Grambling State University (GSU) has signed a student exchange agreement with Management College of National Defense University (MCNDU), a military academy located in Bade District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, Republic of China, to establish an ROTC Student Exchange Program. 

The agreement is to have each institution send one or two student(s) to either institution annually for one to two semester(s) of study each year. 

MCNDU is a management college with programs in business, law and logistics. The primary targets for GSU are freshman and sophomore ROTC students although the program will be open to all students. 

The agreement was signed during a video conference that included GSU President Rick Gallot and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Connie Walton with officials from MCNDU, conversing with the assistance of an interpreter. 

“GSU is well-known for its excellent reputation in ROTC training,” MCNDU Commandant Chen-Yu Lin said via the interpreter. “We also know GSU consists of the College of Art, College of Education, College of Business and College of Professional Studies. We share the same goals and hope to build a close relationship with MCNDU.” 

Gallot expressed his appreciation for the partnership to the MCNDU officials looking on and listening via the online connection. 

“The opportunity for students from Grambling State University to study in Taiwan as well as students in Taiwan to study here in Louisiana is an amazing opportunity,” Gallot said. “We look forward to a very prosperous partnership, and I look forward to coming and visiting personally at some point in the very near future and would welcome the opportunity for them to visit us here.”  

After the signing ceremony was completed, Gallot admitted that this agreement between schools was unlike the many others he has previously signed. 

“We’ve signed many of these agreements, but never quite like this,” Gallot said. “We even signed some virtual ones during the pandemic, but this one is certainly on a whole new scale.” 

“For Grambling students to have the opportunity to participate in this kind of program and study in Taiwan and to have their students come and study here is something we are and should be looking for in expanding opportunities for our students. We’re such a global society now — we’re all more connected than apart, so I think this is a tremendous opportunity for our students to get this exposure to travel and study abroad.”   

GSU’s agreement with MCNDU calls for no exchange of money between institutions and will be based on the following details:   

• The exchange student will not be charged tuition, room, board and any other fees required by the institution for a period of one to two academic semesters. 
• Cadets in both institutions may wear their own corps cadet’s uniform while studying at the host institution. 
• Both institutions will provide an adequate meal plan and a dormitory room for the semester. The roommate of the visiting cadet will be the same year and subject classmate from the host institution. 
• Cadets must have the permission of their military service branch as well as their parent or guardian prior to an application for participation in the academic exchange. 
• Cadets in both institutions will pre-arrange the purchase of health insurance for themselves for the period of time the cadet is participating in the exchange. 
• Cadets in both institutions will be expected to take no more than 18 credits in their host institution and these credits will be recognized. 
• Both institutions will appoint a staff or faculty member as an advisor for their exchange cadet and assist in both academic and personal matters. 
• Cadets in both institutions will be responsible for any costs of travel, accommodations, and meals while traveling to and from their host institution. Cadets arriving and departing by airline will be transported to and from the nearest airport and the host institution. 
• Cadets in both institutions must arrive at school before the new semester and depart from their host institution after completing all course obligations. 
• At the conclusion of the semester, an official academic transcript will be sent to the exchange institution. 
• Cadets participating in the exchange will be given all privileges enjoyed by the cadets of the host institution and be required to conform to the same regulations and rules. In case of any violation, they immediately inform their host institution. 
• Both institutions will agree on a Crisis Management Plan which will be implemented in case of a medical, safety or legal emergency. 

The agreement will be reviewed by both universities to determine the effectiveness of the program once every three years for the purpose of revision and renewal. 

 

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Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications

The “next man up” mentality was on display Monday night as Louisiana Tech had five players score in double figures, leading to a 79-58 victory over ULM inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.

LA Tech (2-2) started the game minus three critical players – Cobe Williams, Kaleb Stewart, and David Green – for various reasons. It created an opportunity for new players to step up in their place. And that they did.

Quandre Bullock, Terran Williams, and Kenny Hunter came off the bench to tally 32 combined points (each scoring double digits). Keaston Willis fought through first-half foul trouble to notch 13 points. And Isaiah Crawford did a little bit of everything, registering a team-high 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

“I felt like we got deeper as a team tonight,” said head coach Talvin Hester. “I built some trust in some other guys, to make plays for us, to defend. We want to keep building on that. I want the strength of our team to be our team. I am excited about what we did right tonight. There are things we did wrong like our turnovers, but I think this team is mature enough to keep getting better.”

Neither team gained separation early in the game. That was until the Bulldogs used the three ball to go on an 11-0 run – one from Willis and two from Bullock – to build a 27-13 lead. That advantage was short-lived as ULM (2-3) countered with an 11-0 run of its own to bring it back to a three-point contest.

An offensive rebound and putback by Hunter snapped the run and led to LA Tech closing out the stanza on an 8-1 run to make it 35-25 at halftime.

Five quick points out of the break by Dravon Mangum made it 40-25, forcing a timeout by the Warhawks. The visiting team got the deficit back into single digits at 40-31 with 17:03 to play, but an isolation layup by Isaiah Crawford followed by triples from Willis and Williams pushed it out to a 17-point lead.

LA Tech ended up making 10 of their last 13 field goal attempts while winning the battle of the boards, 42-25, to keep ULM from getting back into the game, ultimately picking up their 10th straight win over their I-20 neighbor.

“Rebounding was the key,” said Hester. “I thought we were not good rebounding at Texas Tech, and I thought we lost the game at UL-Lafayette because of rebounding down the stretch. We had some tough practices, focusing on rebounding, and we ended up outrebounding ULM, 42-25. I think this team is showing that when we really work on something, we get better at it. We are maturing and growing as a team.”

