As the end of the month of February and Black History Month approaching, it is important to remember those who have broken barriers and have paved the way for African Americans not just this month, but everyday.

Here’s a list of notable African Americans who have made a difference here at Nicholls State University and should be recognized for their efforts.

Edward Baker, Sandra Hawkins, Louise Jones, Rudolph Parker, Julia Robertson, Doris Young, Lois Young

Black students were originally denied registration at Nicholls by administration due to college and state policy. On Tuesday September 17, 1963, these seven individuals were the first African American students to register and be admitted to the University (then called Nicholls State College) after a federal court ordered was issued requiring state and school officials to admit blacks into Nicholls . The next day, three more students, Vergie Maryland; Drusella Williams; and Barbera Starks, registered followed by 23 more black applicants by Sept. 20, 1963. Although Nicholls was the last university in south Louisiana to integrated, blacks helped boost the fall enrollment by about 30 percent.

Dr. Cleveland Hill

Hill came to Nicholls on a basketball scholarship and became the first black athlete to wear a colonel uniform in 1968. As a standout athlete, he graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts as the all time leader scorer in Nicholls basketball. Hill returned to the University as a coach, teacher and also dean of the College of Education.

Michael Childs

Childs, the smiling gentleman seen in the photo when entering the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation Center, is the first and the only African American memorialized on Nicholls campus. The Rec Center’s basketball gymnasium is named after Childs, who was instrumental in approval to get the Rec Center built. Childs was a Nicholls Student Government Senator in 2002 and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. Childs was essential in pushing for the venue, gathering over 1,000 signatures on a petition to have the vote be placed back on the student’s ballot in the fall of 2001 after the decision for the recreation facility failed by fewer than 20 votes the first time it was placed on a Nicholls’ ballot. Childs died in July 2006, while trying to rescue someone from drowning.

The accomplishments of blacks in both American history and world history go far beyond what is taught and talked about in the shortest month of year, and all people should be thoughtful of the brave men and women who helped changed the way society viewed the world. Whether locally, nationally or worldwide, it took every effort from each individual to make a difference.