As the spring semester continues, it has been encouraging to see the strong engagement taking place across our campuses and communities. From recruiting and alumni events to academic enrichment opportunities and student achievement, this past week reflected the energy and momentum driving Northwestern State University forward. Below are a few highlights.

Recruiting Receptions and Demons on the Road Events

 Recruiting and alumni engagement efforts continued this week through a series of well-attended receptions that brought prospective students, families, and alumni together in key regions. On Monday, Martha and I joined our recruiting team in welcoming prospective students and their families at a reception in Leesville. Special thanks to NSU alumni Matt and Martha Koury for graciously opening their home each year for this event. On Tuesday, Martha and I attended the Alexandria Demons on the Road event, which drew more than 150 attendees and stands as one of the most productive stops on the tour thus far. Prior to the event, Mike McConathy and I met with Menard High School Principal Chris Gatlin to discuss opportunities for NSU students.

Demons on the Road events continued Thursday night with an alumni reception in Dallas. Special thanks to NSU Alumni Association President Scott Repp and other members of the Alumni Association Board for attending and supporting this event. I was pleased to learn of the productive conversations underway as we continue building a strong and engaged NSU alumni presence in the Dallas area. Demons on the Road events continue this week with stops scheduled in Ruston/Monroe and Shreveport. For more information, click here.

N-Side STEM Day

On Saturday, we welcomed high school juniors and seniors to campus for N-Side STEM Day, an immersive experience hosted by the School of STEM that allowed students to live the life of a STEM major for a day. Participants explored high-demand career pathways in areas such as biomedical and microbiology sciences, computer science, sports analytics, engineering, manufacturing, veterinary science, wildlife and environmental sciences, drones, chemistry, physics, forensics, and more. It was inspiring to see so many bright and inquisitive students, along with their parents, engaging with our programs. I extend my sincere appreciation to the faculty, staff, and student volunteers who made this event possible. Your dedication continues to shape the future of innovation at Northwestern, and I look forward to welcoming many of these students back to campus in August as future Demons.

Go Natchitoches Awards Honorees

I am pleased to share with you that Dr. Dylan Solice, Dr. Jasmine Wise, and Dr. Mary-Katherine Maggio have been named recipients of the 4 Under 40 Awards presented by Natchitoches Young Professionals, an initiative of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce. These awards recognize young professionals who are making a meaningful difference in Natchitoches Parish through career excellence, civic engagement, and community influence. The honorees will be recognized at the Go Natchitoches Awards Luncheon on February 25.

Also being honored at the luncheon is Northwestern State University’s Office of Marketing and Branding, which will receive the 2026 Go Natchitoches Award in recognition of the Proud to Be Purple campaign and its impact on strengthening connections between NSU, its students, and the Natchitoches Parish community. Special thanks to Chief Marketing Officer Cole Gentry and Marketing and Branding staff members Amy Lee and Cree Gentry. This campaign reflects a true team effort rooted in pride for our university and a shared commitment to celebrating what it means to be part of the NSU community.

Demons Engage Program to Spotlight NSU’s Work Ready Students

The Office of Economic Development has launched Demons Engage, a new initiative designed to connect Northwestern State University’s academic excellence with the broader community. Through Demons Engage, students from across our colleges will share the innovative work taking place on campus with civic organizations, business leaders, and community partners. This initiative highlights NSU’s work-ready students through short, student-led, interactive presentations that demonstrate workforce readiness and the real-world application of classroom learning.

ROTC Ranger Challenge

Congratulations to the Demon Battalion Ranger Challenge Team on an outstanding performance at the 2026 6th Brigade Ranger Challenge competition. Led by Coach Reeves Flurry and co-captained by Cadets Miguel Flores and Jacob Mullican, the team placed 18th out of 43 schools and finished first among all Louisiana institutions. Ranger Challenge tests cadets’ physical endurance, mental toughness, leadership, and teamwork through events such as land navigation, weapons proficiency, tactical movement, and ruck marching. Team members included Arch Bandin, Brendan Campbell, Kyra Cole, Joao Vitor Dos Santos, Skylar Fontenot, Evyn Goree, Tin Huynh, Ethan Jones, and Joseph Resendez. I commend each of these cadets for representing Northwestern with distinction.

Emergency Preparedness Workshop

This past week, university leadership participated in another emergency preparedness workshop facilitated by the LSU National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education. The session focused on active shooter response and campus emergency management planning. Special thanks to Executive Director of University Affairs Jennifer Kelly for her leadership in coordinating these workshops and for strengthening NSU’s preparedness and response capabilities.

Athletics Update

Spring sports competition is heating up, with softball already underway and baseball set to open with a home series. Meanwhile, our basketball teams prepare for their final homecourt appearances of the 2026 season, and our championship tennis and track and field programs continue to provide highlights.

Congratulations to Demon football head coach Blaine McCorkle, his staff, and all those involved in securing an impressive 22-man spring signing class. The group includes two local standouts transferring back home, Payne Williams III from St. Mary’s and Joseph Cryer of Natchitoches Central. Additional transfers have enrolled from Dartmouth, where Coach McCorkle’s cousin Sammy serves as head coach, and from Tulane.

Baseball opens its season next Friday evening at Brown-Stroud Field with the start of a three-game series against UT Arlington. Softball, after facing high-level competition to open the season at Baylor over the weekend, travels to Youngsville for another challenging tournament. Lady Demon tennis swept LSUS on Sunday afternoon and begins a five-match homestand that continues next weekend.

Track and field competed Saturday at the University of Arkansas, highlighted by Rushana Dwyer setting a new Lady Demon indoor record. Her time of 2:11.85 shattered the previous eight-year-old mark by more than two seconds. The teams return to Texas Tech next weekend for their final tune-ups before the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.

Both basketball teams dropped competitive games last week and will return home this weekend. The Lady Demons host McNeese on Thursday. On Saturday afternoon there will be a doubleheader against Southeastern.

Looking Ahead

The Office of Career Services will host the Spring 2026 Career Fair on Tuesday, February 24, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom. The fair is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in connecting with employers and exploring internship and full-time career opportunities. Students are encouraged to bring their résumé and be prepared for on-site interviews. Student registration is available here, and employer registration is available here.

For more information on upcoming events and activities, please visit our What’s Happening at NSU webpage by clicking here. Thank you for all you do each day to support our students and advance the mission of Northwestern State University.

President James T. “Jimmy” Genovese
Northwestern State University