Alumni News Fall 2010

Alumni News Fall 2010

Hom ecoming 2010 • Enrollm e n t, ACT sc o re s i n c re a se • Ma g go t ' Mo n e ts'

Alumni

N ew s

Southeastern Louisiana University Dr. John L. Crain ’82, ’84 President Dr. Tammy Bourg Provost/Vice President, Academic Affairs Stephen Smith ’76, ’82 Vice President, Administration & Finance Dr. Marvin L. Yates Vice President, Student Affairs Wendy Johns Lauderdale '93 Vice President, University Advancement Alumni Association Kathy Locascio Pittman ’71 Director Rita Bertolino ’78, ’96 President Gayle Neal ’74 President-elect Steve Parill ’96 Secretary Amy Verbene ’99, ’01 Treasurer Board Members Gwen Barsley ’73, ’76 Dick Covington ’71 Cameron Barr ’70, ’71 Sally Carlisle ’02 Daryl Ferrara ’92 April Field ’10 Emily McKneely ’02 Stephanie Kropog ’86 Stacey Duvic Neal ’91 Rev. Eddie Robertson ’79 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.

Produced and edited by the Southeastern Louisiana University Office of Public Information.

cover While visiting the university, Alumnus of the Year Donald George met with small groups of students and conducted a master class for vocal performance majors, offering valued critiques of their singing techniques.

A message from President John L. Crain Homecoming every year is special, a time to meet new alumni and renew old acquaintances. This year was especially noteworthy as Southeastern celebrated its 85th anniversary.

Our Alumnus of the Year, Donald George, proved to be one of the highlights of Homecoming Week, as he interacted with vocal performance and music students, met with faculty and staff, and enthusiastically participated in our Homecoming activities. From the nearby town of Franklinton, Donald has earned international recognition as an operatic tenor who has performed throughout the world. (See page 2.) A master teachr wiith the International Performance Arts Institute in Munich and associate professor at The Crane School of Music at State University of New York-Potsdam, he has a passion for teaching the art of vocal performance to aspiring students.

Donald’s remarks in accepting his award emphasized the importance music and the arts have in our lives. He decried the trend in this period of budgetary belt tightening to reduce educational opportunities for the arts and other humanity-based disciplines in our schools and universities.

His comments hit a nerve with many of us in higher education who are witnessing the worse budgetary crisis in memory. Cuts expected next fiscal year are especially disconcerting. Certainly, efficiencies in higher education can and are being achieved, but the people of Louisiana need to recognize that higher education is not only the key to improved economic wellbeing, it provides vital access to culture and art in communities across the state. Continued budget cuts – especially of the magnitude being discussed – will potentially do irreparable damage.

I urge our alumni and friends to be vocal about the importance of keeping higher education a priority in our state. Join our ROAR network (www.ciclt.net/southeastern) so you can be kept abreast of developments and be our advocates with the elected officials making decisions that will impact you, your children and grandchildren. It has never been more important.

A message from your Alumni president Homecoming 2010 was a huge success and an event to remember. As President of the Alumni Association, I was elated to see the number of alumni on campus and around the community as we celebrated our 85th anniversary.

Seeing familiar faces on the parade route, tailgating, and at the football game filled my heart with pride … Lion Pride!

It was an honor to host and present Donald George, our Alumnus of the Year, at the Alumni Awards Evening. Other distinguished alumni were also acRita Bertolino ’78, '96 knowledged for their outstanding service to our university. It is not only these alumni, but all alumni who serve as role models for students. Our hope is that all students will value their Southeastern education and life experiences by continuing to return to campus after graduation for many more events.

As I reflect on Homecoming and all my visits to campus, I recall the wonderful learning and social opportunities I had as a student. They were truly the best years of my life. I met people who will always be friends. And I have an education I value tremendously. Every Southeastern student deserves the same opportunity and more. It hurts my heart to know that the budget cuts threaten these opportunities.

Consider joining me in supporting our Leadership Campaign to establish the President’s Fund for Excellence. These funds will allow our university president to compete with other universities during difficult financial times for higher education in Louisiana. Our philanthropic support is crucial as we make a strong statement on the way we feel about our alma mater. Southeastern made a positive impact on our lives. Let’s join together to support our university in order for Southeastern to make a difference with others! Go Green! Go Gold! Go Lions!

Up and Up Southeastern shows increase in enrollment, ACT scores

We are very pleased that potential students continue to recognize Southeastern as an attractive place to pursue their education.

– John L. Crain

In spite of higher admission standards for new freshmen applying for the fall semester, overall enrollment at Southeastern increased 1.3 percent, while at the same time ACT scores reached a record high.

The total headcount for the fall semester is 15,351 compared to last fall’s 15,160; the ACT composite scores for incoming freshmen averaged 22.1, higher than last year’s 21.7.

President John L. Crain said while he is happy to see enrollment remain strong despite higher admission standards, he is especially pleased to see an increase in the ACT composite scores as well as an increase in the number of freshmen with ACT scores of 24 and above.

Southeastern had 737 incoming freshmen with scores of 24 and above compared to last year’s previous record of 696.

“The most powerful predictor of students’ potential success in college is their prior academic success,” said Crain. “Our incoming freshmen ACT scores have shown steady increases in the last several years. This is an important indicator of these students’ potential to succeed in college and graduate in a timely manner.”

While all University of Louisiana System institutions are mandated to implement higher admission standards in 2011, Southeastern officials decided to implement higher standards in 2010.

“This is our fourth increase in admission standards since initial adoption in 2000,” said Crain. “Although we evaluated this most recent increase for some time, it has always been part of our long-term strategic plan to continue to sharpen our focus on recruiting students who are better prepared to succeed at the university level.

“Good things continue to happen in our academic programs, despite budget cuts,” he added. “We are very pleased that potential students continue to recognize Southeastern as an attractive place to pursue their education. I attribute that entirely to the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff to the success of our students.”

Increasing admission standards is also an expectation of the recently enacted LA GRAD Act. The top six feeder parishes to Southeastern this fall are St. Tammany, 3,527; Tangipahoa, 2,522; East Baton Rouge, 2,024; Livingston, 1,865; Jefferson, 1,097; and Ascension, 963.

Above: Students were treated to food, prizes and music at Strawberry Jam, the annual fall semester kick-off party.

