Global Home // Nicholls International Students
By Leroy Triggs, Staff Writer Many international students come to Nicholls State University representing various parts of the world including Australia, England, Brazil and other countries. Nicholls is the collegiate home of international students from over 30 different countries. Most international students come to play for the athletics programs which also grants them scholarships. Senior soccer player Kristy Helmers says she has come to appreciate the region. “I love everything here,” Helmers says. “The people, soccer, and food are the things I love the most.” Helmers is from Canberra, Australia and came to Nicholls in 2015 to play soccer while studying dietetics. During recruitment, Helmers says she created an instant bond with some of her teammates that she didn’t find while visiting other schools. After four years in the Thibodaux community, Helmers says the local people bring everyone in and make them feel comfortable. “Down south the people are so friendly. It’s like a family, anyone would have a genuine conversation with you. The Nicholls international community also helps you fit in by letting you see that there are other students that go through the same thing you’re going through.” Helmers says the way Americans play soccer involves more aggressiveness on the field. “It wasn’t a massive culture shock, just the food like jambalaya and gumbo, but I love those foods now. The soccer is more physical in the states.” In some cases, international students came into the U.S. before college, as the case is for Brazilian-American Esther Leal. Leal is a sophomore psychology major from Porto Alergre, Brazil. Leal moved to the United States when she was 17 years old, and graduated high school at St. Charles Catholic in Laplace. When it came time for college, Leal says it was another new experience to learn for herself. “After 16 years of one school I had to adjust to a new high school. Two years later, adjusting to college was difficult because after high school I was just getting used to the language. From a living standpoint I had to get adjusted to living with my aunt then living on campus, which isn’t possible in Brazil.” Leal chose to go to Nicholls to keep her family connection strong in the states. In Louisiana, Leal says she has a three-hour time zone difference from her family back in Brazil. “I choose to come to Nicholls because it feels like home. It’s the closest to my aunt even though I miss my grandma’s cooking, I use to eat healthier there. I also miss my little sister who’s three. I feel like I miss out on some events with her. I also miss my friends from there,” Leal says. Leal does not let the distance keep her away from all Brazilian cuisine, even though it is not easy to find. “Coxinha is a great Brazilian food that I can make here. It’s a dough with chicken inside it. It’s difficult to make because the dough has to be made with the chicken broth.” One holiday Brazil and Louisiana share together is Carnival, commonly referred to as Mardi Gras in the Bayou region. “I believe it’s bigger in Brazil because the entire country celebrates it. Even my small city has huge celebrations for the holiday.” Piyush Salekar is a sophomore tennis player from Maharashtra, India. Piyush was a transfer from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. “I didn’t like the environment at Mercer. The tennis program, coaches, and even professors care about students as individuals,” said Salekar about Nicholls. Salekar’s family is involved in the business world of India, and he grew up with an interest in business. The way the education system operates is also a huge change for Salekar. In India, he says they have one cumulative test at the end of the year. “I was never used to studying every day. I feel like it’s better the way they do it here because it gives you structure and you have to manage your schedule.” The Indian native also found it hard to find food from home country in America, but his favorite is buttered chicken. “The chicken is marinated, smoked with charcoal, and a different type of gravy and ate with bread.” Salekar’s communication with his parents in home country is difficult because India is 11 and a half hours ahead of U.S. Central time zone, which limits his communication with family to twice a day. “It’s tough to communicate with everyone back home, but I make sure I communicate with my parents and close friends.” Even with spending the past year and a half away from his parents, Salekar is no stranger to being away from his parents. In India he played on the international circuit in Asia and Europe for nine months. In that time span he climbed over 1,500 spots and entered the top 350 even though he was suffering a wrist injury while playing. “I’m used to being away from my parents for at most two months at a time, so being away from my family isn’t anything new but knowing I won’t be with them until May is kind of tough.” Salekar says he manages to keep a reminder of home — a small monument of Brahman, the Hindu religion god. “A God is God regardless of region.” An International Student Experience with Kristy Helmers senior dietetics major from Canberra, Australia https://youtu.be/fbkX2m7I4xo International Memories International Service Coordinator Marilyn Gonzalez maintains a collection of trinkets from the international students she works with. Each trinket was mailed to her from a student after graduating from Nicholls State University.
