THIBODAUX – Edison Chouest Offshore, a vessel service company based in Galliano, La., recently donated $100,000 to the Nicholls State University College of Business Administration.

 The gift will supplement the Capstone Fund, a permanent endowment established in October 2006. The interest earned from the endowment will be used at the discretion of the dean, under the direction of the college’s executive advisory board, to address the college’s greatest needs – including student development, scholarships, faculty/staff development, equipment and software.

“As a 1989 accounting graduate of Nicholls State University, I am proud to represent two generations of Chouest family members who claim Nicholls as their alma mater,” said Dionne Chouest, general counsel for Edison Chouest Offshore and member of the College of Business Executive Advisory Board.

By: Bobby Fletcher

April is the month that most outdoor plants growing in your landscape should be in full swing. It is also the month that you can fertilize your lawn! Many of you have been waiting patiently to do this and I commend you for waiting. You will have less disease and insect problems in your lawn by waiting until now to fertilize.

April is your last chance to apply dormant oils on your outdoor plants to control scale insects. Use the oils on camellia, hollies, variegated privet, magnolias and gardenias. Oil sprays are safe only when the temperature is below 85 degrees. So, if you miss April, you'll have to wait until late October or early November to apply them. Horticultural oils or summer oils are safer to use during the time of year when warm weather prevails.

April is the time to prepare hanging baskets. Many plants grow well and look good in baskets, but ferns are probably the most highly prized. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are especially attractive in these hanging planters.

An agenda has been set for Black History Month festivities in February at Nicholls State University.

The events will begin Thursday, Feb. 1 with an opening ceremony beginning at noon in the snack bar area of Bollinger Memorial Student Union. Guest speakers will address the Nicholls Civility Campaign, the national “N” word campaign that seeks to end the use of derogatory or offensive speech and the national Black History Month theme of “From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas.”

The region is experiencing a critical blood shortage and is in need of blood donors.   Currently, there is an urgent need for Type O Blood. 

Please consider donating blood at The Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) Blood Donor Center.  It is 100 % safe, will take about 40 minutes and one pint could save up to 3 lives.  Blood donors can donate at the TGMC Blood Donor Center which is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 am until 3:30 pm and on Tuesday until 5:30 pm. 

Thibodaux - Student athletes at Nicholls State University are distinguishing themselves in the classroom, according to information released today by the National Collegiate Athletic Association on the academic progress rates of nearly 6,272 Division I teams. 

Not only were Nicholls’ athletics teams among the majority of Division I organizations that received no sanctions associated with progress rates – Nicholls was the only Southland Conference institution to receive no penalties.

“We are delighted that our teams continue to improve academically,” said Rob Bernardi, athletics director. “Our escalating APR scores are a clear indication of our progress.”