Author: Emily Gautreaux

Festival Acadiens et Créoles Creating New Series

In an effort to expand the cultural and educational aspects of the Festival Acadiens et Créoles year-round, festival organizers and supporters have introduced a free monthly series of Cajun music, culture, and history, according to this feature from The Acadiana Advocate.

The Founder of Festival Acadiens et Créoles, Barry Ancelet, wanted to create a monthly community event that honors the historical, contemporary, and future cultural traditions of Cajun and Creole culture. In conjunction with the Festival Acadiens et Créoles, Anaclet and festival supporters have organized Legacy Series, a monthly offering of lectures and musical performances that are designed to explore the art, music, and cuisine of Acadiana.

Barry Ancelet, also a professor and longtime folklorist, spoke about this new way for the local community to come together to not only be entertained by Cajun and Creole traditions but also be educated by them. Ancelot said, “the presentations will be entertaining but will also matter. We will explore the legacy from those who inspired us. We will consider what they gave us and how it continues to inspire us. The Festival team has been considering ways to have ongoing activity and presence throughout the year.”

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles launched its first event in the first Legacy Series on Thursday, July 7th at the Feed & Seed in Lafayette. The inaugural event featured “The Legacy of Dewy Balfa,” a Cajun musician and music ambassador from Mamou. Balfa’s musical legacy, recordings, and live performances all helped to shape and popularize Cajun Music far outside of his Acadiana homeland. The legacy of this prominent figure in Cajun music was told with performances from Dewy Balfa’s daughter, Christine Balfa of Balfa Toujours, as well as Grammy Award winner Steve Riley and fiddler David Greeley. Riley and Greely were both nominated for four Grammys as members of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, and Christine Balfa was nominated for a Grammy with Bonsoir Catin.

The event, according to Barry Ancelet, sought to not only hear, celebrate, and consider the musical legacy of Dewey Balfa, but to also “preserve the tradition” that he revered. In fact, the Balfa Brothers had played at the first informal Festival Acadiens et Créoles event on March 26, 1974. The event was then called “A Tribute to Cajun Music,” and it saw crowds of local music enthusiasts gathering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to listen to musical legends of the craft. Performers included the Balfa band, Dennis McGee and Sady Courville, Clifton Chenier, Nathan Abshire, Marc Savoy, and many others, all of whom performed the concert for the benefit of French Journalists as well as the local community.

When starting the planning and conception of the event, Barry Ancelet and Pat Mould, the organizer and promoter of the Festival Acadiens et Créoles, were always very cognizant to imbue an educational aspect to their Legacy Series, through what Ancelet affectionately refers to as “guerrilla education.”

He spoke about the Legacy Series’s connection to the Festival Acadiens et Créoles by saying, “like the festival itself, this series is designed to honor those who have left us so much of what we celebrate today. It is focused not only on their past contributions but also on the ongoing impact of their legacies, as contemporary musicians continue to use the past to create the future. The series will give us the opportunity to produce and present informed entertainment throughout the year.”

Ancelet revealed that the next performance in the ongoing free monthly series will feature the music of Joseph and Cléoma Falcon and that he already has a list of over 60 programs to present in the Legacy Series, making for many more educational and entertaining performances for the Acadiana community.

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Political Science Online Program Named Best in South at Nicholls

It was recently announced via a press release from the school that the Best Online Political Science Degree in the American South is Nicholls State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as determined by Intelligent.com, a highly-valued online educational resource that assesses collegiate programs across the country.

The reputable online educational resource Intelligent.com assessed over 325 programs from approximately 200 colleges and universities across the United States. Intelligent.com assessors sought out programs at these institutions of higher learning that taught strong analytical and decision-making skills and evaluated each program on several factors. Programs were evaluated on their flexibility in the delivery of their courses, their return on investment, the cost of attendance, their national rankings, overall student engagement, and the quantity and quality of resources available to students. Ultimately, each collegiate program was scored on a 100-point scale.

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Nicholls State University received an impressive score of 86.73, and thus it was named as being the “Best in the South.” This program was also the 28th best political science program out of all post-secondary institutions assessed by Intelligent.com.

Dr. David Whitney, associate professor and Department Head of Political Science at Nicholls reflected on this honor by saying, “we use our full-time faculty to teach all of the core classes, which is fairly upcoming for online programs. Another thing that sets us apart is the approach we take toward students in the online program. We do not distinguish between online and traditional students in terms of the investment and time we make towards their success.  Nicholls Online isn’t a side job or an afterthought but is an integral part of our degree program.”