The Bulldogs shot 47.4 percent from the field (27-57), 34.8 percent from deep (8-23), and 89.5 percent from the foul line (17-19). The Warhawks managed just 20 made field goals, 11 of those coming from beyond the arc. Tyreke Locure had a game-high 18 points.

Tech improved to 56-36 all-time against ULM. The Bulldogs face Alabama A&M Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Huntsville.

 

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I have had a passion for athletics as long as I can remember.  I can’t recall a time in my childhood or youth that I didn’t have some kind of ball in my hands.  That passion for sports continued through youth athletics and high school football and baseball.  I loved being part of a team and the competitive environment.  I’ve always enjoyed the training and preparation as much as the games.  The one downside that I had to eventually deal with was what I refer to as the performance trap.  While I was a team player and a good teammate, team success wasn’t enough for me.  I had to play well in the process.  While we all want to perform well and play up to our ability, I had a real issue with personal performance at times.  My performance impacted my identity.  If I played well, I had confidence, engaged with others, and was a positive influence on everyone around me.  If I played poorly, I was more withdrawn, less engaging, and had a generally lower self-esteem in every aspect of my life.

I don’t think my story is unique.  There are a lot of people, both in their teens and adults, that are caught in this performance trap.  For me, it was athletics.  It could also be job performance and advancement in a career driving the performance trap.  It could be relationship success and popularity driving the performance trap.  With social media, it now may be how many “likes” we get on a posting that drives the performance trap.  Whatever that performance trap may be for you, it’s not healthy.  Performance should never drive our identity or self-worth.  

James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, makes the comment, “When you fall in love with the process not the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy.  You can be satisfied anytime your system is running.”  While I loved the process of playing sports and the competitive environment, I was too focused on the product, my individual performance.  My rollercoaster ride of feeling great when I played well and moping around when I didn’t meet my standards was not a healthy view of my identity.  

It wasn’t until I met with coach Pat Patterson, the head baseball coach at La Tech when I was entering college, that I finally moved past the performance trap.  I asked coach Patterson for a chance to walk-on at Tech and play baseball.  He told me that I was welcome to attend the walk-on tryout but that I wouldn’t make it.  He was looking for a pitcher, and that wasn’t me.  I left that meeting disappointed, but on the ride back to Minden, I just decided to go play the rest of the summer season as hard as I could and enjoy every second of it.  The remainder of that season was outstanding.  No longer was I caught in the performance trap with a fear of failure looming over me.  I was now just enjoying the process that James Clear wrote about so many years later. 

If you find yourself caught in that performance trap, regardless of your stage in life, take a break and regroup.  You need to define your identity.  Don’t allow someone else or your performance define it.  Identity is more than what we accomplish.  Identity is who we become.  I define my identity in three ways:  a follower of Jesus, a servant leader, and an athlete.  Those three drive my actions, my focus, my conversations, and essentially every aspect of my life.  I love the process associated with each one of those.  While I want to experience success in each of those areas, the results don’t impact my identity nor my self-esteem, confidence, or my engagement with others.  I find peace and satisfaction in the process.  

Give it some thought.  Are you caught in the performance trap?  Let’s move past that trap and seek lasting satisfaction.  It may require some introspective work on your part, but it will be well worth it. 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech returns to the hardwood today when the Lady Techsters face SMU at Moody Coliseum at 4 p.m.

The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 97.7 FM and through the LA Tech Athletics app with Kyle Roberts providing a call of the action. It can also be seen on ESPN+.

Louisiana Tech (3-0) is off to its best start since 2017 after a 68-53 road win over ULM in its last outing back on Nov. 13. Tech is looking for their first 4-0 start since 1996.  

Anna Larr Roberson registered her 17^th career double-double in the win over ULM with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Roberson is just nine points shy from becoming the 45^th Lady Techster to reach 1,000-career points. 

LA Tech has been led in scoring by three players through three games (Keiunna Walker, 17; Salma Bates, 17; Amaya Brannon, 18), while averaging 72.5 ppg and shooting 48.3-percent from the floor.

SMU (2-2) comes into 2022-23 picked third in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll (out of 11 teams) behind Houston and South Florida. The Mustangs also received a vote in the preseason USA Today/Coaches Top 25 poll.

Toyelle Wilson leads the Mustangs as a second-year coach coming off a 14-15 overall record with a 7-7 mark in the AAC.

SMU returns eight players who saw significant playing time, including regular starters Savannah Wilkinson (9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Jasmine Smith (13 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Reagan Bradley (11 ppg, 4.3 rpg). 

SMU opened the 2022-23 slate with a 76-39 win over Alabama State at home before falling at Oklahoma, 97-74. The Mustangs then went toe-to-toe with 17th ranked Baylor in Waco (58-55) before handling Texas A&M Commerce in Dallas, 86-57.

Today’s meeting will be the 20th overall meeting in the all-time series between the Techsters and the Mustangs with LA Tech leading the all-time series 18-1. 

Tech won the first 18 games of the series that dates back to 1978-79, the only game played on a neutral floor.  SMU snapped the streak in Dallas in the last meeting during the 2016-17 season with a 75-70 overtime win, the only game in the series to reach an overtime period.

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The Louisiana Art and Science Museum (LASM) will host Art After Hours: Illustrating Health from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in the Second Floor Main Gallery. The evening will consist of a tour of the exhibition, and appetizers and refreshments will be provided.

The exhibition explores the visual representations of diseases, everyday occurrences, and lifesaving research that affects individuals’ health. The art on display was created by Louisiana Tech University students in the VISTA Center.

Louisiana Tech VISTA Center Co-Directors Professor Nick Bustamante and Dr. Jamie Newman will lead the exhibition tour.

