Louisiana’s reigning High School Teacher of the Year and state winner Nichole Vasquez will be the commencement speaker at Northwestern State University’s fall commencement exercises on Friday.

Vasquez, who currently serves as an English and civics teacher at Captain Shreve High School, will be the speaker at both ceremonies taking place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Northwestern State University’s Prather Coliseum. The morning ceremony will honor graduates from the Louisiana Scholars’ College, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development. Graduates from the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health and the College of Business and Technology will be recognized at the afternoon ceremony.

A dedicated educator, Vasquez is a two-time Northwestern graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 2007 and a master’s degree in special education and gifted in 2010. While she knew from a young age education was her ideal career, Vasquez remains humble regarding her accomplishments.

“Captain Shreve makes me the best teacher I can be,” Vasquez said as she accepted the Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year award. “I work with an amazing group of teachers and administrators who support me to do what’s best for my students.”

For more information on Northwestern’s commencement exercises, visit www.nsula.edu.