CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA PROVOST CHOSEN FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Dr. Karen Soul, provost and dean of the college at Centenary, has been selected as one of 36 higher education leaders to participate in the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

“I am honored to have been selected for the Council of Independent College’s Executive Leadership Academy,” said Soul “The opening seminar in Washington, D.C. provided me with the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from across the United States as we explored topics like strategic planning and legislative changes in higher education. I am truly looking forward to this experience and am proud to represent Centenary College.”

Since 2009, more than 100 participants who completed the ELA program have been appointed as presidents or chancellors, with many more advancing to other seniorlevel positions. The program is designed to give senior higher education professionals the tools needed to serve as leaders in the effort to transform higher education in ways that better serve students and communities.

Aep Foundation Donates To Local Food Banks

The AEP Foundation, at the recommendation of SWEPCO, donated $100,000 to help local communities affected by the June 16 supercell storm that caused catastrophic damage across the Ark-La-Tex.

Four regional food banks will share the gift: Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, East Texas Food Bank, Harvest Texarkana, and Titus County Cares.

“We know our communities depend on us, and our crews worked tirelessly to rebuild our energy delivery system following this unannounced and unprecedented storm,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and COO. “We’re grateful to all our community partners for the important role they’ve played throughout this storm response and are hopeful this donation from the American Electric Power Foundation will offer help when it’s needed most.”

In addition to the monetary donation from the AEP Foundation, SWEPCO also donated four truckloads of food to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, and another truckload to Longview Dream Center and Grace Creek Church in Longview, Texas after the week-long power restoration was complete.

Film Prize Public Wrap Party To Celebrate Filmmakers

The Louisiana Film Prize, one of the world’s most unique film competitions and festivals, which takes place primarily in Shreveport and Caddo Parish, celebrated the end of the Production Phase for its Film Prize 2023 competition year with an official Film Prize Wrap Party on

Tuesday, July 11th.

“Filmmaking is a craft that requires everything from writing, directing, acting to cinematography, lighting and graphic design, makeup, hair styling, costuming, sound recording, set construction, finance, and more. Everyone should be celebrated,” said Chris Lyon, Director of the Film Prize.

The Film Prize competition, which started in 2012, offers the world’s largest cash prize for a short film, $50,000, which has attracted filmmakers from not only the Northwest Louisiana area but also south Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and as far away as New York and Los Angeles. In 2022 it was named one of the best short film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine. The Film Prize competition and festival have attracted over $20 million in economic activity to the region.

ROBINSON FILM CENTER ADDS OPEN CAPTION FILM SHOWINGS FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED PATRONS

Robinson Film Center will add select open caption screenings to some of its film runs, beginning this weekend. Open captions will assist hearing-impaired patrons in fully experience these films by providing written dialogue and scene descriptors onscreen.

Films with captions will be indicated on the RFC website and at the box office and will begin with screenings of Blackberry and Asteroid City. “At RFC we serve a wide range of patrons, and we try as much as possible to be aware of and accommodate their needs,” said Wendell Riley, Executive Director of RFC. “A number of our longterm supporters have expressed the need for captions, particularly within our senior community.”

As the center pilots this program, it will add captions to a few screenings a week, if they are available from the studios. “As we roll this out, we need to be mindful of accommodating those in need while not alienating members of the audience who would rather not watch a film with captions,” said Riley. “As a community hub, we need to find the right balance for our patron group. We will assess audience reactions in the coming months and adjust as needed.”

19TH ANNUAL HIGHLAND JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL RETURNS SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

The nineteenth annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival Presented by Louisiana Healthcare Connections will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, in Shreveport’s Historic Highland neighborhood at Columbia Park. With music and fun for everyone, the festival will include nine bands playing from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm on two stages. This FREE music festival is a gift to the community

Title Sponsors:

from the Highland Area Partnership.

This year’s music lineup features musicians from our community and beyond. Local favorite, Grammy-nominated vocalist/guitarist, Buddy Flett will kick off our festival on the Pavilion Stage.

More performances throughout the day on two stages will include Shreveport Regional Jazz Ensemble, De’Lontrell Thomas, Twang Darkly, Co-op Mode, Full on Pocket, Curtis Mills feat. Groove Minded, and Zach Edwards and The Medicine. Rounding out the day is our headlining act, J and The Causeways, a juggernaut ensemble that formed at the legendary Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans with an endless energy of soul/R&B music. In addition to the stellar lineup, local school music groups, including the Creswell Elementary Blazin’ Beatz Bucket Drum Team, will perform between sets.”

Bossier Parish School Board Appoints Interim District 4 Representative

In a special session the Bossier Parish School Board appointed Sherri Pool to serve as interim District 4 representative to replace Duane Deen, who recently resigned after moving out of the district. District 4 encompasses Plain Dealing and Benton.

Pool was selected from a field of five candidates that declared interest in the seat:

John T. Green

William Leighton

Peter “Andy” Modica

Robin R. Nichols

Sherri Pool

Pool, a retired Bossier Parish educator, was sworn in at the July 20, 2023 Bossier Parish School Board meeting and serves District 4 in an interim capacity. Because the unexpired portion of the term exceeds one year, the board also passed a resolution calling for a special election. Should she choose, Pool will be eligible to run for the permanent position in the primary election on October 14, 2023 and, if necessary, the general election on November 18, 2023.

Local Cancer Experts Attend International Proton Therapy Meeting

Lane R. Rosen, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, and chief physicist Terry Wu, PhD, attended PTCOG 61, the largest proton therapy meeting in the world. It was held at The Quironsalud Proton Therapy Centre, the first proton center in Spain. The Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG) is a global nonprofit organization of scientists and professionals interested in particle therapy. Its mission is to promote the science, technology, and clinical application of particle therapy.

“Our attendance at this meeting helps maintain Willis-Knighton’s leadership position as early pioneers in scanning compact proton therapy,” Dr. Rosen says.

Willis-Knighton initiated this advanced technology in Shreveport in 2014, becoming only one of the 15 cancer centers in the United States offering proton therapy. Additionally, Willis-Knighton was the first site in the world to utilize Proteus ONE®, a smaller image-guided scanning proton system making this groundbreaking therapy accessible to patients of our region.

Proteus ONE®, from Belgian medical technology company IBA, has revolutionized the field of particle therapy. Willis-Knighton Cancer Center’s radiation oncology department is a national and international training site for newer proton centers that send staff to Shreveport to learn from the department’s lengthy clinical experience.

Dr. Rosen says, “Spain has now committed to purchasing nine Proteus ONE® units. It was great to see old friends at the meeting and see how the proton centers in Spain are thriving.”