Alumni News Summer 2015

d lishe Pub e Sinc 9 194

A l u m ni N e w s

Summer 2015

INSIDE: Graduation 2015 • Association News • Keeping In Touch

Champagne,

Chocolate and

Diamonds > Page 1

Southeastern Louisiana University Dr. John L. Crain ’82, ’84 President Dr. Tammy Bourg Provost/Vice President, Academic Affairs Sam Domiano, Jr. ’95 Vice President, Administration & Finance Dr. Marvin L. Yates Vice President, Student Affairs Wendy Johns Lauderdale ’93 Vice President, University Advancement Alumni Association Kathy Pittman ’71 Director Josie Mercante, ’69, ’74 President Mayson Foster, ’68, ’88 President-elect Kim Walker, ’96, ’99 Secretary Randy Vicknair ’04,’07 Treasurer Board Members Wendy Caillouet, ’05, ’06 Angelo Distefano, ’72 Chad Douglas, ’14 Beth Ebberman, ’77 Karen Hoyt, ’91, ’97 Dot Lavigne, ’69 Terri LeBlanc, ’79 Wallace Lewis, ’76 Terran Perry, ’99 Sally Carlisle ’02 The Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni News, published four times annually by the Association, was entered as third-class matter, May 9, 1949, at the Post Office in Hammond, LA, under the amended act of June 11, 1934. The office of publication is Hammond, LA 70402. Annual dues of $30 include subscription to Southeastern Alumni News.

cover The Southeastern Alumni Association on June 11 sponsored its first major fundraising event, Champagne, Chocolate and Diamonds in cooperation with George Ibert’s Jewelry and Gifts of Hammond. Approximately 150 couples attended the event held at the Alumni Center.

Guest Glenda Whitaker, center, won the grand entry prize, a one-carat, flawless diamond from Ibert's. With her are Yvonne and George Ibert.

A message from President John L. Crain For years, budget cuts to higher education had become an unwelcome and unfortunate expectation. This year was different. Thanks to the efforts of many, higher education will see funding next year nearly equal to last year’s amount. It is desperately needed stability.

Our students, faculty, staff, higher education leaders, and alumni from throughout the state were vocal in expressing a high concern about any further budget reductions, particularly in the devastating $600 million range originally proposed. Our students joined with others throughout the state to voice their concerns on the Capitol grounds, and our faculty, staff, and alumni wrote and called legislators in record numbers.

The concerns were heard. Our legislators took the action needed to avert further reductions in state support. I thank these legislators for their efforts to sustain funding for Southeastern and for all higher education institutions in Louisiana. Members of our own delegation played key leadership roles in this session, having to take sometimes difficult and courageous positions in the face of opposition from strong interest groups. Without their hard work and support, we could easily be facing significant additional reductions in state support, with resulting employee layoffs, furloughs and possible reductions of academic programs and services.

It gives me a great sense of pleasure, pride and appreciation to see that our efforts at enhancing and maintaining efficiencies on the campus, plus this stabilization in funding, will allow Southeastern this year to give modest pay raises to our faculty and staff. For years now, they have worked with the budget reductions and carried increasingly heavier workloads while ultimately remaining focused on the success of our students, our foremost priority.

While we continue to face challenges ahead, we at least now have been given some breathing room to face these challenges and work toward resolving them.

A message from your Alumni president We are beginning a new year with some wonderful news coming out of the legislature, and we have high expectations for a fantastic 2015–16 school year.

As your new Alumni president, my vision for the coming year is to present you with an organization that you can be proud of and will actively participate in.

Josie Mercante, ’69, ’74 My focus will be on assisting our very capable Alumni staff — Kathy, Julie, Larry and Sherri — in planning events that will be meaningful as well as fun.

We started off the new year with a spectacular, first-ever Alumni Association fundraiser, “Champagne, Chocolate and Diamonds.” The event was a huge, sold-out success. About 300 people attended and one lucky winner went home with a beautiful one-carat diamond. Although the rest of us were not so lucky, we all had our fill of champagne and chocolate desserts. The funds raised at this event will help our association continue to do the excellent work we have been doing.

In the future, I will talk to you more about what the Alumni Association does, the scholarships it provides to students, the assistance it provides to Athletics, and the events that it sponsors — all for the betterment of our alma mater. At Southeastern, students always come first.