In order to better justify their classification of the “Best Online Degrees of 2022,”  the editors of Intelligent.com accompanied their award listing by saying the following: “Online learning has become quite popular — 37.2% of college students have taken at least one online course, and 17.6% take online courses exclusively. The flexibility of distance learning has made it an especially attractive option for students who have other responsibilities in addition to their education, such as children or a full-time job. To help you find the best option for your specific situation, we’ve reviewed the top colleges for dozens of different online degree programs.”

As defined by Intelligent for their assessment purposes, political science is the study of the history of political systems, the analysis of how these political systems operate, and how political scientists can provide suggestions on how to shape public policy. In addition to this, political scientists develop strong analytical decision-making skills that can be applied to an array of occupations, including careers in public administration, market analysis, and many more.

Research that was conducted by Intelligent through the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the median salary for political scientists is $122,220 per year, making it three times as high as the median salary for all other United Stated occupations, which stands at $39,810. Additionally, they determined an estimated increase of 6%for this field in terms of job outlook, specifically indicating an increase in demand for market research analysts which was cited at a growth rate of 18%. The data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that the economy is expected to need 400 more political scientists by 2029 in order to manage regulatory issues, research political theory, and analyze public policy.

As per Nicholls State University, their Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Program is designed in such a way that it prepares students and gives them a complete, “comprehensive understanding of the essential aspects of politics” and “the analytical and critical tools necessary to evaluate political events and more importantly, to become actively engaged citizens.”

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Shell Awards LSU Gift for Energy Institute and New Campus District

Recently, Louisiana State University received a $27.5 million gift from long-time partner Shell USA, Inc., and according to this news release from the school, the investment will be utilized to not only establish a new Institute for Energy Innovation but to also begin construction on a new district of LSU’s campus devoted to interdisciplinary scientific discovery.

The $27.5 million gift from the Shell Corporation is reportedly being recognized as the university’s largest gift ever received from a for-profit corporation. Additionally, it’s simultaneously the largest gift ever received by the school in focused support of energy-related initiatives.

In speaking on LSU deserving the gift, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said, “as a legacy energy state on the front lines of climate change, Louisiana is uniquely positioned to forge meaningful solutions for a clean energy future. This partnership between Shell and Louisiana’s flagship university supports the continued vitality of our state’s energy industry as well as Louisiana’s emerging role as a national leader in carbon management. I look forward to the contributions LSU and Shell will continue to make here in Louisiana to global energy innovation.”

Of their total donation gift, Shell will be dedicating $25 million to launch and establish the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation, an institution that will aim to advance affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy for all. The creation of the Institute for Energy Innovation will set the stage to allow for leaders in energy-thought, talent, and industrial impact to have the opportunity to invest in a collaborative pursuit of a shared vision for the future of energy.

Shell’s gift will provide funding for a five-year vision for the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation, which will be rooted in five work streams: talent, research and development, policy and economics, social and environmental justice, and technology transfer and commercialization. Furthermore, about $6.4 million of Shell’s total gift will be directed toward initiatives centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion. These initiatives will be focused on both faculty and student support as well as workforce development within the energy industry.

The remaining $2.5 million will be used to construct the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building, and upon the completion of this new building, LSU will be able to close reportedly more than 50% of the LSU College of Science’s current gap in lab space and educational needs within its five disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry,Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy.

Over the past four years, there has been an increase in demand for educational and lab space for LSU’s College of Science. For the past four consecutive years, the college has reported years of enrollment growth while also teaching one-quarter of all student credit hours at LSU and roughly one-third of the total instruction for freshmen and sophomore students. Therefore, this continual growing reliance on LSU’s College of Science will be greatly benefited by the construction of the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building.

LSU President William F. Tate IV also commented on the monumental gift, saying: “energy represents a central driver of Louisiana’s economy, and Louisiana buttresses the nation’s energy supply, putting LSU in the unique position to partner with industry to discover innovative methods to fuel our nation. Together with Shell, we invite fellow industry leaders to join us in pioneering the research and development pathways forward to protect and preserve Louisiana’s energy economy, while meeting the nation’s future energy needs.”

Shell’s announcement of their $27.5 million gift is the latest transformative investment in LSU’s Scholarship First Agenda, a dedicated effort to focus on creating solutions considered to be essential to the future of agriculture, biotechnology, the coast, defense, and energy within Louisiana and throughout the nation. With the Scholarship First Agenda, LSU seeks to “ascend to its potential to lead the nation in these five key areas through a combination of private, state and federal support.” Additionally, Shell’s gift is only a part of LSU’s $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future Campaign, which is the largest campaign for higher education in the history of the state of Louisiana.