Left: Students participating in Traditions, a new program to introduce them to college life, had the opportunity to get to know President John L. Crain during Picnic with the President. From left, are Rachelle Lanier of Ponchatoula, Ariel Becnel of Luling, Crain, Brittany Bordelon of Ponchatoula, and Jessica Hartman of Boutte.

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Operatic tenor Donald George “I think of the young Franklinton boy from Washington Parish who walked by the Friendship Oak, pushed open the door of the music building and opened the door to all that happened in the future.”

Internationally recognized operatic tenor Donald George made his plea for the encouragement of music and art in our lives when he accepted his award as Southeastern’s 2010 Alumnus of the Year in ceremonies at this year’s homecoming celebration.

The award recognizes graduates with unique accomplishments on a national or international level who continue to be active supporters of their alma mater.

“Art isn't sensible ... it doesn't say anything. It just exposes us to possibilities,” he said. “Art opens doors. You can walk through any one that suits you. I chose opera as my door.

“We all know the power of music. Music is used for important events, tragedies and high emotional moments in life,” said George, who came to Hammond from Germany where he is a master teacher with the International Performance Arts Institute in Munich. With him were his wife and alumna Evelyn Edwards Smith-George of Hammond and their two daughters.

“After 9/11, music was heard all across the land; after Katrina or the oil spill, music was heard in our churches to help us through the grief and pain. Music fills some prime emotive area of our lives.

There are some theories that music came even before speech, so that in turning to music we return to our roots.”

Decrying the trend to cut funding for music and arts education in tight budgetary times, George said, “The greatest concern is not the emptiness of the wallet but the emptiness of the soul. Real art is one of the most powerful forces in civilization, and when we make it accessible to as many people as possible, it is a benefactor of humanity.”

A native of Franklinton, he recalled how he came to Southeastern to audition for his future voice teacher, Ralph Roberts.

George, who was named to the Southeastern Music Hall of Fame in 2001, is an associate professor of voice at The Crane School of Music at State University of New York in Potsdam.

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“We are proud to welcome Donald George back home,” said President John L. Crain. “He has excelled as both a teacher who works closely with undergraduate students and as a performer on stages in the United States, Europe, Australia and China. He has truly earned international recognition for his talent.”

While visiting the university, he met with small groups of students and also conducted a master class for vocal performance majors, offering valued critiques of their singing techniques.

George earned his bachelor’s degree at Southeastern in 1969 and his master’s degree at LSU. In Europe, where he continued his studies, he made his debut in Munich at the Staatstheater am Gartnerplatz in Mozart’s Entfuhrung. He went on to sing at most of the well-known opera houses of Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Israel and Brazil.

In addition to his teaching at SUNY-Potsdam and in Germany, he has served as an honored professor at Shenyang Conservatory in China. He serves as the director of the IPA Institute’s Opera Intensive Program, a program for developing and training young opera singers. He has also taught at the Bavarian Theater Academy, Hochschule fur Theater und Music in Munich.

He has sung with many of the famous orchestras and conductors of the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, L’Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Rai Italy, Radio France and the London Symphony. He has recorded for Sony, Naxos, Phillips Classic and Bavarian Radio.

George is active with the College Music Society, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Opera America and the Music Teachers National Association.

At left: Glen and JoAnn Bowman of Baton Rouge received the Distinguished Service Award for generously donating their time and talent to the betterment of the Southeastern Alumni Association.

At right: Amy Livingston Oberschmidt of the University Counseling Center was honored with the L.E. Chandler Award. The award is given annually to a faculty, staff or alumnus who has assisted students in their efforts and accomplishments in extracurricular activities.

Leadership Campaign announced Formation of the President’s Fund for Excellence was formally announced at the Alumni Awards Evening. Initiated by former presidents of the association, the Leadership Campaign is designed to establish endowment and current use funds at the Southeastern Development Foundation to be used by the president to help maintain the university’s focus on excellence. With a goal of raising $150,000, several association presidents presented a $25,000 check representing commitments raised as of Oct. 23 to launch the campaign.

Pictured are, from left, Alumni Association President Rita Bertolino, former presidents Lloyd Spring, Pat Williams, and Guy Recotta, Southeastern President John L. Crain, and former association president Andre Coudrain. For more information, contact Senior Director of Development Katherine Rose at krose@selu.edu or by phone, 985-5495225.

Recent Association & Chapter Activities Above, from left, Alumni Director Kathy Pittman, President John L. Crain, and Rita Bertolino, far right, congratulate Donald George at the Alumni Awards Evening.

Right: George leads the Alumni Awards Evening audience in singing Southeastern’s Alma Mater.

• Coaches Caravan: Amite, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, August • Convocation Picnic, Twelve Oaks, Aug. 13 • Lionpawlooza, Downtown Hammond, Aug. 20 • Salute the Lions, Aug. 30 • Tulane Tailgate, New Orleans Superdome, Sept. 2 • Lone Star Alumni Chapter, Houston, Tex., Sept. 15 • Lone Star Alumni Chapter, home of Duane and Verne Floyd, Kingwood, Tex., Sept. 16 • Southeastern High Reunion, Twelve Oaks, Oct. 9

Homecoming

2010 

Roomie to the Rescue!

Clockwise from top left: Alumnus of the Year Donald George serves as Grand Marshal of the parade; Roomie greets his fans; live music in the Pottle Performance Circle; tailgating in Friendship Circle; 2010 Homecoming King Christopher McKinley, a junior organizational communication major from Baton Rouge, and Queen Jenee Ratelle, a senior marketing major from Baton Rouge; fans cheer on the Lions football team; the Spirit of the Southland Marching Band leads the parade; cutting the 85th anniversary cake; President Crain enjoys leading the Homecoming parade; cheerleaders pump up the crowd in Strawberry Stadium.

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Southeastern forensic entomologist Erin Watson-Horzelski, right, and senior biology student Megan Harvin of Kentwood demonstrate the use of blow fly larvae or maggots as educational tools for children. The maggot “Monets” were demonstrated at the National Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. in October.

The art of science

Entomologist using maggots to reach kids, teach law enforcement officials Typically, most people don’t warm up to the idea of handling maggots, the larval stage of the common blow fly.

