Congratulations, Graduates
Commencement is always a time of reflection and celebration, and I am extremely proud of our Summer and Fall 2022 graduates. Your perseverance in finishing your degrees while we still feel the effects of the COVID pandemic is an inspiration, and I want to congratulate you all, again, for your achievements and accomplishments. You join nearly 80,000 alumni who, over the past 138 years, have enhanced the university’s prominence by making significant contributions in every field of endeavor, and we encourage you to share your experiences with others so that they consider NSU as the next step in their academic journey.
Through NSU’s broad access to education and career preparedness, our graduates are equipped to satisfy the demands of the ever-changing workforce landscape. Whether you’re continuing your education, seeking employment, or starting your career, I wish you well in your future endeavors, and hope you will come back and visit often. Your NSU family is very proud of your achievements!
Commissioning Ceremony
Dylan Trueblood of Natchitoches was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army today, hosted by NSU’s Department of Military Science. Trueblood also took the Oath of Office during NSU’s final commencement ceremony. He will serve in the National Guard, Armor Branch. Congratulations and thank you, Dylan, for your service and sacrifice to our great nation.
NSU Athletics drives $709M earned media surge in Q4
In less than three months since airing its first locally produced ESPN+ broadcast, Northwestern State has seen an influx of more than $700 million in earned media. Earned media metrics quantify the value of exposure for an entity beyond specific advertising or branding efforts.
More than 12.5 percent ($89 million) of NSU’s earned media barrage has come since freshman guard Hansel Emmanuel scored his first collegiate points against ULM on Dec. 10. Emmanuel’s tomahawk dunk late in the Demons’ 91-73 victory was named the No. 6 play of the day on SportsCenter’s Top 10 feature.
The Demons have appeared five times on SportsCenter. Four of those spots have occurred in NSU home games where broadcasts are produced by NSU staff members and students. The experience producing the ESPN+ broadcasts are another example of the hands-on experiential learning that Northwestern students are able to access as they pursue their degrees.
December in Demonland
This past week, children from the Marie Shaw Dunn Child Development Center strolled across campus and visited Caspari Hall, Student Services Center, and St. Denis Hall. The children were in awe of the Christmas scenes throughout the buildings. The staff from NSU did a wonderful job in promoting Christmas and gifted the children with an assortment of Christmas snacks and goodies. The children even encountered Vic The Demon, The Grinch, and Santa Claus throughout their journey. Special thanks to the CDC staff Faith Stanfield and Joni Prewitt for organizing this heartwarming adventure.
As the Fall semester winds down, and 2022 comes to an end, I would like to wish everyone safe and enjoyable journeys wherever they may take you, relaxation, and the happiest of holidays. I look forward to seeing you in 2023.
Dr. Marcus D. Jones
President
Northwestern State University