Boysie Bollinger, center, poses with a check honoring the $1 million he has contributed to Nicholls State University and the Nicholls Foundation in 2019. From left: Nicholls President, Dr. Jay Clune; first lady, Allison Clune; Bollinger; Nicholls Foundation President, Chris Riviere; and Nicholls Foundation Executive Director, Jeremy Becker. (Misty McElroy/Nicholls State University). THIBODAUX, La. — Boysie Bollinger and Nicholls State University are proud to announce a new $700,000 endowment to the Nicholls Foundation. Bollinger, the former president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards and current chairman of the Nicholls Foundation Board, has now contributed $1 million to the university in 2019.…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University was named one of 25 Hidden Gems of the Southeast by OnlineSchoolsCenter.com. In its methodology, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com used criteria including small annual enrollment, small class sizes, retention rates, student reviews from reputable resources that index college and university statistics, accreditation and prestige. Of Nicholls, OnlineSchoolsCenter wrote: “Nicholls State University is a place of joy and passion. Students are extremely dedicated to their academic success, as well as their social experience. The campus setting is rural and the student body is culturally rich and diverse.” The southeast region includes universities and colleges from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,…...

Dr. Brigett Scott (Photo by Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, Director of the Honors Program, and Associate Professor of Dietetics Dr. Brigett Scott has been selected to participate in the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture On the Farm STEM professional development in Syracuse, New York from May 21-23. Dr. Scott was one of 60 participants selected among 550 applicants. “Learning more about sustainable agricultural practices and ways that we can teach these concepts to consumers is an integral part of increasing knowledge about nutrition, the food supply…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University’s Community Bank Case Study Competition student team is one of 15 nationwide that have advanced to a second round of the 2019 Conference of State Bank Supervisors competition. The team, selected by finance faculty, partnered with a local community bank to develop a case study using the bank’s story through media including essay, charts and video. This year’s competition examines how the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act has helped community banks foster economic growth. Teams advancing to the second round were chosen from a pool of 58 undergraduate student teams representing…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University has been ranked the safest campus in Louisiana by online security resource, YourLocalSecurity.com. Using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security analysis and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, YourLocalSecuirty.com looked at the main campuses of public, private and non-profit colleges that offer two- and four-year degrees and have at least 5,000 students. A total of 435 schools met the criteria, and from there, factors to determine safety included hate crimes per enrolled students, violence against women per enrolled females, property crime per population and violent crime per population. University Police…...

Nicholls Concert Choir performs at the grand opening of the Mary and Al Danos Theater in 2016. (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls Concert Choir invites you to explore the longing, warmth, joy and serenity that the word “home” often evokes as they perform at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday,  May 7. The performance, “The Road Home,” is free to the public and will be at at the Mary and Al Danos Theater. Nicholls Director of Choral Activities Dr. John St. Marie began planning this concert before he returned to the Bayou Region from his previous post in…...

THIBODAUX, La. — The Nicholls Department of Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management invites you to celebrate the end of the semester in style with an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil. The American Society of Safety Professionals Bayou Chapter and the PETSM department will host their annual fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at the Colonel Soccer Complex. Each year, the groups boil more than 900 pounds of crawfish, potatoes, corn and sausage. Proceeds from the event go to the Nicholls ASSP Student Section to help pay for students to attend the premier ASSP Safety Technical Conference June 10-13 in…...

THIBODAUX, La. — The Nicholls Wind Ensemble is set to perform its final concert of the 2018-19 season next week. Free and open to the public, the “American Band Classics” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 6 in the Mary and Al Danos Theater. The ensemble is made up of students from various majors throughout the university and is directed by music instructor Dr. Jason Ladd. The program will feature American classics including “Rocky Point Holiday” by Brown University professor Ron Nelson, who wrote the song about his vacations at Rocky Point in Rhode Island; “Magneticfireflies” by Augusta Read…...

Bridge to Independence student Victoria Brown and 2018 Bridge graduates Sean Adams and Paige Faucheaux celebrate Red Out Friday. (Misty McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — The Bridge to Independence program at Nicholls State University invites you to their inaugural Shrimp Boil Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 in the Guidry Stadium parking lot. For $12, guests can dine on one pound of delicious boiled shrimp plus corn and potatoes while mingling with Bridge students. Plates can be picked up in a drive through or eaten in a tent in the parking lot or inside…...

Dr. Craig Walker (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls alum and world-renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Craig Walker will serve as the keynote speaker for the 104th Commencement at Nicholls State University on Saturday, May. 18 in Stopher Gym. Graduation ceremonies for the College of Arts and Sciences will be at 9 a.m., the College of Business Administration and the College of Nursing at noon and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at 3 p.m. A native of Bourg and graduate of South Terrebonne High School earned his doctorate from…...