But for Southeastern biologist and entomologist Erin WatsonHorzelski, the wiggling insect larvae are tools that are an integral part of crime scene investigation and, for children, a basic introduction into the lifecycle of insects and the valuable role they play in nature.

Watson-Horzelski takes her larvae to fairs and demonstrations, such as Southeastern’s annual spring Rock ‘n Roar festival and most recently at the National Science and Engineering Festival in Washington D.C. With children surrounding her, she puts drops of diluted water-based poster paint on paper and places a maggot in a drop.

Soon it’s traveling across the paper making designs and trails that look like abstract paintings.

“It doesn’t take too long for the kids to get over the ‘ick’ factor and jump right in with the project,” she said. “Pretty soon the teenagers and even adults get over their squeamishness. Then they all want to create maggot ‘Monets’ as we call them.”

While the children are involved in the project, Watson exploits their natural intuitiveness and explains how maggots and insects play important roles in helping to decompose trash and dead animals. It often leads to a brief lesson on the lifecycle of a fly.

Watson-Horzelski is the only doctoral-level forensic entomologist in Louisiana and one of only about 20 in the country. She serves as a consultant to the FBI and area law enforcement agencies. Forensic entomology is often used to estimate a date of death in homicide cases. She recently conducted a program for area law enforcement agencies, showing officers and detectives appropriate methods of collecting and preserving biological evidence at crime scenes.

It’s an area of science, supported by a grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents, that is still being developed, she explained. She is currently involved in research to determine the lifecycle of other insects, such as beetles that could serve as additional evidence at crime scenes.

“This study will integrate microbiology, biochemistry, ecology, entomology, molecular biology and forensics,” said Watson-Horzelski, who plans to involve several undergraduate and graduate students in the research. “We will be working to establish a database of microbial diversity associated with homicide crime scenes. From an investigative and evidentiary view, the more information law enforcement officials have, the stronger the case.”

Biologist Erin Watson shows beetles collected at a simulated crime scene to Sgt. Brian McCormick, left, of the Hammond Police Department and Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office Detective Ray Lentz.

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Campus News Project Win-Win uncovers 270 degrees earned

Aron Culotta, left, discusses the project with student assistants Matthew Gill, center, and Ross Murray.

Twitter research helps track disease trends Keeping track of disease trends such as influenza outbreaks has the potential to be far quicker and less costly by monitoring a social network program such as Twitter than following the traditional methods of disease surveillance, according to a computer science expert at Southeastern.

“A micro-blogging service such as Twitter is a promising new data source for Internet-based surveillance because of the volume of messages, their frequency and public availability,” said Aron Culotta, assistant professor of computer science. “This approach is much cheaper and faster than having thousands of hospitals and health care providers fill out forms each week.”

Culotta and two student assistants – senior Ross Murray and graduate student Matthew Gill – analyzed more than 500 million Tweets over the eight-month period of August 2009 to May 2010. By using a small number of keywords to track rates of influenza-related messages on Twitter, they were able to forecast future rates.

“Once the program is running, it’s neither time consuming nor expensive,” he said.

“It’s automated because we’re running software that samples each day’s messages, analyzes them and produces an estimate of the proportion of people with the flu.”

Southeastern’s group obtained a 95 percent correlation with the national health statistics collected by the CDC. In addition, the results were comparable to figures collected by Google with its Flu Trends service, which tracks influenza rates by analyzing trends in query terms.

Culotta said the statistics he collected were for the whole country. Future work will look at extracting information from messages with more location-specific data.

Students saving dollars with textbook rental Now more than ever university students are looking for ways to save money.

For years Southeastern students have saved a significant sum by using the university’s textbook rental system, a service that very few institutions in the country offer.

The cost of textbooks is no small matter; a recent survey by Southeastern’s Office of Auxiliary Services shows the retail price of current books used in a freshman semester is more than $1,000, while renting those same books costs only $175.

“Students and parents love it,” said Connie Davis, director of Auxiliary Services, which operates the system. “For one flat fee per course, the students rent their textbooks rather than having to buy them.”

For $35 per course, a student is issued up to two textbooks. Inexpensive paperbacks, spiral bound books, work books, and those books that are updated frequently – such as tax manuals – are not included in the rental system.

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A national pilot program designed to recognize former college students who have earned enough credits for an associate degree and to find others who are close to the achievement has been instituted at Southeastern.

After reviewing records and evaluating transcripts going back to 2003, Southeastern has identified more than 270 former students who are no longer enrolled in higher education but who have earned sufficient credits to be awarded associate degrees. The university is contacting these former students by mail to encourage them to complete the process to be awarded a general studies associate degree at future Southeastern commencement ceremonies.

“In today’s employment environment, jobseekers need as many factors in their favor as possible,” said President John L. Crain. “We recognize that a fair number of students make considerable academic progress while in college, but various circumstances can sometimes cause them to discontinue their education. In some cases, these students have earned enough college credit to merit an associate degree.”

Project Win-Win is an initiative sponsored by the Education Trust, a national education policy organization, and the National Association of System Heads.

In addition to Southeastern, McNeese and Northwestern State universities are participating in the program.

Monsanto awards grant for Turtle Cove

Southeastern Hosts Career Fair 2010 Southeastern alumnus and PoolCorp representative Elizabeth Marino, left, discusses the advantages of working for PoolCorp, the Covington-based Fortune 1000 company, with Southeastern senior Mitchell Kattengell of Metairie.

More than 125 potential employers and area graduate schools participated in Southeastern’s annual Career Fair held in the Pennington Student Activity Center in September. Alumni can always contact Career Services for assistance at 985549-2121.

Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station has received a $4,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, to help support wetlands restoration programs in Tangipahoa and St. John the Baptist parishes.

Both programs are designed to stabilize the shoreline of the marshland called West Jones Island located in Lake Maurepas. They involve the replanting of an open body of water called “the Prairie” on the western shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain in order to restore it back to a grassy marsh wetland habitat.

Above: Monsanto Company Human Resources Business Lead Sandi Eitel, right, presents an oversized check for $4,500 to Robert Moreau, left, director of Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, and Fred Stouder, Turtle Cove staff member.

Detective publishes five new books The past summer has been a prolific one for short story writer and novelist O’Neil De Noux, who by day is an investigator with the University Police Department.

Five new books by De Noux – including two short story collections, two novels and a how-to book on fiction writing – were published over the summer. The stories draw on De Noux’s years of experience in law enforcement with the Jefferson Parish and St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s offices and his current work at Southeastern.

