NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/22/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­ Northwestern State University won its fourth consecutive national championship at the Ninth Annual National Collegiate Conference held recently in Omaha.

The team of James Smith of Metairie and Nick Hammonds of Goldonna extended NSU's win streak in systems analysis and design. Computer information systems students from Northwestern also won first place in database and COBOL programming along with the banner contest.

Curtis Penrod of Robeline and Kelli Fontana of Natchitoches captured first in database. NSU swept the top three positions in COBOL. Jeremy Wilmot and R.L. Johnson were the top team in followed by Penrod and Hammonds. Beth Anderson of Northwestern was third.

"The accomplishments of our students and faculty in computer information systems are reaping positive benefits for the entire university," said NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb. "The level of excellence they have achieved over the past four years with a number of different students shows the quality that exists in the College of Business and in the computer information systems program."

More than 600 student and faculty from 85 colleges and universities were part of the conference. Northwestern competed against institutions including Purdue University, the University of Mississippi, Brigham Young, New Mexico State and Illinois State.

"The competition provided NSU with the opportunity to show off how our program compares to other programs around the country," said Penrod. We get to meet lots of students and faculty from around the country, as well as business professionals who can provide a lot of insight into the professional world."

NSU also won the Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year Award and the "Top Monkey" Award given to the institution with the highest level of conference support. Instructor of Computer Information Systems Barbara Russell is the chapter advisor.

Students were able to attend the competition due to support from sponsors including Comfort Inn of Natchitoches, State Farm Insurance, Comm-craft, Frazier Machine & Supply Company, LA Safety Association of Timbermen, Moss Home Health, Hart's Glass, Lynda's Country Kitchen, Delta Tire of Winnfield, Farr Auto Supply Company, David Chop, Quality Retread Tires, the NSU Alumni Association and NSU Foundation.

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