NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leigh Flynn (flynnl@alpha.nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/11/2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - For the past three years, Michael Sawrie of Alexandria has watched as family members received college degrees. And two of those family members earned degrees from the institution from which he obtained his degree in 1972.

Last Friday, Sawrie smiled as his wife, Marlene Sawrie, earned her bachelor of science degree in social work from Northwestern State University.

"For six years, we had someone in our family in college," Sawrie said. "And for the past three, we've had graduates."

Mrs. Sawrie, who worked full-time while attending school, rarely set foot on the Natchitoches campus. She took her first two years of courses at LSUA and completed her four-year degree at Northwestern. The majority of her classes were offered at the University Center at England Airpark, which is jointly run by LSUA and Northwestern.

Social work is one of several four-year degree programs offered in Alexandria. Through the LSU Senior College at LSUA and Northwestern State University at the University Center, students can complete their degrees in fields such as early childhood, elementary, special and secondary education, criminal justice, nursing, general studies, general business administration and social work.

"This was the best opportunity I could have had," Sawrie said. "I am thankful that the social work program was here for me to take advantage of."

Sawrie was one of three spring social work graduates who completed their course work primarily in Alexandria. Six others graduated last December.

She took some evening classes at satellite campuses with her daughter, Marla, who graduated from Northwestern last spring. She also took a French correspondence course. Her field work was completed at Louisiana Special Education Center in Alexandria, where she already was a full-time employee.

"It took a lot," she said, "but a lot of people worked to make it happen, namely my family and the faculty and administration at Northwestern. It can be done."

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