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Dessert Recipe-Shortcakes with Grilled Peaches

It’s the height of summer. That means more time at cookouts, beach trips and picnics. How do you cool off after a day of fun in the sun? One option is to serve this delightful dessert recipe for grilled peaches shortbread from Louisiana Cookin. This delicious dish features a shortbread topped with grilled peaches, sweet fresh honey, and a dollop of sweetened whipped cream, making it a perfect treat for a hot summer afternoon.

Ingredients for Grilled Peaches and Shortcakes

Directions for Grilled Peaches and Shortcakes

  1. You’ll want to start this deliciously sweet recipe by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Then, be sure to take your four medium peaches, peel them carefully, and discard the peels. Next, pit the four peaches, and then use a paring knife or another similarly small knife to cut them into 6 wedges each. Set your peaches aside for later.
  2. Then, in a large mixing bowl, you’ll want to pour your 2 cups of self-rising flour and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Whisk the flour and sugar together carefully. Once they’re combined, you’ll want to add in your cubed butter by either using a pastry blender or by cutting into the butter cubes, flour, and sugar with two forks. Continue to mix until the mixture has a crumbly texture to it.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, you’ll want to whisk together your single large egg, a grated teaspoon of fresh ginger, and ½ cup of whole buttermilk. Whisk these ingredients together, and then gradually add this buttermilk mixture to your dry ingredients in the larger mixing bowl. Stir everything only until everything is lightly moistened.
  4. Nearby, you’ll want to take a clean countertop or raised wooden cutting board in your kitchen and lightly flour itso that it’s ready for the dough. Take your recently-created dough, and gently knead it about 5 or 6 times. Then, roll it to about ½-inch thickness.
  5. You’ll then cut the dough using a 3-inch round cutter and if necessary, reroll the scraps. Place the shortbread dough about 2 inches apart on the parchment paper-lined sheet tray. Take your heavy whipping cream and a sauce brush and then gently brush the tops of each piece of dough with the cream. Then, sprinkle the tops with your turbinado sugar, set them into the oven on the middle rack, and bake them until they’re golden brown in coloration. This should only take about 14 minutes to bake.
  6. While the shortbread bakes in the oven, combine your honey and your 4 slices of peeled fresh ginger together. Once they’re mixed, cook them over low heat until the ingredients are warmed, about 10 minutes. Afterward, discard your ginger.
  7. One of the last stages in cooking this delectable dessert recipe is grilling your peaches, the figurative “cherries on top.” Begin this delicate process by preheating a grill to medium-high heat, which is approximately 350°F to 400°F. Afterward, spray your clean grill rack with nonflammable cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, gently toss your peach wedges from earlier with your canola oil and place them onto the grill rack for about 3-4 minutes. You’ll want to grill the peaches until they are just heated through with grill marks formed on their exterior. Be sure to turn them occasionally throughout the grilling.
  8. Afterward, take all of your ingredients and serve them by placing a few grilled peach wedges atop the shortbread slices and topping them with fresh honey and whipped cream.
  9. Enjoy!

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Swimming Holes To Visit in the American South

Are you tired of spending the summer months soaking in salty oceans or over-chlorinated pools? If so, you may want to consider this list of the best swimming holes to be found in the south from Southern Living Magazine.

Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy some cooling water in the summer months that doesn’t involve sand, beach parking, or pool chemicals. If that sounds ideal to you, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to travel too far to enjoy it, because there is an easy-to-reach beauty in your own backyard that you should check out: a natural swimming hole. After a day of hiking, biking, and climbing at nearby state parks like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or Roan Mountain State Park, you’ll find these places are more than just great for outdoor recreation – they’re also located close to a refreshingly beautiful swimming hole in their own right.

Mississippi’s Black Creek in DeSoto National Forest

A great way to get out of the Mississippi summer heat and cool off is by visiting the swimming hole in DeSoto National Forest known as Black Creek. The Black Creek is a National Scenic River, meaning that this river is so remarkable in terms of scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, or historic value that the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has designated it and given it our nation’s strongest form of protection for free-flowing rivers and streams. In addition to this designation, the Black Creek also features multiple sandbars along its expanse that create several natural swimming holes that are perfect for cooling off and relaxing after a day hiking the Black Creek Wilderness found within the DeSoto National Forest.

