The Centenary men's basketball team had a record-breaking night on Dec. 12 when the Gents took on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Despite falling in double-overtime, 102-96, the Gents secured first place all-time in three-pointers made in a single game with 20. An astounding 20-of-29 from deep for 69 percent also sparked the best 3-PT field goal percentage ever shot in the Gold Dome. Daman Starring and David Perez led with 19 points, while freshman Matt Marseille had a career-high 14 points and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds.

Centenary will be back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. as they travel to face the SEC's Ole Miss. Following that contest, the Gents will take on Mississippi State on Tuesday at 7p.m. before returning home for the holidays.

The Ladies had the week off for finals before they hit the road for six games. Centenary will head south to meet McNeese State on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Louisiana-Lafayette on Monday at 2 p.m.

Gents coach Greg Gary and his wife, Claudia Gary, have come up with the Centenary Gents "Get Fit" challenge to motivate youngsters and adults to take control of their health. So far about 200 people — a mix of Centenary students and Gents fans of all ages — signed up during three early season home games.

Participants will weigh in and track progress during home games through February. Those that have signed up will receive prizes for making progress toward their goal. Weigh-in dates are Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.; Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.; and Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Fitness challenge participants will weigh in and receive a new body composition each time from staff members from The Center for Medical Weight Loss. The final Feb. 13 weigh-in includes a prize giveaway to people who reach their goals. For more information, visit the "Get Fit" Challenge website.

2009 was a busy year at Centenary:

You can also peruse the entire gallery on Picasa.

On December 2, Centenary students spent almost four hours in the U.S. District Court making their cases before the Honorable Maurice Hicks, Jr. The experience was part of the "Moot Court" competition, a requirement of the Constitutional Law and American Politics class taught by Dr. Rodney Grunes, Professor of Political Science.

During their "day in court," the students completed three hours of oral argument — one hour per each of three different cases.

The French Consul General in New Orleans recently announced that Centenary College French professor Dana Kress will be named to the French diplomatic corps as an honorary Consul.

Monsieur Olivier Brochenin, the Consulat général de France à La Nouvelle-Orléans (French Consul General in New Orleans) received the authorization from Paris and will forward it to the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. State Department.

Dana Kress

The conferral of the his new title will take place in the presence of dignitaries of the French diplomatic corps, Shreveport mayor and members of the North Louisiana French community at a formal reception at the College in January.

Dr. Kress adds this honor to his other recognitions he has received while at Centenary. In 1998, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching named him the Louisiana Professor of the Year, was honored by the City of Shreveport with "Dr. Dana Kress Day," and received a Special Humanities Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. In 2000, French Consul General Bernard Maizeret of New Orleans inducted Kress into membership in the Ordre des Palmes Academiques, a knighthood established in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte and the highest academic distinction offered by the French government.

Thank you to everyone who donated a toy to the "Fill the Office" for Operation Santa Claus. Because of your generosity, we were able to donate more than 100 toys to the Shreveport Fire and Police Departments and the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office to distribute to children in our area who might not otherwise receive a gift on Christmas morning. Thank you to everyone who helped put a smile on a child's face this Christmas.

Marjorie Lyons Playhouse and Shreveport Little Theatre are starting an annual holiday tradition with its production of A Christmas Carol.

Each year, a number of theaters across the United States do A Christmas Carol. Not only has it become a tradition for families it's also a financial boost for theaters. Due to this boost, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse and Shreveport Little Theatre decided to combine resources and split the finances of the production in order to reduce financial risks and boost financial gain for each theater.

Director Heather Peak Hooper said assistance has come in from all over the community and it has all been "quite helpful," adding she hopes more assistance will come for future productions of A Christmas Carol.

Hooper added that she hopes this production will be "the beginning of a tradition for families across the region." The cast for this production is smaller than most casts, which Hooper said she hopes to see grow for future productions.

The play is based on Charles Dickens' novel and is a Victorian morality tale of an old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a greedy moneylender who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth. One Christmas Eve night he undergoes a profound experience of redemption when he is visited by three Christmas ghosts. During these visits, the audience gets to see there is more to Scrooge than his mean exterior.

Performances take place:

• December 18, 19 and 26 at 8 p.m.

• December 20, 24, and 27 at 2 p.m.

• December 25 at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and active military; and $10 for students. For more information, call the MLP at 318.869.5242 or the SLT at 318.424.4439.

Read a review of play from the Shreveport Times.

Interim Dean of Student Life took a moment to wish students well for the holidays.

Centenary College will celebrate the legacy and views of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a week-long tribute of lectures, film and document screenings, theater performance and other events taking place on the campus January 18-22.

Events include: