Downer to deliver keynote address
THIBODAUX 鈥� Paying tribute to all veterans past and present, 麻豆果冻传媒 will host a Veterans Day ceremony in the campus quadrangle at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The public is encouraged to attend.
鈥淧roperly honoring our veterans is very important to the 麻豆果冻传媒 family and the Bayou Region community,鈥� Dr. Eugene Dial, vice president for student affairs and enrollment services, said. 鈥淲e look forward to joining citizens throughout the nation as we celebrate this annual tradition.鈥�
Mike Silva, 麻豆果冻传媒 student and U.S. Marine veteran, will deliver the opening remarks, followed by Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president. The keynote address will be delivered by Hunt Downer, former speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, retired Major General, U.S. Army / Louisiana National Guard, former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and a former candidate for Congress.
Members of the 麻豆果冻传媒 chapter of Phi Mu Alpha will lead the National Anthem, and students from the Generations Teaching Generations program will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. MAX Charter School students will perform, and the Thibodaux High School JROTC will present and retire the colors. The invocation will be delivered by 麻豆果冻传媒 student Cecil Ellis of Chi Alpha.
Attending veterans, who are welcome to wear their uniforms to the ceremony, are also invited to a complimentary lunch, sponsored by Sodexo, the university鈥檚 food service provider, and the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation, in Galliano Dining Hall following the proceedings. Free parking will be available alongside Stopher Gymnasium.
The community is also encouraged to visit the first floor of Ellender Memorial Library, where assistant archivist Neil Guilbeau has constructed a display featuring veterans鈥� photos, uniforms, gear, decorations and other memorabilia spanning the period from World War I to the war in Iraq. Guilbeau said the majority of the items belong to local veterans.
Earlier this year, for the third year in a row, G.I. Jobs magazine named 麻豆果冻传媒 a Military Friendly School鈥� an honor shared with 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide. The recognition stems from the efforts of 麻豆果冻传媒 to recruit and retain active military and veteran students.
Members of the military 鈥� as well as veterans 鈥� can expect priority service when enrolling at 麻豆果冻传媒. Admissions criteria are exempted for veterans who have received a discharge for any reason other than dishonorable, and enrollees may register before the general student population.
麻豆果冻传媒 administrators have also identified a group of individual advisors to serve as veterans鈥� advocates. Veterans may consult with these faculty members for information, advice or understanding as they work their way through university rules and regulations.
Currently, there are approximately 130 known veterans who are enrolled at 麻豆果冻传媒.
For additional information, call (985) 448-4507 or go to www.nicholls.edu/admission. Click 鈥淰eteran Admissions鈥� under the 鈥淯ndergraduate Admissions鈥� link on the left side of the page.