In addition, De Noux – a Vietnam-era Army photographer – shot the pictures and created the covers for four of the works.

Counseling program cited as ‘outstanding’ Cell phone art displayed Dale Newkirk, curator for Southeastern’s Contemporary Art Gallery, hangs cell phone images for a national show that exhibited photography collected from more than 350 submissions sent in by over 200 people throughout the world. The show was one of the first of its kind in the nation. “It’s interesting to see what people chose to shoot,” he said. “The most popular images were people’s cats and sunsets.” The innovative exhibit received wide publicity.

Southeastern’s graduate program in counseling was named the 2010 Outstanding Master’s Counseling Program by the Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES).

With 14 member states, SACES is the largest of five regions that make up the national organization, the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision.

“We are very proud to have received this recognition by our peer organization,” said June Williams, interim head of the Department of Counseling and Human Development. “The Southern Region has 91 master’s programs that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), so to be selected from this large a field is very meaningful.”

Southeastern’s graduate program was selected based upon its program design, faculty achievements and service, and student and alumni accomplishments. The 60-hour program – with concentrations in school counseling, community counseling and marriage and family counseling – provides the academic coursework required to become a licensed professional counselor in Louisiana and most other states. School counseling graduates gain the necessary credentials to become certified school counselors.

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Ricks named ‘State Star’

Pregeant honored with fraternity award

Wayne Ricks, senior business consultant at Southeastern’s Small Business Development Center, was recognized as the 2010 Louisiana State Star at the recent annual conference of the Association of Small Business Development Centers.

Ricks received the award – presented to top business consultants across the nation – for his work with the SBDC. Earlier this year he was named one of only two statewide recipients of a prestigious “Five Million Dollar Club” award presented by the LSBDC for securing more than $5 million in client capitalization.

Ricks was chosen for being an exemplary performer, making a significant contribution to the LSBDC and showing a strong commitment to small businesses in the state. In the past five years, he has been responsible for helping to start 55 businesses and aiding them in gaining more than $136 million in capital. His efforts helped create more than 1,400 new jobs and retain 130 jobs.

Victor “Gene” Pregeant of Hammond, advisor for Southeastern’s Delta Tau Delta chapter, has been honored with the Al Sheriff Award for Excellence in Chapter Advising from the international fraternity.

The award is presented annually to outstanding chapter advisors who demonstrate the qualities of former executive vice president Alfred P. Sheriff III, specifically the ability to be a principle-centered role model, unwavering dedication to the fraternity and humble service to others.

Pregeant, Southeastern’s EEO/ADA compliance coordinator, has served as advisor for the Epsilon Phi Chapter since 1992. Under his direction, the chapter has become one of the most recognized fraternities at the university. An attorney, he is a 1980 graduate of Southeastern who joined the fraternity as an undergraduate student in 1978.

Hill is named Great 100 Nurse Karen Hill, associate professor of nursing, has been named a Great 100 Nurse in Louisiana by the Great 100 Nurses Foundation of Louisiana. The award recognizes nurses for their concern for humanity, significant contributions to the nursing profession, shared skill and expertise as a mentor for others and contributions to the community.

A member of the School of Nursing faculty since 1987, Hill was recognized for her innovative teaching methods and her motivational skills when she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004, one of the highest awards Southeastern offers to faculty. Hill has written several textbooks with second editions.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition by the Great 100 Nurses Foundation,” said Hill, a resident of Hammond.

“To be recognized by one’s peers for doing what you truly love is very rewarding. I love everything about nursing and teaching nurses.”

Hill also said faculty members such as Barbara Moffett, Donnie Booth, Jean Urick, Mary F. May, and Emily Bond were terrific mentors to her when she began teaching at Southeastern.

“Without these mentors, my first years of teaching would have been much more difficult,” she said.

“Dr. Hill has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to student learning and has been a leader in development of innovative teaching strategies,” said Moffett, interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Her expertise related to teaching and learning has been a valuable resource not only to Southeastern faculty, but to staff development personnel in regional health care facilities. She has been a great asset to the School of Nursing and is certainly deserving of such recognition.”

Chevron donates monitoring equipment to Southeastern Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Strategic Business Unit has donated a wide variety of safety and health monitoring equipment to Southeastern’s Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment program.

The equipment, which includes noise dosimeters, sound level meters, gas and vapor detection units, and other measuring and monitoring instruments, will be used to provide hands-on training for students in the university’s OSH&E program.

Valued at more than $32,000, the used equipment is in excellent working condition and is comparable to the standard type of monitoring equipment used in the field, said Dean Aguilar, a member of the Chevron Business Unit who presented the donation to Southeastern.

Above: Shown with some of the safety monitoring equipment donated by Chevron Gulf of Mexico Strategic Business Unit to Southeastern are, from left, students Roland Mcfarlane and Gregory Culberson; Cris Koutsougeras, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology; Lawrence Mauerman, Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment program coordinator; and faculty members Ephraim Massawe and Lu Yuan.

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Student Leggett named Orientation Leader of the Year Jordan Leggett, a vocal performance major from Slidell, was selected as Southeastern's Orientation Leader of the Year. He was picked from more than two dozen orientation leaders, peer leaders of university orientation programs designed to give new students a jump start on their transition to college.

As Orientation Leader of the Year, Leggett also received the Soutullo Family Scholarship to be used for the fall and spring semesters. His name will be placed on a permanent plaque that will hang in the Office of Admissions.

“Winning this has been an honor,” Leggett said. “Being an orientation leader has been my best experience thus far at Southeastern. I am so glad that I was chosen to be on the team my freshman year, because I have made so many friends and connections that will last beyond this year.”

Johnson selected to participate in Leadership DELTA program Southeastern senior Kali Johnson of Baton Rouge has been selected to participate in the 2010-2011 class of Leadership DELTA, a model program designed to develop a pool of outstanding African American female college leaders.

A mass communication and journalism student, Johnson currently serves as president of the Nu Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Leadership DELTA is sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and General Electric for African American collegiate members of the organization. Participants engage in a variety of activities to increase leadership skills and are paired with a mentor who guides them in career development.

