Alumni News Winter 2016

d lishe Pub e Sinc 9 194

A l u m ni N e w s

Winter 2016

INSIDE: Homecoming 2015 • Association News • Keeping In Touch

HOMECOMING 2015 > Pages 1–3

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 U.S. Army Col. Stanley John Whidden, Southeastern’s 2015 Alumnus of the Year, tosses beads to the crowds at the annual Homecoming parade in Friendship Circle. An expert in bio-terorism and incident management, he is a double graduate of Southeastern, having earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology in 1970 and a master’s in chemistry in 1973.

A message from President John L. Crain Ninety years … that’s how long Southeastern has provided higher educational opportunities for the residents of southeast Louisiana and others who have chosen the institution for its caring family atmosphere and strong academic programs. At our Homecoming 2015 celebration, we recognized Southeastern’s 90th anniversary and the thousands of students from around the world who have studied on the campus and learned skills that have carried them in their careers and lives.

Homecoming always gives us the opportunity to look at some of our successful alumni. The 2015 Alumnus of the Year, Col. Stanley John Whidden, is a U.S. Army physician and scientist who made his mark in the areas of war time management, bioterrorism and risk reduction. A two-time graduate of Southeastern, he acknowledged the incubator role that Southeastern played in his life and the faculty who trained him, not just in his science courses, but as a general problem solver. “SLU fills an important niche where students can thrive and go onward and upward in their lives,” he said upon accepting his award.

The outlook for Southeastern continues to be strong with many of our academic programs regularly recognized in college rankings for value and excellence. The renovations and expansion of our Student Union are complete, and students are enjoying the many improvements to campus life that this project represents. The university broke ground for a new science and technology building, and construction has started on this facility on the grounds of the old Southeastern Hall.

Finally, it is important to note that the heart of your Alumni Association, Director Kathy Pittman, will be leaving the university this coming spring to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Kathy has served as director since 1996. She has played a most important role in recruiting alumni to return to the university and maintain their ties to Southeastern. She is also considered by many as the protector of university traditions and the developer of many others, including Rock ‘n Roar, Golden Silence and the university advocacy group, the ROAR Network. Although she will always be a part of Southeastern, Kathy will be greatly missed as Alumni Director. We thank her for 20 years of service and wish her the best in retirement.

A message from your Alumni president New year, new semester, new governor, new parish president … wow! It is an exciting time for Southeastern as we start the spring semester. It’s worthwhile however to review some of the events and accomplishments of our Alumni Association in the fall term.

Josie Mercante, ’69, ’74 The Association partnered with other organizations in sponsoring a gubernatorial forum prior to the election. Lifetime memberships soared to a record number. We sponsored the largest ever Homecoming parade and tailgate in Friendship Circle.

Our Awards Evening bestowed honors on a number of very deserving alumni, and scholarships on behalf of the Association and its chapters were awarded to deserving students.

The spring semester got off to a rocking start when the FElions threw their annual Champage Bingo with nearly 600 women participating and raising more than $43,000 for athletics. We look forward to Rock ’n Roar, several athletic reunions, many chapter events and, of course, another Champagne, Diamonds, and Chocolates.

At this time I would like to say a few words about my friend and our Alumni Director, Kathy Pittman, who will retire at the end of March. After 20 years of unparalleled service to her alma mater and the Association, Kathy will leave us to spend more time with her family. Her presence will certainly be missed, but her legacy will definitely live on in the organization she has so competently led. She is a true lion with green and gold lion pride in her veins. I am proud to have served as president in her last year of service.

Alumnus of the Year – Col. Stanley John Whidden, (second from right) displays the award he received as Southeastern’s Alumnus of the Year. Pictured are, from left, President John L. Crain with a recognition Whidden presented to the university on behalf of the Army, Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman, Whidden, and Alumni President Josie Mercante.

HOMECOMING 2015 Military physician and scientist named Alumnus of the Year University of Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. He has had a 38-year uninterrupted career as an enlisted soldier and officer, moving into a variety of senior staff and command positions of increasing responsibility.

