was seeing.

“People can become quite desensitized because of social media,” said Hays. “It is easy to let things become much less personal.”

Hays loved “Really Really” from the moment she read it, but she found parts of it difficult.

“The play has a lot of language and the pivotal moments are not pretty,” she said. “I had to ask myself at what point do things cross the lines. I think the important message the play brings is worth the heaviness.”

Hays has been in “As You Like It,” “Hairspray,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Once on this Island,” “Nunsense” and “A Prom to Die For.” Playing Leigh in “Really Really” has been a welcome challenge.

“I haven’t done a lot of heavy roles mostly comic relief parts,” said Hays. “This role is so meaty that is has pushed me and helped me blossom as an actor. I’m blessed to be part of it and am grateful that Pia (Wyatt) put her trust in me for such a challenging role.”

Hays spent this past week auditioning for roles in summer production at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina. She hopes to get work this summer then move to Atlanta.

“People in the theatre and dance program have a good work ethic and it’s infectious,” she said. “When I first came here to audition, I loved the vibe here and felt the determination that people had.”

 

Dr. Greg Granger, professor of history and political science at Northwestern State University was elected vice president of the Louisiana Political Science Association at the group’s annual meeting recently.  

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Computer Information Systems program will host a reception to open its Mobile Applications and Networking computer labs, which was funded through a grant from State Farm Insurance. The $40,000 grant provided funds to update labs with new computers, laptops, Ipads and other devices to enhance learning for CIS students.

            The reception will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18 in the Natchitoches Room of Russell Hall.  Tours of the labs in Rooms 101C and 104 will be available.  

            “For the Mobile Applications Lab, the equipment bought allows students to develop applications for mobile devices and then test those applications on a variety of mobile devices such as iPads, iPhones and Androids,” said Curtis Penrod, CIS coordinator. “In the Networking Lab, the equipment allows students to get a more hands-on look at hardware, such as taking apart a computer to see its components. Students will also be able to interact with some forensic components to test the security of various devices.” The Networking Lab has a component in which students can set up, wire and run the network in the room, added Eddie Horton, who, along with Sarah Wright, both CIS instructors, were principal investigators of the project.

             “The mobile applications course allows students to code for several mobile operating systems, Wright said.  “Right now we are focusing on iOS (Apple) and Android.  Android development can be done using Java on any machine, so we bought devices like the Android phones so students could test and present their apps on devices, not just emulators.  “Development through iOS can be accomplished in a couple of different ways but it is important the students get some experience using the Apple development tools and languages which are Objective-C and Swift.  This must be done on an Apple computer, thus we purchased the Macs so the students could have this experience.  

            The program now has a classroom of 16 iMac desktop machines for teaching in the classroom and four laptop MacBook Airs for the students to use outside of the classroom.  Faculty were also able to purchase one of the newer Apple devices,  an iPad Pro, to allow students to develop and test for that type of device. 

            “All in all this grant allowed the Mobile Applications Lab to obtain the devices we did not yet have and fill the room with the computers we needed to expand this course offering,” Wright said.

            Andy Baragona, a project manager with State Farm and 2003 Northwestern State CIS graduate, facilitated the grant.  Since graduating, Baragona has been actively involved in building the relationship between State Farm and Northwestern State and is the campus manager tasked with recruiting new talent from NSU.  He has assisted more than 40 NSU students in receiving summer internships and full-time employment opportunities at State Farm in the last 12 years and assists them through informal mentoring relationships throughout their careers.   Baragona has aided the CIS program in receiving more than $90,000 in State Farm grants in the past three years and serves as a member of the CIS Advisory Council.  Baragona has also helped the university by organizing an NSU Alumni group in Bloomington, Illinois, the headquarters of State Farm, that has grown to nearly 50 members. 

            “Preparing students for the digital workplace is vital for the future,” said State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Jeff Davis. “This mobile development lab will go a long ways towards making sure students from Northwestern State are able to step into the technological workplace that now exists.”

            Northwestern State’s CIS degree program prepares individuals for high demand, lucrative careers as user support specialists, systems analysts, programmers, CIS managers, network and computer systems administrators, software developers and dozens of other related opportunities.  CIS careers are ranked near the top for growth opportunities, career satisfaction and entry-level salaries.

            Northwestern State’s CIS program is nationally recognized for excellence in systems analysis and design, database design and development, Internet web design and development and object-oriented programming. 

            NSU offers CIS concentrations in application development, networking and systems management and web development, as well as classes in mobile applications development, data analytics, network implementation and administration and cloud computing.  

            For more information on NSU’s CIS programs, visit cis.nsula.edu or contact Penrod at penrodc@nsula.edu.

            The Northwestern State University Jazz Orchestra will perform in concert Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Galindo Rodriguez conducts the orchestra.

            The guest artist for the concert is Graham Breedlove, a trumpet soloist with the Army Blues jazz ensemble, part of The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own" in Washington, D.C. Breedlove has appeared as a soloist, composer/arranger or lead player on five CDs with the Army Blues. He also appears as musical director, soloist and composer/arranger on “Voodoo Boogaloo,” the debut recording by Swamp Romp, a Louisiana-music group comprised of members of the Army Blues.

In an effort to promote jazz, Breedlove has presented clinics, masterclasses, and appeared as a guest soloist at colleges and universities across the country, and he has served on the faculties of Towson University, Catholic University of America and the National Jazz Workshop.  He appears on the Hal Leonard Jazz Play Along Series, an educational book/CD series with over 125 volumes currently available in music stores around the world. During the 2008 holiday season, Breedlove volunteered to participate in a USO concert tour of Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, performing for thousands of military men and women with country singers Mark Wills and Craig Morgan, comedian Louis CK and model/TV personality Leann Tweeden. In 2011 he was honored by his undergraduate alma mater when he was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction as the 2011 Young Alumnus of the Year.

            The program will include compositions and arrangements by Breedlove and compositions by Tom Kubis, Dizzy Gillespie, Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, L. Bonfa, Maria Toledo, George Allen and Chano Pozo.