Brett Tassin took computer science to new heights, literally.

As part of his computer science research, Brett programmed CoDrone EDU drones using Python coding. These compact drones are designed for classroom use and can detect colors, sense direction, and avoid obstacles, all which are powered by the code the Brett writes and uploads.

“These drones serve as valuable teaching tools in computer science, allowing students to apply their coding skills in an engaging, hands-on way,” Brett explained. 

The drones are small, but the vision is big. Brett sees real-world potential for autonomous drones across fields like agriculture and logistics. Working with LSUA’s Technovation Center, he explored different drone models, licensing requirements, and how to eventually build out a Drone Zone on campus.

Through this experience, Brett brought new technology into LSUA classrooms and opened the door for future students to do even more.

Louisiana Christian University held its 170th commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, in Guinn Auditorium in two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The university conferred 154 undergraduate degrees and 65 graduate degrees, representing students from eight states and eight foreign countries.

Graduating music majors William Dunham and Cheyenne Carbaugh presented special music. Dunham performed “It is Well with My Soul” on the marimba, and Carbaugh sang “I’ll Walk with God.”

Graduates offered their reflections before the conferring of degrees.

“LCU has taught me to depend on God, deeply and honestly, and in every season to give God glory for it all, West said.

She thanked her family, friends and professors for the support offered during her time in school.

Logan Brimmer, criminal justice major and student athlete, said football and Jesus Christ got him through.

“As we leave here today, may we all have the grit of an athlete and the grace of a believer,” he offered his fellow graduates.

Dunham said he would fondly remember his “late-night shenanigans and Whataburger runs” with his friends at LCU.

“Responsibility comes to those who step up and take those opportunities,” he said. “Every change in our lives is an opportunity to trust the Lord in a deeper way. I can look back and I can see the hand of the Lord on every aspect of my life.”

Karen Carter, LCU’s executive director of marketing, graduated with her Master of Strategic Leadership.

“For years, I’ve had the opportunity to capture the candid moments that tell the story of our time here,” Carter said. She encouraged her fellow students to “remember the beauty of what lies in between the shots.”

Jamel Owosu, Master of Business Administration, like Carter, earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees at LCU. He also played basketball for the Wildcats.

“Faculty and coaches showed me how important it is to have Christ as the center of my life, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

Elisabeth McGrath, B.S. in business administration – economics/finance concentration, transferred to LCU.

“When I first walked on this campus, I felt peace, purpose and the unmistakable presence of God,” she said. “The time here has been a personal spiritual journey with the Lord. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, but also stands as a testimony of how far we’ve all come.”

Following the conferring of degrees, LCU President-Elect Mark Johnson offered a charge to the 2025 graduating class.

He encouraged graduates to live by Ephesians 6:10.

“You’re at a finish line, and you’re heading to a new starting line,” Johnson said. “Celebrate today, but know you will have tribulations ahead. There will be hurdles, new things to overcome, so ‘Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.’”

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is on a statewide Bridging Success Tour to spotlight local efforts in expanding work-based learning and internship opportunities. The tour is connecting school systems, business leaders, and workforce partners to share ideas and build stronger ties between education and local industries. Today, May 13, the team will visit Rapides Parish.

In partnership with The Orchard Foundation, this event will showcase how hands-on learning is preparing Louisiana students for successful careers—and how communities can work together to grow these opportunities.

Local partners, such as Crest, RoyOMartin, and CLTCC will present to the group, and a student panel will speak about their experiences in Career and Technical Education programs.

Attendees will also tour Tioga High School and visit classrooms where students are learning skills in welding, carpentry, and automotive work.

Who:

● BESE Board Members

● Superintendents and school district leaders from the central region

● Business, Community, and Higher Ed Partners

When: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Tioga High School Multipurpose Building (Rear of the school, use student parking lot to access), 1207 Tioga Road, Ball

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Louisiana Christian University baseball program snagged an early two-run lead Monday in its NAIA postseason debut but once starting pitcher Cy Fontenot departed following five shutout innings, the wheels came off in a disastrous eight-run eruption by Indiana Tech in the Warriors’ 8-2 triumph in the Kingsport Opening Round.

