NATCHITOCHES – Cheered by friends, family and faculty, Fall and Summer 2025 graduates collected diplomas during commencement at Northwestern State University this week. From varied backgrounds and academic journeys, graduates reflected on their experiences at NSU and their plans for the future.
Hillary Bennett of Natchitoches returned to school as a non-traditional student in 2021 and earned two degrees in psychology and addiction studies. She is a well-known volunteer in Natchitoches, holds leadership roles in several service organizations and is a founding member of the leadership team for Mind Over Matters, which facilitates mental health care in Natchitoches.
NSU graduate Hillary Bennett is pictured with Sarah Ebarb-Combs and Dr. Charles King.
She was the only student to serve on a team to pilot Demons for Recovery, NSU’s college recovery program, working with faculty and administrators to develop a program to provide support and prevention services for students and co-writing a grant proposal to fund the initiative.
Bennett has been an active member and held leadership positions in NSU’s Addiction Studies Club, Psychology Club and the NSU chapter of Psi Chi, all while doing extra research and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She is applying for a Ph.D. program in January.
“I earned my undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising and design from Wade’s College. Although I continue to appreciate fashion, my path shifted as I became involved in mentoring women who were struggling under the weight of addiction, either their own or that of a loved one. Through these mentoring relationships, I developed a deep passion for recovery and healing. Several of the women I worked with encouraged me to return to school so that I could help others in a more professional capacity,” she said.
“After earning my Ph.D., I plan to study clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology. My long-term goal is to help individuals recovering from addiction by developing and implementing treatment plans that specifically target the brain and nervous system.”
JC Acosta of Lafayette earned two degrees, one in biology with a biomedical concentration and the other in applied microbiology with a concentration in medical and health professions and a minor in chemistry. Acosta was a pitcher on the Demon baseball team for four years, worked in the First Year Experience office and served as a Demon VIP, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
JC Acosta
“My experience as a student athlete has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Acosta said. “The hundreds of people I have met, and who’ve helped me along the way, have made it such a special journey. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the people I have met through athletics, pushing me to be a better version of myself each and every day.”
Acosta’s dad, John Acosta, is also an NSU alum (1998), and they both were members of Presidential Leadership Program, headed by Dean of Students Reatha Cox.
“The first person I met on campus was Mrs. Reatha Cox. She helped me find an amazing group of people through PLP, which is how I was introduced to Mary-Katherine [Maggio] and how I got involved with First Year Experience and Demon VIP. I thank her for everything she has done for me, opening so many opportunities for me to get involved in the community.
Head Baseball Coach Chris Bertrand was also a significant mentor.
“I can’t thank him enough for giving me the opportunity to play baseball at NSU,” Acosta said. “He has always been in my corner, pushing me through every challenge that was thrown my way.”
Acosta has been accepted to medical school at LSU Health New Orleans and plans to become an orthopedic surgeon.
“I think I just always wanted to have a career that centered around helping people. When I was in high school, one of my best friends got hurt playing baseball, and I just wanted to help him get better. Ever since that happened, I became fascinated with medicine. This led me to wanting to pursue a career in medicine and hopefully become an Orthopedic Surgeon so that I can help people just like him.
Annamarie Sunderbruch of Sulphur earned a master’ s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. She is employed as executive assistant to the chancellor at SOWELA Technical Community College. She openly shares her sobriety journey to inspire and support others, never shying away from using her experiences to uplift those around her.
Annamarie Sunderbruch
Sunderbruch began her academic journey as a first-time freshman at Sowela in 2017 employed as a student worker.
“Through that experience, I developed a deep passion for student affairs in higher education, largely because of the tremendous support I received when I first started college—at that time, I was just six months sober.”
This past semester, she lost her father, a United States Navy Veteran. Despite this personal hardship, she continued to move forward. She, too, has a perfect GPA and hopes to be admitted to the doctoral program in NSU’s Adult Learning and Development with a concentration in community college leadership next fall. Her professional dream is to one day serve as an executive director of Student Affairs, ideally at SOWELA, the very institution that changed the trajectory of her life.
“What motivates me most is my faith and my children,” she said. “I am a mom to 11-year-old twin boys, and we have recently opened our home to a foster son whose mother is struggling with addiction in ways that mirror my own past.”
John Bates of Denton, Texas, is an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He completed coursework in 3-1/2 years using a combination of Joint Service Transcript military credit, CLEP credit and required courses.
“I joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2021 with the intention of earning a college degree,” he said. “I did not realize that I could go during active duty till I arrived at Fort Polk. Once I enrolled in school, I made it my goal to complete my degree before the end of my Army contract.”
He earned an associate degree from NSU in 2023 and continued his studies during a 9-month deployment last year, along with other training and service obligations.
“I am going to be a police officer in Lake Charles while I attempt to complete my master’s degree in psychology,” he said.
Kari Davis of Bossier City, a cardiovascular and trauma intensive care nurse at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center, is completing a Master of Science in Nursing. In order to fulfill mentoring requirements, she worked with fourth level Associate of Science of Nursing students this semester while maintaining her role as clinical educator at Oschner. She completed her studies while employed full-time and balancing home life.
Kari Davis
“My final semester experience was deeply rewarding. I valued every opportunity to engage with the students — encouraging them, guiding them through complex scenarios and supporting their decision-making processes,” she said. That experience revealed a passion for working with nursing students and helping them navigate the challenges of their academic journeys.
“I thrive on knowledge and learning more ways to support the students and new graduate nurses I work with through the difficult time of school and first-time employment,” she said. She hopes to teach as an adjuct instructor for NSU while maintaining her clinical educator role at Oschner.
Registration for NSU’s Spring 2026 semester will continue through Jan. 11, 2026. Late registration (fees apply) will continue through Jan. 21, 2026. Visit www.nsula.edu for more information.