“Kali is independent and strong willed and has an unwavering work ethic,” said adviser Sandy Summers. “Her dedication to academics and community service enhance her leadership skills and has certainly prepared her for this opportunity.”

Loranger seniors get taste of college science classes Seniors at Loranger High School got an up-close look at college level science courses this fall when they visited Southeastern.

Sponsored by Southeastern students involved in SEAL – an acronym for Student Entrepreneurs as Active Leaders – the program allowed the students to sit in on science classes, meet personally with university science students and faculty, and participate in scientific demonstrations.

The intent was to ensure area students are aware of the science opportunities at the university as well as increase their interest in science in general, explained Southeastern student Amber Bordelon, president of the SEAL organization.

Above: Amber Bordelon works with Loranger High students Nathan Robinson, left, and Matt Barry on a demonstration involving shaving cream and food coloring.

Rec Sports – Join now!

Now is the best time for alumni to sign up at Southeastern‘s state-of-the-art fitness center featuring exciting new renovations and equipment to whip you into shape!

Visit the Pennington Student Activity Center or call the Membership Desk at 985-549-5734.

Alpha Sigma Tau chapter selected top collegiate chapter in nation Phi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau celebrates after receiving the Founder’s Award at the groups National Convention. From bottom left are, Amy SanFilippo, Hammond; Past National President Pat Nale; Brittney Ivy, Zachary; Kelli Jacobsen, Baker; Danielle Lapuyade, Kenner; Erica Estopinal, Chalmette; Rachel Parker, Baton Rouge; Beth Clark, Chalmette. From top left are, Rachel Bourgeois, Norco; Shelby Fisher, Tampa, FL; Martha Drouyor Belknap DeCamp, Chapter President Alli Miller, Carriere, MS; Ashley Herrmann, Covington; Chapter Advisor Jessica St. Cyr, Ponchatoula; Alumna President Rita Bertolino, Norco; and National Council member Shell Golob.

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Southeastern Alumni Association

I work with the student athletes so hard on

Super fans

academics, that it’s nice to let them know we support them in their athletic endeavors as well.

– Chris Bentley

in more ways than one

Being a super fan is more than attending sporting events… it’s being loyal and stepping up to the plate in other areas when no one else is available. Chris and Al Bentley fit the bill.

A 1971, ‘75, and ‘84 Southeastern alumnus, Chris’ support goes back to her tenure as a student, when she was a Lionette and helped cheer on her teams. That support carried over into her professional as well as private life.

At Southeastern, Chris is responsible for teaching Southeastern 101 to student athletes. She also serves as the Southeastern Academic/Athletic Liaison and Life Skills coordinator and general studies academic advisor for student athletes. She meets with recruits and their parents during campus visits, and, four years ago, started the Athletic Academic Banquet to honor student athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average.

“I work with the student athletes so hard on academics, that it’s nice to let them know we support them in their athletic endeavors as well,” Chris said. “We take great pride in seeing the athletes succeed on and off the field, and it gives me no greater pride than

to feel the tears welling in my eyes as one of my student athletes crosses the stage at commencement.”

Outside of the professional arena, Chris and Al attend most sporting events on campus. They are members of Lion Athletic Association and the Alumni Association, have season tickets to home baseball, football and basketball games, and attend at least one event each season for softball, soccer, volleyball and golf. Al is a Diamond Club member, and Chris is a FeLion member and charter member of PRIDE, the mentoring group for ladies basketball.

“I really enjoy living in a college town where you can actually enjoy supporting the home team,” Al said. “It’s fun and very meaningful.”

Recognizing that some student-athletes are unable to return home for the holidays, Chris and Al have opened their home to host dinners during the holidays for the men and lady lion basketball teams.

Southeastern is honored to pay tribute to Chris and Al for their unwavering support.

Keeping in Touch ’66 Carl J. Barbier, U.S. District Judge in New Orleans, will handle more than 300 lawsuits stemming from the BP oil spill last summer. A native of New Orleans, he received his law degree from Loyola School of Law. His selection to handle the cases has been praised by legal experts. ’80 Tim Barrett, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Radiology Associates in Baton Rouge, LA. He will be managing all business endeavors for the medical partnership. ’80 Russ Pottle, Ph.D. has been appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Previously he was at Regis College in Weston, MA, where he was the founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Liberal Arts, Education, and Social Sciences. In his new position, he is responsible for fostering development of new programs and initiatives within the college and raising the university research profile of educational programs and faculty. ’83 Claudio Carpano has been appointed an Executive in Residence at the Kogod School of Business of American University in Washington, D.C. ‘84 Glenn Audiffred has been appointed Assistant Vice President of Information Technology Services for Louisiana Workers Compensation. Audiffred joined LWCC in 1994 as a programmer/ analyst and rose through a series of promotions to senior programmer/analyst, systems analyst, software engineering manager and director of Information Technology Services. ’92 Kellee Hennessy Dickerson is joining “Around the Town,” the WAFB-TV Baton Rouge weekend show. A former weekend anchor for WAFB, she left the station to spend more time with her family and to concentrate on her boutique, The Glass Slipper. She qualified to run for the Livingston Parish School Board and won an automatic spot in District 2 when no other candidates opposed her.

’94, ’07 Melissa Ryan is the new principal of Martha Vinyard Elementary School in Ponchatoula, LA. ’96 Christiana Iheadindu has recently completed her master’s degree in music at the University of Maryland and has begun her doctoral work in piano performance. ’96 Frank R. Latino is working on his doctorate in musicology at the University of Maryland. His dissertation is on the life and work of German pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956). He is currently producing two CDs for Naxos Records expected to be released next year and featuring mostly unpublished compositions from Gieseking’s private manuscript collection. ’97, ’00 Davian Ploger, former CEO of Environmental Services & Health, Inc., has purchased First Response, Inc., a diversified environmental services company located near Nashville, TN. While at ES&H, he executed the company’s strategic and operational growth plan and advanced the company’s successful brand and marketing initiatives. ’98 Scott W. Murphy has been named principal of Watkins Hill High School in Gaithersburg, MD. A 15-year education veteran, he has worked in Montgomery County Public Schools since 1998. ’98, ’06 Jeff Frizell has assumed his first job as principal at the new Juban Parc Junior High School in Denham Springs. He has been working in parish schools since receiving his bachelor’s degree from Southeastern, moving into administration after earning his master’s degree. Before coming to Juban Parc, Frizell was an assistant principal at Denham Springs High School.

