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NSU Vice President, Dean to participate in International Week at French university

David West — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Dr. Darlene Williams, Vice President for Technology, Research, and Economic Development at Northwestern State University, and Dr. Jerry Wall, Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Management at NSU, will participate in International Week March 15-19 at Pôle Universitaire Léonard de Vinci in Paris.

The University of Louisiana System has created a partnership with Pôle Universitaire that includes student and faculty exchange opportunities in 2008. Expenses for the trip are paid by Pôle Universitaire.

     The partnership covers students in business, engineering, technology, computer science and visual arts, and includes the reciprocal exchange of faculty, staff and students; development of international student programs; hosting of visiting scholars and study tours/summer sessions and organization of joint academic and scientific activities such as courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures.

     Williams will make a presentation, “eNSU: The Development and Evolution of a World-Wide eLearning Enterprise.”

     Wall will take part in a panel on “The Future of the European Project—Industries and Industrial Politics, Innovation and New Projects.” He will also make a presentation “Globalization vs. Localization: Implications for International Marketing.”

     Williams will provide an overview of the components which are largely attributed to the ongoing achievement of the eLearning program at Northwestern. She will also present an overview of the implementation of the financial model which includes self-generated, state, and federal funds and how the financial structure has changed over time to support the evolution of the program from an initiative to a world-wide enterprise.

     Northwestern formalized the development of an eLearning program in the late 90s.

     “With a growing emphasis on the integration of technology and availability of eLearning tools, the institution readily acknowledged the importance of establishing eLearning as a priority,” said Williams. “Much of the success of the program can be attributed to the faculty and a team of individuals who had a vision and developed a program that is now recognized as an ‘area of excellence’ and makes higher learning opportunities available across the globe.

During the panel discussion, Wall will address deindustrialization which occurs when employment in manufacturing as a portion of total employment declines over time and economy switches from producing manufactured products to services. 

In his presentation on international marketing, Wall will point out that globalization is something that will not go away.

“There is little we can do to put the ‘genie back in the bottle,’” said Wall. “I will discuss important national, economic and cultural characteristics of countries that will influence marketing within them. I will then suggest specific approaches that might be followed to be successful at international marketing in the next decade or so.”

Wall will also discuss issues involving the student exchange program with officials at Pôle Universitaire.

Northwestern signs 2+2 agreement with two regional technical colleges

David West — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     Northwestern State University has signed an agreement with two regional technical colleges making it easier for their graduates to earn a four-year degree.

     Northwestern signed a 2+2 agreement with Central Louisiana Technical College and Northshore Technical College at the monthly meeting of Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors. The agreement covers the University’s criminal justice program and allows students to complete their associate degree and transfer all of their credit hours to Northwestern in partial fulfillment of degree requirements for the bachelor's degree in criminal justice or unified public safety administration.

     “It is a privilege for Northwestern to continue forging alliances with member institutions of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System,” said Webb. “These kinds of relationships require that faculty and academic administrators of the partnering institutions work closely and in harmony, with the students’ best interests in mind. Joe Morris, head of the Department of Criminal Justice at Northwestern, has traveled to community and technical colleges throughout the state, carrying a simple message: Northwestern wants to cooperate with you in expanding program offerings to your students. We are grateful the response has been a positive one.”       Northwestern has 25 degree programs online and is the statewide leader in distance education.

     “These agreements are very beneficial to students, who are able to sign up for classes knowing their credit will transfer,” said Morris. “Students in criminal justice at Central Louisiana and Northshore Technical Colleges will be able to transfer to Northwestern and earn a bachelor’s degree in the least amount of time.”

     Northwestern has 2 + 2 agreements in criminal justice with six LCTCS institutions: Baton Rouge Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, Louisiana Delta Community College, LSU – Eunice, South Louisiana Community College and SOWELA Technical Community College along with Columbia Basin College and Yakima Valley Community College both in Washington.

     "This agreement is one of many that our colleges have signed in recent years to foster partnerships and present better educational opportunities for students in our system and state," said LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May. "Dr. Webb and Northwestern State University have always worked closely with us and we are pleased to work with Dr. Webb and Northwestern State University to offer this opportunity and we eagerly anticipate the day when we will not only offer our students institution-specific agreements, but the chance to seamlessly transfer their credits to any four-year institution statewide."

     This agreement is the first fully transferrable 2+2 agreement that aligns an Associate of Applied Sciences degree, from two institutions accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and a four-year university. This opportunity has already allowed the law enforcement and correctional communities to tie educational attainment of this degree to job mobility and salary improvement. In some cases, it can mean up to a 10 percent salary improvement for associate degree completers.

     The agreement covers students who wish to take online classes or receive face to face instruction. The online bachelor’s in criminal justice at Northwestern was rated among the Best Values in Online Colleges by the Web site GetEducated.com.

Organization names Kilcoyne outstanding researcher

Leah Jackson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, associate professor and director of business programs at Northwestern State University, was named the recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Researcher for the Association of Business Communication-Southwest United States (ABC-SWUS) during a business meeting of the Federation of Business Disciplines Conference.

     The award recognizes significant contribution to business communication scholarship and encourages excellence in business communication research. A selection committee examines the overall significance of each researcher’s publication record for the last three academic years. Selection is based on the importance of the nominee’s research in pedagogy, curriculum development, consulting, adding to theory and knowledge and stimulating further research. Recommendation letters and a commitment to business communication research are also considered.

