Clayton Shelvin, mass communication sophomore from Carencro, will be using his student leadership skills to enhance campus life for students in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Mexico. The Region 12 committee of the Association of College Unions International recently named the 20-year-old as its undergraduate student project team leader for a two-year term.

“I’m overwhelmed now that I know how big of a thing this really is,” Shelvin, a native of Washington, D.C., said. “I’m excited because I love having the chance to help make changes to better campus life for students here and other states.”

Shelvin will work with student leaders in the region to plan projects and programs for student unions at two- and four-year public and private colleges. Shelvin plans to meet with other ACUI leaders a few times a year, with some gatherings held at Nicholls.

ACUI, a non-profit educational organization with member colleges in 11 nations, brings together college union and student activity leaders to explore ways to improve student union programs and facilities through various conferences and meetings. Founded in 1914, the organization is separated into 15 geographical regions, with the central office located in Bloomington, Ind.

Impressed with Shelvin’s desire to make positive changes on campus, Greg Evans, director of the student union and 12-year member of ACUI, gave Shelvin an application to fill out for the vacant position. Evans, the 2004 ACUI Region 12 Conference chairman, then recommended Shelvin to the committee who selected him over five other candidates.

“I have no doubt that Clayton is the right student for this position, and he will do a very good job. The committee was very impressed with him,” Evans said. “We have so many students here at Nicholls capable of holding a national position like this, and Clayton is just the start.”

Shelvin recently traveled to Houston with Evans and his planning assistant Jonathan Serigne, mass communication junior from Thibodaux, where he met the ACUI Region 12 leaders for the first time and started planning events for this year’s regional conference in Dallas during October. Shelvin will also be traveling to more colleges on some weekends to share ideas with other student leaders and learn how other colleges use their student unions. ACUI will pay for most of Shelvin’s travel expenses.

“I love traveling,” said Shelvin, who will also attend the ACUI 2005 International Conference in Reno, Nevada. “Learning about other universities will help me bring back new ideas that will help improve the student union here. I feel like we have a lot of catching up to do.”

Shelvin’s new role will add to a growing list of his campus life activities. He has served as the managing editor and sports editor for the Nicholls Worth, captain of the cheerleading team, a residence hall resident assistant and director of Insight Theatre, whose members address social issues through drama.

He has also served as the co-chair of the Bollinger Student Union Programming Board, an executive member of the Nicholls Players drama club, a member of Resident Hall Association and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His other activities include working with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, coordinating youth cheerleading clinics and performing with Insight Theatre.

“I’ve learned more through being in those organizations than in the classroom,” Shelvin said. “I’m proud of the University, but I feel there’s a lot of room for improvement, and I’m confident we will get there.