’01 Farrah Roybiskie, writing under the pen name Farrah Rochon, has just seen her newest romance novel, Huddle with Me Tonight, published by Kimani Romance.

It is the first in a series of four books scheduled to be released every six months. Rochon lives outside of New Orleans and serves as co-program director for the Southern Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). She is also a member of RWA’s Mystery and Suspense chapter. ’02 Paul Catalonotto received the Louisiana Filmmaker Award at the JamFest Indie Film Festival sponsored by the Northshore Regional Endowment for the Arts and held in Hammond in September. He also received a Gold Award for Forgotten Front, a documentary about Captain Frank DeLand who served in the China, India, Burma front of World War II, and a silver award for the music video Don’t Stop Believing made with singer Sharron Kay King. A resident of Hammond, he is co-owner of Lakefront Films in New Orleans. ’03 Dr. Ryan Gonzales has recently returned home and relocated his office, Gonzales Chiropractic, to Hammond, LA after practicing in Florida. ’05 Karin Smith Gadberry recently accepted the position of head softball coach for West Virginia Tech University. ’06 Stephanie Crawford was sworn in as the chief deputy clerk for the Slidell Clerk of Court’s office in August. She is the primary assistant on fiscal responsibilities of the court. She previously worked for a local attorney's office in bookkeeping. ’06 James Gumm is currently working for the US Forest Service in the far northeastern corner of California as the public affairs officer for the Modoc National Forest.

He is responsible for commu-

From left: Lt. Col. Stuart Burruss (’89), Lt. Col. Scott Adams (’90), Lt. Col. Jona Hughes (’88), and Col. James Waskom (’87).

’92 Jeff Miller recently joined Omni Bank where he will serve customers as mortgage lender. ’92 Charles Richard has been named athletic director at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington. He has been a coach at SSA for 11 years, starting as head softball coach and serving as assistant volleyball coach and assistant basketball coach. In 2003, he was named head volleyball coach and in 2006 head basketball coach.

Greetings from Baghdad! Go Lions!

“We are a group of Southeastern and Southeastern ROTC alumni serving with the Louisiana National Guard in Baghdad, Iraq and wanted to send you a "shout out" from Iraq and wish the Lions a great season in 2010.”

12

join us nications, governmental relations and tribal relations with six federally recognized tribes and one geographically dispersed tribe. Previously he worked with the Louisiana Family Assistance Center, where he helped reunite families separated by the evacuations of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to identify those who perished in the storms. ’08 Michael Cyprien has been named assistant basketball coach for Rogers State University in Claremore, OK. He joins the Hillcats after serving as an AAU coach in Hammond and with the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department. His responsibilities include scouting, recruiting, player development, the strength and conditioning program and monitoring the academic progress of basketball studentathletes. Cyprien started his playing career at Southeastern in 2002, where he became a four-year letter winner for the Lions. ’09 Lacey Schexnayder Pyle earned an award from Graphic Design USA’s 2010 American Graphic Design Awards. The entry receiving the honor is a Web site design she completed for Bayou Bucks, a Louisiana-based company specializing in hunting DVDs. Her company, Lacey Pyle Graphic Design, is located near Atlanta, GA. WEDDINGS ’05 Bradley Joseph Daroca and Erika Marie Dantin, August, 2010 ’07 Ashley Marie Hidalgo and Emile Joseph Goodwin, July 31, 2010 ’08 Brittany Kaye Sullivan and ’08 Blake Dewayne Dillon, July 17, 2010 ’08 Patrick Spikes, III and Shannon Meyers, September 11, 2010 ’08 Constance Trim and Bryan Needham, May 15, 2010 ’09 Josh Black and Hannah Thompson, July 31, 2010 ’09 Hailie Kathleen Cook and Druit George Gremillion, Jr., August 13, 2010 ’09 Chase Hunter Guarisco and Tiffany Leigh-Nan Glascock, August 7, 2010 ’09 Rebecca Lee Rogillio and Cory Paul Mistric II, September 4, 2010 ’10 Mallory Shae Collier and Blaine Allen Bankston, August 7, 2010

OBITUARIES ’30 ’44 ’49

’50

’62 ’64 ’67 ’70

’71 ’72

’74 ’77 ’82 ’85

’86

’95

’00

’05 ’09

Susan Rebecca Fertitta, March 27, 2010 Deborah Versen Nelson, September 6, 2010 John Morris Mire, September 19, 2010 Vernon H. Hoover, Jr., August 4, 2010 Albert H. Lotz, Jr., May 22, 2010 Shelly Marie Lingoni Barrios, April 25, 2010 Edward “Eddie” Louis Leonard, Jr., August 6, 2010 Denise “Dee Dee” Wagner Comish, July 22, 2010 Gwendolyn Easterling Wheeler, August 3, 2010 Jeanee Nicole Adams, April 28, 2010 Kathryn “Katie” Trahan, May 6, 2010

Southeastern Alumni Association Membership Dues: ❏ $30 Individual ❏ $50 Dual (alumnus spouse)* ❏ $60 Dual (non-alumnus spouse)

Name E-mail *Spouse name *Spouse e-mail Address City/State/Zip Home phone

Work phone

❏ Check (enclosed) ❏ Master Card ❏ Visa

Wal-Mart exec addresses new student group Bryan Boudreaux, center, regional vice president of logistics for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. was the key speaker at a meeting of Southeastern’s newly formed student organization, the Institute for Supply Management Collegiate Affiliate.

Boudreaux, a 1990 Southeastern graduate, is based in the company’s new regional office in Covington. With him are, left, Michael Jones, professor of marketing and supply chain management, and Rodney Holman, president of the organization.

Account # Signature Expiration date

Today’s date

Online at: www.selu.edu/alumni

Order your official Southeastern ring today.

1-866-Balfour or

balfourcollege.com

Frances Tidwell Bell, May 28, 2010 Gertrude M. Galofaro, August, 7, 2010 Virgil Franklin Underwood, Jr., Septem- ber 29, 2010 Maurice L. “Roy” Miller, Jr., May 4, 2010 Ruby Boettner Holliday, May 19, 2010 Lorah Mae Drury Jackson, July 8, 2010 James Albert Davis, April 27, 2010 Ervin Wayne Cook, July 27, 2010

Join us for the Best of Italy!

