Southeastern Magazine Fall 2018

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE FALL

GOING PLACES

We hit the road to catch up with accomplished young alumni around the region.

RISE OF THE DIGITAL ID

Alumni create the first legal digital driver’s license in the nation.

GIVING BACK

Two new programs offer alumni fresh ways to give back by getting involved.

2018

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SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY FALL

2018

MAGAZ I N E P RESI D EN T

Dr. John L. Crain PROVOST & VI C E P R E S I D E NT F O R AC AD E M I C A F FA I RS

Dr. Tena L. Golding V ICE PRE S I D E N T F O R AD MI N I S TR ATI ON & F I N A N C E

Sam Domiano V ICE PR E S I D E N T F O R U N I VE R S I TY ADVA N C EM EN T

Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE Identified!, pg. 52

VI C E P R E S I D E N T F O R S TU D EN T A F FA I RS

Dr. Eric Summers E XECUTIV E DIREC TO R , P U BLI C & G OVE R NME N TA L A F FA I RS

Erin Moore Cowser S E N I O R D I R EC TO R , U N I VE R S I TY M A RKET I N G

Mike Rivault MARKETING CO O R D I N ATO R , P U BLI C ATI O N M A N AGER

Sheri Gibson

Letters: Southeastern Magazine welcomes letters of 300 or fewer words. Letters may be used for publication unless the author states that it is not to be published. Letters may be edited for publication. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Advancement, SLU 10293, Hammond, LA 70402 or sheri.gibson@southeastern.edu.

P H OTO GRA P H Y

Randy Bergeron CO N T RI B U TO RS

Printing and distribution for the Southeastern Magazine provided by the Southeastern Foundation — southeasternfoundation.org.

Kemmler Chapple, Tonya Lowentritt, Ashley Richardson E D I TI N G A SSI STA N T

Pam Bentivegna COV ER P H OTO : New residence halls opened this spring that offer private and shared rooms, classroom spaces, meeting and common areas, and dining and retail spaces.

Contents.

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NEW RESIDENCE HALLS

Ascension Hall and Twelve Oaks Hall are now open!

GOING PLACES

APHASIA RESEARCH

We hit the road to catch up with accomplished young alumni around the region.

Southeastern’s Nina Simmons-Mackie becomes the first American to win international aphasia research award.

RISE OF THE DIGITAL ID

Alumni create the first legal digital driver’s license in the nation.

30 33 36 40 GIVING BACK

RING OF THE PAST

Two new programs offer alumni fresh ways to give back by getting involved.

Three friends discover a longlost, historic piece of jewelry with a surprising connection.

THE COLUMBIA THEATRE AT 90

The Columbia Theatre continues its storied legacy of bringing the arts to life in downtown Hammond.

FRANK SCELFO

New head football coach Frank Scelfo discusses his path to Southeastern and his vision for the future.

president’s message

&

Alumni, Friends, Supporters, The fall is always an exciting time on campus. Although we are already several weeks into the semester, there is always a unique “newness” about the fall as we start a new academic year. Returning students are that much closer to graduating and starting a career or continuing on to graduate school. New students arrive on campus with hopes and dreams of a successful and meaningful future—and a great college experience. There is an energy in the air that reminds me why this is a great place.

Naturally my thoughts turn to ensuring that we provide each of our students with a

great experience, and even more importantly, a path that leads them to a successful and meaningful future. That is, after all, why we are here.

As always, this Southeastern Magazine will highlight some of the great things that our alumni are doing. A quick check on LinkedIn reveals that our graduates are located in almost every state in the country and many nations around the world. And while we know our alumni are in all corners of the globe, we also know that they have an especially significant impact on our home region where they help produce a strong, vibrant, and innovative economy.

This edition of the Southeastern Magazine focuses a bit more on our younger alumni and their remarkable impact. We took a "summer road trip" across the region to visit with young recent graduates in their workplaces—a heartening experience. Lions are everywhere! We also have a story about how alumni can give back—not just with money, but with their network, connections, and time. In fact, our new social media platform, Southeastern Connect, expands opportunities for established alumni to network and share information and assistance that will help build career opportunities for recent graduates and even students.

Great things lie ahead for our young alumni, and it is exciting to be a part of their unfolding success stories.

Thank you for taking the time to read this magazine, but just remember, it is only a sampling of the amazing things that members of our Southeastern family are accomplishing, both near and far. Please share their stories of success and the special place that is Southeastern.

John L. Crain PRES ID EN T

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Chelsey

BLANK

out & about

Junior // Accounting

Hometown // Paulina, LA How Southeastern changed me Southeastern has helped me become more independent; it has given me a home away from home.

Favorite spot on campus Garrett Hall

Favorite travel destination Florida

Dream job CPA

What do you think of Southeastern’s faculty and staff?

The faculty and staff genuinely care about the students and want you to succeed.