In Operation Just Cause in the invasion of Panama, Whidden spearheaded the operation by commanding the first reserve Civil Affairs team in combat since World War II. He headed a similar effort in Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia. In Operation Desert Storm, he was sent to Kuwait City as the assistant chief of staff for logistics for that country’s successful immediate reconstruction, restoration and the beginning of recovery.

He was deployed again in 1993 to serve with the U.S. Forces and the United Nations in Somalia Logistics Command in Mogadishu.

A decorated officer, Whidden has earned the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Medal, the Army Meritorious Medal and numerous other military awards. He completed both the Army and Navy war colleges and a senior fellowship for public health for the advancement of military operations.

“SLU was my rallying point and it helped build the courage that lasted me throughout my life,” said Whidden. “Southeastern prepared me to see, serve and never yield.

Southeastern celebrated Homecoming 2015 in October, recognizing the 90th anniversary of the opening of the institution as part of a week-long celebration that included honoring prominent alumni, student events, class and chapter reunions, the annual Homecoming parade and other activities.

At the annual Alumni Awards Evening, Col. Stanley John Whidden, a U.S. Army physician and scientist, was honored as the Alumnus of the Year. A double graduate of Southeastern earning a bachelor’s degree in physiology in 1970 and a master’s in chemistry in 1973, he is an expert in incident management, chemical and bioterrorism risk analysis and risk reduction.

“SLU was the incubator of the transition of my life,” said Whidden in accepting the award. “The faculty not just trained me in biology, but trained me how to solve problems. It was the bedrock of my career.”

Originally from New Orleans, he met a member of the Southeastern faculty who encouraged him to check out the university.

“Southeastern taught me that life was a continuous learning process,” said Whidden, who later earned a doctorate in physiology from Auburn University and his medical degree from the Autonomous

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Distinguished Service Award – The Association’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to Board and Finance Committee member Terry Brown of Ponchatoula. A charter member and former president of the African American Alumni Chapter, he has been active in activities for the chapter to raise funds for the group’s endowed scholarship.

“I am deeply honored and overwhelmed by this honor from Southeastern,” he added. “SLU fills an important niche where students can thrive and go onward and upward in their lives.”

Other awards presented Young Alumnus of the Year – Matthew Magnuson of Baton Rouge was recognized as the Young Alumnus of the Year. A 2006 graduate with a bachelor of science degree in computer science’s scientific concentration, he currently serves as the chief technology officer for Associated Technologies, a large, diverse cargo handling and logistical solutions company operating on the lower Mississippi River.

After graduation, Magnuson joined St. James Technologies as the chief technology officer. He holds several patents for helping to determine vessel draft and the amount of cargo in a vessel. In 2014, he presented papers on technical design in both London and Germany.

Magnuson received the 2012 Louisiana Technology Council Award and the Louisiana Governor’s Award for the crane data system he helped develop. In 2013, he received the International Bulk Solutions Award in Paris. He has also been recognized by the Baton Rouge Business Report as one of the publication’s “Young and Upcoming.”

L.E. Chandler Award – The award, presented to the alumnus who has assisted the university and its student groups, was presented to Director of Student Publications Lee Lind, who works closely with student reporters and editors on their publications.

The Friendship Oak Award is given to dignitaries, individuals and organizations recognized for their accomplishments. Recipients this year were: • Kappa Alpha Order for their 35th anniversary; • Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority for their 75th anniversary; • Theta Phi Alpha Sorority for their 25th anniversary; • Chris Bentley, assistant to the Athletic Director for life skills and academic liaison; • David Faucheux of the College of Business for being ranked No. 2 in the nation by ratemyprofessor.com; and • Stephen Smith, retired university vice president for finance and administration for service to the university and the Association.

Excellence in Academics Award – A new honor, the recognition was made to Dr. James Smith, retiring professor of accounting at William and Mary College since 1970. He has served as the John S. Quinn Professor of Accounting in the Mason School of Business. He is a 1965 graduate of Southeastern and received his MBA from the University of Houston and doctorate from the University of Arizona.