     “I am truly honored that my business communication colleagues would honor me in such a way,” Kilcoyne said. “I am so happy to be able to represent NSU and the College of Business as an outstanding researcher.

     Kilcoyne is also next year’s vice president and program chair for ABC-SWUS, responsible for the organization of the group’s two-conference program in Houston March 9-12, 2011. As vice president and program chair, she serves as the organization’s executive board representative for the Federation of Business Disciplines.

Semester abroad helps Casey Bozenski prepare for play set in Russia

David West — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

You could say that Casey Bozenski has been preparing for his role in The Government Inspector for the last seven months without knowing it.

     Bozenski, a theatre major at Northwestern State University from Bossier City, plays the role of Ivan, a young Russian man who is mistaken for a government inspector and takes advantage of the situation.

     Northwestern Theatre and Dance will present The Government Inspector March 12-13 and 16-20 at 7:30 p.m. in Theatre West. Tickets are $12 and $8 for senior citizens. Northwestern State and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D. Scott Burrell is the director.

     “My character Ivan is a fop and a dandy. He’s foolish, but also eloquent,” said Bozenski. “He goes to this inn and runs out of money and begins charging his expenses to the government. Through a comedy of errors, he is mistaken for a government inspector and begins receiving bribes from local government officials. He figures out what is going on and plays things up to make as much money as he can.”

     Last fall, Bozenski studied in Bulgaria, a European country that is separated from Russia by the Black Sea.

     “Studying in Bulgaria helped me with the Russian names in the show because the people there speak Bulgarian, Russian and English,” said Bozenski. “The semester there opened me up creatively and socially.”

     Bozenski had thought of spending a semester overseas for a while and eventually settled on Bulgaria.

     “My cousin convinced me to study in a place that people don’t normally choose,” he said. “She said ‘I know 20 people who have studied in England or Canada, but not a single one who studied in Bulgaria.’ As I did my research, the country drew me in. It was a fantastic experience.

     Bozenski studied at the American University in Bulgaria where the student body is about 70 percent international students.

     “I worked with a director from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She asked me about the methods we learn and was impressed that I was familiar with so many different styles,” he said. “I can thank our faculty for that.”

     Bozenski has appeared in NSU productions of Cats, Dog Tails, Sylvia and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Last summer he worked in summer stock at the Canterbury Summer Theatre in Michigan City, Ind.

     “I started in theatre when I was six and have been in children’s theatre, educational theatre, community theatre, basically whatever I could do,” he said. “There’s something about getting up there, portraying someone else and getting the applause.”

     For ticket information on The Government Inspector, please call 357-4483.

Pianist Stéphane Lemelin to present recital Sunday

David West — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     Pianist Stéphane Lemelin will perform at Northwestern State University Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is $10. Students are admitted free. The recital is part of the Louisiana Piano Series International. Dr. Christine Burczyk and Dr. Francis Yang are the Series organizers. The recital is sponsored by the NSU Department of Student Activities.

     Lemelin will perform the last three piano sonatas of Franz Schubert.

     Lemelin performs regularly across Canada, as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia. A frequent guest of major summer festivals, he has appeared as soloist with many of Canada’s principal orchestras, including the Montreal Symphony. A sought-after chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists such as Peter Schreier, Donna Brown, James Campbell, and the Leipzig, Moscow, Muir, Vlach and St. Lawrence String Quartets. Lemelin’s concerts are frequently heard on CBC and his recordings have been broadcast internationally.

     A pianist with a broad repertoire ranging from the Classical period to the 20th century and encompassing a wide spectrum from lieder to the Romantic concerto, his performances of Schubert, Schumann, Fauré and Ravel have garnered enthusiastic praise. He is a member of Trio Hochelaga, with violinist Anne Robert and cellist Paul Marleyn, with whom he tours internationally. He is also the artistic director of the Prince Edward County Music Festival, in Picton, Ontario.

     He was on the faculty of the University of Alberta from 1990 to 2001, and is now Director of the School of Music and Professor at the University of Ottawa. A laureate of the Robert Casadesus International Competition, he has received several national and international awards, including grants from the Canada Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the government of Austria.

     Lemelin has more than 20 recordings and features works by Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Poulenc and Roussel as well as music by little known French composers of the early 20th century. Artistic director of the French music series “Découvertes” on the Atma Classique record label, he has made premiere recordings of works by Gustave Samazeuilh, Guy Ropartz, Théodore Dubois, Georges Migot, Rhené-Bâton, Manuel Rosenthal and Gabriel Dupont. Most recently, he recorded the complete works for piano and winds by Camille Saint-Saëns with the National Arts Orchestra Winds released on the Naxos label in November.            

Journalism students will interview Hodges Gardens guests for folklore project

Leah Jackson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Two journalism majors at Northwestern State University will be the principal television crew at the Hodges Gardens Spring Fling on March 20. Jeffrey Sholar and Kelli Otto, junior broadcast journalism students, will interview and video tape visitors who want to record their memories of Hodges Gardens State Park which is in Sabine and Vernon Parish. The taped interviews are part of Louisiana’s video archiving folklore project “Tell Me a Story.”

