Meet Mr. Clyde: a two-year-old purebred Boston Terrier full of energy and personality who loves pup cups, snuggles and sweet tea. For Nighthawk softball freshman catcher Ella Cross, Mr. Clyde is more than just her pet and best friend—he is also her registered emotional service animal.
“Being a student-athlete can be very hard, mentally,” Cross said. “I have always struggled with depression, anxiety and performance anxiety when trying to balance academics, athletics and everything else. Because of that, it has always been easy for me to lose myself in my sport. Having Mr. Clyde has helped me relax and remind me that I am a person outside of my sport.”
Ella and Mr. Clyde first met when Cross was a high school sophomore back home in Sterlington, Louisiana.
“I got Mr. Clyde near the end of my sophomore year,” Cross said. “I worked as hard as I could to make money and help pay for him and have raised him since he was a puppy. With college right around the corner for me, I always knew that I wanted him to accompany me so I would still have a piece of home with me when I left Louisiana. From day one, we made sure to train him and raise him in a way where he would be successful in a college setting.”
While Mr. Clyde’s paperwork was still being finalized, Cross recounts a challenging first semester at NPC.
“My first semester, I kept to myself for the most part,” Cross said. “I rarely left my dorm room. I wasn’t going out with my friends. I was mainly doing homework, calling my family constantly and traveling home as much as I could.”
In January, Mr. Clyde joined Cross as Dogwood Hall’s newest resident, capturing the hearts of Nighthawk Nation. For Cross, the difference was night and day.
“NPC was very supportive of having Mr. Clyde join me on campus,” Cross said. “After communicating with my therapist back home and getting the appropriate paperwork squared away with our Disability Services team, it was an easy process. All the faculty and staff that he has met have loved him. I am extremely thankful for how accommodating NPC has been throughout this process for me.”
Cross comes from a long line of catchers in her family. Last year, she and the Sterlington Lady Panthers rode a historic 31-1 record to the Louisiana Division III Non-Select State Championship, the program’s first title in 21 years. Amid her championship journey, she met NPC head softball coach Autumn Wyatt, who encouraged the rising star to spread her wings with National Park College.
“I met Coach Wyatt at a softball tournament,” Cross said. “She approached me and told me she’d love to get to know me and had me come on a visit. From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew that NPC was the place for me. The environment felt safe and homelike for me and she was everything that I was looking for in a coach.”
This season, Cross and the Nighthawks are off to a strong start with goals of avenging last year’s loss in the NJCAA Division II Southwest Plains District Championship.
“When it’s game day, we all come together as one,” Cross said. “We’re building a powerful community here at NPC.”
While Cross is away at class and practices, Mr. Clyde holds down the fort in Dogwood Hall. On game days, the pup occasionally makes appearances at Majestic Park and Hot Springs World Class High School to cheer on his best friends. Adored by the many parents and fans of Nighthawk Nation, it isn’t uncommon for Mr. Clyde to receive VIP treatment, including walks around the ballpark, wagon rides, selfies and a front row seat to all the action on the diamond.
“Many of the girls have told me that I’ve been much more social having him here with me compared to last semester when I didn’t,” Cross said. “With him by my side, I’m happier, overall. He keeps me from spending all day on schoolwork and staying in my room. He gets me out and about and reminds me to balance all aspects of life, not just school and softball.”
Although Mr. Clyde’s presence has been instrumental for Cross’ college journey, his impact can be felt throughout Dogwood Hall.
“Mr. Clyde may be my emotional support animal, but he emotionally supports all of the girls on our team,” Cross said. “Every morning, he has a strict routine of snuggling with my roommates Tayler Southern, Jessica Suire and Avery Creech. He makes sure to take care of everyone, not just me. Everyone loves him and gives him plenty of attention.”
When she’s not in the classroom or on the diamond, Ella and Mr. Clyde’s favorite pastimes are playing fetch with his toys and going on ‘side quests’ with the Nighthawk softball team around town.
“When Mr. Clyde first arrived in Hot Springs, there was still nine inches of snow on the ground from January’s storm,” Cross said. “That was the first time he ever saw snow. It came up to his belly and he had a field day with that. That day will always be one of my favorite memories with him here at NPC.”
Off the field, Cross is actively pursuing an Associate Degree in business at NPC while dreaming of a career in cosmetology. With her best friend by her side, the possibilities for a bright future are endless.
“Mr. Clyde makes me a much happier person, overall,” Cross said. “With him by my side, I can live a life instead of drowning in my thoughts. Looking at him and playing with him brings happiness to me and takes away the stress of my daily life.”
The Disability Services office at National Park College serves approximately six percent of NPC’s student population and strives to ensure that all qualified students with disabilities have equal access during their college experience, encouraging independence while assisting students in realizing their full academic potential.
NPC’s Disability Services office is located in Room 224 of the Student Commons building. For more information, e-mail Disability Support Advisor Mandee Harper at Mandee.Harper@np.edu.