Alcie Maxwell, government/history senior from Alexandria, and Latranda Hills, nursing junior from Boutte, were proclaimed Mr. and Ms. Nicholls when the student government association, student programming association and peer assistance organizations held a 2003 Awards and Inaugural Banquet.
“When I was pronounced Mr. Nicholls I just went numb. It took a while for the realization to sink in. I was happy but did not expect it because there was a lot of good competition,” Maxwell said.
The other nominees for Mr. Nicholls were James Irwin, mass communications senior from Morgan City and Jason Pellegrin, biology senior from Cutoff.
The other nominations for Mrs. Nicholls were Keli Bonvillain, business management senior from Thibodaux and Samiko Price, government senior from Thibodaux.
All of the candidates were nominated by the organizations in which they were involved. Each organization is allowed to nominate one male and one female candidate.
Maxwell acted as the president of the SGA, served as vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa, was a member of the National Leadership Honor Society,
Participated in the Sigma Tao Delta English Society, was a member of 2002 Homecoming Court, was enrolled in the University Honors Program and was named to the Nicholls State University Hall of Fame.
Hills was the president of Alpha Kappa Sorority, served as the vice president of the National Panhellenic Council, was an assistant house director for the office of residential services, was a member of the Nicholls chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, participated in the Nicholls Gospel Choir and was a maid on the 2001 Homecoming Court and the 2002 Greek Court.
The criteria for Mr. and Ms. Nicholls is that all candidates must have completed 85 semester hours by the fall, presently carry seven hours and obtain an overall 2.5 grade point average.
The nominees for Mr. and Ms. Must submit a co-curricular transcript. From there, a student government committee and Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs, evaluate all of the points that follow the Who’s Who American College Students point system. The nominees with the most points get onto the ballot. The final decision of who will receive the title of Mr. and Ms. Nicholls is the vote of the student body.
“The reason the title of Mr. and Ms. Nicholls is one of, if not, the biggest honors at Nicholls is that the students select the winners. Being recognized by your colleges for your hard work and dedication is more special,” Dial said.
Hills said achieving the title of Ms. Nicholls has always been a goal she wanted to achieve. She said she believes she has earned the title through hard work and dedication.
“I was not so much surprised but more excited upon receiving the honor. I am fascinated with receiving the title and have accomplished my ultimate goal other than earning a degree,” Hills said.
According to Dial, the title of Mr. and Ms. Nicholls has been the top honor at Nicholls for at least 40 years. The winners receive the honorary title, a plaque and are featured in the Nicholls yearbook.
“By receiving the title of Mr. Nicholls I felt it was affirmation that people recognized the hard work I do for the university and by my dedication I had done right,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said his greatest contribution to the University was making the diversity course requirement as the SGA president, which has been approved at a state level.
“My favorite thing about Nicholls is the concept of community and Nicholls has an atmosphere which is unique to the University. The people will be what I miss the most about Nicholls, because last year I had the chance to work with many different people,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell’s future plans are to attend the Louisiana State University law school in the fall. He said his long-term plans would be to enter into politics at a local level. Maxwell strongly believes in political empowerment for all people and will spend his career creating policy.
“My best advice to students is to get involved in at least one organization because it can change your entire college experience,” Maxwell said.
Hills said that through hard work outside of academics and gaining leadership skills she has been able to obtain her goals.
“My overall college experience at Nicholls has been overwhelming. I will miss my college years because they can never be taken back and I had no idea I would be more emotionally attached to college than to high school. ,” Hills said.
Hills said her favorite thing about Nicholls is the familiar and friendly environment and the one -on-one personal basis she has with most of the staff.
After Hills receives her bachelor’s degree in general studies, she plans to enroll in nursing school in New Orleans to obtain her bachelor’s in nursing. She then plans to move to Dallas to practice as a registered nurse and later specialize as anesthesiologist.
“The main thing students need to learn is to stay focused, have your priorities, have fun and get involved. Education is only what you make of it and having your focus is the key to a successful academic career,” Hills said.