“The Louisiana Tech VISTA Center’s program was a perfect match for LASM’s interdisciplinary mission and I’m very excited for visitors to hear Dr. Newman and Professor Bustamante speak on this exhibition,” LASM Curator Tracey Barhorst said. “VISTA students are encouraged to combine their love of art and science to encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge.”  

“Working with the LASM team of professionals has been fantastic in making Illustrating Health a first-class museum exhibition,” Bustamante said. “Louisiana Tech’s VISTA Center is thankful for the opportunity to showcase undergraduate scientific illustrations and underline visuals’ role in health communication.”

LASM’s annual exhibition program, including the presentation of Illustrating Health, is sponsored by Entergy. Illustrating Health is also supported by Louisiana Tech University, Justin and Jeanette Hinckley, Kean Miller, and the Baton Rouge Clinic.

Tickets for this event are $15 for the public and free for LASM Members. Visit lasm.org for more information.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Annalise Obryant signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Louisiana Tech women’s bowling team on Thursday, Nov. 17. 

“Annalise will be coming to Louisiana Tech next year,” said Tech head coach Matt Nantais. “She has had a lot of success throughout her career, and we are looking for her to make an immediate impact once she gets here in the fall. Her work ethic is second to none so she will fit right in with what we do here.”

Obryant, a native of Ball Ground, Georgia, joins LA Tech’s bowling team after a long list of accomplishments. During her career, she’s bowled 300 twice, with a high series of 789. Starting in 2015, she has competed at the Junior Gold National Championships where she finished first in 2018 and 2019.  Obryant is a four-time Youth Open National Champion as well as a two-time Storm Youth Champion 18U and a seven-time Georgia State Pepsi Champion. 

In 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, Obryant finished first in the Georgia Youth Bowlers Tour. She also competed in the 2016-2017 15U USA Team Bowling Regional where she took home another championship. While participating in the International Tournament of America’s Medalist, she earned seven silver medals and five gold medals. 

Obryant collected the Georgia State All Events Girls Scratch Champion title in 2019 along with the Bowl4Life 15U Girls Champion title. She’s qualified for the PBA Junior National South Championship as well. Obryant was named the BYBT Bowler of the Year in 2014-15 and 2015-16 as well as named the Georgia Bowler of the Year in 2019. She was also named a member of the 2018-19 Georgia Youth Hall of Honor. For five consecutive years, Obryant has been a member of the Junior USA Team. 

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The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is marking American Diabetes Month this November to draw attention to a condition that takes a major toll on the state, both health-wise and financially.

Diabetes affects an estimated 13.6% of Louisiana residents, much higher than the the national average of 10.6%. For reference, the number of people in Louisiana who have diabetes could fill the Superdome 13 times.Also, about 1 in 3 Louisiana residents are pre-diabetic, with levels of blood sugar that are higher than normal, according to 2017 estimates by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).Diabetes is largely a preventable condition. That is why LDH’s Well-Ahead program, which is responsible for chronic disease management and prevention and improving healthcare access, is urging Louisianans aged 35 to 70 years found to be overweight or obese to get screened for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes this month. Well-Ahead can help connect residents with screening and prevention resources here.

As with many chronic conditions, the burden of diabetes is not shared equally across racial lines. Black adults are at least 45% more likely to have diabetes compared to all other races and ethnicities in Louisiana. Adults in rural Louisiana are also 16% more likely to have diabetes when compared to adults in urban areas.Complications of diabetes can be serious, including heart disease, stroke, amputation, end-stage kidney disease, blindness, and in extreme cases, death.

According to the ADA, in Louisiana, diagnosed diabetes treatments cost an estimated $5.7 billion each year.

Through the FY22 LDH business plan, the Department has taken innovative approaches to help thousands of Louisiana residents better control their diabetes, or even avoid type 2 diabetes altogether.

Louisiana’s Medicaid program exceeded the FY22 business plan goal of helping 2,300 more Medicaid members control their diabetes over calendar year 2021. That means thousands of Louisiana residents have greater opportunities to lead longer, more abundant and healthier lives.

Over the past year, Well-Ahead has led a creative strategy to reach more Louisianans with important information and screenings, and connect them with necessary care for both diabetes and high blood pressure.

The Well-Ahead program is partnering with six community sites throughout Louisiana to offer programs to assist residents with diabetes prevention and connect those at risk with vital resources.

Well-Ahead connects our partnering sites, which include community hubs like barber shops and gyms, with the training and resources needed to help community members receive diabetes prevention education.

The diabetes prevention sites offer CDC-recognized programs created through the National Diabetes Prevention Program to assist residents with prediabetic diagnoses to adopt achievable realistic lifestyle changes to avoid type 2 diabetes.

This community-based approach is key in reaching residents who may not regularly visit a doctor or enjoy reliable access to preventative care.LDH is building on that foundation through its FY23 Business Plan. This year, Well-Ahead will work with our established sites and recruit additional community partners to help increase the number of residents enrolled in Diabetes Prevention Programs.

To find out more about Well-Ahead’s diabetes programming, go to WellAheadLA.com.

 

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Funeral services for Mrs. Myrtis Chandler Orr, 98, will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at Temple Baptist Church Chapel.  Interment will follow at Douglas Cemetery in Choudrant, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. at Temple Baptist Church Chapel.

Myrtis passed away peacefully November 19, 2022. She was born in April, 1924, and reared in Choudrant, Louisiana, where she graduated from Choudrant High School. She then attended Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (Louisiana Tech University) where she met her soulmate, Virgil Orr, while they were both working in the Tech Dining Hall. He later became her tutor for organic chemistry, and they always said, “Our chemistry worked real well together.”

