914 of Northwestern State University’s students entered the next stage of their lives at NSU’s Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies, held May 14 and 15.
Haley Wiggins, a communication alumna, was overwhelmed by the event and the magnitude of what it represented. “It was everything that I hoped it would be. As I was sitting, I kept tearing up because I could see my family crying. It was such an out-of-body experience and didn’t even feel real in the moment,” Wiggins said.
“I don’t even remember walking across the stage,” Wiggins said. “It was sad to leave after, especially when I saw my graduating friends, my roommates and the professors that I worked with closely in student media like Matt Craig and Nick Taylor.”
Her advice for underclassmen is to get more involved on campus and make the most of the four years, which always pass by quicker than expected. “It’s really important to talk to people, hang out and meet new people. There are so many different organizations for you to get involved with. There’s literally something for everyone, so it’s not hard to fit in somewhere,” Wiggins said.
At the end of NSU’s chapter in their lives, graduates reflected on their time at NSU and how it shaped them into the young adults they have become. Laurel Dickinson, a Liberal Arts Scholars’ College alumna who is going on to pursue law school, will miss the involvement that made her time at NSU so memorable. “I was definitely sad to leave my friends and the faculty I had formed close relationships with,” Dickinson said. “The Scholars’ community had such an impact on me by helping me to grow my confidence, and I already miss the environment that Scholars’ provided me throughout my undergraduate experience.”
NSU helped Dickinson become more self-assured and brave, and she urges all students to embrace the chance to get out of their shells while in college. “Don’t take undergrad for granted, because it goes by so quickly. If you’re ever scared to speak in class or go for an opportunity that has been presented to you, do it anyway. You never know what it will teach you or how it will serve you in the future,” Dickinson said.
For some, this graduation ceremony held far more significance than just celebrating the end of their time at NSU. Coree Nash is a social work alumnus who especially cherished this graduation, as COVID-19 prevented him from having a high school graduation with all of his family present. “Having my family come and not being limited to only four guests was a moment I will always cherish and be grateful for,” Nash said. “So many emotions hit me the day of graduation. It started off with excitement, then sadness, then when I hit the stage, it was a moment for me to be proud of myself for making it through college and being the first college graduate in my family.”
Nash will miss his involvement on campus and the new memories and friendships that came from opportunities only offered at NSU. “My advice for the next generation of NSU students is to not take any moment for granted. Enjoy your time in college and live in the moment, because when it’s all over and you hit that stage, you don’t want to have any regrets,” Nash said.
Though NSU’s Spring 2025 graduates have now left Natchitoches’ campus to pursue the next chapter of their lives, their experiences at NSU will follow them, influencing their choices and equipping them with the skills necessary to continue their lives.
“And as always,” Nash said, “Fork ‘em Demons.”
