ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Marshall Crooks, ‘94
Christie Crooks, ’92 and ‘03
Marshall Crooks graduated from Nicholls with a bachelor’s in General Studies in 1994. Christie Crooks also graduated from Nicholls with a bachelor’s in General Studies in 1992, and she later received her master’s in Educational Leadership in 2003. While Marshall, native of Reno, chose Nicholls for his education because he was recruited to play baseball for Nicholls, Christie chose Nicholls to be close to home.
They both have made many great relationships during their time at Nicholls, including their own. Marshall said, “I didn’t realize until after I was here that Nicholls was perfect for me. The smaller classes and personal attention by instructors was a plus for my success.” He said that teachers in the education department and the years of playing baseball prepared him as a teacher and coach. Christie’s time at Nicholls included being a member of Delta Zeta, which taught her about philanthropic causes, and giving. She said, “It helped me evolve as a strong leader that I am in my career.”
Marshall is certified in Physical Education and Social Studies, and he also has added Adaptive Physical Education to his credentials since his son has been diagnosed with Autism. He helps students to improve gross motor skills, and he is able to carry over this knowledge with his team for their Strike Out Autism campaign. He is also a football and baseball coach at St. Amant High School in Ascension Parish.
Christie taught for 9 years and worked as a school administrator for 11 years. After realizing their son needed more help managing his daily needs, she changed careers and now works for the LA Department of Health and Hospitals in Baton Rouge as a Program Manager in the Secretary’s Office. She utilizes her leadership skills she learned at Nicholls through her interactions with people every day.
Marshall and Christie adopted Allen in 2003 and Reecie in 2010, and they said, “We consider ourselves advocates for adoption as the experience was rewarding and worth the wait.” Allen’s autism led them to direct the Ascension Parish Inclusive League, which promotes noncompetitive sports for children. They are also involved in the Families Helping Families Active For Autism Walk each year. Marshall and Christie began Strike Out Autism in 2011, which allows them to promote awareness and acceptance of autism. They have visited the majority of the state’s college baseball teams, including the Nicholls Colonels, and Allen teaches and understands more about his autism.
They said, “Our dream is to see the blue wristbands worn in Major League Baseball on their designated autism awareness game days so that others all over the globe can see the acceptance autism should receive.” Coach Thibodaux has supported the campaign with the family for 4 years, and they said, “Returning to Nicholls each spring to Strike Out Autism is a reminder of why we became a family and the love we still have for Nicholls.”