Building a Future // Nicholls 25-Year Plan
Previous Next See Full Nicholls Master Plan By Brandon Cherry, Staff Writer Visualizing goals helps achievement. At Nicholls State University, a 25-year master plan is giving pictures and visuals to what the institution can look like and how it can grow in the Bayou region. Alex Arceneaux, vice president for enrollment and external affairs, says a diagram of this outlook for the university is what encourages donors to give. “It’s important to donors to see images and have a plan in order to receive donations,” Arceneaux says. The school’s campus has received many enhancements in the last few years, and the master plan roadmaps the numerous upgrades it plans to accomplish over the next quarter century. Nicholls State University President Jay Clune, who leads the vision of this project, implemented the plan based on feedback from students, faculty and staff. Clune created a subcommittee in the fall 2018 semester to help form the plan. With so many old buildings and needs on campus, the subcommittee used the survey feedback to show where to start the work. Current and former students found that the least favorite building, by more than 200 votes, was Peltier Hall. Problems like air conditioning inconsistencies, older styled wooden desks and frequent use by underclassman were just some of the problems associated with the building. Starting in the summer of 2019, work began to modernize the restrooms and lighting, as well as fresh paint for the entire building using inmate labor from the Lafourche Parish Jail. Nicholls State alumna Masyn Cortez says she is pleased to see the old building finally getting a new look. “This is a much needed change for Peltier Hall,” Cortez says. “I hated having to use the restrooms in there; they always looked unsanitary.” Another major renovation began during the Fall 2019 semester in the Donald G. Bollinger Memorial Student Union. The entire union was gutted to allow a full remodel. The renovations were completed in time for the university’s homecoming celebrations in late October. Other expected renovations to come are improvements to Ellender Memorial Library, Barker Hall and a new student media office space in Talbot Hall. Funding for these improvements across campus come not only from donors, but also from partnerships with area organizations. “The end goal is to make Nicholls the best place we can make it.” Cost Effective Renovations Partnering with Local Organizations
The Drip: A Video Series
Choosing to be the Minority Episode 2: One Big Picture with Davonte BurseNicholls NAACP President & Crown Mentorhttps://youtu.be/oAUrVoKCQGs Episode 3: Double Sided with Brandon Thomas & Shannon Royal https://youtu.be/rbh04cwWYFU Episode 4: Big Pressure with Grant HenryMen’s Basketball Manager & Crown Mentorhttps://youtu.be/MiJOmai5YA4 A LITTLE HELP WITH THE TERMS The Drip dictionary HBCU Historically Black Colleges and Universities PWI Predominantly white institution Cultural Appropriation When a different culture adopts cultural traditions of another culture Divine 9 A common name for The National Pan-Hellenic Council, an organization made up of nine historically black sororities and fraternities: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta Minority The smaller number or part, especially a number that is less than half of the whole number Cultural Appreciation Taking the time out to learn about different cultures and their traditions. To become more open in understanding the truths about a culture and embracing them in a respectful manner Diversity The condition of having or being composed of differing elements, the inclusion of different types of people (such people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
A Place to Stay // Nicholls Retention
By Erik Koike, Features Editor Enrolling in college after completing high school is a choice for many high school graduates, but keeping college students enrolled until they reach graduation is a challenge that many universities face. Nicholls State University has created several iniatives aimed at keeping students, especially those most at risk for leaving, once they’ve enrolled. One program that aims to keep a group of students on campus is the Colonel Retention of Winners Network, or “CROWN.” CROWN focuses on the retention of first-year black male students through a system that pairs freshmen with experienced mentors. CROWN coordinator Farren Clark says the overall focus of the program is on academic success, as well as cultural exposure and awareness. “The challenge is that many first-year students don’t understand what it takes to be successful,” Clark says. “To know that there are others who are willing to connect with you and who have the same questions is so important for these students to understand.” CROWN was established in the spring 2018 semester, and prior to the start of the program, retention for black