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Academic colleges select 2015 distinguished alumni At the Alumni Awards evening, several distinguished alumni from each of Southeastern’s five academic colleges were honored.

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences David Armand of Hammond is a Southeastern instructor of English and author of several novels, including the The Pugilist’s Wife, Harlow and The Gorge, as well as a book of poetry titled Deep Woods. He received his bachelor’s degree in English in 2004 and his master’s degree in 2006.

College of Business Robert Watkins of Robert, a 1975 graduate in accounting, is managing partner of Wegmann Dazet & Company, where he oversees the operations and finances for this public accounting firm in New Orleans. He is a member of the board of the Southeastern Foundation.

College of Education Patrice Pujol is superintendent of the Ascension Parish School System and the 2015 Louisiana Superintendent of the Year. Pujol has worked in education for 38 years as a teacher, principal and in other supervisory positions. She recently was named president of te National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. She teceived her bachelor’s degree in1976 and her doctorate in educational leadership in 2013.

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Samone Cammon is a 2010 graduate of Southeastern’s Kinesiology and Sports Management program, where she was named the graduate of the year. She is currently a marketing specialist with The Wendy’s Company in Alpharetta, Ga., and has worked with the company in various managerial capacities since 2010.

College of Science and Technology Ralph J. Daigle of The Woodlands, Tex., is a geophysical consultant for the oil industry who formed Petrus Energy, a privately held company involved in Gulf Coast exploration.

He worked for other energy companies, including PetroQuest Energy, where he served as a director and vice chairman of the board.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in math with a minor in physics in 1970 after attending Southeastern on an athletic scholarship.

Academic Excellence (Top) – James Smith, center, retiring professor of accounting at William and Mary College, was honored with the Association’s new Excellence in Academics Award. Shown with him are Alumni Association President Josie Mercante and Southeastern President John L. Crain.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI – Several graduates of Southeastern’s academic colleges were honored as Distinguished Alumni. Pictured are, from left, Alumni Association President Josie Mercante; Ralph J. Daigle, College of Science and Technology; Patrice J. Pujol, College of Education; Robert Watkins, College of Business; David Armand, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Samone Cammon, College of Nursing and Health Sciences; and President John L. Crain.

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Association News Kathy Pittman to retire after 20 years of service

THANKS – Alumni Association President Josie Mercante, left, presents a resolution from the Association Board of Directors to retiring Association Director Kathy Pittman at the annual Awards Evening The resolution named the Distinguished Service Award in Pittman's honor.

Kathy Pittman, an alumna who has guided the Southeastern Alumni Association as its director for the past 20 years, will retire from the university in March. She was recognized at the Association’s Awards Evening during Homecoming with a Resolution from the board.

Known as someone who “bleeds green and gold” for her alma mater, Pittman said her Southeastern degree has afforded her two great careers, one in marketing for First Guaranty Bank and the other as alumni director.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have met so many wonderful people and made friendships I will treasure forever,” she said. "I thank everyone who ever attended an event, served on the Alumni board, volunteered, or joined the Association. I especially want to thank Southeastern presidents Dr. Sally Clausen and Dr. John Crain for their support and Dr. Randy Moffett who hired me and became my mentor for working with alumni.”

Crain called her “the heart of the Alumni Association,” and praised her efforts in encouraging participation and support of the university. He recognized the roles she played in celebrating the university’s 75th anniversary, helping new class and organizational chapters form, and establishing traditions such as Rock ‘n Roar.

Association President Josie Mercante said Pittman’s legacy to the university is her steadfast commitment to connecting alumni with Southeastern, strengthening the alumni base and instituting quality standards throughout the office.

“As the Alumni President during her last year, I am sad to see her go, but I am proud to have served with such a capable and exemplary individual,” Mercante said. “I speak for the whole Association officers and board in wishing her much happiness in her retirement.”

President Elect Mayson Foster said, “We wish her the very best in her future, and we know for every event she will be there to help us LION UP!”