Sholar and Otto are experienced interviewers and videographers. Otto, from Coppell, Texas, is the NSU TV News weather anchor and plans to become a certified meteorologist after she receives her B.A. degree in journalism from NSU. Sholar, from Shreveport, is a reporter on the NSU News team. The two students are already preparing for the interviews by researching Hodges Gardens State Park and the two parishes of Sabine and Vernon.

Otto said they will have a list of prepared questions to ask the visitors but hope that the interviews will become more of a conversation between them and their guests. Both students have produced and hosted Demon Life, an NSU News 30-minute talk show that airs weekly.

Sholar said, “This is a great opportunity for us to take what we’ve learned in our journalism classes and put it into practice in a real-world situation.” He’s hopeful lots of visitors will show up and share their memories with the two student journalists.

The interviews will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to share their stories which will become part of the “Tell Me a Story” Louisiana Folklore Project.

The Spring Fling Festival is sponsored by the Friends of Hodges Gardens and will celebrate the first day of Spring. The fun-filled day among the dogwoods and azaleas begins with a 5K run and “Loop Run” at 8 a.m. for runners. Throughout the day, guided hikes on the newly re-opened Wild Azalea and Longleaf Pine Stump hiking trails.

Louisiana artists will showcase their works throughout the gardens. Custom and antique cars also will be on display. Vendors will provide food and refreshments. Hodges Gardens State Park is located on Hwy 171 between Many and Leesville, across from Emerald Hills Golf Resort. The special admission fee for Spring Fling will be $1.00 per person.

Student art show winners announced

Leah Jackson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University’s 2010 Student Art Exhibition is on display in the new gallery at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts through the end of March. The juried competition features the work of NSU students in various mediums.

Awards went to Katie Jo Springer of Converse, first place in photography for “Barnyard Friends;” Jorge Alejandro Cantu of Austin, Texas, first place in graphic design for a poster commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday; and Jeremy Jones of Coushatta, first place in fine arts for the oil painting “Weller’s Barn on a Cloudy Day.” Jones’ woodcut, “Open Barn with Growth,” won Best of Show.

Jurors were Michael Elliott-Smith, photography; Evan Taylor, graphic design, and Tom Richard, fine art.

NSU Chamber Choir to perform Monday

David West — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     The Northwestern State University Chamber Choir will perform Monday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Dr. Burt Allen is the conductor. Admission is free and open to the public.

     Dr. Christine Burczyk Allen and Dr. Francis Yang will be the accompanists.

     The choir will perform Four Canticles of Praise by Eleanor Daley, and Neue Liebeslieder by Johannes Brahms with soloists Jessica Lopez of Henderson, Texas, Alfredo Portillo of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Shannon Williams and Tommy Myrick of Natchitoches, Kayla Carlone of Alexandria, Kelsey Primeaux of Alexandria and D’Nissa Hester of Amarillo, Texas.

     Also on the program are The Earth Adorned arranged by Ahlen, Sakura arranged by Takemitsu, Bird of Youth arranged by Sveshnikov and featuring Associate Professor of Music Michael Rorex and Sourwood Mountain arranged by Rutter featuring Myrick and Allen Carpenter of Pineville. The choir will conclude with three spirituals, I Got a Key to the Kingdom arranged by Shaw and Parker and featuring Torey Bias of Natchitoches, Black Sheep arranged by Rutter featuring Katie Stockton of Terrytown and I Got a Home in-a Dat Rock arranged by Moses Hogan featuring Taylor Anderson of Ponchatoula, Micah Sasser of Shreveport, Garret Watson of Cleburne, Texas, and Josh Nuss of Natchitoches.

Forums for Provost/VP for Academic & Student Affairs finalists set

David West — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University will hold forums for the finalists for the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Thursday and Friday in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom.

Dr. Lisa Abney will appear at the forum Thursday at 2 p.m. Dr. Ihssan S. Alkadi will appear Friday at 10 a.m.

Abney has acting provost and vice resident for Academic and Student Affairs since August. She was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and head of the Department of Language and Communication from 2007 until 2009. Abney was head of the Department of Language and Communication in 2006-07 and was acting department head in 2005-06. She has been a member of NSU’s faculty since 1997 and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center since 1998. Abney has also overseen the operations of the Regional Folklife Program, and the Louisiana Folklife Journal. She was director of the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival.

Abney earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Texas A&M University and a doctorate at the University of Houston.

Alkadi was a faculty member at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 2002-2009 in the Department of Business Systems, Analysis and Technology, teaching courses in information systems, data management and retrieval, information systems, production systems and operations management. He held the Bank One Professorship in Business Administration in 2007. Alkadi was faculty advisor for the chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He served on the UL-Lafayette Faculty Senate and other university committees.

Alkadi received a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and a master’s and doctorate from Louisiana State University. He was a faculty member at Southeastern Louisiana faculty from 1992 until 2000 and Nicholls State University from 2000 until 2002.

Northwestern Men's Chorus, Northwestern Lyric to hold concert Tuesday

David West — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

The Northwestern State University Men’s Chorus and the Northwestern Lyric will present a concert on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Michael Rorex will conduct the Men’s Chorus. Dr. Chris Gilliam will conduct the Northwestern Lyric.