It was the only game completed Monday due to weather. A four-game slate is on tap today with LCU (29-25) waiting on the loser of the matchup between Cumberland and Columbia with a projected start time of 5 o’clock.

Indiana Tech rose to 39-19 behind a 14-hit attack, eight in the pivotal sixth against three Wildcats relievers. The Warriors sent 12 batters to the plate in the outburst.

LCU’s offense was paced by Hunter Gotreaux with a three-hit day over four at-bats. Brady Huffman put together two singles, one of which resulting in an RBI that brought Harrison Waxley in from third base.

Adrian Aguilar notched career base hit numbers 205 and 206. Braden Trull wrapped up the hit tally with a seeing-eye single, and Braden McLin drove in the first RBI of the tournament on a squeeze bunt.

Kees Park will host Cleco Presents: The Pineville City Championship for the Central Louisiana Disc Golf Association this Saturday, May 17. 

This is a 1 day 2 round PDGA C-tier event. Cloud 9 will be onsite for Am payouts and all disc golf needs. CLDGA is proud to host this event for the 6th year and hope to continue this event in the future. There is a 72 player cap with caps on each division so get in quick as this one usually fills up.

For more information, visit this link. 

By Brad Dison

Public libraries are important to our communities because they provide free access to all the world’s recorded knowledge.  Public libraries promote education and literacy in safe and welcoming environments to people of all ages, backgrounds, and social class.  We, as citizens, have a responsibility to return the books we borrow by a set date, or we will face the shame of returning an overdue book.    

In April 2010, Mark Bartlett, head librarian at the New York Society Library, noticed that two books checked out by the same person had not been returned.  According to the library records, George checked out two books on October 5, and the books were due back on November 2.  On October 15, ten days after checking out the books, George had to travel for work.  He was a salesman of sorts who was trying to rally support for an idea rather than a tangible product.  He referred to it as a promotional tour.  He left New York City and, over the next two weeks, visited factories and farms in nearly 60 towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  George, then 57 years old, hoped the trip would improve his health.  He had gotten sick during the summer and was not recovering as quickly as he had expected.

The fines on George’s overdue books began accruing on November 3.  When George returned to New York on November 13, he failed to return the books.  Perhaps his health did not improve as he had hoped.  Perhaps he was exhausted by the whirlwind trip.  Maybe he simply forgot.  When the head librarian learned of the overdue books, he sent a letter to George’s home address about the overdue books.  But there was a problem.  By the time the library learned of the overdue books, George had died.  In their correspondence with James Rees, representative of George’s estate, Mark asked if they could try to locate the overdue books.  Mark explained, “We’re not actively pursuing the overdue fines, but we would be very happy if we were able to get the books back.”  

Despite his best efforts, James was unable to locate the books.  As a last resort to rectify the situation, James decided to replace the books.  But there was another problem.  The books had become rare.  In May 2010, James found a copy of one of the overdue books, The Law of Nations, on a rare books website, made the purchase, and gave it to the library.  The price of replacing just that one overdue library book was $12,000.  James is still searching for a copy of the other overdue book.  $12,000 is a huge sum to pay to replace a library book, but the representative of George’s estate got off light.  Had the library not been so forgiving, the fines would have totaled around $300,000.

You see, in April 2010, the librarian learned that the books were overdue by 221 years.  They had been checked out on October 5 and were due back on November 2, 1789.  George, the salesman who traveled throughout New England, was rallying support for the United States Constitution.  On the ledger which recorded the name of the person who checked out the books was written by quill and ink, not George, but “President.”  George Washington had been President of the United States for less than six months when he checked the books out.  

Sources:

1.     Ed Pilkington, “Fine owed by George Washington for overdue library books now $300,000,” The Guardian, April 18, 2010, accessed May 11, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/18/george-washington-library-new-york.

2.     Catherine Treesh, “New England Tour,” MountVernon.org, accessed May 11, 2025, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/new-england-tour#:~:text=George%20Washington%20went%20on%20his,%2C%20Massachusetts%2C%20and%20New%20Hampshire..

3.     “George Washington’s 221-year overdue library book: A timeline,” The Week, updated January 8, 2015, accessed May 11, 2025, https://theweek.com/articles/494173/george-washingtons-221year-overdue-library-book-timeline.