THIBODAUX, La. —  Nicholls’ Mary and Al Danos Theater will set the stage next weekend for a journey through classical opera music. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3, and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, “Finding Your Somewhere: A Transformation Through Opera” will feature various works from composers including Richard Wagner, Leonard Bernstein and Gioachino Rossini. The $10 tickets will support future productions and other student activities at Nicholls and will be available at the door for purchase. “This performance shows love to the next operatic generation, and embraces them into a community full of love,” said Nicholls graduate…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University invites you to learn from industry experts on the importance and future of cybersecurity during a conference held on campus on Tuesday, April 30. Hosted by the Nicholls Information Systems Club, America’s Small Business Development Center Louisiana and the Baton Rouge chapter of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the event will run from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Powell 140. Attendees will learn directly from experts in the field at sessions held throughout the event, followed by a panel where the speakers will come together to discuss issues facing cybersecurity today.…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Several Nicholls biology students were recently awarded for presentations given at the Louisiana Academy of Sciences annual meeting. Award winners were Gabby Gautreaux, a sophomore from Gray, for her oral presentation in the science and humanities undergraduate; Claire Pierce, a senior from Larose, for her oral presentation in undergraduate botany; Chris Oubre, a senior from Thibodaux, for his oral presentation in environmental science; Cameron Belding, a senior from Thibodaux, for an oral presentation in molecular and biomedical biology and microbiology; and Sarah Soorya, graduate student from Thibodaux, for a poster presentation in the zoology graduate category. “This…...

The Nicholls Jazz Band performs at the grand opening of the Mary and Al Danos Theater in 2016. (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — The Nicholls Jazz Ensemble invites you to travel back in time later this month, as they perform the standards of the classic big band era. Students will present works by composers such as Duke Ellington, Thad Jones and Mark Taylor in the free concert set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 in the Mary and Al Danos Theater. “This is your chance to come out and hear some classic swing standards performed beautifully…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University is inviting alumni and members of the community to provide feedback on a developing action plan to enhance diversity and inclusion across campus. Over the past year, a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force has met with students, staff, faculty and alumni to develop a plan that embraces the evolving campus climate and personal experiences of all its constituents. Stakeholders will be able to comment and evaluate objectives and actionable steps for the plan. The plan aims to follow the values listed in the university’s strategic plan: civic responsibility, diversity, excellence, integrity, leadership, respectfulness and…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Today, Nicholls State University, Gov. John Bel Edwards, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the CPRA Board announced their intent to create a coastal center on the Nicholls campus to study the effects of land loss in the Terrebonne and Atchafalaya Basins. Gov. Edwards and Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune signed the memorandum of understanding at a press conference in Baton Rouge.   “Nicholls State University is located in the epicenter for coastal restoration, with our service area losing more coastal land than anywhere else on the planet,” said Dr. Jay Clune, Nicholls President. “This partnership…...

THIBODAUX, La. — The Nicholls State University Alumni Federation is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Alumni Federation board of directors and officers.   Brooke Huddleston (BA ’95, MEd  ‘98) has been elected as president-elect, Kristen Dumas Callais (BS ’10, MSW ’11) as vice president, David Heltz (BS ‘84) as treasurer and Sheri Haydel Eschete (BS ‘84) as secretary. Archie Chaisson III (BS ‘08) will serve as president and Paula Arcement Rome (BS ’02, MBA ’13) as past-president. New board members are Thad Angelloz (BA ‘03), Dr. J. Robert Field (BS ‘88, MBA ‘91), Kevin George (BGS ‘96, BS ‘99, MA…...

THIBODAUX, La. — Due to an increased potential for severe weather earlier in the day than previously anticipated, Nicholls State University will close campus ALL DAY on Thursday, April 18. Campus will reopen on Tuesday, April 23, as Friday and Monday are already scheduled university closures for the Spring holiday. The Emergency Preparedness Committee will continue to watch the weather and take additional action, if necessary. Please continue to monitor the Nicholls website, its emergency website, .nicholls.edu, and follow Nicholls social media for updates. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2019 CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@nicholls.edu...

Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune and University of New Orleans President Dr. John Nicklow finalize a partnership between the two institutions. (Misty McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University and the University of New Orleans today announced a partnership between the two schools that will lead to increased opportunities for student success. Presidents from the two universities signed a memorandum of understanding that creates a pathway for students from Nicholls to easily transition to UNO to complete a degree in civil engineering, and for students from UNO to transfer to Nicholls and complete courses that would help them…...

Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, middle right, demos an unmanned aerial system, or drone, to Rep. Garret Graves, middle left, at the Nicholls Farm in 2017 (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) THIBODAUX, La. — Three Nicholls State University projects have been awarded nearly $800,000 in grants by the Louisiana Board of Regents for the upcoming school year. A collaborative effort between Nicholls Geomatics and Tulane received $687,509 for a project that will increase the capacity of both institutions to train faculty and students in conducting state-of-the-art coastal research using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, technologies. The Department of Mathematics was awarded…...