The Northwestern State Men's Chorus will present selections including Deep River by Howard Helvey, Exsultate Justi in Domino by Brant Adams, and Joshua fit de Battle of Jericho by Howard Helvey. The Northwestern Lyric (formerly the Northwestern Women’s Chorus) will perform works including Canticle to the Spirit by Eleanor Daley and Good News by Rosephanye Powell.

Award-winning h2 quartet to perform at NSU Wednesday

David West — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     The h2 quartet will perform at Northwestern State University Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

     The award-winning h2 quartet was formed in 2002. This all-saxophone ensemble has performed throughout the United States, in Europe and in Asia and in venues from Los Angeles' Walt Disney Hall to the Canker dom in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In the summer of 2008, h2 released its debut album, Generations, on Blue Griffin Records. The ensemble has also been featured on several other national and international releases and is set to release a second recording this year.

     The h2 quartet was featured on WKAR's (PBS) Backstage Pass, which offers viewers a first-hand look at the inner workings of a top-flight chamber ensemble through live in-studio performances and interviews with the ensemble members.

     Members of h2 are dedicated to commissioning and performing new works. The h2 quartet enjoys the opportunity to work with composers and has premiered new works by a number of composers.

     The h2 quartet has won top prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the North American Saxophone Alliance Saxophone Quartet Competition, the Music Teacher's National Association Chamber Music Competition – Michigan, the Michigan State University Concerto Competition and the Northwestern University Chamber Music Competition.

     Members of the h2 quartet are: Geoffrey Deibel, Kimberly Goddard, Jeffrey Loeffert, and Jonathan Nichol. For more information, visit www.h2quartet.com

Service-learning conference will include art installation, short documentary

Leah Jackson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University will present two exhibits, Stay Brady Stay, a short film, and DEGREE of DEBRIS, a collaborative art and awareness project, as part of a University of Louisiana System regional mini-conference on service-learning.

Stay Brady Stay is the result of a service-learning project at the University of Louisiana at Monroe that centers on the “brain drain” and related issues in Louisiana. The film’s trailer can be viewed at http://cpplcentral-ref.blogspot.com/2010/02/stay-brady-stay.html . John W. Sutherlin, ULM faculty member who directed the service-learning project/documentary film will speak at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 12 in Room 206 of NSU’s Creative and Performing Arts building. The 26-minute film will be shown, followed by a question and answer session.

Following the documentary screening, Trisha Z. Dubina, professor of Graphic Design and Communication at Nicholls State University, and Michael G. Williams, Professor of Sculpture at Nicholls, will lead a walking tour and discussion at 11:30 a.m. about their service-learning/sculpture/graphic communication project DEGREE of DEBRIS.

DEGREE of DEBRIS represents a collaborative effort between students in the arts and sciences. Debris used in the installation was gathered from the Louisiana shoreline by Nicholls students engaged in a clean-up project. The project was taken to the next level when students turned the clean-up project into an awareness campaign about the ill effects of pollution. The gallery talk will take place in the Hanchey Gallery where the exhibit is located so that participants can see the piece while the individuals involved in the project discuss their roles, goals, and outcomes.

DEGREE of DEBRIS will remain on display in the Hanchey Gallery for several weeks. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, contact Leslie Gruesbeck, director of galleries, at (318) 357-5476.

Faculty, staff, and students are all welcome to attend either or both events. An invitation is also extended to faculty, staff, and students to attend the entire conference, which will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 206 CAPA. The conference is designed as an opportunity to learn best practices in service-learning from University of Louisiana System faculty.

Interested participants can RSVP to tveit001@student.nsula.edu.

Funding for both projects, as well as the regional conference, were provided by Learn and Serve America.

Northwestern Theatre and Dance to present The Government Inspector

David West — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     Northwestern Theatre and Dance will present The Government Inspector March 12-13 and 16-20 at 7:30 p.m. in Theatre West. Tickets are $12 and $8 for senior citizens. Northwestern State and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D. Scott Burrell is the director.

     In the play by Nikolai Gogol, news of a surprise visit from an undercover government inspector sends a small provincial Russian town spiraling into a world of panic and greed. Local officials are afraid the visit will expose their corruption and scurry to cover up their misdeeds. The officials then find out a stranger from the capital has been staying at the local inn for the past week. A case of mistaken identity ensues as the officials, thinking the feared inspector is disguised as this impoverished young civil servant fall all over themselves to bribe the unsuspecting stranger.

     “It was very daring for Gogol to write this kind of comedy which made fun of the government in the mid-19th century,” said Burrell. “But he didn’t make fun of just government officials. He made fun of everybody.”

     Members of the cast are: Casey Bozenski of Bossier City as Khlestakov, Rebecca Brown of Arlington, Texas, as Anna, Josiah Kennedy of Ruston as Bobchinsky, Nathan Eddy of Zachary as Luka, Marion Bienvenu of Baton Rouge as Artemy, Dana Hart of Baton Rouge as Fyovronya, Sarah Berardi of Covington as Eudoxia, Brittany Rogers of Bourg as Marya and Sarah Folkins of Slidell as Dobchinsky.