RING TIME – The Alumni Association and the Office of Student Affairs sponsored another ring night before the December commencement when seniors and others are presented with their Southeastern class rings. Any Southeastern graduate can order the official Southeastern ring or a pendant through Balfour. (See ad, right.)

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SENIOR SALUTE – The Alumni Association hosted another Senior Salute in December prior to commencement to honor students in the graduating class. Graduating students are treated to a meal of gumbo and other food items while meeting with classmates.

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[1] Chapter News [ 1 ] Champagne Bingo a huge success The FeLions alumni chapter's Champagne Bingo Jan. 23 at the Southeastern Grand Ballroom was a blast for a good cause. Approximately 593 women attended the fundraiser, which raised about $43,000 for Southeastern athletics programs.

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[ 2 ] Soccer celebrates reunion Southeastern’s soccer program enjoyed a reunion of current and former players the weekend of Sept. 24–25. [ 3 ] Golden Grads grace commencement The Alumni Association’s Golden Grads participated in December’s commencement as they witnessed more than 1,100 students accept their degrees. Commencement speaker was former state Sen. Ben L. Nevers of Bogalusa.

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[ 4 ] St. Tammany holds ‘Watch Party’ Members of the St. Tammany Alumni Chapter gathered in Covington at Mellow Mushroom pizza parlor in September to watch the Lions take on Northwestern State in football. Pictured are Chapter President Alicia Himber, left, and deCha Sanson.

ROTC Alumni applaud program reinstatement Members of the Southeastern ROTC Alumni Chapter applauded the recent announcement that the university re-initiated its on-campus Army Reserve Officer Training Program in the spring semester.

The program, originally started at Southeastern in 1969 during the Vietnam War, was closed in 1995.

Gary Sandifer of Hammond, a founding member of the ROTC Alumni Chapter, said he was excited to learn the program was being reinstated. “President John Crain deserves a lot of credit; he put this project on the fast track,” Sandifer said.

ROTC Alumni Chapter President Steve Worth of Hammond also expressed his happiness about the news.“ROTC taught me a lot in the areas of leadership and how to work with people,” he said.

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Michael Legendre Making the Disney Magic work

Southeastern alumnus Michael Legendre can say he was there when the magic of Disney began.

In fact, he was partly responsible for helping to create that magic in the park’s early years.

Legendre said it was a great outlet for creativity.

“There's a quote from Walt Disney, ‘If you can dream it, we can build it,’ and in this case it was true,” he said. “There were things that were done that nobody had ever done before. That was the fun part. Nobody would say ‘no’ right away. It was like, ‘Okay, well, let’s explore it.’”

Another aspect that Legendre enjoyed was that the company was well-respected.

“If you worked for Disney and said I need this or I need to talk to you about something, it opened all kinds of doors,” he recalled.

“You could get things done because people wanted to be involved with Disney. For example, when we started working on the Electrical Parade and needed lights for the costumes and floats, we partnered with General Electric. We asked for their help, and they said, ‘Sure.’”

Legendre credits Southeastern and its small size at the time with helping inspire his creativity that led to his success at Disney.

“Back then, Southeastern was a small school and, although we had some resources, we didn’t have a lot. We had the music building and our theatre, so we learned to make do when we had to,” he said.

Legendre and some fellow students interested in musical theatre wanted more opportunities to perform, so they created a group called “Students of the States,” a highly popular organization of singers who still occasionally come together and perform at the university homecoming events.

“We directed the show, choreographed and wrote it. We were planning on doing one show the first year and then another the following year,” he said. “But then we were asked to start travelling to high schools in the area to promote Southeastern. I don’t know that we would have received that kind of opportunity at another school.

“As students we learned to improvise and to be creative — that’s the key. I think anyone who is given the opportunity to be creative will be successful.”

A native of Ponchatoula and 1969 Southeastern alumnus with a degree in English and theatre, Legendre then attended the University of Florida on a theatre scholarship. Soon after, he was admitted into a fellowship program in New York, where he was able to work with some well-known designers through the program.

