McNeese State University Athletics, in partnership with the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office and Calcasieu Parish School Board, have launched a new program called “Rowdy for Success.”

This will function as an intervention program for at-risk students in the Calcasieu Parish school system. The goal of the program is to provide extra support for students, and to encourage students’ success in both the classroom and at home. Students in the program will receive positive reinforcements throughout the years, and get to participate in events led by McNeese Athletics.

“We wanted to be a part of helping this community and embracing these kids,” said Heath Schroyer, McNeese State University Director of Athletics. “I believe that McNeese athletics is a rallying point for our community, the backbone, the soul of Southwest Louisiana.”

Schroyer expressed that he is proud to work in partnership with the DA’s office and CPSB.

CPSB Superintendent Dr. Shannon LaFargue believes that “Rowdy for Success” is a creative solution to intercepting at risk-youth. “It really doesn’t take much to change the trajectory or pathway for a student, negative or positive,” he said. “If we put the appropriate interventions in place we hope to change those trajectories to more positive outcomes instead of negative outcomes.”

“Incorporating the student athlete experience into our classrooms, that’s always a positive.”

Stephen Dwight, Calcasieu Parish District Attorney, has seen this delicate process first hand. “The early intervention program works,” he said. “It’s given more resources to these kids that really need it. They can’t get it just at the school.”

LaFargue stated that the collaboration between McNeese Athletics, CPSB, and the DA’s office make the intervention process more efficient and effective.  “It takes many resources from different angles to galvanize, and then provide the appropriate and necessary intervention so those students can have resources intertwined with their projection and where they can go in the future,” he said. “We can actually put platforms in place so that our students can realize the potential of all these resources.”

“This can be a catalyst for bringing everybody onboard in some capacity with the triangulation of all the institutions we have educationally in this region.”

This program will also be beneficial for administrative staff, said Schroyer “I really believe we can make a difference in trying to help these kids, but more importantly, help the counselors, teachers, and principals in these schools that need the support.”

“It gives the power and incentives back to the teachers and the counselors.”

Providing support for administrative staff is paramount, as they work with the students on a daily basis. “Counselors at the school see the results. The teachers see the results. Administrators see the results. What we’re doing today is just taking the next step, and just trying to let those kids know we’re here for you,” said Dwight. “We’re here for you as community leaders.”

“We’re gonna make sure we keep you on that right path so that you’re not lost in the system. We see that too often… where we lose the child when they’re at a crossroads. We don’t want that.”

For Dwight, the partnership with McNeese Athletics will provide important mentorship for at-risk students. “We partnered with McNeese because a lot of the student athletes at McNeese were at that same crossroads when they were at that age,” he said. “So they can come in and actually talk to these students and say, ‘Hey, look, I was once where you are, and now look where I am.’”

Schroyer believes it should be a priority for McNeese Athletics to give back to the community. “We haven’t done enough as an institution, we haven’t done enough as an athletic department,” he said. “We are going to embrace this community and you’re gonna see a lot of things like this moving forward.”

“This program, Rowdy For Success, will continue to grow. This is just the first step in really trying to embrace, and make a difference in this community.”

For Dwight, programs like “Rowdy for Success” are more important than ever. “If you look 30 years back, this program wouldn’t have been needed,” he said. “I believe what we’re trying to do is to think outside the box.”

LaFargue believes that a synthesis of former and innovative procedures is the most efficient path. “The perspectives that we have from the past may no necessarily relate to what’s going on in the present, but I don’t think we need to be dismissive of what worked in the past, because it’s still working”

“It’s all hands on deck to the greatest extent possible.”

The program will primarily focus on grade 5 students to ensure at-risk students are given attention before they make the transition to middle school. This year, the program will include 30 minute rallies at various elementary schools, visits from MSU and DA representatives, relatable motivational speakers, and McNeese giveaways.

The first rallies will take place Thursday, September 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The schools that will be participating in these rallies will be Brentwood Elementary, College Oaks Elementary, Combre-Fondel Elementary, Ralph Wilson Elementary, and T.H. Watkins Elementary.