Author: Emily Gautreaux

Lab School to Be a Center of Learning, Teaching, and Education at UL Lafayette Campus

It was recently announced via this informative article from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, that the school has found a home for the ULL Learning Lab. The Learning Lab will be a laboratory school that will be housed in a two-story, 70,000-square foot building in UL Lafayette’s Research Park.

The building that will host the ULL Learning Lab was originally occupied by the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is a federal agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but it was recently announced that the building would be transferred to the University by U.S. Senator John Kennedy.

The Interim Dean of the ULL College of Education and Human Development, Dr. Paula Montgomery, spoke about the Learning Lab saying, “beyond a cutting-edge learning and teaching environment, the Learning Lab will be a hub for teaching practice and theory, education-based research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Acquiring a home for the lab school moves us that much closer to opening its doors.” Dr. Montgomery mentioned that the Learning Lab will offer students an expansive education that will feature the following: model teaching methods as well as an innovative curriculum that will encompass both interactive and outdoor learning experiences.

While there is not a set date on when the Learning Lab will be opened, ULL professor and the college’s former dean, Dr. Nathan Roberts explained that “renovations to convert the building into a space for innovative learning, teaching, and research is one of the priorities.”

Dr. Roberts was instrumental in the implementation of the lab school. He explained that initial proposals for the Labwould call for pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students to enroll at the school with the eventual expansion through Eighth grade during the first several years. Eventually, this would lead to a high school, as the framework is based on “substantial interest from parents of potential students, school administrators, public officials, and community organizations. So, we’re excited to have the capacity to serve a wide range of people and foster partnerships.”

Essentially, the Learning Lab will be operating as an independent school district in the same manner as LSU andSouthern University’s lab schools. Additionally, it will be funded with a blend of tuition and state support. Furthermore, donor support will also be an essential aspect of the creation of the Learning Lab and its activities. UL Lafayette plans to fund the Lab School as a part of the largest comprehensive funding initiative in the history of the University. UL Lafayette plans to raise $500 in its campaign, which is titled “Together: The Campaign for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.”

One of the aims of the Learning Lab will involve it being a place for the majority, if not all, of ULL students studying and training to become teachers to be able to gain valuable classroom experience by observing and participating in the lab school in addition to their field experiences in local area school districts. Dr. Aimee Barber is an assistant professor in ULL’s Department of Educational Curriculum and Instruction, and she also co-chairs a faculty and staff committee that oversees the establishment of the school.

Dr. Barber explained, “the intent will be to immerse our teacher candidates in a space that enables them to not only learn about global best practice, but actually implement best practice as part of their teacher preparation. So, in their junior year, they will be immersed in laboratory school classrooms in preparation for their final year, which is a year-long residency in area public schools.”

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Sixth Give-N-Day helps Nicholls Foundation Reach the 1 Million Dollar Mark

The Nicholls Foundation’s sixth Give-N-Day has reportedly raised over $1 million for the University’s departments and student organizations, according to this new release from Nicholls State University. After it was all said and done, Nicholls’ 2023 Give-N-Day received the most donors, donations, and funds raised ever in the six years of the event.

Jeremy Becker, Nicholls Foundation Executive, said, “Give-N-Day is an exciting and rewarding event for the foundation and especially the university. It is special to see the University come together with this effort and to have the Nicholls community support so many specific areas on campus. The Give-N-Day team is already planning to make this an even more impactful event in the future.”

The sixth Give-N-Day, in total, raised over $265,000 with 1,587 donors and 2,188 donations. These donations will benefit 130 Nicholls organizations, all of which will receive at least one gift, which is the most ever. Out of the donors, over 25% identified as being Nicholls alumni, and 17% of all donors gave to more than one organization with gifts coming from 39 states and 11 countries, which also broke a record for the monumental event.

Give-N-Day was initially organized in 2018 as a way for the student organizations, academic programs, and athletics of Nicholls State University to raise money in a way that they couldn’t before. Give-N-Day was created as an opportunity for donors to directly benefit a specific organization, department, or athletic team of their choosing. Donations could be listed as little as $10 or as much as the donor wishes to give to one organization or to be spread across as many organizations as possible. Every cent of the donation goes directly to the donor’s organization(s) of choice.

