In the News

Northwestern State University recognized three service members as Honorary Captains for the Nov. 9 football game, continuing the university’s tradition of honoring those who serve in the U.S. military. Saturday was Military Appreciation Night at NSU, with tributes to each branch of service. The Honorary Captains, Capt. Kimberly Crosby, Capt. Jeff Christensen and Master Sgt. Christopher Bolden, performed the coin toss and received certificates of recognition from Congressman Mike Johnson.

Crosby is a 2012 Northwestern State graduate. She commissioned through NSU’s ROTC Program in the Army Engineer Corps and currently serves as the S3, Operations Officer, for the 46th Engineer Battalion at Fort Polk. Crosby is a Shreveport native and was accompanied by her cousin and current NSU student Makayla Harris.

Christensen is ROTC’s assistant professor of Military Science. He has over nine years of active Army service with one rotation to Afghanistan. Christensen was joined by wife Rosie and daughters, Brooklyn and Rachael, who attend Natchitoches Central High School. The Christensen family hopes to remain in Natchitoches for several years before moving on to their next military assignment.

Bolden is an iInfantryman with over 19 years of active Army service. With eight deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, he brings over four years of combat experience to NSU’s ROTC program as the senior military instructor. Bolden has been awarded the Soldier’s Medal and Purple Heart. His daughter, Jaycee, is a first grader at L.P. Vaughn Elementary School.

Pictured above: Honorary Captains for Northwestern State’s Nov. 9 football game performed the coin toss and received commendation from U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson. From left are Lt. Col. Wendell Bender, ROTC professor of military science; Alex Whittington, community liaison for Johnson, Master Sgt. Christopher Bolden, Capt. Kimberly Crosby, Capt. Jeff Christensen, NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio, Lt. Arthur Smalley, Chief of Staff, Northwestern Demon Regiment, and Lee Turner, Congressman Johnson’s South District Regional Representative.