Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development held its Honors Convocation at the Teacher Education Building Monday, April 7. With approximately 1,600 students, the college is responsible for awarding the majority of NSU’s degrees and continues the mission of NSU’s founding as a “Normal School” dedicated to training teachers for the state’s public schools.
In addition to teacher training, the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Performance houses the university’s Army ROTC program, Department of Health and Human Performance, Department of Psychology, and Department of Social Work.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating the event photography. The photos may be accessed by clicking on “Kevin’s Gallery” They are unlocked, and the students, faculty, staff and families are welcome to download any they wish at no charge.
The awardees are as follows:
School of Education Honor Recipients
Excellence in Teaching in Undergraduate Education: Corynn LaCaze and Alaina Norris
Dr. Marie Shaw Dunn Award in Early Childhood Education: Macy Dowden
Esther Cooley Memorial Award: Taylor Roberson
Excellence in Music Education: Molly Laird
Outstanding Senior Award in Child and Family Studies: Samantha Austin
T. P. Chaplin Award: Lona Aucoin
Educators Rising Outstanding Service Award: Olivia Horrell
Dill Perseverance Award: Krista Cholvitee and Latasha Kennedy
Excellence in Counseling Award: Christine Ferrell
Outstanding Master’s Degree Candidate: Beverley Warren
Rising Educational Leader Award: Jabain August
Outstanding Research in Education: Martina Malone
Excellence in Teaching in Graduate Teacher Education (MAT): Mariah Pellerin
Excellence in Teaching in Graduate Teacher Education (PREP): Katelyn Morace
Outstanding Doctoral Research Award: Larry Arant
Department of Health & Human Performance Honor Recipients
2025 American Kinesiology Association (AKA) Undergraduate Scholar Award: Latyriona Jones
Outstanding Female Athlete in Human & Health Performance: Madison Brown
Outstanding Male Athlete in Human & Health Performance: Caleb Billiot
Outstanding Health & Exercise Science Undergraduate Student: Kaci McDaniel
Outstanding Sport & Recreation Management Student: Honor Camus
Outstanding Health & Physical Education Student: Lauren Menard
Outstanding Sport Administration Graduate Student: Kendrioun Boatman
Outstanding Public Health Graduate Student: Reese Lipoma
Health & Human Performance Graduate Assistant of the Year: Maya Lucas
2025 American Kinesiology Association (AKA) Masters Scholar Award: Maya Lucas
Bill E. Stewart Health & Human Performance Scholarship: Honor Camus
Allen R. “Buddy” Bonnette Scholarship: Lauren Menard
Chris Roper Memorial Scholarship: Lailani Wood and Abigail Coker
Cindy Poole Davis Health & Exercise Sciences Scholarship: Kamryn Babineaux
2025 Human Performance Leadership Club (HPLC) Professor of the Year: Dr. Lauren Mitchell
Department of Military Science Honor Recipients
Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS I: Joao V. Dos Santos
Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS II: Jacob P. Mullican
Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS III: Layla L. Theriot
Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS IV: Caiden E. Matthews
Department of Psychology Honor Recipients
Maureen A. McHale Outstanding Junior Award in Psychology: Grace Culpepper
Terry Isbell Outstanding Senior Psychology Major Award: Shae Wetzel
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Addiction Studies: Hillary Bennett
Hurst Moreland Hall, Jr. Research Award: Elayna Gardner
Donald O. Gates Psi Chi Honor Graduate Award: Emma Gonzales
Robert L. Breckenridge Graduate Student Award: Greere Koehler
Department of Social Work Honor Recipients
Malcolm C. Braudaway Award: Jana Couvillion
Outstanding Social Work Student Award: Briannah Stansberry
Social Work Senior Summer 2024 Academic Award: Kelly Sax
Social Work Senior Fall 2024 Academic Award: Allie Ainsworth
Social Work Senior Spring Academic Award: Briannah Stansberry
Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholars: Tamera Burney, Jana Couvillion, Ragini Brooke Delasalle, & Shelby Sutton
GCEHD Distinguished Faculty &Staff Awards
Distinguished Teaching Awards: Dr. Michelle Brunson & Dr. Lauren Mitchell
Distinguished Scholar Awards: Dr. Sunggun Jeon & Dr. Laura Beth Norman
Distinguished Service Awards: Dr. Haley Blount, Dr. Debra Jo Hailey, & Dr. Jennifer Shaw
Distinguished Staff Member Awards: Mrs. Jennifer L. Cowan, Mrs. Sid Hall, & Mrs. Helen Tousek
