Published October 1, 2024
CAPTION: Pictured L-R: Debbie Upshaw, Asst. Director of TRIO ETS, Savannah Gilbert (Richland Parish senior),
Dr. Danny Upshaw, Assoc. Prof. Of Marketing at NSU, Alyse Kolb, non-traditional prospective college student, Theresa Upshaw, grandparent
of Savannah
MONROE, LA – ULM TRiO Educational Talent Search staff along with TRiO Program participants from
Richland Parish traveled to Natchitoches, La. on Tuesday, August 27, to tour Northwestern
State University’s campus, with an emphasis on their School of STEM and School of
Business and Technology.
The group spent the day meeting with NSU recruiters and professors and enjoyed an
extensive tour of the campus. NSU biology professor Dr. Jonathan Akin led a tour of
the biology department, imparting critical information about the programs offered
and how credits can be earned through the University of Louisiana System and the Louisiana
Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON).
Tour participants experienced the rare opportunity to attend a very entertaining and
informative full-length Principles of Marketing class conducted by Associate Professor
Dr. Danny Upshaw and also met with Computer Information Systems instructor, Mrs. Anna
Upshaw. The group lunched with faculty members in scenic downtown Natchitoches.
Savannah Gilbert-Kolb, TRiO ETS senior who is home-schooled in Richland Parish, stated,
“I had a very excellent time at Northwestern State University. My tour guide, Sydney,
was delightful; she explained everything perfectly and helped me with my admissions
application. I also enjoyed going to the biology lab. The professor there explained
to me all the biology programs NSU offers and showed me all of the labs. One of my
favorite things that I did was go and sit in Dr. Upshaw’s class. He keeps the class
very alive. There is never a dull moment in his class. He also let me participate
in his class. I did not know that so much goes into marketing. We were taken on a
driving tour around campus and I saw some very pretty scenery.”
NSU Associate Professor Dr. Danny Upshaw commented, “It was a pleasure to host the
TRiO group. At NSU we are always looking to recruit new students as well as simply
expose individuals to the atmosphere at our university and the benefits of seeking
a degree no matter where they attend college. I was happy to see that you brought
both a traditional and non-traditional student to visit our campus and my class. I
was especially impressed that both potential students engaged in my marketing class
discussion even though they had never attended a university class before. TRiO program
students are always welcome at NSU!”
Talent Search’s mission is to motivate and prepare junior high and high school students
for college entry and completion. The program serves primarily first-generation, income-eligible
students in 18 northeast Louisiana schools in 3 parishes. Talent Search has been serving
students in northeast Louisiana for 40+ years and is housed on the ULM campus. For
more information about Talent Search, please visit www.ulm.edu/trio or call (318) 342-1097.