     The cast also includes Larry Ross of Mansfield as Christian, Corwin Barnes of Brusly as Ilyitch, Taylor Anderson of Ponchatoula as Abdulin, Phillip Benson of Slidell as Ammos, Timothy Callais of Baton Rouge as Anton, Reshad Horton of Shreveport as Tunov, Cameron Martin of Shreveport as Shpyokin, Tim Sandifer of Baton Rouge as Osip, Beau Wilson of St. Amant as a waiter and Kwame Lily of Forney, Texas, as the Sergeant at Arms.

     Members of the crew are stage manager Mallory Marsh of Natchitoches, lighting director Justin Spaethe of Fort Smith, Ark., scenic designer Aaron Shindehette, technical director Phil Kidd, costume designer Jessi Parr and Dori Huffty of Baton Rouge is master props and assistant stage manager.

Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars to form at Northwestern

Sharon Joy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     The founding meeting of the Northwestern State University chapter of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars will be held Sunday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Second Floor Reading Room of Watson Library.

     The members of Phi Beta Delta include faculty, staff and students who are selected on the basis of their international orientation, scholarship accomplishment and/or contribution to international exchange. Twenty-five charter members will be inducted at this charter meeting.

     Phi Beta Delta is the first honor society in the United States to recognize scholarship achievement in international education. Phi Beta Delta was established in 1987 and now has more than 170 chapters at universities in the United States and around the world. Its goals are to increase the recognition, credibility, and importance of the international experience and create a catalyst for international academic-based programming on college campuses while providing support and recognition to those individuals on campuses who are involved in international endeavors.

     Chapter Coordinator Sharon Joy, an assistant professor of music education at Northwestern, said the chapter has many possibilities to enhance the University.

     “There are many domestic and international students at NSU who would appreciate the support of those who value the international experience,” said Joy. “The establishment of Phi Beta Delta can support these students and encourage international research and exchange.”

     New inductees were chosen through a nomination process that began in spring 2009. The founding meeting is open to the public. For more information about Phi Beta Delta contact Joy at joys@nsula.edu or 318 357-5754.

Chamber Orchestra Kremlin to perform at Northwestern Thursday

David West — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin under the direction of Misha Rachlevsky in concert Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Tickets are $10. Proceeds will benefit NSU’s music program.

     The orchestra will perform Rossini’s Sonata in C major, No. 3, Rudolf Barshai’s arrangement of Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives, J.S. Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 48.

     The 17-member Chamber Orchestra Kremlin was founded in 1991 in Moscow. Since its formation they have performed over 1,300 concerts including 24 countries in Europe, North and South America, and the Far East. The orchestra has been critically acclaimed as one of the finest string ensembles in Russia today. They have received awards for their recordings from such internationally renowned organizations as Diapason d’Or in France and Critics Choice in London’s Gramophone. They earned Record of the Year honors in Hong Kong and received a positive review in The New York Times.

     Rachlevsky, the founder and music director, was trained and raised in the Russian musical tradition, beginning at age five. He moved to the U.S. in 1973. In 1991 while conducting in Spain, Rachlevsky was given the opportunity to create a new chamber orchestra with the purpose of recording music of Russian composers with Russian string players. Under his leadership, that ensemble became the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin.

     Recordings of the ensemble will also be available after the performance. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling the School of Creative and Performing Arts at (318) 357-4522.

University to host LAJE State Jazz Festival March 12-13

David West — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University and the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts will host the annual Louisiana Association of Jazz Educators State Jazz Festival March 12-13. NSU faculty member Galindo Rodriguez is the event organizer.

The featured guest artist will be jazz saxophonist Rob Wilkerson, who will perform Saturday, March 13 at 5 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Wilkerson, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., has lived and worked in Brooklyn, N.Y., since 2001. In addition to performing his own original music, he is an active member of the critically acclaimed Darcy James Argue Secret Society, Russ Spiegel Big Band and BMI New York Jazz Orchestra. Since 2005, he has played lead alto with Warner Brothers artist Michael Bublé. He is a regular guest with several small New York ensembles and his diverse discography includes both his own work and recording projects of fellow Brooklyn jazz artists.

     On Friday, a jazz clinic will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. That evening, Wilkerson along with Luke Brouillette, Sammy Nix, Josue Ramirez, Paul Forsyth, Galindo Rodriguez and students will hold a jam session at the Pioneer Pub at 812 Washington St. in Natchitoches.

     On Saturday, performances begin at 11 a.m. An awards ceremony is at 5 p.m. prior to the concert. Scheduled festival participants are: Airline High of Bossier City, North Vermillion Middle School, North Vermillion High, Sherwood Middle School of Baton Rouge, Zachary High, Port Allen High and Fontainebleau High of Mandeville. The University of Arkansas-Monticello Jazz Orchestra and NSU Jazz Combos I and II are also scheduled to perform.

     Festival adjudicators will be Mike Morgan of Leesville, past president of the Louisiana Association of Jazz Educators, Brian Rhodes of Twin Tower Music, saxophonist Bob Maynard of Bossier City and Brouillette, an instructor of applied guitar at NSU.

Spring Senior Day, Credit Connection to be held March 6

David West — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University will hold its annual Spring Senior Day Saturday, March 6. Top students can get a head start on their college education at NSU’s Credit Connection being held that same day.