Champagne,

Chocolate and

Diamonds

Alumni Association sponsors fundraiser The Southeastern Alumni Association on June 11 sponsored its largest fundraising event ever, “Champagne, Chocolate and Diamonds,” in cooperation with George Ibert’s Jewelry and Gifts of Hammond.

The event featured jewelry displays, modeling of dresses and the presentation of a one-carat flawless diamond to a lucky patron, Glenda Whittaker. Models wore dresses from Dillards and jewelry from collections such as Mastoloni Pearls, LeVian chocolate diamonds and Vahan sterling.

“About 300 patrons indulged in champagne and a wide variety of chocolate desserts,” said Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman about the sold-out event.

“We are especially appreciative of the ongoing support the university and the Alumni Association receives from George Ibert,” Pittman said.

Music was provided by the Regg Sanders Trio. Pittman expressed gratitude to K-Team Printing and Marketing, Dillards, the Crescent Bar, Benedict’s, Royale Oak, Lamar Advertising, Cocoa Bean, Piggly Wiggly, and Sweet Life Treats.

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Captain of the ship Alumna finds career in public affairs following Southeastern preparation

> by Janel Page

When Alejandra “Alex” Juan completed her military commitment to the Air Force, she didn’t expect she would end up becoming the “captain” of a warship.

ors and became a public affairs officer. She credits Southeastern with preparing her for that challenge.

“The education that Southeastern provided me was a great stepping stone to get into that career field,” she said. “I was passionate about public affairs, and I felt very well prepared for what the real world was going to be like, based on a lot of the cases and scenarios we had in my classes.“ She said her Southeastern professors were an inspiration for her, especially Procoprio, Joe Mirando, Claudia McCalman and Carol Madere. They in turn are equally complementary, referring to her as a “brilliant student” and “a real success story.”

“I thought of Dr. Mirando when I was in Defense Information School,” she said, “because there they would say, ‘There are no challenges, only opportunities to grow.’ And I would think, ‘That’s all he was doing! He was helping me to grow.”

After separating from the military, Juan took a job at the Kidd as the executive assistant to the director. Upon his retirement, Alex applied for the position and, after a nationwide search, was chosen by the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission to serve as the new executive director. Her mixture of strong leadership skills, public relations background and passion for community service made her just right for the job. She credits Southeastern with giving her the skills to be successful.

In her role at the Kidd, Juan is earning a reputation for leadership.

She was recently awarded the 2015 Espirit de Femme Award by LSU’s Women’s Center. The honor acknowledges individuals who have made exceptional efforts toward the advancement of women.

“At Southeastern, you really are a part of a family,” she said. “They really care about their students, and they try to keep up with their graduates, especially those who are working in the communication field. Out of all the programs I could have chosen to study, this path has opened the most doors and prepared me the best in life.”

Juan, a 2007 graduate of Southeastern’s organizational communication program, is the executive director of the USS Kidd Museum in Baton Rouge. A retired Navy destroyer launched in 1943, the Kidd saw service in World War II and the Korean War. The Kidd was transferred to Baton Rouge in 1982 to serve as a memorial and is permanently dry-docked on the Mississippi River.

A native of Guatemala, Juan graduated from high school and immediately entered the Air Force, where she served in a security forces squadron. She and her husband, Senior Master Sgt. Craig Juan, met on an M-16 firing range during her tour of duty. As a member of the Louisiana Air National Guard, she earned the rank of captain. She and her family moved to Baton Rouge following Hurricane Katrina.

“I wanted to finish my college education. My husband was a graduate of Southeastern (’95), and he talked about how much he enjoyed his experiences there,” she said. “It sounded perfect for me.

Since I had been in the military, I knew that it was very, very difficult to complete college while facing the possibility of being activated.

Southeastern had the environment I was looking for.”

Attending college as a non-traditional student, she focused heavily on her studies, but spent considerable time with her classmates studying in the Student Union. While writing her thesis, Juan had the idea to create a special Southeastern pin to be given to graduates at the Communication Colloquium.

“She started a tradition that continues today,” said Assistant Professor of Communication Claire Procopio.

After graduating from Southeastern, Juan was accepted into the Defense Information School, a competitive international military and public affairs program at Fort Meade, Md. She graduated with hon-

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Graduation 2015 First doctoral students in nursing program hooded Southeastern’s first class of students to earn the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) were “hooded” by the faculty of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences prior to commencement ceremonies in May. Approved in 2012 by the state Board of Regents, the degree is seen as an important element in helping to meet Louisiana healthcare workforce needs, particularly in the southeast region of the state.