This year, for the sixth 2023 Give-N-Day, Maritime Management received the largest amount of donations by raising $44,615. Other programs that received remarkable financial support were: CROWN with $8,770, Colonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Country with $9,886, Accounting Program with $13,795, Colonel ESports with $14,005, Bridge to Independence with $17,440, and Colonel Athletic Association Soccer with $36,026.

In terms of which programs, organizations, or departments had received the most individual donations, Colonel Athletic Association Soccer reportedly received the most with 305 individual donations total. Other programs that had received a significant number of individual donations were: Colonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Countrywith 56, Accounting Program with 59, Bridge to Independence with 60, Colonel Esports with 64, CROWN with 76, and Sigma Sigma Sigma with 105.

The President of the Nicholls Foundation, Chris H. Riviere says the following in his message to donors, “when making a contribution to Nicholls, the first thing that often comes to mind for many people is scholarships.  For those who attended college, we all remember our own financial struggles and we can understand the importance of ensuring that today’s students can afford to earn degrees, live in residence halls, become active in campus organizations or even travel abroad.  And now, with the yearly uncertainty surrounding TOPS and higher education funding, the need for scholarship dollars has grown even more important. While scholarships are certainly the bread and butter of the Nicholls Foundation, they are far from the only option to make a lasting impact on the lives of current and future Colonels. […]

Additionally, the Nicholls Foundation currently funds 63 faculty professorships along with two endowed chairs.  By providing the financial resources for Nicholls to recruit and retain its best faculty and fund faculty research and professional development opportunities, the Foundation’s supporters are helping to improve the academic experience for hundreds, if not thousands, of students.”

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Entrepreneur Week Celebrates NOLA’s Workforce and Culture

The 2023 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week was recently held in the Crescent City to celebrate the city’s focus on entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and culture. According to this article from NOLA.com, the panel titled “Third Wave Industries and Climate Leadership,” highlighted just how New Orleans culture helps to draw in startups and clean energy.

The week-long series of workshops, speeches, panels, discussions, and live music that made up the 2023 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week drew in nearly 1,400 attendees, according to event organizers. One of the ways this year’s NOEW was different from previous years was that the event’s final three days included ticketed items such as concerts and entertainment offerings.

Producer Liz Maxwell of Idea Village, the small business accelerator program that created NOEW said, “NOEW has become a really important event for this community. It shows what is possible here in New Orleans and Louisiana and that we can create and innovate together.”

This year’s theme for NOEW was innovation and culture, which included speeches and sessions built around eight subthemes. These subthemes included: Climate tech, Culture tech, EATrepreneurs, Future of local business, Health innovation, Investing in innovation, Software as service engineers, and Startups for impact. In terms of guest speakers for the weeklong event, dozens of local and national speakers made it out to New Orleans, including keynoter Mary Landrieu, the former U.S. senator from Louisiana, and AOL founder Steve Case.

One of the talks for the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week focused on the fact that the Louisiana government’s climate policies were responsible for creating several economic development opportunities. This talk from the Louisiana Governor took place in Gallier Hall, where he announced that a key update will be coming to Louisiana’s renewable energy sector. This update is expected to offer a boost to those local companies that are racing to develop new types of carbon-capture technologies.

This update will come as a result of new federal regulations that are set to arrive later this spring, and it’s expected that these regulations from the federal government will give the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources the primary authority over wells needed to inject carbon underground, instead of this authority going to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If this update is finalized later this year, the new rules that will be in place will essentially speed up the permitting process and as a result make carbon capture and sequestration a reality in Louisiana ahead of the next gubernatorial election.

The speaker was quoted as saying, “we have to embrace things like carbon capture and sequestration because we cannot be successful and the world cannot be successful if we keep just emitting it the way we have. The science is there. The safety is there. I know we have to demonstrate that, but carbon capture is going to be very important moving forward.”

The Louisiana Government’s Climate Action Plan focuses heavily on carbon capture as one of its key planks, as it seeks to reduce the state of Louisiana’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. In addition to this goal, the plan also calls for developing purely renewable energy sources such as wind power, solar power, and cleaner fuels like hydrogen.

