A 40-year veteran of Louisiana’s postsecondary education system, Lavigne has led Fletcher through expansive growth while working closely with Nicholls to develop a unique collaboration between the two institutions. Touted as a statewide model, the partnership allows students to cross-enroll in courses and receive academic advising at both schools. Fletcher students can be pre-admitted and seamlessly transfer to Nicholls after completing their two-year program, and Fletcher instructors teach developmental courses for Nicholls students. Because of the mutually beneficial relationship, Nicholls has been able to phase out its two-year academic programs and focus on strengthening its bachelor’s and graduate degree offerings.

“All that Fletcher and Nicholls have accomplished together over the past decade is due in very great part to the leadership of Travis Lavigne,” said Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, Nicholls president. “Travis cares deeply about providing access to the college experience, whether it is a certificate or degree. He is a willing partner in any effort to enhance that access.”

Since he became chancellor in 2003, Lavigne — with little financial support from the state and a small faculty and staff — led Fletcher in developing accredited associate degree and certificate programs that meet regional workforce demands. The Ponchatoula native is also an active member of the Houma community and has chaired the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission since its 1997 inception. Under his leadership, hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars are provided annually to Louisiana’s college students through the TOPS program and other scholarships, grants and loans. Hulbert said Lavigne has been one of his most respected colleagues during his 10-year Nicholls presidency.

“Our work together began as two professional colleagues who shared interests and responsibilities,” he said. “It ends a decade later the same way but with a warm friendship to boot!”

]]> http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-to-award-honorary-doctorate-to-fletcher-chancellor/feed/ 0 http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/ul-system-president-to-address-record-number-of-nicholls-spring-graduates/ http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/ul-system-president-to-address-record-number-of-nicholls-spring-graduates/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 18:39:30 +0000 dkliebert http://www.nicholls.edu/news/?p=4851 THIBODAUX — Nicholls State University will hold its largest spring commencement in campus history on Saturday, May 18, in Stopher Gymnasium. Administrators are projecting to confer more than 650 degrees, surpassing last spring’s record of 599.

Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. for College of Arts and Science and College of Education graduates and at 2 p.m. for College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Allied Health and University College graduates.

Dr. Sandra Woodley, who became the eighth president of the University of Louisiana System in January, will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies. A Weaver, Ala., native, Woodley personally understands the challenges of first-generation and nontraditional college students. As the first in her family to attend college, she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees while married with two children. Prior to assuming leadership of the UL System (which governs nine universities, including Nicholls), she gained strategic planning and budgeting experience at four other state system offices, mostly recently serving as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives for the University of Texas System.

During its commencement exercises, Nicholls will also award an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Travis Lavigne Jr., chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma. Lavigne, who has worked in Louisiana post-secondary education for more than 40 years, has led Fletcher in developing accredited associate degree and certificate programs that meet the region’s workforce needs and help prepare students to transfer to a four-year university. He has worked closely with Nicholls to develop a unique, mutually beneficial relationship between the two institutions; the partnership has been touted as a model across the state. Since 1997, Lavigne has also chaired the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission, which administers the TOPS program along with other scholarships, grants and loans. Under his leaderships, hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars are provided annually to Louisiana’s college students.

Woodley

]]> http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/ul-system-president-to-address-record-number-of-nicholls-spring-graduates/feed/ 0 http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-music-faculty-to-present-nocturne-fundraiser/ http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-music-faculty-to-present-nocturne-fundraiser/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:13 +0000 dkliebert http://www.nicholls.edu/news/?p=4848 THIBODAUX — The Nicholls State University Department of Music will present the seventh annual Nocturne — a showcase of faculty talent in support of music scholarships — on Friday, May 10 in the Mary M. Danos Theater of Talbot Hall.

The event will be reminiscent of 19th-century soirées held in the salons of Paris. A cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Guests, who are requested to wear cocktail attire, will hear music from the 18th through the 21st century, including piano, violin, vocal, saxophone, clarinet and harpsichord performances. Final bids on silent auction items will be taken at intermission, and dessert and coffee will follow the concert.

Dr. Carol Britt, head of the Department of Music, said funds raised at Nocturne will help faculty continue to make great progress in recruiting talented student musicians from the Bayou Region and across the world.

“The music faculty not only want to attract talented students to our campus, but, to the extent possible, we want to assist each student financially with a scholarship,” she said. “We believe that it is important that we do everything we can to make the Nicholls experience more affordable for these future performers and teachers of music.”