On May 13, 1846, the United States Congress formally declared war on Mexico, initiating the Mexican-American War. This conflict, lasting until 1848, significantly altered the territorial landscape of North America. 

The war stemmed from disputes over the annexation of Texas and the desire for territorial expansion under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. President James K. Polk, a strong proponent of expansion, sought to acquire California and New Mexico. Tensions escalated when U.S. troops, under General Zachary Taylor, advanced into disputed territories, leading to skirmishes with Mexican forces.

The declaration of war was met with mixed reactions. Supporters viewed it as a fulfillment of America’s destiny, while critics, including then-Congressman Abraham Lincoln, questioned the legitimacy of the conflict.

The war concluded with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, resulting in Mexico ceding a vast portion of its northern territories to the U.S., including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of several other states. This acquisition significantly expanded U.S. territory but also intensified debates over slavery’s expansion, contributing to the sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.

By JIM BUTLER

Chief Rapides Public Defender Deidre Fuller and those in several other area parishes won a round last week in their continuing effort to keep their jobs. 

According to Louisiana Illuminator, legislators for the second year in a row pushed back on State Public Defender Rémy Starns’ efforts to gain total authority over Louisiana’s sprawling indigent defense system. 

His proposal would also have made it easier for him to fire the small group of public defense attorneys who have publicly clashed with him. 

Two lawmakers hastily pulled bills from consideration Thursday after members of the House Committee on Criminal Justice questioned Starns’ motivation for pushing the legislation. 

The committee’s vice chair, Rep. Vanessa LaFleur, D-Baton Rouge, criticized the proposal as a “power grab” from Starns and then asked her colleagues to squash it.

Attorneys who run local public defender offices in central and north Louisiana also testified Thursday that Starns was using the legislation to push them out of their jobs. He was upset, they said, because they had opposed his bills at previous legislative hearings. 

“We are about to have our careers wiped out because Mr. Starns doesn’t think that we should come before you and share with you when we disagree with his policies,” said Michelle AndrePont, the head of Caddo Parish’s public defender office and one of the attorneys Starns is trying to dismiss. 

All of the attorneys at risk of losing their jobs testified during Thursday’s committee meeting. They said Starns was trying to fire them, primarily because they have criticized his policies in front of state lawmakers and the state public defender board. 

Collectively, the attorneys said they have over a century of experience working in public defense. None have received a negative performance review, they added. 

“What do we five have in common? We are active in the legislative process,” said Brett Brunson, who has run the public defender office in Natchitoches Parish for 18 years and is at risk of losing his job. “At times, we have been at odds with Mr. Starns and his proposals.”

When the public defenders testified last year, they warned they might lose their jobs over speaking out publicly against Starns’ proposals. A few legislators appeared taken aback Thursday that Starns was attempting to fire them.

“You all are the same ones who came in opposition? And all of you are the same ones who are now terminated?” Rep. Alonzo Knox, R-New Orleans, asked the attorneys. 

“Yes,” responded Trisha Ward, chief public defender for Evangeline Parish.

House Bill 447, sponsored by Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, would have eliminated a review process AndrePont and other chief public defenders are in the middle of now to fight Starns’ decision to fire them.  

It also would have taken away some limited power lawmakers bestowed on the State Public Defender Oversight Board just last year. House Bill 516, sponsored by Rep. Roy Daryl Adams, D-Jackson, would have consolidated authority over local public defense funds and operations with Starns. Both bills were scuttled temporarily by the authors but could be brought up for reconsideration later in the session. 

At the urging of Gov. Jeff Landry, state lawmakers in 2024 transferred significant authority for managing the state’s public defender system from an oversight board to the state public defender’s position, which Starns has held since 2020. 

Starns had clashed with the previous state public defender board on several issues and told legislators last year its members were interfering with his ability to improve the public defender system overall.

The new version of the board, which has less power than its previous version, is made up of appointees from the governor, legislative leaders and the Louisiana Supreme Court.

 It oversees the public defense system’s largest contracts, mostly with private attorneys who provide death penalty defense, and it sets the salary scale for chief public defenders hired to run local offices. 