One of the key takeaways from the presentation was that Louisiana has several economic development strengths that are aided by New Orleans attracting more startup companies and talent to the state of Louisiana. The Governor spoke about how this attraction of businesses could continue by saying that the state continues to “have more of these kinds of events.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

A Recipe that Combines Creole Tomatoes and LA Seafood

If you’re craving a dish that’s full of flavor and easy to make, look no further than these shrimp-stuffed Creole tomatoes. Bursting with juicy shrimp, zesty Creole spices, and fresh creole tomato goodness, this recipe from LouisianaCookin is the perfect way to spice up your weeknight dinner routine. Whether you’re a seafood lover or just looking for something new to try in the kitchen, this dish is sure to impress both your taste buds and dinner guests alike. So grab some ripe tomatoes and get ready to dive into one of the best recipes around!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. You’ll want to start this delicious recipe for shrimp-stuffed creole tomatoes by coring your 8 beefsteak or Creole tomatoes with a small paring knife. Then, using a small spoon, you’ll scoop out the center of each of the eight tomatoes. Afterward, place the tomatoes into a 13×9-inch baking dish.
  2. Next, take a Dutch oven and melt 1 tablespoon of butter with oil over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add in your onion, celery, garlic, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook these ingredients while stirring occasionally until the vegetables are softened, which should take about 5 minutes.
  3. Add in your tomato paste and continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes. Then, add in your fire-roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, and white wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the browned bits from the vegetables from the bottom of the pan.
  4. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring it all to a boil. Add in your rice and cook while stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and allow it all to simmer until the rice is tender,which should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. The next step is to preheat your oven to 375°F. Stir your shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and parsley into your cooked rice mixture. Cover the pot and continue to cook until the shrimp become pink and quite firm, which should take about 10 minutes. At this point, remove the pot from the heat, uncover it, and let it cool for 10 minutes.
  6. Next, spoon the rice mixture into the pre-cored tomatoes that you placed into a baking dish. Place approximately ½ cup of the rice mixture in each tomato.
  7. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt your remaining 1 tablespoon of butter on high and stir in your bread crumbs and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle this on top of the rice mixture.
  8. Bake until the topping is of a golden brown coloration, which should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish the tops with fresh chives and enjoy!

Note:

When it comes to shrimp-stuffed creole tomatoes, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re looking for an appetizer or a main dish, this recipe is sure to please. Here are some of our favorite serving suggestions: As an appetizer: Serve shrimp-stuffed creole tomatoes as part of a larger spread, alongside other hors d’oeuvres like cheese and crackers or veggie plates. As a main dish: Serve shrimp-stuffed creole tomatoes as a main course, alongside a simple salad and some crusty bread. As a side dish: Serve shrimp-stuffed creole tomatoes as a side to complement another protein-rich main course, like steak or chicken.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Happiest Countries To Visit

Are you looking for your next vacation destination? Why not consider visiting what this feature article from Travel + Leisure considers to be one of the happiest countries in the world? These positive and welcoming destinations from Travel + Leisure’s list are sure to leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. From stunning natural landmarks to mouthwatering restaurants, these countries offer something for everyone. In this blog post, we will explore the happiest countries in the world, including Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Iceland, New Zealand, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. So pack your bags and get ready for a happy adventure!

Norway

There are many factors that contribute to a country’s happiness, such as economic stability, social support systems, and quality of life. Norway consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world due to its strong welfare system and high standard of living. Norway is a country known for its stunning natural beauty, from the fjords to the Northern Lights. But what makes Norway truly unique is its focus on happiness and quality of life. In fact, it has consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. One reason for this may be their emphasis on work-life balance. Norwegians value leisure time and prioritize spending time with family and friends over working long hours.

Denmark

Denmark, known for its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, is one of the happiest countries in the world. The country boasts a high standard of living and a strong social welfare system that contributes to its citizens’ overall well-being. One of Denmark’s most notable landmarks is the Little Mermaid statue located in Copenhagen. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along Nyhavn Harbor while sampling traditional Danish cuisine in some of the city’s best restaurants.

Denmark also offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities like cycling through lush green forests or taking a dip in one of its many pristine beaches. For those looking for something more laid-back, there are plenty of cafes and cozy shops where you can relax with a cup of coffee. The Danes are renowned for their positive outlook on life and their love for hygge (coziness), which makes it easy to feel at home during your visit. So if you’re looking to escape from the stresses of everyday life, Denmark might just be the perfect vacation destination!