Individual tickets are available for $50 each, in addition to several sponsorship levels. Guests should reserve their tickets or table by Monday, April 29 by calling 985-448-4600.

]]> http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-music-faculty-to-present-nocturne-fundraiser/feed/ 0 http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-foundation-plans-hawaiian-themed-womens-night-out/ http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-foundation-plans-hawaiian-themed-womens-night-out/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:01:28 +0000 dkliebert http://www.nicholls.edu/news/?p=4845 THIBODAUX — For its 14th annual Women’s Night Out fundraiser, the Nicholls State University Foundation will host a Hawaiian-style party on Thursday, May 9 at Cypress Columns in Gray.

The festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, piña coladas and other adult beverages. Local celebrity waiters will serve the four-course dinner around 7:15 p.m. Sponsored by Entergy, the Tim Emerson Team at Smith Barney, Peter Knoop of UBS Financial Services, Coca-Cola and the Nicholls Foundation, the evening will also include live and silent auctions, entertainment and free after-party limousine service.

Tickets are $100 per person with all proceeds benefiting the Nicholls women’s athletics programs. To make reservations, call 985-448-4005.

THIBODAUX — Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert has announced his retirement from the presidency of Nicholls State University to the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System with an effective date of Aug. 1, 2013.

“Having served as Nicholls’ president for the past 10 years, I have decided that it is time for me to hand over the reigns of leadership to a new president,” Hulbert said.  “Becky and I have truly enjoyed our time in southeast Louisiana, and we have loved being a part of the Nicholls family. We have made many dear and lasting friendships while serving the students, faculty and staff of Nicholls.”

During his 10-year tenure, Hulbert has presided over campus improvements, including three new student residence halls; the renovations of the Galliano Dining Hall, Calecas Residence Hall and Beauregard Hall; the construction of the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation Center and the women’s soccer field house; and groundbreaking for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute’s classroom building.

In addition to facility improvements, Hulbert led the university through its best SACS reaffirmation visit and an NCAA recertification. He also led the transition from open to selective admissions while forging agreements with regional community colleges that allow for seamless transitions from two-year colleges to a four-year university.

“Every university president seeks to leave the institution better off than when he or she took the mantle of leadership,” Hulbert said. “In spite of six consecutive years of multiple budget cuts, five major hurricanes and a devastating oil spill in the Gulf that had a disruptive influence on our region and university, the students, faculty and staff have dedicated themselves to doing everything in their power to maintain the high quality educational experiences that Nicholls provides. I cannot tell you how proud I am of their efforts and what their spirit of endurance has meant to the continued progress of this university.  It has been a true honor to serve as their president.”

In announcing his retirement to the university family, Hulbert said: “My commitment to Nicholls remains absolute now and throughout the months ahead of my departure. While I will not participate in any way in the search process to select my successor, I will offer my total support for a smooth transition of leadership that is in the best interest of the university and the students it serves.”

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The crawfish boil will begin at 6:30 p.m. with food being served at 7 p.m. Prior to that, the federation will hold its business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Throughout the evening, Nicholls student and local musician John Daigle will provide entertainment, and attendees will be able to bid on silent auction items from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40 for dues-paying alumni and $50 for all others. New to this year’s event is the “Colonels of the Round Table” package, which includes a reserved round table, eight tickets, one round of free drinks and the convenience of being served crawfish first. To reserve individual tickets or a table, call 985-448-4111. Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information, visit nichollsalumni.org/programs

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“Having served as Nicholls’ president for the past 10 years, I have decided that it is time for me to hand over the reigns of leadership to a new president,” Hulbert said.  “Becky and I have truly enjoyed our time in southeast Louisiana, and we have loved being a part of the Nicholls family. We have made many dear and lasting friendships while serving the students, faculty and staff of Nicholls.”

During his 10-year tenure, Hulbert has presided over campus improvements, including three new student residence halls; the renovations of the Galliano Dining Hall, Calecas Residence Hall and Beauregard Hall; the construction of the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation Center and the women’s soccer field house; and groundbreaking for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute’s classroom building.

In addition to facility improvements, Hulbert led the university through its best SACS reaffirmation visit and an NCAA recertification. He also led the transition from open to selective admissions while forging agreements with regional community colleges that allow for seamless transitions from two-year colleges to a four-year university.