     NSU’s Office of University Recruiting will be holding its annual Spring Senior Day beginning at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Representatives from each of NSU’s colleges will be on hand to explain degree programs offered at Northwestern. A student panel will give a unique perspective on the university. Financial aid officials will also be on hand to discuss scholarships, grants and other available assistance programs for students. Also as part of Spring Senior Day, prospective students will get to tour Northwestern’s campus.

     During Credit Connection, students can earn college credit by taking an Advanced Standing Examination. Students with ACT scores of at least 25 are eligible to take exams which can result in credit being posted on the student’s college transcript once they enroll at Northwestern.

     Tests for English 1010, English 1020, French 1010, and Spanish 1010 will be available through the NSU Department of Language and Communication. The NSU Department of Mathematics will offer Math 1010 and Math 1060. Registration will occur in the testing rooms prior to each session.

     Students with ACT Math or English subscores below 18 or SAT Math subscore below 430 of SAT Verbal subscore below 450 can take placement (COMPASS) exams which can result in students being able to register in college level courses instead of developmental courses. A $25 fee is required for COMPASS testing.

     All tests will be given in Kyser Hall on the NSU campus.

     Credit Connection begins at 8:30 a.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. The first round of tests begins at 10 a.m. with the second round at 1 p.m.

     Northwestern offers a unique scholarship opportunity for seniors who are leaders among their peers. The Presidents Leadership Program allows a select group of freshmen the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills through an exciting experiential program. The Department of Student Activities will host a PLP Experiential Session after the Senior Day activities from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. A reservation is required in order to participate in the program.

     Lunch will be available at 12:30 p.m. for $9. Those who attend Spring Senior Day and Credit Connection can also receive tickets to the NSU – Southeastern Louisiana women’s basketball game at 2 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

     For more information on Spring Senior Day/Credit Connection, contact the Office of Admissions and Recruiting at (318) 357-4503 or (800) 327-1903.

Department of Criminal Justice to hold scholarship golf tournament March 20

David West — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     The Northwestern State University Department of Criminal Justice will sponsor the fifth annual Frank C. Kyle and Glen Denning Devanie Memorial Scholarship Two-Person Golf Scramble. The event will be held from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 20 at the Robert W. Wilson Recreation Complex. The entry fee is $50.

     To participate in the tournament, serve as a sponsor or donate towards the scholarships, complete the entry form found on-line at http://criminaljustice.nsula.edu/5th-annual-memorial-golf-tournament/or call (318) 357-6967 or e-mail pedror@nsula.edu or crim_justice@nsula.edu.

     The Frank C. Kyle Memorial Scholarship was established to recognize the professionalism in criminal justice that embodied the character the late Frank Kyle, who taught criminal justice at Northwestern.

     The Glen Denning Devanie Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Glen Devanie, a criminal justice major and an Alexandria deputy city marshal killed in the line of duty, by assisting students who are working toward their criminal justice degree.

     There will be a free luncheon and numerous prizes awarded during the tournament including a new 26-inch Sanyo HDTV LCD that will be given away at a raffle.

Vice President for Technology, Research and Economic Development Dr. Darlene Williams named to state task force on electronic learning

David West — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     Dr. Darlene Williams, vice president for Technology, Research and Economic Development at Northwestern State University, has been selected to lead an Electronic Learning Strategic Planning Task Force created by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

     The appointment is recognition of Northwestern’s leadership role in building an electronic learning program.

     “Northwestern State University saw the opportunity to re-engineer itself as a leader in e-learning many years ago," said Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen. "We must move this distance education agenda forward faster. This is a lesson to all of us that it can be done successfully."

     Northwestern offers 25 degree programs online, the most of any college or university in Louisiana. More than 60 percent of the students at NSU take at least one online class.

     The task force will identify strategic objectives, elements, innovative approaches and best practices that provide the momentum for Louisiana to truly embrace e-learning as a way to increase access to colleges and universities for both traditional students and adults. Higher education officials believe e-learning can expand access and success for students, eliminate unnecessary duplication of programs, deliver programs at a lower cost and respond to students' preferred method of learning.

     “I am grateful to Dr. Clausen and the Board of Regents for providing this opportunity,” said Williams. “There have been many significant accomplishments over the years by Louisiana institutions that have engaged eLearning to deliver courses and programs, but the development of a state plan formalizes our efforts and provides a roadmap for the future.”   

“I believe that the development of a strategic plan that addresses electronic learning will be of great benefit to our state, and I look forward to working with the other participating Task Force members and Board of Regents staff on this very important endeavor.” 

     Williams has been vice president for Technology, Research and Economic Development since 2008, overseeing the Offices of Electronic and Continuing Education, Information Systems, Student Technology, Research and Sponsored Programs and Economic Development.

     From 1999 until 2003, she was coordinator of eNSU, the university’s electronic campus, the Electronic Learning Systems coordinator and trainer, university technology trainer and liaison to the Board of Regents.

     From 2003 until 2008, Williams has been director of the Office of Electronic and Continuing Education, overseeing eNSU, credit and non-credit classes and serving as a liaison to the Southern Regional Education Board and the Board of Regents.

     She played a leadership role in the development of The Center for All Louisiana Learners (CALL) program which makes it possible for adults without a degree to enroll at a Louisiana public college or university and earn a degree online and at an accelerated pace.