The DNP program is intended to prepare graduates who can provide complex hospital and community-based care for patients and families, help redesign and evaluate nursing and health care systems, and address the severe shortages of clinical faculty needed to mentor and educate new nurses.

The program, in which courses are delivered totally over the Internet, accepts nurses who have already earned master’s degrees as nurse practitioners or nurse service administrators, explained Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Carruth said the program builds on a highly successful masters in nursing practice program that Southeastern has offered for years in a consortium with other state institutions.

NURSING GRADS ‘HOODED’ – Southeastern’s first class of students to earn the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) were “hooded” by the faculty of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences prior to commencement ceremonies in May. Initiated in 2012, the degree is intended to serve as an important Louisiana healthcare workforce element. Pictured, from left, are: Janet Jones, DNP coordinator; DNP graduates Lisa Nicoletti-Wack, Slidell; Lisa Bayhi, Gonzales; Kathryn Mizell Lyons, Bogalusa; Lori Lemoine, New Orleans; Laura Martin and Heather Surcouf, Slidell; Jean GenzaleBertrand, Tickfaw; and head of the School of Nursing Eileen Creel.

Parents, sisters celebrate latest family member to graduate from Southeastern

Leading state educator, alum addresses graduates One of Louisiana’s top educational leaders, Patrice J. Pujol, superintendent of the Ascension Parish School System and the 2015 Superintendent of the Year, addressed Southeastern graduates in May. A Southeastern alumna with two degrees — a bachelor’s degree in French Education and a doctorate in educational leadership — Pujol emphasized the importance of making wise choices in life.

“Looking back on my life and career, I realize what a huge impact my choices made in keeping me on a path to success,” said Pujol, whose leadership has helped the parish school system become one of the top performing districts in the state.

“Certainly, every life faces setbacks and disappointments. You do not get to choose what happens to you in life,” she continued, “but you do get to choose how you respond to what happens.

The real challenge is to choose well!”

With a small-town feel and personalized attention, Southeastern is often referred to as being like family. That’s especially true for one recent graduate.

Deanna Robertson is the seventh sister to attend the university where her parents also received their education — and fell in love after meeting in Pottle Hall. When Robertson graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she became the ninth in her immediate family to have earned an undergraduate degree from Southeastern.

Her family’s Southeastern ties could not be overlooked several years ago when she was considering colleges.

“It was between two schools in my senior year in high school, but I could not ignore the legacy of my parents at Southeastern, as well as the programs that they offered,” Robertson said.

The long line of alumni includes her parents, Eddie and Deborah Robertson, who participated in the university’s marching band and graduated in 1979; her sister, Elizabeth Robertson Hornsby (2004), who also earned a master’s degree at Southeastern and now serves as a professor in the Department of Languages and Communication; and her five other sisters, Stephanie Robertson (2006), Sarah Robertson Rakocy (2007), Cheryl Robertson (2009), Michelle Robertson (2010) and Melissa Robertson (2013).

“Southeastern has helped my family launch careers as educators, business women, a social worker, an illustrator and future psychologist. We are all very grateful for the education we received and the doors that have been opened by this university,” Robertson said.

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Association News Mercante to lead Alumni Association Board Josie Mercante of Hammond, a two-time graduate of Southeastern (’69, ’74) and former employee at the university for 25 years, has been named president of the Southeastern Alumni Association Board of Directors.

She previously served as president-elect.

Since retiring, Mercante has served as volunteer for the association and as a member of the FeLions Chapter.

President-elect is Mayson Foster of Hammond (’68, ’88), former mayor of Hammond and banking executive for 28 years. He is a recipient of the President’s Loyal Lion Award.

Kim Walker (’96, ’99) of Hammond will serve as secretary. A prior board member, she is marketing director for 5 Stones Media, which she and her husband founded. She is a former teacher for the Tangipahoa Parish School System.

Elected to the board of directors were: Wendy Caillouet, Hammond; Angelo Distefano, Baton Rouge; Chad Douglas, Metairie; Dot Lavigne, Hammond; Wallace Lewis, Bloomington, Ill.; and Terran Perry, Amite.

