NATCHITOCHES – The Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce named Northwestern State University’s Office of Marketing and Branding as the recipient of the 2026 Go Natchitoches Award, recognizing the Proud to Be Purple campaign and its impact on strengthening connections between NSU, its student and the Natchitoches Parish community.
Marketing and Branding staff include Amy Lee, director; assistant director Cree Gentry and student workers Kieler Soape of Montomery and Christopher Richard of Abbeville under the direction of Chief Marketing Officer Cole Gentry.
“Overall, the success of Proud to Be Purple reflects the time, coordination and genuine care demonstrated by NSU staff and students. It was a true team effort, rooted in pride for the university and a shared commitment to celebrating what it means to be part of the NSU community,” Lee said.
The Go Natchitoches Award recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations whose work strengthens community alignment and contributes to the long-term success of Natchitoches.
NSU Junior Makenna Tryon, a Lady Demon volleyball player from Waller, Texas, joined fellow student volunteers in distributing NSU flags and signage to Natchitoches homes and businesses last year as part of the 2025 Proud to Be Purple campaign.
Through the 2025 Proud to Be Purple campaign, NSU Marketing created a framework that intentionally connected campus identity with community participation, positioning the University not as a separate entity, but as an integrated part of the local landscape.
While designed to engage students, the campaign generated a broader local impact by reinforcing the idea that Northwestern State and Natchitoches Parish are deeply interconnected. The campaign invited the community to take an active role in Proud to Be Purple and shift the narrative from campus, city and parish operating separately to working together with shared pride, visibility and investment in the broader community’s success.
Proud to Be Purple focused on creating a consistent, visible presence both on and off campus. Approximately 500 community-facing items were distributed, and more than 100 local businesses received Proud to Be Purple kits, resulting in widespread participation across storefronts, offices and shared community spaces. This approach helped extend school pride beyond campus and into the community, reinforcing mutual support between NSU and Natchitoches.
Students were a visible part of this connection, helping carry the campaign beyond campus and into the community. Through direct outreach and distribution efforts, students interacted with local businesses and organizations, encouraging greater engagement with the places, people and experiences that make up Natchitoches’ local economy.
The community is invited to join the celebration as the NSU Office of Marketing and Branding and other outstanding businesses and individuals are recognized. Registration for the Go Natchitoches Awards Banquet is now open at GoNatchitoches.com/Awards.
Information on NSU’s Office of Marketing and Branding is available at https://www.nsula.edu/about/executive-offices/office-of-marketing-and-communications/