While in New York, he learned about Disney through Donna White, a colleague and major choreographer in theatre. Legendre worked as a dance captain for White on a show called “Disney on Parade.” From there he went to work for Disneyland as a choreographer, teaching characters how to dance and move.

“I started in July 1971, so the park wasn’t even open yet,” Legendre recalls. “We were working on things for advanced marketing, like sending characters to trade shows. The actors had to be trained on what a character does, so we taught them how they should move.”

“We also taught them life saving techniques because kids can be pretty brutal,” he said. “We taught them self-defense, not to be aggressive, but to protect themselves.”

Legendre said he also worked with NASA to make air conditioning in vests for the character costumes with cold water running through them. “They worked, but they were such a hassle to get in the costumes,” he said.

After Legendre worked a while as a choreographer, he began designing clothes for Disney characters.

“I did a lot of design for costume coordination for many of the entertainers,” he said. “We had senior designers who would make the master designs, and it was up to us to make sure they looked right, fitted correctly and were always ready.”

Before he knew it, Legendre had worked for Disney World and Disneyland for 13 years. During that time he witnessed the opening of Epcot. When asked what he most enjoyed about working for Disney, 6

Keeping In Touch ’59 Bobbie Dugas of Pearland, Tex., and Don Fendlason of Bogalusa, classmates of 1959, ran into each other by coincidence at Nottoway Plantation in Iberville Parish.

They had not seen each other for 56 years. ’60 Joan Lansing of Central, La., has been named chairwoman of the Lane Regional Medical Center Foundation’s board of directors.

She has served as a councilwoman for Central and as an administrator and lobbyist for the Louisiana Professional Association for Child Care.

‘70 Malcolm Sibley of Livingston Parish has been named the 2015 Outstanding Logger by the Louisiana Forestry Association and the Louisiana Logging Council. He is longtime member of the Livingston Parish School Board and currently serves as its president.

‘95 Stephanie Leibe of Austin, senior counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright law firm, has been appointed

by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the state Pension Review Board. The board reviews all Texas public retirement systems for actuarial soundness and compliance with state law. Prior to joining the law firm, she was an assistant attorney general in the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

‘98 Joseph Langlois has been named director of sales for the primary metals division for Osborn, a supplier of industrial brushes and other equipment in Richmond, Ind. He has more than 18 years of experience in the steel industry.

‘99 Paul Riggs Jr. of Hammond is serving the second year of a two-year term as a member-at-large for the Society of Louisiana Certified Accountants. The non-profit association serves more than 7,000 CPAs. ’02 Reshelle Marino of Metairie has been honored with the 2015 Distinguished Professional Service Award from the Louisiana Counseling Association, which recognizes outstanding service to the profession. ’02 Alyssa Wenck Rambeau, CPA, has been named the director of financial reporting for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. She oversees strategic forecasting, budgeting and reporting for all Convention Center assets and contracts.

’71 Beth Moulds, former principal at Hammond High Magnet School, received special recognition by the school at its 30th annual Academic Awards Day in September.

Moulds started the ceremony to honor students for their academic achievements. ’74 Louis Joseph of Independence has been honored as a Peoples Health Champion for his efforts to enshrine the memory of a slain soldier, Chris Drake of Tangipahoa Parish. Joseph, a member of the Tangipahoa Parish Council, convinced local officials to rename a street Chris Drake Drive in Tickfaw. ’75 Mignhon Tourne of Metairie has stepped down as president and chief executive officer of ASI FCU, a full service community development credit union in southeast Louisiana. ’81 David Burkart joined Stone County Hospital in Wiggins, Miss., as the chief operating officer. Burkart brings 25 years of experience to the position. ’85 Shelly Gaydos, engineering and robotics teacher at Hammond High Magnet School, was named Teacher of the Year for the La.-Miss.-W. Tenn. District of Kiwanis International.