Remaining on the board filling their unexpired terms are: Treasurer Randy Vicknair,

Mercante

Foster

Hammond; Karen Hoyt, Albany; Beth Ebberman, Metairie; Terri LeBlanc, Baton Rouge; and Sally Carlisle, Hammond.

PREPPING FOR GRADUATION – The Alumni Association teams up with Gamma Beta Phi twice a year to sponsor Grad Fair, a one-stop shop for graduating seniors to take care of the business of graduation, including purchase of caps and gowns, selection of rings and invitations, and photographs. Talking “selfies” at this spring's fair are Holly Kliebert, left, of Ponchatoula and Brittany Lewis of Livingston.

ALUMNI LION UP FOR DEDICATION – Representatives of the university and the Alumni Association gathered recently for a presentation and dedication to the university of a large, carved marble lion donated by the Southeastern Alumni Association. The statue, purchased by the association through an estate sale in Florida, stands near the stairwell in the new Student Union.

Pictured from left are Vice President for Administration and Finance Sam Domiano, Alumni Association President Daryl Ferrara, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg, Alumni Association Assistant Director Julie Perise, Alumni Association Board members Josie Mercante, Stacey Neal and Sally Carlisle, and Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman.

Golden Silence honors deceased Participating in Southeastern’s annual Golden Silence memorial on March 30 were, from left, Florence Bonaccorso Folse, her three-yearold son Joseph Folse, and sister Kathryn Rose Bonaccorso, all of Baton Rouge. The family attended the event in memory of the late Ernest Bonaccorso Jr., who died during the previous year. The event honors deceased members of the Southeastern family. For information on the Alumni Association’s Eternal Chapter, go to southeastern.edu/alumni.

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HONORING SENIORS – Graduating seniors were honored by the Alumni Association with a Senior Send Off Tailgate Party held prior to commencement day. Seniors were feted with food and drinks and a visit and farewell comments from President John L. Crain.

FeLions sponsor Champagne Bingo The FeLions Chapter held another successful Champagne Bingo, raising much needed funds for the Southeastern athletics program. Sharing in the festive event were, first row, from left: Marcie Ayers, Molly Ordogne, Cally Berner, and Carmen Maillet; second row, from left: Deborah Campbell, Angie Ockmond, Brandi Courrege, Kay Flores, Allison Roques, and Adrienne Roques.

SAVE THE DATES Aug. 14 Lionpawlooza (downtown

Hammond) Sept. 25 Soccer Reunion Homecoming 2015 Homecoming 2015 will feature a wide range of events — including traditional faculty and student events, children’s activities, Homecoming parade and class and chapter reunions — in the week leading up to Homecoming Day, Saturday, Oct. 17. Naming of this year’s Alumnus of the Year and Young Alumnus of the Year, as well as other award recipients, will be part of the Alumni Awards evening the night before. Don’t miss the opportunity to see old friends and make new acquaintances.

Oct. 16 Golf reunion and annual Golf Scramble

Alumni Awards Evening Oct. 17 Homecoming day • Educator’s Honor Roll • Donor recognition • Campus tours • Class, Chapter reunions • Annual parade • Football: SLU vs. Stephen F. Austin

Join Southeastern alumni and friends for

A TASTE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC The Southeastern Alumni Association, in cooperation with Collette Travel, will sponsor a trip Feb. 1–13, 2016, offering A Taste of the South Pacific. The 13-day trip will start in Cairns, Australia, considered the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions, the Great Barrier Reef, where you can take a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion. You’ll visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park to meet Australia’s original inhabitants, see the traditional dances, learn how to play a didgeridoo or even throw a boomerang. It’s then on to Sydney for several days and visits to many of its fascinating sites. The trip concludes with several days in Fiji, where you can savor the island lifestyle, enjoy adventurous activities, journey into Nadi’s scenic hinterland to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, and visit Viseisei Village, the legendary landing site of the first Fijians.

By joining with your Southeastern friends, you’ll benefit from special reduced fares.

Don’t wait, though; space is booking up for this exciting trip.

For more information, contact Collette at 800-581-8942 and refer to booking #655744.

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For more information contact the Alumni Association at 985-549-2150.

Get in shape now: Pennington Center

Alumni, sign up at Southeastern’s state-of-the-art fitness center!

Visit Pennington or call 985-549-5734.

Alumni Center now available for rentals Call 985-549-2150 for information.