The Southeastern Alumni Association invites its members and friends to join us in a tour of the “Best of Italy,” April 1-11, 2011. Visit the eternal city of Rome and all it offers, and enjoy trips to Naples, the Taormina area, Agrigento, Palmermo and much more.

For more information, call JoAnn Bowman at 225-767-4444.

13

development Philamene Chehardy Lacara Scholarship established

Annual Fund loyal friend. Miranda was a freshman at Southeastern, majoring in Family and Consumer Science, a 4.0 student and the recipient of a generous scholarship. In their loss, her family felt it was a fitting legacy and tribute to Miranda to be recognized with a scholarship that will help future Southeastern students realize their dreams of a college education.

George Ann Smith has established a scholarship in English education with a gift from the Ray Smith Memorial Fund. This needbased scholarship, in memory of George Ann’s sister, Philamene Chehardy Lacara, will be awarded to an incoming freshman or upperclassman from Tangipahoa Parish and will provide full tuition to the recipient.

George Ann and her sister both graduated from Southeastern with degrees in English education and speech, and taught for many years in the Tangipahoa Parish school system. Pictured above are, from left, Director of Development Lynn Horgan; Angelo LaCara; scholarship recipient Brianna Jackson, and George Ann Smith.

Andrew Bowden Scholarship endowed in nursing Sarah Lovro and Jim Bowden have endowed a nursing scholarship in memory of their son, the late Andrew Bowden.

Andrew received his nursing degree at Southeastern and truly loved his profession. He was a respected and admired nurse at North Oaks Health System in Hammond at the time of his death. Since Andrew made the decision to pursue his nursing degree at an older age, his parents have chosen to perpetuate his memory with an endowment that provides scholarship support to a non-traditional student, one 25 years or older, pursuing a degree in nursing at Southeastern.

Miranda Sheri Simon scholarship esablished by family and friends A memorial scholarship has been established by the friends and family of Miranda Sheri Simon.

She was a motivated student, an exceptional employee and

Helen Ricketts Hooks Rownd Endowment for the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies Helen Rownd, a 1941 graduate and World War II WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) who was recently recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal for flying aircraft during the war, has funded an endowment to provide perpetual support for the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. Housed in Sims Memorial Library, the Center is an archive that provides important resources for scholarly research, lectures and publishing and promotes the history and cultures of the region.

Templet Endowed Scholarship in Kinesiology ESTABLISHED The family of John Templet recently endowed a scholarship in his memory. The John Philip Templet Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences to include Athletic Training, Health Education and Promotion, and Kinesiology. Templet came to Southeastern as a McNeese football player after Hurricane Rita when the McNeese team was housed and holding their practices at Southeastern. He returned to the university a year later and enrolled in kinesiology. He is fondly remembered by his friends in the department, and his family returns to campus often to visit them and provide jambalaya fundraisers that lend support to their son’s scholarship.

__5000 __4500 __4000 __3500 __3000 __2500 __2000 __1500 __1000 __500

Alumni giving

10% Help us get here!

We are here.

2%

ANNUAL FUND IS UNDERWAY! Southeastern’s annual fund is well underway, and Alumni and friends of the university are being encouraged to participate.

Did you know, however, that giving to their Alma Mater by Southeastern graduates is far less than that of similar institutions? Last year, only 1,100 alumni contributed annual gifts to the university, only about 2 percent of our 50,000 alumni. The national average is 10 percent. Help us reach our goal of 10 percent.

Contact: Adrianne Roques, 985-549-3771.

WHO GIVES

A BRICK?

Create a Legacy

Support Southeastern students by purchasing a personalized brick in Friendship Circle.

Contact: Southeastern Development Foundation, 985-549-2239

selu.edu/projectfriendship

14

Contriburtions Y our

at work

Meet

Alexandra Hedrick…

When she was a junior in high school in New Orleans, Southeastern was not in Alexandra’s college plans. Then came Katrina; and she – like so many others who lived in St. Bernard Parish – had to adapt to a new life and a new home. Resettled in Baton Rouge, she recalls how a friend persuaded her to go on a tour of the Southeastern campus.

When alumni and friends of Southeastern make contributions or establish scholarships, they may not be aware of the impact their generosity has on students and their families.

“I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere of Hammond and the Southeastern campus,” says the senior communication major. “My professors in the Communication department have been wonderful. They are always willing to help and give me advice and were extremely helpful in my getting a job at the Hammond Daily Star, where I am gaining experience.”

She is the proud recipient of the Dr. Gladney Jack Tinsley and Maud Hood Tinsley Endowed Scholarship. Alexandra is the president of the Southeastern Press Club and the Southeastern Honors Club is looking forward to graduation in the spring, then plans to pursue a master’s degree in English next fall.

“This is the first place I have felt truly at home since Hurricane Katrina,” she says. “Southeastern and Hammond are my homes now.”

Calling All Lions!

The Southeastern Phonathon Team is dialing to talk to you! Responding to Southeastern student phonathon callers is a great way for everyone in the Southeastern community to get involved. Student callers provide updates on what is new on campus and at the same time hear about life post-college.

The Phonathon Team calls Southeastern alumni and friends stressing the message, it’s not the amount that you give, it’s that you give. Alumni who give back to Southeastern send a powerful message of alumni loyalty and support for their alma mater. So when you receive a call from a phonathon student, please strengthen your commitment to Southeastern by not only considering membership in the Alumni Association, but also contributing to the future of Southeastern and our students by making a gift to the Southeastern Annual Fund!

S av e t h e Dat e S u nda y, A pr i l 3 , 2 0 1 1 • 5 : 3 0 - 7 : 3 0 pm P ennington S tudent A ctivity C enter

15

Athletics Football student-athletes receive national honors Southeastern senior football student-athletes Tommy Connors and Mark Newbill both received national honors in the early part of the 2010 season.

Connors was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week and the Division I Football Championship Subdivision National Defensive Performer of the Week.

He is a senior from Marrero.

Newbill was named to the College Sporting News FCS National All-Stars, while also winning Defensive Player of the Week by the Southland Conference and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association after posting a career-high tying 17 tackles in a narrow 21-20 loss at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 25.