During a 14-day leave from serving in the Army for World War II, Virgil came back to Ruston to marry Myrtis on April 13, 1945. Seven days after their marriage, they parted as he boarded a ship bound for the Philippines. He returned in 1946, and they moved to Baton Rouge for him to attend graduate school at Louisiana State University.

Myrtis graduated in 1944 with a B.S. in Home Economics and later earned a Masters +30 in 1966. After her daughters started school, Myrtis began teaching.  Her career spanned 34 years, teaching home economics at Dodson High School, pre-school at First Baptist in Ruston, and kindergarten at A.E. Phillips Lab School. She also served as a professor of early childhood education at Louisiana Tech University.

In addition to supporting all that Virgil was involved in, Myrtis was active with Lagniappe Ladies at Louisiana Tech, the Cosmos Club, the North Louisiana Auxiliary at the hospital, and various other honor and professional organizations. She received the Tower Medallion Award from Louisiana Tech University in 2018.

Myrtis came to know Christ as her Savior at a young age. She was a member of Temple Baptist Church for 69 years, where she taught Sunday School, was a member of the sanctuary choir, and served in many capacities. In retirement, Myrtis was an avid quilter and gardener and loved nothing more than hosting her family and friends at her home. She was very proud of her family and completely devoted to Virgil during their 76 years of marriage.

Myrtis was predeceased by her parents, John and Mary Chandler; her siblings, J.W. Chandler, Chester Chandler, Inez Chandler Price, and Lavena Chandler Lann; and son-in-law Ed Rice. She is survived by her daughters, Virginia Orr Rice of Little Rock, AR, and Marilyn Orr Hyams and husband Bill of Ruston; four grandchildren, Ron Weiland of Monroe, Brian Weiland of DeFuniak Springs, FL, Toni Hyams Crawford and husband Dickie of Ruston, and Daniel Hyams and wife Michelle of Madison, AL; eight great-grandchildren, Joshua Weiland, Beau Weiland, Landon Weiland, Emma Crawford Richardson and husband Danny, Adam Crawford, Nate Hyams, Sam Hyams, and Adrienne Hyams; and two very special caregivers, Tess Jones and Marsha White.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Temple Baptist Church Mission Fund, Louisiana Tech Foundation for benefit of the Mary Wilks Chandler Scholarship, or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston

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Myrtis Chandler Orr  
April 27, 1924 – November 19, 2022  
Visitation: Temple Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm  
Service: Temple Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 2:00 pm  
Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Tuesday, November 22, 2022  

Carolyn Chapman  
September 22, 1926 – November 19, 2022  
Visitation: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 10:00 am – 11:00 am  
Service: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 11:00 am  
Cemetery: Rocky Branch Cemetery, Tuesday, November 22, 2022  

Thomas Davis, Jr.  
Saturday 02/15/1947  — Wednesday 11/16/2022    
Visitation: Tuesday 11/22/2022 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Funeral Service: Wednesday 11/23/2022 11:00am, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay)  
Interment: Wednesday 11/23/2022 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay), LA 

 

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Longtime community service enthusiast and Louisiana Tech University alumna Rosemary “Toni” Wurster Chandler Turner of Dallas shared in her address to Fall 2022 graduates the ways in which her Tech education taught valuable life-long lessons. 

“I used what I learned at Tech to overcome the unexpected, to deal with demons, and to adapt,” Turner said. “I have little idea of what the world will be like when you reach my age, other than to believe that the adaptable will thrive. Tech has given you the tools to recover from adversity; use them.”

In the University’s 342nd commencement ceremony, 336 graduates entered the Tech Alumni Family. Nine graduates received their doctoral degrees, and three 4.0 GPA graduates were recognized during the event.

In her time at Louisiana Tech, Turner said she learned the important lessons of recovering from disappointment, finding inspiration and mentoring, becoming stronger. These lessons built on her childhood and prepared her for her future.

“Achieving high grades in high school paled in comparison to the experience of near-failure in math and the confidence that I gained in the ability to recover,” Turner said. “Seek guidance from those who care about you; use failure to teach yourself to recover. Never give up.”

Turner also advised graduates to find their own sources of inspiration in their lives and shared that her time in a sorority taught her how to work with others and how to thrive through competition.

“I learned at Tech to be resilient, to become stronger,” Turner said. “This enabled me to use the experience of flying with Uncle Dick [one of the famous Flying Tiger fighter pilots] to pursue a career change.”

Turner’s family boasts 19 graduates of Louisiana Tech.

A native of Jonesville, Turner earned her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Tech in 1964. She began her professional career as a medical technologist, but an early change in careers led her to 34 years with Delta Airlines as a flight attendant, serving on both domestic and international routes.

While a Tech student, Turner was active in Sigma Kappa Sorority and the Wesley Foundation. She competed in the Miss Louisiana Pageant representing Catahoula Parish, and she danced in the Royal Ballet of the Natchez Pilgrimage.

Turner has been active during her post-college life as both a professional and volunteer, and her support of her alma mater has been unwavering. She and her husband, Dr. William Turner Jr., have established two endowed scholarships of $100,000 each in the past four years.

 

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By Malcolm Butler

A number of Lincoln Parish affiliated swimmers earned all-state honors during the Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Swim Meet held this past week at the Recreation and Aquatic Center at Sulphur Parks and Recreation in Sulphur.

Choudrant’s Jack Groce, Cedar Creek’s Camdyn Napper and McKenzie Jones, and Ruston High’s Kate Beorsma, Karalinn Hoover, Sadie Huenefeld, Robert Campbell and Owen Frick all earned all-state accolades in their respective events.

Huenefeld set a Division 2 State Record in the 50 Freestyle.