Tennessee’s North Chick Blue Hole

The North Chick Blue Hole is a beautiful, secluded collection of swimming holes located in the woods along Walden’s Ridge and the Cumberland Plateau near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The river gorge found here has several large boulders along the waters, disrupting the flow and thus creating several swimming holes all along the creek. Better yet, these boulders serve as excellent ledges that are perfect to jump off of into the waters below, making this the perfect spot for any outdoor adventurer seeking to keep cool this summer.

Texas’s Barton Springs Pool

One of the outstanding crown jewels of Austin, Texas is the Barton Springs Pool, a 3-acre, water-filled area nestled within the beautiful Zilker Park. This mineral-fed swimming hole is within the channel of Barton Creek and utilizes water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest spring in Texas. Open year-round and featuring gorgeous limestone formations that reflect its natural spring waters, this natural swimming hole has been a favorite of locals and visitors alike since its opening  in 1837 shortly after the city of Austin was incorporated. The Barton Springs Pool is incredibly popular due to it being open to the public for year-round swimming and consistently hovering between 68 °F and 74 °F throughout the entire year.

North Carolina’s Cashiers Sliding Rock

If you’re looking for a fun and quirky way to spend a day or weekend in the North Carolina mountains, you have to visit Cashiers Sliding Rock. Located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Jackson County, not far from Highlands,Cashiers Sliding Rock is just one of many spectacular natural attractions that draw millions of visitors every year. At the bottom of this 10-foot slide you’ll find yourself in a uniquely beautiful setting. The water is crystal clear and cool, and while you’re sliding down you can enjoy the view of hundreds of babbling brooks that feed into the larger pool of water at the bottom.

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BESE and Board of Regents Announce New Fast Forward Pathways

Soon, students in Louisiana public schools will have 76 new opportunities to receive their high school diploma while also earning an associate degree or participating in a state registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship, according to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Education.  The announcement of the 76 new Fast Forward pathways was made by members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) as well as the Board of Regents (Regents) at their biannual joint meeting in which they discuss education policy, share vital information, and vote on issues of mutual interest to both parties. These 76 newly-announced Fast Forward pathways are in addition to the dozens of pre-existing pathways that already exist for students at Louisiana high schools.

Dr. Cade Brumley, the State Superintendent of Education, commented on the 76 additional pathways by saying, “From cybersecurity to carpentry, these new pathways empower our students with opportunities to gain employable skills for the high-wage, high-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Louisiana’s Fast Forward program is an opportunity for students to not only graduate high school but also get a head start on their post-secondary careers by finding out what career fields they enjoy and pair them with further education or state-registered pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship opportunities. The program pairs traditional classroom learning with practical, technical, and career experience.

When enrolled in a Fast Forward program, students spend the majority of their 9th and 10th-grade years earning core graduation credits on their high school campus through traditional classroom teaching. Then, when students enter 11thand 12th-grade, enrolled students will be spending the majority of their time on either a postsecondary campus or at a satellite location while being dually enrolled in a course. The dual enrollment aspect of the program is designed to ensure that students will complete their high school graduation requirements while also earning an associate’s degreeor on-the-job experience in a state-registered pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship.

Before announcing the new Fast Forward pathways or even approving them, they went through a rigorous review process. The pathways were reviewed by the Louisiana Department of Education, BESE, Regents, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and Louisiana Economic Development. Additionally, Career and Technical Educationsupervisors from both larger and smaller-scale school systems throughout the state of Louisiana were a part of the review process, since these pathways would take place within their districts.

The joint meeting between BESE and Regents also were able to brief the state’s two education boards on the progress that has been made in expanding Louisiana’s Dual Enrollment programs. The expansion of Dual Enrollmentin the state is vital to meeting Regents and BESE’s joint goal of all students graduating high school with college credit,a post-secondary credential of value, or both. The joint goal is set to be achieved beginning with the class of 2029.

Alongside the announcement of the new Fast Forward pathways, the state’s education boards also announced the following information at the joint meeting. There was a 3% increase in high school students enrolling in college courses in the 2020-2021 school year as well as an increase in the number of students participating in dual enrollment programs and graduating with either a college credit or an industry credential. In fact, in the 2019-2020 school year, 52% of high school students had graduated with a college credit or an industry credential, which is an improvement from the 51% of students in 2018-2019.

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, the Commissioner of Higher Education, said the following at the joint meeting, “today we acknowledged the significant work that has been accomplished in Louisiana over the last few years to expand college opportunities for high school students, giving them a clear pathway to prosperity. Our collective success rests on our ability to effectively align policies, resources, and accountability to accelerate access to academic and technical early college options for all high school students in our state. Equity in these opportunities is critical.”

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