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Chapter News

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[ 1 ] Lone Star Chapter holds annual crawfish boil The Lone Star Chapter held its annual crawfish boil in Houston on May 3 hosted by Ralph and Margaret Daigle.

Pictured are, from left, Marcia Galatas, Vice President for Advancement Wendy Lauderdale, hosts Ralph and Margaret Daigle, Janice and Leonie Ezegbunam, and Julie Perise, assistant Alumni Association director. [ 2 ] New Orleans hosts annual social The New Orleans Chapter held its annual social April 8 at Buffalo Wild Wings in Metairie. Participants included, from left, Mickey Triche, Track and Field Coach Sean Brady, and Duane Judice. [ 3 ] Red Stick Crawfish Boil held at Country Club The Red Stick Chapter of Baton Rouge held their annual social and crawfish boil at the Country Club of Louisiana park. Among the many attending were Oscar and Billie Jean Lofton.

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[ 4 ] Tangi shrimp boil The Tangi Shrimp Boil was held at the Alumni Center in Hammond. Some of the participants included, from left, Louis Wiginton, Lou Ladner, Billy Ladner, Al Bentley, Chris Bentley and Patsy Causey. [ 5 ] AST installs new officers Alpha Sigma Tau sorority installed its new officers recently.

From left are Genie Carter Powers, treasurer; Patricia “Patsy” Hoffman, secretary; Esther Fontenot Barrios, alumnae Panhellenic delegate; Rita Ann Bertollino, president; Jill Hite Worth, editor; Rebecca “Becky” Ebberman, chaplain; Kari Stentiford, historian and alternate Panhellenic delegate; and Beth Carney Ebberman, vice president.

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Keeping In Touch ’66 Mark Solomon of Richardson, Texas, has been elected Mayor Pro Tem of the Richardson City Council.

He has served on the council since 2009. The owner of Assurenet Insurance Agency, he is president of the Dallas Alumni Chapter and former director of the Southeastern Alumni Association. ’67 Donald Boihem of Hammond was re-elected president of the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission in January. He is retired from a professional career with Entergy after more than 41 years of service. ’68 Honorable James H. “Jimmy” Kuhn of Ponchatoula, retired judge from the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, was named Volunteer of the Year in January by the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce. He retired from the court in January. ’68 David Ramsey of Hammond, retired professor of management at Southeastern, has been designated as Reviewer of the Year by the International Journal of Management and Commerce based on his 24 years as book review editor for the journal. ’71, ’73 Joe Cacibauda of Ocean Springs, Miss., has retired as music director at Ocean Springs High School, where he started work 31 years ago. His career in music instruction has spanned 43 years. ’72 Michael K. Amacker, M.D. of Zachary, has retired from his practice of medicine after a 35-year medical career. A specialist in family practice, he graduated from LSUShreveport in medicine and founded Zachary Family Medicine from 1979 to 1993, when the practice was purchased by Lane Regional Medical Center. ’73, ’97 Charles “Tiger” Edwards of Mandeville was elected president of the Southern Division of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at its conference in Louisville, Ky. He will oversee 30 chapters and colonies that comprise the southern division of the fraternity.

’74 James Clay “Jim” Richardson of Livingston was elected to serve on the Livingston Parish School Board. ’78, ’79 James Williams of Corinth, Miss., has assumed a new position as executive director of Mississippi’s State Workforce Investment Board. He previously served as vice president of economic and community services at Itawamba Community College. ’83 Leila Parker, principal at Woodlake Elementary School in Mandeville, has been named a Principal of the Year for 2015 by the St. Tammany Parish Public School System. ’84 C.R. “Robby” Miller of Hammond has been awarded the 2015 Mother Seaton Award presented by St. Thomas Aquinas School.

The award honors individuals whose volunteer service and dedication to home, school and church have been exemplary. He is an active member of the SLU Former Football Players Association. ’84, ’97 Donna Wallette of Hammond has been appointed principal of Holy Ghost Catholic School in Hammond. With 31 years of experience in education, she previously served as principal at Magnolia Woods Elementary School in Baton Rouge. ’85, ’92 Marjorie Meyers Murry, Louisiana’s Elementary Principal of the Year from Pecan Grove Primary School in Gonzales, has been promoted to Instruction Leadership Partner, where her expertise will be utilized throughout the Ascension Parish Public School System. ’88 Faith M. Joseph of Harvey, principal of Henry Ford Middle School in Avondale, was named a Jefferson Parish School System Principal of the Year and will participate in the Louisiana Department of Education’s competition. She has led Henry Ford for eight years.