Ruston High’s girls swim team finished third in Division 4 to lead the local teams.

“The student-athletes had a great week of competition,” said Bulldog Aquatic Club Coach Rocky Smith. “They all raced well and exceed expectations.  Lincoln Parish was represented very well by their local schools. It was wonderful to see all their hard work and preparation on full display this week.”

The state swim meet was divided into four divisions: Division 1 = large 5A schools; Division 2 = small 5A and all 4A schools; Division 3 = all 3A and large 2A schools; Division 4 = small 2A schools and below.

The top three finishers in each division earned all-state honors and a chance to compete in the all-star competition in December.

Below were the results from our area swimmers.

Cedar Creek Girls (7^th as a team in Division 4)

• Hanna Heirs, Sophomore, 10^th in the 100 Butterfly and 9^th in the 500 Freestyle.
• Gracie Jones, 8^th grader, 12th in the 200 Individual Medley and 15^th in the 100 Backstroke.
• McKenzie Jones, 1^st in the 200 Freestyle and 3^rd in the 500 Freestyle.
• Madison Morris, 8^th grader, 9^th in the 100 Butterfly and 10^th in the 100 Breaststroke.
• Relays: 6^th in the 200 Medley Relay and 7^th 400 Freestyle Relay.

Cedar Creek Boys (14^th as a team in Division 4)

• Camdyn Napper, 8^th grader, was 1^st in the 100 Butterfly and 1^st in the 100 Breaststroke.

Choudrant Boys (15^th as a team in Division 4)

• Jack Groce, Sophomore, 2^nd in the 200 Freestyle and 2^nd in the 500 Freestyle.

Ruston High School Girls (3rd as a team in Division 2)

• Carmen Bishop, Senior, 12th in the 100 Butterfly
• Kate Boersma, Freshman, 3^rd in the 50 Freestyle and 2^nd in the 100 Backstroke. 
• Karalinn Hoover, Freshman, 2nd in the 200 Individual Medley and 3^rd in the 100 Breaststroke.
• Emma Huenefeld, Sophomore, 5th in the 200 Individual Medley and 6^th in the 500 Freestyle. 
• Sadie Huenefeld, Sophomore, 1^st in the 50 Freestyle and 1^st in the 100 Freestyle. 
• Julie Roberson, Senior, 16th in the 200 Freestyle and 21^st in the 100 Backstroke. 
• Lydia Watts, Sophomore, 8th in the 100 Butterfly. 
• Relays: 5^th in the 200 Medley Relay, 3^rd in the 200 Freestyle Relay, and 3^rd in the 400 Freestyle Relay. 

Ruston High School Boys

• Cade Campbell, Junior, 11^th in the 200 Individual Medley and 12^th in the 100 Butterfly. 
• Robert Campbell, Junior, 2nd in the 200 Individual Medley and 2^nd in the 100 Backstroke.
• Owen Frick, Sophomore, 3^rd in the 100 Butterfly and 4^th in the 500 Freestyle.
• Reese Campbell, Freshman, was part of the 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay.
• Relays: 8^th in the 200 Medley Relay and 8^th in the 400 Freestyle Relay.

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By Kyle Roberts

Ruston head basketball coach Ryan Bond was pleased with the overall Bearcat effort this weekend at the Saline Tournament, as his team beat the Winnfield Tigers by a final score of 71-52 on Saturday, while taking care of Lakeview 38-31 on Friday.

Said Bond of the Winnfield win, “We had a great team effort against a quality opponent. I’m so proud of my guys for the improvements mentally we made this week. Mistakes are part of the game, but they have a next-play mentality.”

Jay Lillard led the Bearcats with 25 points, while Aidan Anding finished with 17 points. Lonnie Dimmer totaled 10 points on the night.

The previous day, Ruston beat Lakeview by a final score of 38-31, and senior Braylon McNeal led the Bearcats with 15 points. All of Ruston’s fourth quarter points came from free throws.

“I’m really proud of our effort,” Bearcat head coach Ryan Bond said about Friday’s win. “This was our third game in four nights. We battled through several bad stretches.”

Ruston will return to action Tuesday, Nov. 29, at home against Bossier.

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Dr. Alicia Odewale, an African Diaspora archaeologist and an assistant professor of anthropology at The University of Tulsa appeared at Grambling State University recently to give a presentation on reanalyzing historical evidence from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Her work focuses not on the attack itself, but instead on the community’s trauma and triumph in its aftermath. 

Dr. Odewale’s session, “Greenwood: A Century of Resilience,” discussed the events that occurred over a span of around 18 hours — from May 31 to June 1, 1921 — when a white mob attacked residents, homes, and businesses in the predominantly Black Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Okla. 

Odewale’s research project findings, “Mapping Historical Trauma in Tulsa from 1921-2021,”  documented the personal stories of Greenwood’s residents while also mapping the evidence of their resilience. 

Most of Tulsa’s 10,000 Black residents in 1921 lived in a neighborhood called Greenwood that included a thriving business district sometimes referred to as the Black Wall Street. Using evidence that surfaced through her research, Odewale gave an in-depth view of the socioeconomic and racial climate and digested encounters that occurred before and after the tragic event. 

On May 30, 1921, Dick Rowland, a young Black teenager, entered an elevator at the Drexel Building on South Main Street in Tulsa. 

At some point after that, the young white elevator operator, Sarah Page, screamed, and Rowland fled the scene. Police were called to the office building, and the next morning they arrested Rowland. 

A front-page story in the Tulsa Tribune the afternoon of May 30, 1921, reported that police had arrested Rowland for sexually assaulting Page. 

