Demons Basketball Deliver Remarkable Season and Outstanding Effort
Congratulations to the Demons Basketball program for securing the second position in the SLC tournament. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to first-year coach Corey Gipson, a finalist for several prestigious awards including the Ben Jobe Award, Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Award, and Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year Award. Coach Gipson has created history by becoming the first head coach to lead the Demons to a 20-win season in his first year as a head coach in NSU’s Division I era. The Demons’ win of 64-63 against then-No. 15 TCU on Nov. 14 marked NSU’s first triumph against an AP Top 25 since the NCAA Tournament’s March 17, 2006 win against Iowa.

Northwestern State’s 21 wins are its most in a season since 2012-13 while the Demons’ nine-game win streak from Jan. 19-Feb. 16 was the longest since a 10-game run in 2012-13. The Demons’ 13 Southland Conference wins are its most since the 2014-15 season.

The Demons had the 2022-23 Southland Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year, DeMarcus Sharp, and set a school record for made 3-pointers with 265. The Demons also led the Southland Conference in scoring defense for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

I express my personal gratitude to our faithful fanbase, including the NSU students and Natchitoches community, for their unwavering support of our men’s and women’s basketball teams during the Southland Conference Tournament. Your support plays a vital role in boosting our teams’ morale and performance.

ROTC Demon Challenge for JROTC Students
Last Friday, NSU’s Demon Battalion hosted an all-day, 10-event competition for JROTC programs across Louisiana. Six high schools entered nineteen teams that quickly set about tackling the series of physical and leadership-based tasks designed to build relationships between schools and inspire Cadet excellence.

Among others, the events included a campus orienteering course, military knowledge test, odd object relay, 2-mile foot march with 25-pound ruck, and the high ropes course. Congratulations to the Best Overall Program, Pineville High School JROTC, and thanks to the Department of Military Science for organizing the team building and recruiting event.

CAPA on the Cane
The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present CAPA on the Cane on Saturday, March 11 from 11:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. on the Downtown Riverbank Stage in Natchitoches. Admission is free.

Several student musical ensembles will present full performances. NSU art students and faculty will have work on display. CAPA on the Cane is in conjunction with the City of Natchitoches’ annual Bloomin’ on the Bricks program.

View CAPA on the Cane Schedule of Events

Seminars and Workshops at NSU Draw Hundreds of High School Students
NSU hosted several events over the past week that that drew hundreds of high school students to campus. These events included the Science Showcase, Louisiana Gear Up ACT Workshop, Demon Math Classic, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Conference.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the faculty and staff involved in organizing these events, which are valuable recruiting opportunities for NSU.

Robert Alost Hall Groundbreaking Ceremony on March 14
Northwestern State University will hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the school’s new academic building at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 14.  The new facility will be located on Sam Sibley Drive on the site of the former Caddo Hall.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and other state and local dignitaries are expected to attend. The new facility will be named for NSU’s 16th president, the late Dr. Robert Alost. It will house multipurpose classrooms, laboratories, training areas, a café, and administrative offices. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking.  Parking will be available in the large commuter lot adjacent to the building site.

Dr. Marcus D. Jones
President
Northwestern State University