male freshmen was below 50 percent. According to Rene Hicks from the Nicholls’ Office of Institutional Research, those retention rates grew to just below 60 percent by the end of the programs first year. Hicks also added that the most recent data shows rates for this group now at 70 percent, which is the highest the school has ever seen. Clark says that part of CROWN’s success is simply giving these students a representation around campus which they may not have found otherwise. “When you look at the makeup of faculty at Nicholls, there is a large contrast, so having a peer mentor creates a level of teamwork and a shared goal of success. For these young men in CROWN, they are being reintroduced to themselves to work out the purpose they already carry within them.” Another program to improve retention rates at Nicholls is “SAM,” which stands for Student Advising and Mentoring. The program began in 2015 with the goal of improving the advising process of sophomore level students and above, since Nicholls already had a freshman advising center in the works. The director of SAM, Amy Adams says she intends for the program to better train and educate the advisors and faculty, while also helping students learn about internships, undergraduate research, service learning and more. “We want them to understand more about their degree program and the path that they’re taking, anything we can do to help them get to their career goal,” Adams says. Adams also hopes that SAM will continue to build off what CROWN has started. “We want to create CROWN for females, as well as mentoring programs for all first-time freshman within their specific programs no matter their race.” With various programs and organizations already existing and more planned for the future, Nicholls is setting up for continued success. With increasing enrollment and retention rates, the school looks to expand with various renovation projects and a larger population of Colonels for the foreseeable future.
Growing in Spirit // Colonel Pride
by Brandon Cherry, Staff Writer Nicholls State University has long been known for a lack of school spirit, but students and alumni say Colonel Pride is growing with sports teams winning and a national nod for best regional university three years in a row. “School spirit at Nicholls has really soared since I graduated,” says Wade Rodrigue, who graduated with a degree in English education in 2002. “In my years at Nicholls State spirit was poor. Many students and faculty did not attend sporting events or participate on campus.” It was not until recently that students on campus began to show their Colonel Pride. Thibodaux resident Timmy Pineville, a former painter at Nicholls State University, remembers when Nicholls had a terrible football team. “I wouldn’t even go to the football games because it wasn’t worth my time,” says Pineville, who now attends every home game. The rise in school spirit is driven, in part, by the success of Nicholls athletics and potential academic successes. Many students are finding their school spirit in 2019 because they have something to cheer about. The recent turnaround started with the hiring of head coach Tim Rebowe before the 2015 season. In his five years of coaching the Colonels’ football team, Rebowe has turned the program from perennial doormat to postseason contender. The team won a Southland Conference title in 2018, the team’s first banner in 13 years. During the season, the team faces Southeastern Louisiana University in the River Bell Classic, an annual rivalry game where the winner walks away with the River Bell Trophy. Nicholls student Caroline Scorsone says that game brings out the most enthusiasm for both schools. “I believe we have a lot of school spirit, especially against Southeastern,” Scorsone says. The rivalry runs deep, as the two teams are tied (14-14) in head-to-head matchups, and they face each other Nov. 21 at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, La. Like many schools, football seems to draw the most attention and students. “I believe Nicholls has school spirit but it could be so much more, people recently have been excited for football but not other sports and that should change,” says Nicholls international student Esther Leal. Like football, women’s basketball also now has a winning record. Under coach DoBee Plaisance, the Lady Colonels finished (20-12) in 2018. This record pushed them to a Southland Conference Tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Although they were eliminated in the first round, their run provided another spark for the Nicholls athletic department. As the athletics started to see some success, the university itself earned some national recognition. Nicholls was recently named one of the top regional universities in the South by U.S. News and World Report for the third year in a row. Students are given individualized guidance on their career path, resulting