By the time evening fell, a mob of whites had gathered outside the courthouse, demanding the sheriff hand over Rowland. Sheriff Willard McCullough refused, and his men barricaded themselves on the top floor of the Sheriff’s Office to protect the Black teenager. 

Around 9 p.m. that evening, a group of about 25 armed Black men — including many said to be World War I veterans— went to the courthouse and offered help guarding Rowland but were turned away by the sheriff. 

Soon afterward, some of the white mob is said to have unsuccessfully tried to break into the National Guard armory nearby. 

When a group of around 75 armed Black men returned to the courthouse around 10 p.m., they were met by an estimated 1,500 white men, some of whom were armed. The group of Black men then retreated to Greenwood after shots broke out at the courthouse. 

After a night of unrest, including the shooting of an unarmed Black man in a movie theater, thousands of white citizens at the break of dawn poured into the Greenwood District, looting and burning homes and businesses over an area of 35 city blocks. Firefighters who arrived to help put out fires later 

“The first shots were fired at 10 p.m. on May 31, 1921, 1,256 homes were looted by the white mob and burned to the ground,” Odewale told those in attendance during the presentation.  “In 1921, the death toll was listed at 36. Today, it is said approximately more than 300 people were murdered.” 

During the decades that followed, Odewale said not only were there no effort made to commemorate the events of the event, there were instead deliberate efforts to cover them up by news media and public school systems. 

Odewale also spoke of the resilience and perseverance of those who survived the event and their families. 

“Greenwood was determined to rebuild,” Odewale said, “In spite of all that, Greenwood still came back bigger and better than it was before.” 

GSU student Lescia Valmond, a biology and history double major from Dominica, felt engaged enough by the presentation that she also attended another talk Odewale gave to an African American History class later Monday afternoon. 

“She was very articulate about her presentation and relied on facts,” Valmond said. “A lot of times when Blacks talk about Black history, many people believe their talk is based on only sentiment. But her presentation was based on evidence of what she’s researched. She’s not just putting out falsified information. She’s put out factual numbers to back up what she’s saying.” 

Valmond admitted she had read quite a bit about the event before hearing Odewale’s presentation. 

“There were still a lot of new things she said I did not know exactly because the worldwide web does not provide as much information as to the geography and the exact people involved,” Valmond said. “She touched on several gray areas and with the visualization she provided so that we could see what happened, that was the part I loved the most.” 

In a post-event interview, Dr. Odewale expressed that she hopes her presence at Grambling State provided students with a real view of personal resilience and defying fears to blaze a different trail. 

“You can follow whatever you want to do, even if it’s something no one else is doing,” Odewale said. “Even if it’s something that people who like you don’t normally do. If you have an interest in it, maybe God put that in your heart for a reason and it’s something you can pursue, even if you might be the first one to blaze that trail.” 

 

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Ruston High School’s competition cheer team won the North Texas Regional Sunday at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas.

The win earned Ruston High a bid to the national High School Cheerleading Championship in February.

RHS will compete in the Louisiana Regional on Sunday, December 18.

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Hillcrest Elementary School, which goes from kindergarten to second grade, has announced its most recent honor roll list. Honor roll students are those who made no less than a B on their report card. Students are listed by grade. 

Kindergarten: 
KAEGYN BARR 
EVERETT BELL 
BRIANNA CANO 
EZEQUIEL CANO 
JONNATHAN CARTER 
KELTON COMBS 
DERRICK HILL 
HARRISON HOWELL 
NILAH POPE 
JAZLYN SMITH 
KAIDENCE BRAGGS 
JASPER BUSTAMANTE 
LEELAND DUNN 
ZAIN FLOWERS 
VADA HOTTLE 
RILEY JOHNSON 
KHLOE KELLEY 
VALERIA SUASTI 
CADEN WIMLEY 
TIANA WOMACK 
ADDISON GOLDEN 
JACOB HAMMONS 
RYKER INGRAM 
HALEY LINER 
ARYA TAYLOR 
HARLEIGH WARREN 
ZOLA BAKER 
ISAAC CAMP 
CASIA CAMPBELL 
RIVER HUNT 
KINGSTON KELLEY 
EYVAH LANGHORN 
KAMRYN MITCHELL 
HAYLEEN OSTORGA GOMEZ 
ABIGAIL ROANE 
JEFRY ALVARADO 
QHYRIE BARNES 
JAMES BEAIRD 
MASON FREEMAN 
BENJAMIN GRAHAM 
NATALIE GREEN 
MAGNOLIA KEY 
CANNON SMITH 
OSCAR ZUNIGA 
ANGEL CIRILO -GOMEZ 
TAIDEN JACKSON 
TAYLEN JACKSON 
EMERI JONES 
ZANE RYDER 
NICOLE SMITH 
CHASE TAYLOR 
SUHAILA HEATH 
MILLIE PLUNKETT 
BANKSTON WHEELER 
GERMANI REED 
KINGSTON ARMSTRONG 
KOHLSTON DEAN 
BRIYLEE MITCHELL 
EDUAR BUESO AMAYA 
AVALEIGH WORLEY 
JAIMERI DAWSON 
JAMES HERNANDEZ 
BRYCEN ELLIS 
KARLEIGH REED 
CAMERON THAMES 
BRIGGS YOUNGBLOOD  

