Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development will recognize several individuals during Homecoming festivities. The College will induct five new members into the Hall of Distinguished Educators and recognize an Outstanding Young Professional and a Friend of Education. An induction ceremony will take place beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Teacher Education Center auditorium.

Preceding the ceremony will be a reception and reunion from 1-1:30 p.m. in the Commons Area of the Teacher Education Center.

Honored as 2016 inductees into the Hall of Distinguished Educators are the late Dr. Raymond Gilbert, Mack Daniel Knotts of Bossier City, Edwina Lewis of Natchitoches, Robert Silvie of Shreveport and David Thrash of Bossier City. Micah Coleman of Natchitoches is the Outstanding Young Professional and Paula Hickman of Shreveport is this year’s Friend of Education.

Hickman is executive director of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana where she is responsible for the Foundation’s leadership, management, strategic planning and development. She helped create and incubate Step Forward, a cradle to career initiative that has engaged over 1,000 in the Shreveport-Bossier area to collectively drive excellence in education so that children of the area are prepared to compete in a 21st century global economy.

Hickman holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and juris doctorate from LSU Law Center. Although not an educator, she has always valued education as a pathway to a better life. She is a co-founder of VOA LightHouse, an educational enrichment center for children in Shreveport’s most impoverished area through which thousands of children have received support to obtain education and eventually employment. Last year 100 percent of participants stayed in school, 80 percent had a grade point average of 2.0 or better and 100 percent avoided involvement with teen pregnancy and the juvenile justice system.

Hickman has volunteered support to numerous organizations, including Providence House, Glen Retirement System, Centenary College Planning Giving Council, Volunteers of America, Shreveport Symphony, Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier and KDAQ.

NSU’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development annually recognizes educators whose work has made an impact on the lives of others. For more information on the College visit nsula.edu/academics/education-human-development. A full schedule of Homecoming events is available at northwesternalumni.com/homecoming16.