     Williams earned her doctorate in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska. She received a bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree from NSU.

     Williams worked in the Sabine Parish School System from 1989 until 1999 as an elementary teacher, Title I facilitator and coordinator of student services.

Three Northwestern faculty to perform with Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra March 2

David West — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – The Natchitoches – Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will perform Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is the conductor. Tickets are $10. Northwestern and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D.

     The orchestra will perform Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello by Beethoven featuring NSU faculty Paul Christopher on cello, Andrej Kurti on violin and Francis Yang on piano and Symphony #2 by Jean Sibelius.

     Bakenhus said he wanted to perform the work by Sibelius after attending a conducting conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, last month. Bakenhus holds the Donald F. Derby Endowed Professorship in Music.

     “At the conference we heard from several clinicians who teach at the Sibelius Academy and heard the work performed by the Danish National Orchestra,” he said. “After learning about the piece and hearing it, I wanted our orchestra to perform it while it was fresh in my mind.”

     According to Bakenhus, Symphony #2 was composed in 1904 as Finland was struggling to gain independence from Czarist Russia.

     “You hear the struggle in the piece,” he said. “A friend wanted Sibelius to call the work the Independence Symphony, but Sibelius denied it had anything to do with the struggle. He wanted listeners to draw their own association.”

     Christopher is an assistant professor in low strings and music theory. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Memphis.

     Christopher is principal cello of the Longview Symphony Orchestra. From 1989 to 2004, he was principal cello of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Opera and a member of the Premier String Quartet. Prior to this appointment, he was a member of the Memphis and Charlotte symphony orchestras. In the summer, Christopher performs as assistant principal cello with the Peter Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Ore.

     A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Kurti received a doctorate degree in performance from the University of Georgia. He was a finalist of the MTNA (Music Teacher National Association) Competition in 1998. 

A member of Northwestern’s music faculty for five years, Kurti teaches students from several countries. He also appeared as a soloist with symphony orchestras in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. He has also performed in Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Russia, Canada and South Korea.  

As a co-author and performer, Kurti released his debut CD The Entertainers for Blue Griffin Recordings.

Yang, an assistant professor of piano, is in his second year as a faculty member at Northwestern. He was professor and director of piano studies at the Universidad de Cuenca, in Cuenca, Ecuador, for four years also serving as founder and director of a summer music program, “Young Pianists International Festival,” and musical director of “Pianissimo,” a social project sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Ecuador, taking classical piano music to villages, orphanages, elementary schools, senior citizen homes and concert halls throughout the province of Azuay, Ecuador. Yang also taught at the Université de Montréal, the University of Ottawa and the University of Alberta as adjunct professor and teaching assistant.

Wind Symphony to perform March 1

David West — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

The NSU Wind Symphony will perform Monday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Bill Brent is the conductor.

The concert will be highlighted by the performance of Beacon Fires by Rob Smith, who will be attending the concert and will present a master class for music students at NSU.

The program will also include L’Esprit Du Tour (Fanfare for Lance) by Randol Bass, Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, Masque by Kenneth Hesketh, Three Choral Preludes by William Latham, Tune in a Popular London Style by Percy Grainger and H.R.H. The Duke of Cambridge March by Malcolm Arnold.

     Smith is noted for bridging modernism and American pop and jazz idioms to produce innovative and highly energetic music. His works are frequently performed throughout the United States and abroad. Smith’s music has received numerous awards including those from the Aaron Copland, House, ASCAP and the National Band Association. He has received commissions from the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program, the American Composers Form and several nationally renowned university wind ensembles.

     In 1997, as the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to Australia, he collaborated with many different Australian ensembles and musicians which led to a teaching position at the University of Woolongong in 1998. Smith is currently associate professor of music composition and director of the AURA Contemporary Ensemble at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.

     Beacon Fires was commissioned by Mark Hartman and the Crane Youth Music Wind Ensemble for a premier performance last year. The work was written in honor of the program’s first three directors, Roy Schaberg, Scott LaVine and Hartman. The title refers to fires that can be seen from a great distance because of their high vantage point – usually a hill or tower. This seems a fitting metaphor for these directors who have served as important role models for our youth. The first movement, Ignite, is dedicated to Schaberg and features his instrument the horn. Glow, the second movement, is dedicated to LaVine and features the woodwinds. The third movement, Glaze, is dedicated to Hartman and features the trombone, Hartman’s instrument and the low brass.

ROTC to host regimental ball

Leah Jackson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Northwestern State University, also known as the Northwestern Demon Regiment (NDR), is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year along with the university’s 125th anniversary. Current cadets, alumni and other military personnel will celebrate this milestone at a Regimental Ball on March 13 at the Sylvan Friedman Student Union on the NSU campus. Members of the regiment will make a major announcement concerning the ROTC program at the ball.

The NSU ROTC Demon Battalion has commissioned nearly 1,000 Second Lieutenants in the United States Armed Services. Many graduates have become distinguished Army officers, including several General officers. Brigadier General (Ret.) James Bonsall was the first NSU graduate to reach the general rank. Other notable graduates of the NSU ROTC program include Lieutenant General (Ret.) Guy A. J. LaBoa and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Joseph Cosumano, Jr.