First grade: 
ROWAN GRIGSBY 
HEAVEN HUNTER 
DENARIUS JONES 
LILAH MILLER 
FRANCES BERGHOLTZ 
LUCAS BOZEMAN 
LINCOLN CHANNELL 
MICAIAH CLOUD 
COLTON ALLEN 
AMELIA FERGUSON 
YAHINESS KIMBLE 
EDEN LEWIS
CHARLOTTE ROBERTS 
ISABELLA WILSON 
LYLA AMBROSE 
JORDAN JOHNSON 
TATUM POWER 
SAMMU HANDI JENUK DE SILVA 
OLIVIA MORTON 
BELLA WOMACK 
CHARLOTTE XU 
KIMBRIELLE BRAGGS 
ELOISE FUNDERBURG 
YUTING GAO 
EZEKIEL HOOVER 
JALISA BRAGGS 
CINDY DAMON 
SEYLI GALVEZ BUSTAMANTE 
KAMILA RUIZ 
ARJEN ULLOA MUNGUIA 
ANNELISE WAITS 
JAXON COOPER 
CHANLER GAY 
DASH ROBERTSON 
LUCAS BLAIR 
NICHOLAS MOORE 
HENLEY HERRING 

Second grade: 
JUSTIN BYNOG 
LOEGHAN FOSTER 
JOURNEE PRUDHOMME 
GABRIEL SMITH 
JAGGER INGRAM 
VIHAAN BEMINIWATTHA 
ALDAHIR GALARZA 
ZECHARRIA MILNER 
JOLIE MOORE 
GLORIA KING 
NORAH CHAVEZ 
MOLLY DERVELOY 
TREASURE COWART 
BENTLEY HARPER 
MORLAYSIA KIMBLE 
SEBASTIAN MORALES 
SHACARRIA JENKINS 
CHESTON GAY 
KENDALL HARRIS 
ARIANNA ROBINSON 
IVY LAMB 
KENNEDY SPURLOCK 
AUDREY WILSEK 

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

After two grueling games on the road, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs return home to the Thomas Assembly Center to face ULM tonight at 6 p.m.

The game begins a stretch of four games in six days for head coach Talvin Hester and Company. Tonight’s game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM and through the LA Tech Athletics app with Malcolm Butler and Jack Thigpen providing a call of the action.

LA Tech (1-2) led the majority of the game against UL-Lafayette this past Thursday, but the Ragin’ Cajuns went on a 19-3 run late in the second half to grab the lead and hang on in a final score of 94-88.

Both squads shot over 50 percent from the field, but the difference ended up being free throws as the Bulldogs went 13-of-14 from the foul line while the Cajuns were 22-of-32. The ‘Dogs were whistled for 29 fouls, the most in five years.

Cobe Williams was near unstoppable on offense, scoring a career-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting. The fourth-year guard is averaging a team-high 19.3 points per game, the most by a Bulldog through the first three games of a season since 2017.

Isaiah Crawford was the other Bulldog in double figures, scoring a season-high 18 points. It was the most points scored by the forward since March of 2021. He is currently averaging 12.0 points per game.

ULM (2-2) enters Monday having split its first four games, claiming lopsided wins over Dallas Christian and Central Baptist (cracked the century mark in both) while suffering defeats at Texas A&M and TCU. Most recently, the Warhawks fell, 95-60, to the nationally ranked Horned Frogs.

They were picked to finish 14th in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll, coming off a 13-18 overall record last season and a 5-13 mark in league play. There are four Warhawks averaging at least nine points per game, led by Tyreke Locure who is averaging 13.3 points as well as 3.8 assists per game.

LA Tech leads the all-time series over ULM, 55-36. The first ever meeting between the two programs took place nearly 70 years ago in 1954. The Bulldogs and Warhawks, separated by only 35 miles, played every season at least twice all the way up until 1991.

Since then, they have faced off nine times with LA Tech winning all nine meetings. The ‘Dogs came out on top last season in Ruston, winning 96-74.

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A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that my family and I create thankful leaves during the month of November as part of our Thanksgiving traditions. I wanted to pause, this week of Thanksgiving, to let you know some of the things my kids have written. 

First off, though, let me state how much fun it is to have kids who can actually write now. It took us a while, but to see everyone’s different handwriting and hear the voice of my kids ringing through their thankful leaves is something I should write on one of my own thankful leaves. When friends and family have stopped by, they’ve stared at our window filled with construction-paper leaves and read various reasons why all four of us are so grateful this season. 

For my older daughter, she immediately puts that she is thankful for her family and for Jesus. In fact, on her first thankful leaf, she decided to write as much as she could with, “My cousins, my family, my dog, friends, my teachers, the church, and the trinity.” Apparently our outdoor cat didn’t make the cut, but I digress. Some of my other favorites of hers were “I’m thankful for my free country” (written on Veterans Day from last week) and “I’m thankful for my school.” Can I just pause a moment and say how grateful I am that she loves her school and teachers so much? Granted, she’s not very grateful at that 6:15 a.m. wakeup call, but the fact that she loves school so much is so wonderful. 

My little one really got into the thankful leaves this season. Generally we try to write one a day, but I’m pretty sure she’s done two or three a day – and they reflect her sweet little personality so much. One day, after she had cut her finger and her sister had given her a band-aid, she wrote, “My sister healing my thumb” — only because she’s so young, she actually wrote, “haling my thum” but that’s as precious as it gets. She also has written, “I like how (friend in her class) is funny” and “I like how (another friend) is sweet.” She’s also had some darling ones, such as, “I love how we share love” and “I love you all!”  

We still have a few days before Thanksgiving, and while we will no doubt be decorating for Christmas by the time you read this column (yes, I’m that person who decorates early), I think I’m going to leave the thankful leaves up a little more – maybe even add some thankful snowflakes to the mix. After all, that might be the best white Christmas we can get. 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech head coach Steve Voltz announced this week the signing of five new Lady Techsters that will join the LA Tech Soccer program in the Fall of 2023. 

