First Lieutenant Meya Morse returns to Northwestern as guest captain for Demon football

In continuing its tradition of honoring those who serve in the nation's Armed Forces, Northwestern State University named First Lieutenant Meya Morse the honorary captain during the football game against Weber State University September 21.

An armor officer, Morse made history with Northwestern's Demon Battalion by being their first female Cadet to commission into a combat arms branch. She graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Web Development and a minor in Military Leadership.

Stationed at Fort Johnson, Morse has served as an Operations Officer, Infantry Platoon Leader, and an Armor / Scout Platoon Leader for 1^st Battalion, 509^th Airborne Infantry Regiment (Geronimo). She is currently serving as the Unit Public Affairs Officer.

When asked for a military service highlight, Morse said, "I led two Platoons (Infantry and Scout/Armor) into 14 Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE) rotations; providing intense, realistic training for over 10 Brigade Combat Teams or 100,000+ Soldiers. I was also a part of the Army's Synthetic Training Environment (STE), which tests new equipment for the Army in preparation for battle."

While studying at Northwestern, Morse was a member of the African American Caucus and Lifted Voices Choir and Dance. She participated in Intramural Sports and was the president of Juice Athletics and the president of the Black Knights Student Organization for ROTC. Additionally, she devoted herself to volunteering at the nursing home, animal shelter and kids' summer programs in her hometown of Morgan City.

Joining Morse to cheer on the Demons were her mother and aunts, Shantell Kinchen, Sharee Jones and Leslie Roberson and her cousin Wesley Williams.

Morse was escorted on-field by NSU's President and First Lady, James and Martha Genovese, and the Professor of Military Science Lieutenant Colonel Josh Drake. The First Lady joined the presentation as an Air Force Veteran who served as a medic for seven years and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.