Yet even on these limited issues, Starns has had difficulties getting along with the new board, whose members were seated last July. 

The new board initially declined to go along with Starns’ proposal to route the death penalty contracts through local public defender offices. Its members have also twice turned down his proposed pay scale for chief public defenders, primarily because it would have cut the salaries of some by tens of thousands of dollars.

Previous legislation prohibits termination of any defender contracts before July 1 of this year.

In March, Starns sought an opinion from Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office on whether   he could unilaterally end district defender contracts this summer when they expire.

“There is no right to a hearing or an investigation if the annual contract is simply not renewed,” Assistant Attorney General Chimene St. Amant wrote in the memo of opinion.

By JIM BUTLER

Ambulances and animals are among the host of matters on today’s Police Jury meeting agenda.

Parish President Craig Smith proposes the jury receive and approve language provisions in the sole provider contract approved last month with Pafford EMS. 

The recommendations come from the Advisory Advisory Board, apparently prompted by Acadian Ambulance challenging some aspects of the pact approved last month. 

Acadian, the contract holder for decades, questioned Pafford’s filings in the bidding process and asserted the scoring system used by the jury was flawed. Jurors voted 5-4 to award the deal to Pafford. 

Before taking up the ambulance issue today, jurors will address Smith’s resolution to up the bounty paid for beaver tails. 

Currently, the parish pays $35. That would increase to $50. 

The parish doesn’t actually take possession of the tails. Paperwork is completed by trapper and landowner and date-stamped photos of tails are presented to the parish prior to payment. 

Beavers are classified as outlaw quadrupeds in Louisiana and can be taken year-round during daylight hours. They are a nuisance in many areas and a constant threat to low-lying timber stands. 

Contrarily, in extraordinarily dry periods their dam building is valued as a water management factor. 

A steady drop in the price paid for beaver pelts (imagine – the pelts were once so valued as to be an impetus for our nation’s westward move) has led to a decline in the numbers trapped, hence an increase in the numbers chewing their way through cypress and other timber.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Louisiana Christian University baseball team opens its second straight NAIA regional appearance this morning, as the fifth-seeded Wildcats meet No. 4 Indiana Tech in the Kingsport Opening Round double-elimination bracket.

Game 1 of the regional will take place at 10 a.m. CT with LCU (29-24) meeting Indiana Tech’s Warriors (37-19). The winner will face top-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan (42-11) at 5 p.m. CT today. The loser this morning will play on Tuesday morning at 10 against the loser of the Cumberland (37-16-1)-Columbia (41-9) contest.

LCU earned its second straight NAIA Tournament berth by reaching the championship of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament, won by the overall national No. 1 seed, undefeated LSU Shreveport (51-0).

Live stats can be found here and every contest will be live streamed here.

NATCHITOCHES — While music at the Natchitoches Jazz Fest provided thousands with an enjoyable Saturday experience downtown, while two visitors provided plenty of inspirational stories and good humor at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.

Louie Cook, who is continuing a 52-year football coaching career, and author Gaylon White were spellbinding and entertaining in a free 75-minute presentation at the museum Saturday afternoon.

White has written a book, “Coach of a Lifetime,” that chronicles Cook’s life and reaches far beyond football stories. Saturday’s museum program followed that theme.

White, a Los Angeles native and University of Oklahoma graduate who now lives in Kingsport, Tenn., is a former Denver Post and Arizona Republic sportswriter who also spent decades in corporate public relations for major corporations such as Hallmark Cards, Goodyear and Eastman Kodak. He  has written four other books.

Cook has won over 400 games in 41 seasons as a high school football head coach. He has been at Notre Dame of Crowley since 1997 and said as long as he can continue to have positive influence on young people, he will continue in that role.

He stresses family values and faith with his players and all those surrounding the Pioneers’ program. Three of his former players have become priests, along with a host of others who are leading happy and successful lives in a variety of roles and fields.

White said it was his idea, not Cook’s, to write the book, which is published by the international firm of Bookman & Littlefield and has attracted national attention. He became aware of Cook while visiting Crowley doing research for another book.

This one has been well received nationally.

“I’d never heard of Lewis Cook before, but now, thanks to Gaylon White’s book, I won’t forget him,” wrote Jerry Izenberg, a nationally-renowned sportswriter based in Newark, N.J.

During Saturday’s presentation, Cook shared a fascinating series of stories from his life, most from his coaching career, and reflected on the evolution of education and leadership in our society. He said teachers and coaches face unprecedented responsibilities today and more than ever need the support and most of all, the involvement, of parents and family members in the lives of students.

The book is available on Amazon.

Cook, inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, will return to Natchitoches for the 2025 LSHOF Induction Celebration June 26-28, he said, to support his friends and 2025 inductees Danny Broussard, basketball coach at Lafayette’s St. Thomas More Catholic School, and former LSU and Alabama coach Nick Saban.

The Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday afternoon, May 8, that Xzavion Johnson was convicted. He was found guilty of Manslaughter. Johnson has been sentenced to seven years in prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lea Hall. 

Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a three-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 28 East at Rosier Road on Thursday, May 8, at approximately 4pm. The crash claimed the life of 33-year-old Gretchen A. Lucas of Acme.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2019 Honda Pilot, driven by Lucas, and a 2013 Peterbilt were eastbound on Louisiana Highway 28 East. For reasons still under investigation, Lucas failed to slow down as the Peterbilt was preparing to make a left turn onto Rosier Road. As a result, the Honda rear-ended the Peterbilt, causing it to enter into the westbound lane of travel. After this initial impact, the Honda was struck a second time by a westbound 2020 Freightliner.

Lucas, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. The driver of the Peterbilt, who also was restrained, sustained no injuries. The driver of the Freightliner, who also was restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

May 11

Gage Tyler Derosia, 30, Deville – OWI first offense, open container, Louisiana fugitive, tail lamps emit red light, $1,200 bail;

Ashleigh Danielle Galloway, 38, Alexandria – impersonating a peace officer, no bail data;

Tony Jake Hicks, 47, Echo – two counts possession of firearm by convicted felon, running a stop sign, driving under suspension, criminal trespass, contempt of court, $1,200 bail.

May 10

Benjamin Horace Coco, 32, Alexandria – theft, five counts contempt of court, $16,000 bail;

Conner Hartdegen, 24, New Iberia – contempt of court, $25,000 bail;

Jordan Scott Leopard, 37, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, $2,500 bail;

Cameron Allen McCormick, 19, Deville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, modified exhaust, canceled plate violation, $1,300 bail;

Jessie Ray Onishea III, 32, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery with child present, simple assault, $3,000 bail

Jarohn Perkins, 51, Pitkin – OWI fourth offense, driving under suspension, careless operation, switched license plate, contempt of court, $100,300 bail

James Schopper, 41, Deville – OWI first offense, reckless operation of a vehicle, $1,100 bail.

May 9

Harvey Albert Brodnax III, 41, Boyce – theft, contempt of court, $3,500 bail;

Taurus Contrell Brown Sr, 45, Alexandria – battery of a dating partner, $1,500 bail;

Natalie Marie Carlton, 43, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, contempt of court, $5,000 bail;

Darrell Spane Collins, 70, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper window tint, fail to pay fine, $770 bail;

Constance Doylella Cranford, 38, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $29,000 bail;

John Anthony Dubois, 26, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, seven counts contempt of court, $9,500 bail;

Dylan Scott Epnett, 28, Alexandria – possession of controlled dangerous substance, $2,500 bail;

Donald Wayne Foster, 25, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Xavier Deantwine Richard, 24, Alexandria – criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery, unauthorized use of motor vehicle, $2,500 bail;

McNeal Sanders, 26, Alexandria – carnal knowledge of a juvenile, two counts home invasion, resisting an officer, aggravated strangulation of a dating partner, simple battery, aggravated battery, probation violation, two counts contempt of court, $80,500 bail;

Karl Anthony Sanson, 50, Deville – OWI second offense, speeding, open container state law, $1,700 bail;

Elizabeth Helenia Watson, 36, Pineville – driving under suspension, display of temporary license plates, two counts contempt of court, $101,000 bail;

Patrick Scott Williams, 59, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, $1,000 bail;