Three named to Athletics Hall of Fame Southeastern inducted its three newest members into the Athletics Hall of Fame in September. Entering the elite group are former volleyball/softball letterwinner Sarah Gascon, football letterwinner Bobby Hill and men‘s golfer Andy Smith. The induction of the trio increases the all-time membership to 123.

Gascon, who was the 2002-03 Southeastern Female Student-Athlete of the Year, excelled in two sports at Southeastern, where she was a four-time All-Southland Conference selection in softball and a two-time All-Conference selection in volleyball. She twice led the nation in digs per game and was named the Southland Conference‘s Defensive Player of the Week a record 13 times.

Hill, who played football for the Lions from 1971-74, was one of the most prolific receivers in school history prior to the return of the sport in 2003. An All-Gulf South Conference selection in 1972, he set a then-school record with 48 receptions and finished his career with 88 receptions. He led the team in receptions from 1972-74 and remains in the Southeastern record books in career receptions (currently eighth).

He coached football for over 20 years, including 16 at Albany Middle School.

Smith, a four-year letterwinner in golf for head coach Tim Baldwin, became the second Division I Golf All-American in school history when he was named to the 2002 PING All-America team. A native of England, who currently resides in Mandeville, he was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection and was named the Louisiana Golfer of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Lady Lions soccer team wins SLC championship The Southeastern women’s soccer team claimed the Southland Conference regular season championship after completing one of the most successful seasons in school history.

The champions (15-3-3) had their schoolrecord eight match winning streak snapped in an overtime 1-0 loss to UT-San Antonio in the title match of the SLC Tournament. Last season, Southeastern won the tournament title and advanced to the NCAA College Cup for the first time ever.

Head coach Blake Hornbuckle was named SLC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, while junior goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus was named the Conference Player of the Year.

She was fronted by a back line that featured four All-SLC performers: Junior Kyle MacIntosh (first team), senior Nicole Brannigan (second team), senior Brittany Prieto (second team) and freshman Shanyce Shaw (honorable mention).

Maiya Cooper was a repeat team All-SLC selection after leading the team with 10 goals, as was Natalie Santana who finished the regular season with six goals and six assists. Karly Dagys was also a first-team All-SLC pick, after leading the league with nine assists to go with six goals.

PRIDE Scholarship awarded PRIDE (Positive Role-models Involved in the Development of Excellence), the Southeastern Lady Lion basketball team’s mentoring and support organization, awarded a PRIDE Scholarship to Zevy Ivory, a senior biological sciences major from Shreveport who completed a stellar career as Lady Lion forward last spring.

The full scholarship provides Lady Lion basketball players with financial support for post-sports eligibility coursework. Since its creation in 2007, the scholarship has awarded more than $14,000 to three student-athletes, who have all earned Southeastern undergraduate degrees. PRIDE funds the scholarship through fundraising efforts such as its annual Bunko for Basketball. The 2010 event, held May 8, and a related raffle of a Buddy 50cc scooter, raised $23,050 for the PRIDE Scholarship fund.

In her four seasons with the Lady Lions, Ivory was a member of two Southland Conference East Division championship teams and was a third team All-Southland selection in 2009-10. She finished her career as one of the school’s career leaders in rebounds (537, 12th) and blocked shots (80, 4th).

“Without the PRIDE Scholarship I would not be able to finish my degree,” said Ivory, who hopes to become a physical therapist. Her PRIDE mentors Celene Short and Bobbie Carter “have been my mothers away from my mother,” she said. “It has been awesome having PRIDE in my life and I know I speak for myself and my teammates.”

In addition to the PRIDE Scholarship and the Bunko for Basketball fundraiser, PRIDE members serve as one-on-one role models and mentors for the Lady Lions players.

16

1

Schedules 2010-2011 Men’s Home Basketball DATE

OPPONENT

December 1 Wed. Dillard 21 Tues. Spring Hill

TIME

7 pm 5:30 pm

6

January 8 Sat. Stephen F. Austin* 3 pm 19 Wed. McNeese State* 7 pm 29 Sat. Northwestern State* 7:30 pm February 9 Wed. UTSA* 16 Wed. Lamar* 19 Sat. UT Arlington* 26 Sat. Central Arkansas*

7 7 3 3

March 5 Sat.

12 pm

Nicholls*

3 2

pm pm pm pm

* - Southland Conference game

4

Women’s Home Basketball

5

December 1 Wed. Mobile 12:30 pm 21 Tues. Louisiana-Lafayette 7:45 pm January 15 Sat.

22 Sat. 26 Wed.

Texas A&M 3 pm -Corpus Christi* Nicholls* 3 pm Central Arkansas* 7 pm

February 2 Wed. Lamar* 7 5 Sat. Sam Houston State* 3 12 Sat. Northwestern State* 3 23 Wed. Texas State* 7 March 2 Wed.

McNeese State*

pm pm pm pm

7:30 pm

Get your

Green and Gold!

Southeastern merchandise makes great gifts. Items available at Alberson's include: (1) Green or gold long sleeved T-shirts, $10.99 and (2) Gray hooded sweatshirt, $19.99. New items available from the Southeastern Book Store include: (3) Spirit finger gloves, $14.49; (4) Pink hooded sweatshirt, $48.99; and (5) Green and gold scarf, $16.59. A selection of items from Walmart includes (6) Flannel pajama pants, $15.

* - Southland Conference game Southeastern is proud to showcase merchandise from our retail partners. If you would like to include merchandise in a future edition of Alumni News, contact Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Erin Cowser at 985-549-5861.

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

Miss Southeastern 2011 Southeastern Louisiana University mass communication and journalism major Gabrielle Palma of Mandeville was chosen Miss Southeastern 2011.

Palma received her crown from Miss Southeastern 2010 Lacey Sanchez of Baton Rouge at the annual pageant in August. A sophomore, Palma also received the Interview Award, the Internet Choice Award and the Miss Congeniality Award. She is the daughter of Harold and Dena Palma.

Congratulating the winners are Vice President for Student Affairs Marvin Yates, far left, and Southeastern President John L. Crain, far right. Award winners in the pageant included, from left, Noel Stilley, second runner-up, Miss Southeastern 2011 Gabrielle Palma, Heather Hand, first runner-up, and Lacie Thomas, third runner-up. Sponsored by Campus Activities Board, the pageant is affiliated with the Miss American pageant system.