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’89 Michael W. Malone of Los Angeles has been named chief executive officer for Property, a fast growing online real estate company.

He previously worked as president and COO of RemedyMD, market leader in the use of predictive informatics to help improve health care outcomes. ’89 Nanette B. McCann of Baton Rouge has been named a Baton Rouge Business Report Influential Woman in Business. The principal of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, she holds a concurrent position as principal of Lee High School. ’90 John Weatherspoon of West Palm Beach, Fla., has been named a 2015 recipient of the Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts.

He currently teaches at Lake Worth High School and has dedicated over 23 years to choral excellence at the high school level in Palm Beach County. ’93, ’06 Roslyn Hanson, principal of Covington High School, has been named a Principal of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Public School System. She previously was principal at Pitcher Junior High. ’94, ’96 Alison Pelegrin of Covington was honored with the 2015 Literary Artist of the Year Award in the St. Tammany President’s Awards program. She is an instructor of English at Southeastern and the author of three poetry collections. ’95 Scott Delaney has been named director of information technology for LSU Continuing Education. He has been at LSU for more than 15 years, working in areas such as Information Technolgy Services, the LSU Student Union and Auxiliary Services. ’96, 97 Eric Pipes of Tickfaw has been elected secretary of the Tangipahoa Parish Republican Executive Committee for a term ending in 2016. He has been commissioned to develop a website for the organization.

Keeping In Touch ’96 Rene J. Ragas has been appointed chief executive officer at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa. Previously he was vice president of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Baton Rouge since 1998. ’97 Treye Weilbacher of Baton Rouge has been named a regional vice president for John Hancock Retirement Plan Services. He is responsible for sales and relationship development with financial representatives and plan consultants with a focus on Louisiana and Mississippi. ’98 Nicole Burkes of Slidell has been named a Teacher of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Public School System. She has taught English at Boyet Junior High School for 10 of her 11 years as an educator. ’98 Tracy Mayeux Hoffman of Fontainebleu High School in Mandeville has been named a Teacher of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish School System. She teaches physical scinece, introduction to engineering and other STEM-related activities.

’01 Mark Roach of Parker, Colo., has joined Arecont Vision as regional sales manager for the mountain states. He will have responsibility for Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Arecont is an industry leader in IP-based megapixel camera technology. ’05 Jeremy Gerald of Prairieville has completed a master’s degree in emergency and disaster management at American Military University.

He is currently an Inspector II in the Baton Rouge Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. ’07 Sean M. Chick of New Orleans has authored a new book, The Battle of Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864. The battle is best known for pitting the Union Army under Ulysses S. Grant against Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The book is available through Amazon.com. ’07 Ernest Wilkes, a member of the Louisiana State Police Troop L, was honored as Slidell Trooper of the Year by the Slidell Elks Lodge in February. He has been a state trooper for six years.

’08 Misty Causey Greer of Youngsville, La., an accounting supervisor for Halliburton, was selected to the Society of Louisiana CPAs 2015 Women to Watch Award — Emerging Leader. She is a board member of the Junior Achievement of Acadiana and a member of the Junior League of Lafayette. ’08 Ivana Vasic is currently working as a graphic designer at Walter Bernard Design in New York City.

’09 Lacey Schexnayder Pyle of Atlanta is currently serving as marketing director of Jekyll Brewing, handling social media and managing the craft brewery’s brand. ’09 Jared Smith of Ponchatoula, director of Business Development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, has been appointed the 2015 chairman of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Commission. He also serves as director of the Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium.

’98 Stacey Smith has been named the new director of administration for the City of Bogalusa. She is a CPA, having worked with firms in Covington and Baton Rouge.

She has also worked with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office in the Financial Compliance Division. ’99 Amy Champagne of St. Amant has been named principal of Pecan Grove Primary in Gonzales. She holds National Board Certification. ’00 Valerie Lowery, a certified public accountant, has been promoted to senior manager at Wegmann Dazet & Company, a leading New Orleans CPA firm.