The four incoming freshmen signing National Letters of Intent include Kyra Taylor, Dakota Merino, Ella White, Mackenzie Kelso, and Valerie Gherson.

“For us it was part of continuing the process of what we have started and looking at filling needs positionally,” said Voltz. “Goalkeeper was a must and we wanted more depth on our back line and a strong attacker.

“We also looked for players who were interested and committed to our style of play, our program, and being the type of student athlete that can thrive here at Louisiana Tech.” 

Taylor is an all-around athlete out of Longview, Texas where she lettered in volleyball, basketball, and track, while playing club soccer, where she played forward.

She is a two-time runner-up at the Dallas International Cup in 2019 and 2022 and won the Dallas International Cup championship in 2021. 

She also took first place at the Disney Showcase Championships in 2020 and is a two-time USCS regional and national champion. 

Taylor is an all-district basketball performer and qualified for regional and state competition in the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 relays. 

“Kyra was someone who came to our ID Camp and showed who she is and what she can do,” said Voltz. “We loved what we saw and continued to follow her during club play. She is a determined attacker that moves well and knows the game. She has an extremely high ceiling.”

Merino is a center back and outside back from Syracuse, Utah where she is a two-time Defender of the Year, a Second-Team All-State performer, and All-American nominee. 

She had also been named the Top-Drawer Soccer Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) standout player and was Top 18 at the Olympic Development Program.

“When you think of Dakota you think of speed,” said Voltz. “She is an all-around defender, has great range, can cover a lot of ground, and has great recovery speed. She is extremely tough and has great 1-on-1 skills when defending.”

White, a Burnsville, Minn. native, is a four-year letter winner for Burnsville High School as a defender, team captain, all-conference performer, and voted the team’s Most Valuable Player. 

White plays club soccer for the MN Eclipse Girls Academy. 

“We first learned of Ella through our connections in Minnesota,” said Voltz. “She is a leader at the center back position, strong in the air, and great in set pieces. She will give us a ton of strength and has a great understanding of the game. She will come in and help us build depth at the position.”

Kelso is a goalkeeper from Highlands Ranch, Colo. where she played for the FC Portland ECNL and Oregon ODP and became a three-peat Regional Champion from 2016-2018.

Kelso’s team also made the Western Regional Championships Top-18 in 2018. She also spent time with Portland Thorns Academy and Real Colorado Athletico ECNL. 

“Mac fills a massive need for us in goal,” said Voltz. “She is very vocal and does a great job leading her team from the back. She has played at a very high club level and will be ready to compete right away. We really like to play a lot out of the back and she is great with her feet which will help us with our attack as well.”

Gherson, a forward from Lima, Peru, played club soccer for Deportivo Universidad Cesar Vallejo. Gherson also spent time with the Peruvian Youth National Team where she played at the 17U South America Championships last year. 

She was named the Most Valuable Player following a match against Ecuador and earned Player of the Week honors in the Peruvian League where her team also picked up Team of the Week honors for their play. 

“Valerie brings an ability to help us in different areas of our attack,” said Voltz. “She is technically sound and her international experience helps us to continue to raise the mindset within our program.”

LA Tech completed the 2022 season with a fourth-place finish in the Conference USA standings after being picked ninth in Coach Voltz’s first year as the full-time head coach. 

“We have five young women that are completely sold on our university and program,” said Voltz. “They already building connections with each other and it just exciting to see group that is already so committed to this program, school, and community even a year out from getting here. These are exactly the type of young women we need in Ruston to continue building this program.” 

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As local residents prepare for the holiday season, the Louisiana Department of Health employees are striving to help keep residents and loved ones healthy and safe. The LDH has reported a general increase in influenza activity in Louisiana and that it has already reached its highest point in the past five years.

The LDH is urging the public to get vaccinated and stay up to date on their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. Anyone looking for other vaccine resources in their area can visit vaccines.gov.

Within the last few days of November, is a vaccination opportunity, in addition to the Parish Health Unit, located at 405 E. Georgia Ave., that is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers the vaccines. Affinity Health Group also offers the vaccines throughout the region at their various locations. On Wednesday, November 30, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Renewal Center at 722 Adams St. in Monroe is offering COVID-19, flu and monkeypox vaccines.

 

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According to the Ruston High School Facebook page, tickets for the Bearcats Non-Select Division I quarterfinal match-up at Denham Springs this Friday can only be purchased at the gate to the stadium that night.

Tickets will be $15.

Current Ruston High students can purchase tickets at the gate for $10 by showing their RHS ID.

Kickoff Friday night will be at 7 p.m.

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Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com. 

Monday, Nov. 21
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: La Tech men’s basketball v. ULM (Thomas Assembly Center)

Tuesday, Nov. 22
10 a.m.: Family storytime (Lincoln Parish Library)

Wednesday, Nov. 23
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome

Thursday, Nov. 24
Thanksgiving

Saturday, Nov. 26
2:30 p.m.: Tech football v. UAB
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Hometown Holiday and Kickoff to Christmas event (downtown Ruston)

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Myrtis Chandler Orr 
April 27, 1924 – November 19, 2022 
Visitation: Temple Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 
Service: Temple Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 2:00 pm 
Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Tuesday, November 22, 2022 

Carolyn Chapman 
September 22, 1926 – November 19, 2022 
Visitation: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 10:00 am – 11:00 am 
Service: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 11:00 am 
Cemetery: Rocky Branch Cemetery, Tuesday, November 22, 2022 

Thomas Davis, Jr. 
Saturday 02/15/1947  — Wednesday 11/16/2022   
Visitation: Tuesday 11/22/2022 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Wednesday 11/23/2022 11:00am, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay) 
Interment: Wednesday 11/23/2022 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay), LA 

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