Spread some Nicholls spirit
Colonel Notes Member of the Nicholls Alumni Federation
When shopping for the perfect gift, consider buying Nicholls-themed merchandise. In addition to the University Bookstore, several Thibodaux and Houma retailers carry Colonel hats, sweatshirts, jerseys and even apparel for your little Colonel. Or shop online at nichollsgear.com.
1950s
Association, Tennessee Educa- Language-Hearing AssociaDr. Donaldo Batiste (BA tion Association and National tion honors for her 25 years ’75) was named 2011–12 of service. She retired as pro- Superintendent of the Year Harold Breaux (’56–’58) was Education Association. gram and clinical director of by the Lake Country Superrecognized in June, when the the Nicholls communicative intendent’s Association. He U.S. Army Research Labora- 1970s disorders program in 2011. tory (ARL) dedicated its newoversees Waukegan Public Robbie Wintz Tomeny (BS est supercomputer, the Harold, School District 60 in Illinois. in his honor. The computer ’72), a longtime 4-H volun- Dr. Michael Dotson (BA ’74, resides at the Defense Super- teer in St. John the Baptist MBA ’80), marketing pro- Susan Talbot Hoffmann (BS ’75, computing Resource Center Parish, was inducted into the fessor at Appalachian State BA ’99) had artwork accepted (DSRC) in Aberdeen, Md. Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame. University in Boone, N.C., into the Catharine Lorillard received the 2012 Sywassink Wolfe Art Club’s 116th Annual Breaux retired in 1996 after Lawrence “Sonny” Albarado Award for Excellence for his Exhibition at the National Arts a 33-year civil service career with ARL and has remained a (BA ’73) is the 2012–13 presi- research contributions. Club in New York. consultant with the DSRC for dent of the national Society of Debbie Raziano (BA ’74), Sherryl Schmidt Lutz (BA ’78) Professional Journalists. He is several years. also the projects editor for the director of alumni affairs at has exhibited her pottery Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Nicholls, was honored for her in the Contemporary Mar1960s volunteer work by MacDonell ketplace at Jazz Fest for 11 Little Rock. United Methodist Children’s years. She has a studio and Carol Dupre (BA ’64) is an active member of the Sum- Lynne Bourgeois (BA ’74) Services at its 28th annual Vol- showroom in Folsom. ner County Retired Teachers received Louisiana Speech- unteer Activist Gala in August. John Lush (’79–’80) is president of the Santa Fe Cattle Co. restaurant chain. In June, the restaurant opened its Thibodaux “Cue the killer whale” is a phrase few people would expect to location on Canal Boulevard. hear at the office. But for Jennifer Shaddock Dixon (BS ’94), lights, cameras and the occasional orca literally come with the job. Dr. Shawn Mauldin (BS As an actor, spokesperson and public relations profes’79, MBA ’87), dean of the sional, Dixon has taken her Nicholls marketing degree in an College of Business Administration at Nicholls, is the unusual direction, recently appearing in national SeaWorld 2012–13 president of the advertisements. Society of Louisiana Certified But commercial acting isn’t as easy as it looks. The SeaPublic Accountants. World commercial, for instance, was shot on a 28-degree December morning. “I was splashed by a killer whale for every Al Thibodeaux (BA ’79) is a take,” Dixon says. “I was soaking wet, so we then went back to territory manager at Deep hair and makeup, put on an identical change of clothes and did Jennifer Dixon (BS ’94) South Equipment, where he it over and over again.” leans on the publicwas named the 2011 SalesAfter graduating from Nicholls, Dixon planned to attend speaking skills she learned man of the Year. law school, but a trip to Florida led to a different path. at Nicholls in her job as a “When I visited Orlando for a few weeks, I told my dad commercial actor. 1980s I would be back in time for law school, but I never returned,” Photo courtesy of Stephanie Conner (BA ’83) she recalls. Kenneth Lasseigne (BS For 15 years, Dixon worked in marketing and public ’83, AS ’91) returned to Point relations roles for various advertising agencies, nonprofit organizations and technology-based of Vue magazine in Houma companies. as a marketing consultant in “After doing a number of television interviews, someone suggested I look into doing com- March 2012. mercial work,” Dixon says. “So I got some headshots, found an agent and have been working on camera for about four years now. Acting has given me the flexibility to have a career and Ronnie Boudreaux (BS ’84) still raise my family.” is the corporate director of Dixon credits the training she received at Nicholls for the confidence needed to work in treasury at Redcats USA Inc. front of the camera. “I had a marketing professor who would take five points off our grade for in Indianapolis. every ‘um’ or ‘uh’ during our presentations,” she recalls. “You have to be comfortable with public speaking to be on camera. Nicholls really taught me to watch the words I use.” — Lee Daigle Dr. Mark Marshall (BA ’86, MEd ’90) is superintendent
Marketer splashes into acting
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of Eastside Union School District in Lancaster, Calif. Kateri “Kitty” Harris Whitney (BSN ’87) is executive director of Sandestin Real Estate in Miramar Beach, Fla. 1990s Anna Moore Cole (BS ’90), chemistry teacher at Central Lafourche High School in Raceland, was one of 97 teachers nationwide to receive the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Dr. Terry DeWitt (MEd ’90) has been named among the nation’s “Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers” by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He is an associate professor of biological sciences and director of the athletic training education program at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. Michelle Vonsenden Larson (BS ’92) is a partner with Forshey Prostok LLP, a law firm specializing in bankruptcy in Fort Worth, Texas. Chantell Halloway Walker (BS ’92), a math teacher and guidance counselor at West St. John High School in Edgard, was selected as a 2012 Louisiana State University/ Southern University Regional Collaborative Star Teacher. 2000s Dr. Christopher Paris (BS ’00) is an interventional cardiologist at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma. Shanna Tregre Beber (BA ’02) was named the St. John the Baptist public school district’s 2011–12 Teacher of the Year