in a better success rate. According to USA Today, the national average retention rate is 44 percent, and Nicholls has a 72 percent retention rate after the second year. After students understand what Nicholls has to offer, they end up finishing their degree at Nicholls. Many students begin their first semester with the mindset that Nicholls was just an easy and logical choice for college. Nicholls’s enrollment is about 6,500 students compared to the state’s largest university — LSU with more than 32,000 students. Despite the lower number of students at the university, Nicholls aluma Cherish Pitre says the school is a special place. “I am so glad to have obtained my degree in marketing from Nicholls,” Pitre says. “I will always have Colonel Pride and hold the memories I made at Nicholls close to my heart.” a colonel football tailgate Nicholls’ Tilou and Patrice Guidry heading over to the student section to get the crowd pumped up for the game. The new Nicholls State beer produced by Abita. Boots Clune wondering why it is still so hot in October?! Reed Boudreaux, Allie Massey, and Elizabeth Schouest hanging out under the Sigma Alpha Epsilon tent. Students in fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon having fun, playing a game of corn hole. Cinda Cervantes, Zach Gremillion, Evelyn Martinez, Maegan Terrell, and Olivia Bilello heading into the game. University President, Dr. Jay Clune introducing Colonel Retreat beer, the new Nicholls State beer produced by Abita. Jessie Geoghagan, Benjamin Gautreaux, Emilee Evans, SGA Vice President Markaylen Wiltz, and Jade Hawkins gather at the Nicholls Veterans tailgate.
Building a Winning Culture // Nicholls Athletics
by Leroy Triggs, Staff Writer Nicholls State University has come a long way to make its sports programs more successful — from focusing on good coaching, more rigorous academic standards to improving facilities. “Everybody understands that athletics are bigger than just a Saturday. It’s what can a Saturday do for the institution. We’re a marketing outreach for the school,” says Athletic Director Matt Roan. The institution experienced a revival in athletics in the 2017-2018 school year that continues this year. In 2017-2018, the football team made an FCS playoff appearance; men’s basketball won the regular season title; women’s basketball won the Southland Conference Tournament title; and softball won the regular season title. In 2019, the football team is ranked as a Top 25 FCS team, and is favored to repeat as Southland Conference Champions. Part of creating a winning culture is good coaching and believing in success. In football, the Colonels finished (8-3) and third in the Southland Conference in the 2017 season, earning their first playoff appearance since 2005. The next season, the Colonels won the Southland Conference title and their first playoff game since 1986. Quarterback Chase Fourcade says the job head coach Tim Rebowe had done was phenomenal. “From the beginning we have always had the mentality of ‘why can’t Nicholls win’, because we know we had the talent to be the best and we’re motivated to go show it,” Fourcade says. In women’s basketball, head coach DoBee Plasiance says the team advancing to the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament could not have been possible without the student-athletes buying into the program and striving for excellence. For the women’s basketball team, it had to build itself up from the bottom as she became head coach before the 2008-2009 season. Plasiance says her goal of helping the team win was only possible through help from above to try and change the culture. “I believed we could win when I took the job but I knew the only way we could win is through the grace of God and if we set standards that we don’t even bend on,” Plaisance says. “All I could do is give them a vision because at first I had nothing to show them. They wanted to come to Nicholls and make a difference.” In addition to improving the teams play on the field, coaches like Angel Santiago, Nicholls softball head coach, says raising his team’s overall GPA has contributed to overall success. Nicholls has won the top 10 percent award for two years in a row, applauding teams for their excellence on the field and in the classroom. “When we first came to Nicholls the team GPA was at 2.75 now its at 3.4. That gives us a lot of respect from the professors because they know our players care about their grades.” While teams are winning more, Athletic Director Roan says it isn’t possible without continued improvements to many of the teams’ buildings and facilities. Since 2016, Roan has worked to increase the budget for Nicholls Athletics, and it has grown almost $3 million from 2016-2019. “When I came (to Nicholls), the facilities needed to be upgraded, which helps when you’re trying to change a culture and mindset that winning can happen at Nicholls.” meet the players