Seven NSU ROTC commissioned officers have received NSU’s highest honor -- induction into the Long Purple Line. They are Lieutenant General (Ret.) Guy A.J. LaBoa, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Joseph Cosumano, Jr., Dr. Robert Alost, Brigadier General (Ret.) Curtis Hoglan, L. Kevin Lynch, Robert Kelley and Daniel Chase.

Northwestern partnered with the Army to establish an anti-aircraft artillery unit of the ROTC in the fall of 1950. By the end of the 1950-51 academic year, 220 men had selected military training.

Tickets to the ball will be $40 per person and include a presentation of the NDR colors, an NDR/ROTC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sit-down dinner and dancing. Formal dress is required.

For more information on the ball or to purchase tickets, contact Christie Price at the Department of Military Science at (318) 357-5157 or pricec@nsula.edu. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.northwesternalumni.com/ball.

Sculpture exhibit by alumna Michelle Drane Smith to open Feb. 27

Leah Jackson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

An exhibit of sculptures by Michelle Drane Smith will open with a reception at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s Orville Hanchey Gallery. The show will run through March 27 and will feature both bronze and terra cotta works created over the last 10 years.

Smith and her husband, a retired psychology professor, relocated to Natchitoches after losing their home in Pass Christian, Miss., to Hurricane Katrina. They are avid NSU concert-goers and have served as host families for international music students. Many of these students, as well as other faces familiar in Natchitoches, have served as models for Smith’s work and are a focal point of the exhibit. Another grouping of sculptures is called the Katrina Survivors because they were recovered after the storm.

Smith was no stranger to Natchitoches. She graduated from Northwestern with a degree in nursing in 1961. Having grown up on a farm in West Carroll Parish the eighth of 12 children, she came to Northwestern after learning she could enroll on a full nursing scholarship. While raising a family, she earned a master’s in pediatric nursing education and eventually taught in the LSU nursing school.

Smith began sculpting about 15 years ago during a stay in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She took sculpting classes, but is largely self-taught and her work, in both sculpture and painting, has been exhibited throughout the south. Her goal in presenting the exhibit is to be archived in the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. To be included, an artist must present a one-woman show.

Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information about the exhibit, contact Leslie Gruesbeck, gallery director, at (318) 357-5476 or e-mail gruesbeckl@nsula.edu. Admission is free and open to the public.

Local musicians to perform country and bluegrass concert Feb. 24 at noon

David West — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Natchitoches musicians Max Turner, Buzz Salard, Floyd Breedlove, David Smith, and Marcy Frantom will present a free country and bluegrass concert at Northwestern State University Wednesday, Feb. 24 at noon. Admission is free and open to the public.

     The musicians will recreate the stringed instrument music that was played at house party dances in Natchitoches Parish during the 1940s and 50s with original songs by the musicians. They will play old fiddle tunes such as “Chicken Reel,” “Clinch Mountain Backstep” and “Huckleberry Hornpipe” and popular radio songs such as “Ocean of Diamonds” and “Fraulein,” among others.

      Salard, a recipient of the Louisiana Folklife Center’s Hall of Master Folk Artist’s award for his knowledge and skill in traditional fiddle tunes, is widely known for his sweet execution on the five-string fiddle as well as his zany sense of humor. Big Max Turner writes country blues songs and is the group’s lead singer and guitar player. Floyd Breedlove, luthier and bass player, lately with Out of the Blue, claims to have tasted his 15 minutes of fame but seems poised to return for more. David Smith brings his love of the steel guitar to the dobro or resonator guitar. Marcy Frantom sings harmony and plays the banjo ukulele.

     The concert is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center and the NSU Office of Cultural Diversity to promote international cultural awareness. This will be the second event in this year’s NSU Folklife Concert Series. The next free concert in the series will take place on March 24 at 7 p.m. with Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys.

Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band to be featured at band director's conference

David West — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – The “Spirit of Northwestern” Demon Marching Band will be showcased at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference to be held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Feb. 24 – 26.

     The band submitted a DVD of a single halftime show, to the conference’s “College Marching Band Juried Performance Session” selection committee. Associate Director of Bands Kevin Richardson was recently notified that the Demon Band has been selected as one of 10 college marching bands whose DVD performance will be part of this prestigious event.

      “This is a tremendous opportunity for NSU and the Spirit of Northwestern to be showcased on a national level and receive feedback from the best band directors in the business,” said Richardson. “It is a tribute to the relentless efforts of Bill Brent, director of bands since 1983, and Ken Green, associate director of bands and professor of percussion, as well as my predecessors Dr. Jeff Mathews and Dr. Caroline Beatty. Accolades should also go to every Demon Band member – past, present and future – for helping to build, maintain and continually raise the level of excellence and enthusiasm that this extraordinary ensemble represents.”

     The submitted DVD had to be from a single performance, less than 10 minutes in length, and from the 2007 – 09 football seasons. The chosen show was the “Classical Show” from 2007 featuring Carmina Burana, Gavorkna Fanfare and Danse Bacchanale. It was chosen for its demanding music, energetic drill designs and the fact that the band had a particularly impressive show that day said Richardson.

     At the conference, Richardson will have 10 minutes to introduce the show to be seen. Following the showing of the DVD to more than 100 college band directors, there will be a question and answer session. In addition, a panel of well-respected university band directors will submit written comments and critiques of the performance.