THIBODAUX, La. -- The Nicholls State University Foundation has received a $20,000 donation from the local chapter of TaWaSi to create an endowed scholarship in culinary arts at Nicholls. “The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and the graduates they produce are so important to the region,” said Cathy Stack, TaWaSi director. “By making this donation, we hope to inspire future chefs, help promote the program and show our support for Nicholls.” Full-time students enrolled in the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and working at Bistro Ruth can apply to receive the $500 per semester scholarship. Preference will be given…...

    THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University will commemorate the grand reopening of the Mary and Al Danos Theater and Talbot Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 27 with a night of celebration and artistic exhibitions. The event, titled an Opening Night Showcase of the Arts, will feature musical performances, theatrical acts and artwork performed and created by Nicholls students and faculty, including the Nicholls Concert Choir, Jazz Band and Nicholls’ Players. A cocktail reception will be held at 6:30 p.m with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and performances following at 7 p.m. The 5,500-square-foot theater was named in honor of Al and…...

THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University announced four finalists for athletic director and will hold public interviews over the next two weeks. The finalists are K. Matthew Roan, deputy director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky University; China Jude, assistant vice president and director of athletics at Queens College (NY); Christopher Walker, associate athletic director at Washington State University; and Kent Hegenauer, senior associate athletic director at the University of Southern Mississippi. “The four finalists are the result of a months-long national search with an outstanding and diverse pool of candidates. We are looking for a professional with proven experience in…...

THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University has announced the creation of the Bayou Educational Opportunity Center, a program aimed at expanding higher education opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented students. Housed at Nicholls and fully funded by a five-year, $1.2 million Federal TRIO Grant, the Opportunity Center will partner with local school districts and adult education centers to provide readily accessible college guidance to qualifying high school seniors, adult education graduates and parents of low-income, first-generation college students. “Our goal is to help more students understand and overcome the barriers to entry into higher education,” said Debi Benoit, Nicholls director of…...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 13, 2016 CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@nicholls.edu THIBODAUX, La. -- Fall enrollment at Nicholls State University is on the rise for the first time since 2009, boosted by record-high retention rates. Nicholls enrolled 6,267 students this fall, according to 14th class day statistics, an increase of 103 students from last year. This marks the second consecutive semester that Nicholls has seen an increase. In the spring, enrollment was up 20 students from 2015. Keying the growth has been a record-setting first-time freshman retention rate of 70 percent, up seven percentage points…...

    THIBODAUX, La. -- The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University will continue its Empowered Women Chefs Series with guest Meg Bickard, the first female executive chef in the Commander’s Family restaurants, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Ledet Culinary Arts Building. Launched in April, the Empowered Women Chefs Series is a new lecture and culinary demonstration series focused on encouraging women to pursue successful careers in the male-dominated restaurant industry. Funded by the Carl Perkins Non-Traditional Occupations Grant, the seven-part series provides inspiration and guidance for females aspiring to work in the restaurant…...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2016 CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@nicholls.edu THIBODAUX, La. -- The Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo has donated $9,000 to Nicholls State University’s Department of Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management, which will use the contribution to purchase equipment for the program's Well Control Simulation Lab. “Education is the foundation of everything in our area,”  said Loretta Dupre, the fishing rodeo’s events coordinator and a Nicholls alum. “Every year we give back all the money that we raise to help support the growth of the oilfield industry and local community.”…...

THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University will host a Jambalaya Lunch on Friday to benefit the Nicholls Flood Emergency Relief Fund for students affected by the historic flooding earlier this month. As a service-learning event, students in the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute will put their culinary skills into action by preparing 1,000 pounds of chicken, sausage and andouille jambalaya. One pound portions of jambalaya will be sold for $10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Ledet Culinary Building on Bowie Road. "Nicholls is always looking for ways to provide experiential learning opportunities for…...

THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University has announced Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey as dean of the College of Business Administration. The LaMarque, Texas, native served as the interim dean since November following the retirement of longtime dean Dr. Shawn Mauldin. She held the college’s assistant dean position prior to that appointment. Nicholls conducted a national search to replace Mauldin and Macik-Frey was the overwhelming choice of the search committee, said Dr. Lynn Gillette, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Marilyn has vast business experience, and she’s incredibly well-respected by the faculty in the College of Business Administration and across campus,”…...

THIBODAUX, La. -- Nicholls State University is asking for community support to help a number of Colonels who have been impacted by the 1,000-year flood that devastated Baton Rouge and surrounding areas over the weekend. More than 40,000 homes have been damaged and 10 people killed by historic floods caused upwards of 2 feet of rainfall over the weekend. “Over the past several days, our thoughts have been with the thousands of families impacted by the historic floods sweeping across our state,” said Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy. “Some members of our Nicholls community and their families have suffered damage,…...