Rebecca Darlene Wiley, 35, Alexandria – theft, criminal trespass, probation violation, $1,000 bail;

May 8

Jamie Christine Carlock, 21, Boyce – contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

Braylen Dantley, 31, Iowa – criminal damage to property, $1,000 bail;

Michal John Durison Jr, 37, Pineville – theft, criminal trespass, $10,500 bail;

Alexander Edison, 35, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses, improper turn, $1,600 bail;

Phillip Wayne Laprairie, 41, Jonesville – two counts possession of controlled dangerous substances, safety belt violation, failure to secure registration, switched license plate, no MVI sticker, $5,200 bail;

Demonica Lashon Purvis, 30, Baton Rouge – theft, resisting officer, three counts contempt of court, $11,000 bail;

Lakedra Lajuan Quinney, 43, Alexandria – interfering with a law enforcement investigation, resisting an officer, two counts contempt of court, $11,000 bail;

Joshua Paul Ulhman, 36, Pine Prairie – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data.

May 7

Emmanuel Frank, 21, Alexandria – four counts simple burglary, four counts contempt of court, $75,000 bail;

Ashley Nicole Giles, 46, Glenmora – OWI first offense, safety belt violation, improper driving on the left, $1,200 bail;

Kenneth Wayne Gilliam, 44, Alexandria – possession of controlled dangerous substances, improper window tint, $2,600 bail;

Brandon Lewis Howard, 38, Alexandria – aggravated domestic abuse battery strangulation, aggravated domestic abuse with child present, aggravated kidnapping, domestic abuse battery, false imprisonment, $211,500 bail;

Marvin Gregory Humphrey, 30, Alexandria – aggravated battery second degree, possess/sell weapon with obliterated serial number, simple assault, simple battery, four counts contempt of court, $142,000 bail;

Mayon Dameko Jones Jr, 24, Ferriday – second degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, parole violations, $700,000 bail;

Matthew Paul Merchant, 42, Hineston – Louisiana fugitive, $7,500 bail;

Jerry Mitchell Moses Jr, 40, Alexandria – three counts possession of controlled dangerous substances, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, speeding, contempt of court, $10,200 bail;

Michael Drew Smith, 43, Pineville – two counts sexual battery, indecent behavior with juveniles, misdemeanor sexual battery, cruelty to juveniles, $202,500 bail;

Aaron Lee Ware, 34, Woodworth – OWI second offense, sex offender failure to timely register, parole violations, $2,500 bail.

NATCHITOCHES – Rep. Cleo Fields issued congressional commendations May 8 to acknowledge the role that Northwestern State University’s College of Nursing and School of Allied have impacted public health over the past several decades.

Colson Fontenot, a representative of Fields’ office who has family ties to Natchitoches and Cane River, presented the proclamations to NSU President James Genovese and Dr. Aimee Badeaux, dean of NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, during a reception at NSU’s Cenla campus in England Industrial Park, Alexandria.

NSU is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the College of Nursing and the 55th anniversary of the School of Allied Health. Northwestern State admitted its first baccalaureate nursing students in 1949 and introduced the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology in 1968.

NSU’s Cenla campus accommodates associate and bachelor degree programs that align with regional workforce needs in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and administrative services. After an extensive upgrade and expansion last year, the 65,000-square-foot Cenla campus features state-of-the-art classrooms, STEM facilities, computer labs, clinical labs and faculty offices as well as areas for workshops and seminars, all of which support NSU’s mission to offer diverse and dynamic learning experiences in central Louisiana. Enrollment at the CENLA campus has increased nearly 60 percent in recent years. The Cenla campus supports both face-to-face and online learning platforms with a suite of support services to help students in Rapides and surrounding parishes.

Information on degree programs offered through NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health is available at https://www.nsula.edu/nursing/. Information on NSU’s CENLA campus is available at https://www.nsula.edu/CENLA/.

NSU Cenla

Northwestern State University concluded anniversary celebrations for the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health with a reception at the NSU Cenla Campus in the England Industrial Park in Alexandria. From left are Dr. Aimee Badeaux, dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health; NSU President James Genovese and Colson Fontenot, representing U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, who issued presented a commendation to the CONSAH for continued commitment to public health in the region.