Alumnus signs new book SLU alumnus and Emeritus Professor of History C. Howard Nichols (’56) signs his newly released book for Tom Davis of Covington at an event held at the university bookstore. The book, Stories of a Rivertown: Covington, Louisiana at 200 Years, is a record of stories and photos that illuminate the people, events, culture and traditional practices that have been a part of the town for two centuries. A specialist in local and regional history, Nichols is a charter member of the St. Tammany Historical Society. Information on the book can be obtained via email at trackside7@gmail.com.

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’03 Brittany Wallace Casey, a nurse at Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, La., received the hospital’s Daisy Award, established to celebrate the compassion nurses provide their patients and families. She works in Lane’s Intensive Care Unit and has been a 12-year employee at Lane.

‘05 Bruce Salisbury of Baton Rouge has been appointed director of information technology for Capital Area Human Services. He previously worked as the infrastructure manager for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and as a senior systems engineer for Venyu Solutions in Baton Rouge.

’03, ’04, ’07 Robert Landry, an attorney in Houma, La., received advanced level training in driving under the influence cases from the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys. He is the co-author of a book on Louisiana DWI law, DWI Handbook: the Ultimate Guide to Louisiana Drunk Driving Laws.

’06 Marriet A. Allen of Baton Rouge, a certified credit score consultant, has launched a new eBook, The Credit ABC’s: The Education that is Not Taught in Schools.

The book is designed to equip consumers with knowledge about the workings of the credit system.

’04, ’09 Wayne Ricks, senior business consultant with Southeastern’s Louisiana Small Business Development Center, was named a “State Star” at a recent annual conference held in San Francisco. It is the second State Star award he has received in his 10 years at the SBDC and recognized his efforts in gaining capitalization and job growth for area businesses.

’06 Amanda Graves has been named Branding and Communications Manager for Gillis, Ellis & Baker, insurance and risk management company based in New Orleans. Graves brings eight years of communications experience to the position, having worked for the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and as area Internet marketing coordinator for the New Orleans Hotel Collection.

’07, ‘11 Lindsey Scherer Palmer has been named director of property services for Stirling Properties. She will oversee all aspects of the unit and its staff, providing support for over 17 million square feet of commercial real estate. ’08 William Tanner Peay, DC, of Baton Rouge has established Zachary Spine and Sports Rehabilitation in Zachary. He previously practiced in Hammond, where he assisted the SLU Athletic Department.

‘09 Addie Smith, OD, an optometrist and resident of Ponchatoula, has joined the staff of the North Oaks Eye Care Clinic in Hammond. She is a graduate of the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis and worked in private practices in Slidell and Gonzales. ’12, ‘15 Sharra Bryant, RN, of Walker, a family nurse practitioner, has joined the medical practice of Dr. Edwin Walker in Denham Springs.

She has 11 years of experience in the operating room, recovery room, same-day surgery and endoscopy settings.

Roberts named Honorary Globetrotter Good Morning America host and SLU alumna Robin Roberts (‘83) was named to the list of Honorary Harlem Globetrotters, which recognizes an individual of extraordinary character and achievement who has made an everlasting mark on the world. Shown with her is SLU basketball great Nate “Big Easy” Lofton, who has been with the team for several years.

Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider praised Roberts for using “her platform as a journalist to selflessly make her personal health battle public in order to raise awareness of the need for bone marrow donors, and by doing so, she potentially helped save lives. Robin fully embodies the ambassadorial spirit the Globetrottes have exuded for 90 years.”

Among others named to the prestigious list are Pope Francis, Dr. Henry Kissinger, and Nelson Mandela.

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Athletics Two Lady Lions named to SLU Hall of Fame The Athletics Hall of Fame inducted two former Lady Lions to its Athletics Hall of Fame in November.

Rachel Ray Fitzgerald was a dominant pitcher for the softball team, while Kubena Wyninger’s all–around excellence allowed her to thrive Fitzgerald as a member of the volleyball team.

Both came to SLU from out of state and embraced the culture. Both met men here who would later become their husbands and continue to call Louisiana their home.

Ray Fitzgerald, originally from Arizona, developed into the team’s ace pitcher, winning 35 games over her final two seasons, earning two All-Southland nods.