Iceland

Iceland is known for its stunning natural beauty and unique landscapes, making it a popular destination for tourists seeking adventure and relaxation. The country is home to numerous glaciers, volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and waterfalls that can be explored on foot or by car. One of the most popular attractions in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon.This geothermal spa offers warm waters infused with minerals that are believed to have healing properties. Visitors can soak in the lagoon while admiring views of the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its stunning natural landscapes, delicious chocolate, and efficient transportation system. It’s one of the happiest countries in the world, ranking fourth in the 2021 World Happiness Report. When it comes to vacationing in Switzerland, there are plenty of options for outdoor activities such as skiing or hiking. The Swiss Alpsoffer some of the best ski resorts in Europe with breathtaking views. In addition to exploring nature, Switzerland has an abundance of restaurants offering traditional dishes like cheese fondue and raclette. Don’t forget to try their famous chocolate too! Switzerland is also home to several iconic landmarks such as the Matterhorn and Jungfraujoch.

New Zealand

New Zealand is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands, the North Island and South Island, as well as numerous smaller islands. Known for its breathtaking landscapes, New Zealand offers many exciting opportunities for outdoor adventures. New Zealand also boasts some great cities such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch which offer plenty of restaurants, shopping centers, and cultural experiences.

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Arkansas Adventures Await

Whether you’re a nature lover or a history buff, Arkansas has something for everyone. From stunning state parks to charming small towns, this hidden gem in the South is full of surprises. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and unwind for a few days, this travel blog post from Southern Living has got you covered. Keep reading for the top picks for the best weekend getaways in Arkansas that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. So pack your bags and let’s hit the road!

There’s nothing like a weekend getaway to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul. If you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, look no further than Arkansas. This southern state is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country with everything from the Ozark Mountains to the Ouachita National Forest; as there’s no shortage of natural beauty to take in. And if you’re looking for a little culture alongside the nature spots on your trip, Arkansas has  you covered; so whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend at a spa or an action-packed adventure in the great outdoors, you’ll find it all in Arkansas. Here are some of the best weekend getaways in Arkansas:

Eureka Springs

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains is the unforgettable Victorian town of Eureka Springs. The town’s downtown district is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, and the rest of Eureka Springs is home to historical sites, including the 1866 Crescent Hotel & Spa and the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway. There are also many outdoor activities to enjoy in the area, such as hiking, biking, and canoeing, so there’s always something for you to get up to.

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro is a charming small town located in the southwest corner of Arkansas. This historic town is home to many interesting shops, restaurants, and attractions, but the most popular attractions are Crater of Diamonds State Park, Diamond Springs Water Park, and Lake Greeson. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and water activities at the above locations, so with so much to see and do, Murfreesboro makes for a great weekend getaway destination.

Siloam Springs

The wonderfully refreshing natural spring waters of this town were once rumored to have medicinal qualities when the town was first settled, but nowadays they are still excellent at allowing visitors to relax and decompress from external stresses. When visiting Siloam Springs, many find refuge in surveying the creative businesses and restaurants found along the town’s Main Street and the 5-acre, mixed-use Memorial Park.

Ouachita National Forest

If you’re looking to escape and reconnect with nature, there are few better spots in Arkansas than the Ouachita National Forest. This massive forest spans over 1.8 million acres and boasts a variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking and camping to fishing and canoeing, there’s something for everyone in Ouachita National Forest.In addition to its many recreational opportunities, Ouachita National Forest is also home to some of Arkansas’smost beautiful scenery. With its towering mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and lush forests, it’s no wonder this place is such a popular weekend getaway destination. So whether you’re looking to relax or explore, make sure to add Ouachita National Forest to your list of places to visit in Arkansas.

Arkansas is a great place to explore and have fun on the weekends. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities, relaxing spa treatments or something unique and cultural – there’s something to suit all tastes in this wonderful region of the United States. We hope this article has given you some ideas and inspiration as you plan your next weekend getaway! So pack your bags, grab a map, and enjoy all that Arkansas has to offer!

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