“Every university president seeks to leave the institution better off than when he or she took the mantle of leadership,” Hulbert said. “In spite of six consecutive years of multiple budget cuts, five major hurricanes and a devastating oil spill in the Gulf that had a disruptive influence on our region and university, the students, faculty and staff have dedicated themselves to doing everything in their power to maintain the high quality educational experiences that Nicholls provides. I cannot tell you how proud I am of their efforts and what their spirit of endurance has meant to the continued progress of this university.  It has been a true honor to serve as their president.”

In announcing his retirement to the university family, Hulbert said: “My commitment to Nicholls remains absolute now and throughout the months ahead of my departure. While I will not participate in any way in the search process to select my successor, I will offer my total support for a smooth transition of leadership that is in the best interest of the university and the students it serves.”

The fundraiser will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Bollinger Memorial Student Union. Actor Christian LeBlanc of The Young and the Restless will serve as the master of ceremonies while prominent locals compete on the dance floor. LeBlanc’s co-stars Jessica Collins and Jeff Branson will be on the celebrity judging panel along with WWL-TV anchor Eric Paulsen, lawyer Russ Herman and singer Amanda Shaw.

Tickets are $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight. To purchase a ticket, call 985-448-4770 or 985-209-4221. More information is available at nicholls.edu/lcwg/dwss

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]]> http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/dancing-with-the-stars-event-to-help-fund-nicholls-scholarship/feed/ 0 http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-inducts-15-students-into-hall-of-fame/ http://www.nicholls.edu/news/2013/nicholls-inducts-15-students-into-hall-of-fame/#comments Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:12:57 +0000 sdetillier http://www.nicholls.edu/news/?p=4829

Nicholls State University named 15 students to its Hall of Fame, the highest honor Nicholls students can receive based on both their academic and extracurricular achievements. Pictured are Hall of Fame honorees and university administrators, including: top row, from left, Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president; Gavin Johnson of Larose; Trevor Boudreaux of Thibodaux; Yvette Barbier of Baton Rouge; Shelly Waguespack of Thibodaux; Matthew Jewell of Luling; Chrystal Lachney of St. Francisville; Sierra Payne of Shreveport; Carolyn Noble of Burlington, Ontario; Dr. Eugene Dial, vice president for student affairs; Sarah Baudoin of Gray; Drew Ledet of Thibodaux; bottom row, from left, Hailey Silverii of Thibodaux; Stephanie O’Gwynn of Ponchatoula; Jennifer Bourgeois of Raceland; Bridget Mire of Thibodaux; and Mingma Sherpa of Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Lorio Foundation donated $100,000 to the Nicholls Foundation for renovations to Mary M. Danos Theater. This donation puts Nicholls at more than $1 million in cash and pledges received for the project. Pictured, from left, are Marty Edlefsen, Lorio Foundation grant coordinator; Dr. David Boudreaux, Nicholls vice president for institutional advancement; Al Danos, widower of Mary M. Danos; Rita Dickie, Lorio Foundation executive director and board member; and Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, Nicholls president.

THIBODAUX — Thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Lorio Foundation, Nicholls State University has reached more than $1 million in cash or pledges for renovations to the Mary M. Danos Theater in Talbot Hall.

The Nicholls Foundation, the university’s fundraising arm, is working to raise $1.5 million for this project, which will include new theater seating, lighting, sound system, curtains, flooring, walls and ceiling. The improvements to the theater, which has not been renovated since it opened in 1970, will also include more accessible accommodations that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

“The Nicholls Foundation is incredibly grateful to the Lorio Foundation, the Danos family and the many other donors who have quickly gotten behind this worthwhile project,” said Dr. David Boudreaux, Nicholls vice president for institutional advancement. “We are two-thirds to reaching our goal, and the outcome will be a newly renovated theater that serves this region for many years to come.”

The Mary M. Danos Theater is one of the most heavily used facilities on the Nicholls campus and a major cultural center for the region — hosting the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, musical competitions and festivals, summer theater workshops and other community events. In April 2012, the theater was officially named in honor of Mary M. Danos, a Larose native who strongly supported the arts, music and Nicholls.

“It is so gratifying to my family that we have been able to generate a million dollars in such a short period of time from such a cross section of individuals, corporations and foundations,” said Al Danos, Mary’s widower. “Mary was the most unselfish person I’ve ever known. To have the theater named after her, she probably would not have ever sought, but she would have been so pleased with such an honor.”

To contribute to the Mary M. Danos Theater renovation fund, call 985-448-4134 or mail a check — payable to the Nicholls Foundation — to Nicholls Foundation, P.O. Box 2074, Thibodaux, LA 70310.