Wyninger, originally from Texas and now living in Sulphur, served as a SLU orientation leader and earned her recognition on the volleyball Wyninger court with her thunderous attacks and defensive tenacity, finishing her career among the program’s leaders in kills, digs and matches played.

Photo by Southland Conference

Women’s soccer team wins Southland championship Southeastern’s women’s soccer team claimed the Southland Conference Tournament championship in a match against Sam Houston State in November, winning 3–1 in two overtime periods. The Lady Lions fell short in postseason play, losing to Auburn 1–0. Junior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash shared state Player of the Year honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's All-Louisiana team. Head coach Blake Hornbuckle was named Co-Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career after leading the Lady Lions to a 13–5–4 record and their fourth Southland Conference Tournament championship.

SLU, LSU to meet in football in 2018 The Southeastern football team will travel to face in-state foe LSU during the 2018 season set for Sept. 8, 2018. The meeting will be the second in school history between the two schools with the previous coming on Nov. 19, 1949.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play LSU,” Southeastern Director of Athletics Jay Artigues said. “Not only will it be a great experience for our student-athletes and our program, we expect it to be beneficial for our fan base as well.” When it travels to Baton Rouge, Southeastern will be facing its eighth BCS opponent since the program returned prior to the 2003 season.

SLU head coach Ron Roberts relishes the opportunity for his program. “Facing LSU provides great exposure for our university and our program,” Roberts said. “We expect it to be helpful in recruiting, especially in-state, and to be able to give student-athletes an opportunity to play in Tiger Stadium. We look forward to competing against an elite national program in LSU.”

Former Lion QB Stanley joins LA KISS arena team

Upgrades to ‘The Pat’ to improve fan experience

Former SLU quarterback Nathan Stanley has signed with the LA KISS arena football team. He previously was with the San Jose SaberCats, which won the 2015 Arena Bowl Championship.

“We are very excited to have a player of Nate Stanley’s caliber join the LA KISS, said Head Coach Omarr Smith. “Over the last two seasons, Nate has proven to be one of the top up-and-coming signal callers in this league. I am looking forward to watching him compete at the quarterback position.”

Southeastern’s Pat Kennelly Diamond at Alumni Field is undergoing several upgrades designed to enhance the fan experience this season.

Work is underway on several improvements, including: • Removal of right field bleachers and installation of a new party deck. The structure will be split into several open-air suites with box seats and individual tailgating areas in the back.

• Installation of a video scoreboard with a high-definition screen.

• Complete updating of restroom facilities.

Athletics Director Jay Artigues said enhancements and upgrades to athletics facilities are often funded through private donations and fundraising through the Lions Athletics Association.

The upgrades come on the heels of baseball’s best season in school history. Southeastern set the record for overall wins (42–17) and the Southland record for conference wins (25–5) on the way to claiming the conference’s 2015 regular season title.

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

Non-Prof. Org. U.S.Postage Presorted Standard Permit No. 54 Hammond, LA

Join Southeastern alumni and friends ——— for ———

A TOUR OF SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA, & BAVARIA The Southeastern Alumni Association, in cooperation with Collette Travel, will sponsor a trip May 25 — June 3, 2016 to discover Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria. The 10-day trip starts in Bern, Switzerland, and includes visits to the Bundeshaus (the Swiss Parliament), the famous Bear Pit, the Rose Gardens and the gothic cathedral. Travel along the shores of Lake Geneva to the legendary medieval Chateau de Chillon and enjoy inspiring Alpine views with a ride on the Golden Pass Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad. Other sights include a visit to Lucerne with its more than 800 years of history and sights that include the covered Chapel Bridge and the famous Water Tower. Travel through the picturesque Austrian countryside to Salzburg and enjoy an evening dinner at the 1,200-year-old St. Peter’s Restaurant, the oldest in Austria and still owned by monks. The tour ends in Bavaria and Innsbruck.

By joining your Southeastern friends, you’ll benefit from special reduced fares. For more information, contact Collette Travel at 800-581-8942 and refer to booking #666870.