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.

The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band is pleased to announce its annual Big Band Bash. It will be held at the Houma Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, October 13th, 2007, from 8:00pm until midnight. The Houma-Terrebonne Community Stage Band will provide its awesome “big band sound” for your dancing and listening pleasure. Dance contests will award prizes for the best couple in waltz, cha-cha, and jitterbug. Door prizes graciously donated by local supporters will be part of the fun.

Big band music will highlight your evening. The classic selections from smooth waltzes and ballads, lively cha-chas and jazz, and driving rock and Latin of this semi-formal event is calculated to appeal to all ages.

Dance lessons by local dance studios will be offered before the start of the Big Band Bash and during the Big Band Bash.

THIBODAUX - After discussions with the Louisiana Board of Regents, Nicholls State University has revised enrollment numbers for the fall 2007 semester. The difference involves reporting of special or exceptional sessions, sessions that are not part of the regular session because of variations in the length of the session or the tuition for the session.

            During fall 2006 and fall 2007, Nicholls conducted special sessions for students who were dual-enrolled, meaning those students were earning high school and college credit at the same time. The Board of Regents has deemed that those students should be counted in the university’s overall enrollment numbers. Therefore, the enrollment numbers for fall 2006 and fall 2007 have been updated to reflect those changes.

            Official Nicholls fall enrollment statistics show "we have turned the corner" since becoming a selective admissions institution because the enrollment has increased slightly and ACT scores continue to rise, President Stephen Hulbert said. The fall 2007 enrollment totals 6,882 compared to 6,832 a year ago, an increase of 50. The number of first-time freshmen has risen from 1,117 to 1,202, a 7.6 percent increase.

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.”