SIG TAU ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – Active and alumni members of Phi Chapter, Sigma Gamma Tau Fraternity gathered for a group photo on May 30 at the Crescent in Hammond. The previous day, Phi Chapter held its 76th annual White Rose Formal and Founders Day celebration in the new Student Union ballroom. White Rose recipient is Jeni Frick, center.

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Photo: Phillip Colwart

Alumni authors release new books Two Southeastern alumni, retired Professor Emeritus of History C. Howard Nichols (’56) and graduate Katie Wainwright (‘75), both of Hammond, have released new books.

Nichols’ work, Stories of a River Town, Nichols Covington, Louisiana, at Two Hundred Years, focuses on history and autobiographical tales of residents of the nearby St. Tammany town. Nichols, a graduate of St. Paul High School in Covinton, said the idea for the book developed when city leaders Wainwright formed a committee in 2011 to prepare for the town’s bicentennial celbration, which culminated on July 4, 2013. Nichols was producing “Bicentennial Briefs” for the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper, short history columns that ran during the year-long anniversary observance.

It was in doing his research that Nichols felt there was a need to provide a more in-depth look into the history of Covington. The resulting Stories of a River Town focuses on aspects of the town’s first two centuries, including its people, events, culture and traditions. The book includes first-person

’10 Megan Mosher is currently employed as director of marketing and communications at the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce. Previously a reporter with the Hammond Daily Star, she earned a master’s degree in organizational communication at spring commencement. ’10 Chris Mycoskie, assistant commissioner for television and electronic media for the Southland Conference, was one of four finalists for the outstanding game production award by the Sports Video Group and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics for coverage of the conference’s 2014 baseball tournament championship game. He served as executive producer and called play-by-play action.

Former Southeastern pitcher Tommy Krysan (’84) served as color analyst.

essays by several individuals who lived and worked in the community, including a reprint by famed author Walker Percy that was first published in Esquire magazine.

The book is self-published by Nichols. For more information, email storiesofarivertown@gmail.com.

Katie Wainwright (’75) released her fourth novel, Pohainake Parish, based in a fictional locale in Louisiana. The novel is the story of a divorced mother of two teenagers who gets elected to the bankrupt parish council. The former housewife is soon overwhelmed by the problems and decisions the council must make. Conflicts with a fellow council member are tempered with Southern humor, as members deal with the sad truths of ignorance, inefficiency, graft and nepotism in government.

Born in Cuba, where her father worked for United Fruit, Wainwright moved to Louisiana while in high school and raised her family in Hammond. She managed to earn her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern while raising five children and working. She held a signing at the Southeastern Bookstore in March.

Her first novel, Cuba on My Mind, was followed by Secuestro, and Azaleas. Her books are available at Amazon.com and local bookstores.

’11 Mary Breaud, Ed.D. was recently elected to the Lafourche Parish School Board. An assistant professor of teacher education at Nicholls State University, she is the third generation member of her family to serve on the school board. ’13 Erin Cowser of Hammond, director of Public and Governmental Affairs at Southeastern, has been elected chair of the board of directors for the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce. ’14 Troy Mongrue has joined KTVE/KARD of West Monroe, La., as a member of the sports coverage team.

At Southeastern, he served as lead sports anchor and producer for the Southeastern Channel.

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Membership drive features new rates Don’t miss a single issue of the Southeastern Alumni News or the Southeastern Magazine, as well as membership benefits. Renew your membership now.

Recent Graduates (2013–14) $15 Alumni Dues Member $30

Lifetime Membership The Alumni Association is now offering special rates through the end of July for Lifetime Membership. The membership, usually $750, is reduced to $650 during this period.

One installment Five installments Three installments Monthly installments

$650 $130 $216 $10.83

For information, including spousal rates or “Friends of Alumni” dues, call 985-549-2150.

Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association 500 West University Avenue Hammond, LA 70401 southeastern.edu

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An honorary Globetrotter Former Southeastern basketball star Nate ”Big Easy” Lofton, right, joined fellow members of the world famous Harlem Globetrotters at the Vatican in May to name Pope Francis the ninth Honorary Harlem Globetrotter in team history. The prestigious Honorary Harlem Globetrotter accolade recognizes an individual of extraordinary character and achievement who has made an everlasting mark on the world. Pictured from left are: Hi-Lite Bruton, Ant Atkinson, Pope Francis, Flight Time Lang and Lofton.

Photo: © L’Osservatore Romano Foto