Favorite thing about my major I like that I can really get to know my instructors and others in the program. All of my classes for my major are in one building, Garrett Hall, which helps not only with familiarity but also convenience.

Current involvement on campus Orientation Leader and member of the Homecoming Committee

In 15 words or less, what is great about Southeastern?

Everyone is so friendly. It’s easy to make friends here and build a lasting network.

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social media

When Lions ROA M BRINGING THE GREEN AND GOLD TO SOCIAL MEDIA

southeastern WBB Our ladies have been giving back all summer. Today they spent the evening at Rosaryville Spirit-Life Center helping with a field day. #LionUp

slu_photo We had an AMAZING day seeing Prospect 4 artworks across New Orleans. (P.S. the best field trips involve a ferry ride) @oursoutheastern

NTCC_Provost When you're an SLU alum, he walks out to greet you @WaltDisneyWorld

southeasterncob Check out more of our study abroad students having fun in Europe! #studyabroad #southeasterncob

ephidelts Live your best life #rushdelt

southeasterncob Some of our MBA students brought the Panama BilingĂźe students to the Northlake Nature Center today #LionUp 4

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Southeastern Alumni Our GA spotted a few Alums overseas! Irma Zambrano, an SLU MBA alum and the current Brand Manager at Cerveceria Nacional Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Juan Diego de Obaldia, another SLU MBA alum and the Commercial Director for Central America & Caribbean at Niels Pedersen S.A. #SLUalum

southeasternorientation And they're off!! Our OLs are "SROW-tally excited" for this weekend in Orlando! #SROW2018

leahmcross Lion up from Rome! #lionpride #selu #happynewyear2018

southeasterncab Last week our Executive Board went on a retreat in Baton Rouge to get ready for this upcoming semester. #LionUp

tiagofilms Get ready for a new Southeastern athletics season with Gnarly Barley Lion Up beer! @gnarleybarley @oursoutheastern

Mary Hannah Prevot #LionUp from the Lincoln Park Zoo with the lions!

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news in learning

All in for Southeastern EVERY YEAR IN APRIL, ONE DAY IS SINGLED OUT FOR ALL SOUTHEASTERN ALUMNI, FRIENDS, STUDENTS, SUPPORTERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN TOGETHER FOR A SHARED PURPOSE—TO SUPPORT THEIR UNIVERSITY.

The result is a sweeping online effort known as “All in for Southeastern.”

“This is a day when we ask all of our Southeastern family to pitch in and make a donation to help Southeastern build on its legacy of excellence. Past years’ funds have been used across campus for projects ranging from classroom technology to student programming and from student research projects to scholarships,” said Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

This year’s fourth annual event took place on April 24, and pulled together more members of the community and Southeastern than ever before. The number of donors rose by 50 percent.

To join in next year, stay tuned for updates via southeastern.edu/all-in and the Southeastern Foundation’s Facebook page.

First Place for The Lion’s Roar THE LION’S ROAR, SOUTHEASTERN’S WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER, RECEIVED A FIRST-PLACE AWARD IN THE 2018 AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION’S (ASPA) NEWSPAPER COMPETITION HELD IN NEW YORK THIS PAST MAY.

The newspaper was noted by judges as “an excellent school newspaper which shows the creativity and journalistic knowledge of your editors, reporters, writers, photographers, layout / graphics designers, advertising / sales managers, and advisor.”

“I am extremely proud of the dedication and effort our students put into each article published,” said Dr. Lee E. Lind, director of student publications.

“On Southeastern’s campus the newspaper is the chronicle of our daily lives, an important channel for community discussion and information, and the learning laboratory for the development of superior journalistic skills. This recognition from the ASPA is an indicator of the success Southeastern students have achieved in those areas.”

The ASPA annual contest is also a review of publication quality, in which The Lion’s Roar received a perfect score in the category of page design.

Editor-in-Chief Larshell Green led the staff of student reporters. “With each assignment or task completed, I witnessed an expansion in the staff’s confidence and skills,” said Green. “I couldn’t be more proud of the work that we have created together as a professional family.”

The American Scholastic Press Association competition judges approximately 2,000 yearbooks, newspapers, and magazines annually from high schools, colleges, and universities across the nation.

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news in learning

Alumna Wins Service to America Medal DR. ALISON SMITH, A SOUTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATE, WON THE 2018 SERVICE TO AMERICA AWARDS (SAMMIES) PEOPLE’S CHOICE MEDAL. Her nomination was in the Promising Innovation category, and she was selected as the People’s Choice winner through an online public vote.

The Sammies are presented by the Partnership for Public Service “to honor unsung heroes in our federal government who have made important contributions to the health, safety, and prosperity of our nation.” This annual awards competition, the Oscars of federal service, embraces a vigorous selection process for nominees.

Smith, a materials chemist with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, was nominated for her work with pioneering the use of nanoparticles to assure authenticity of sensitive military equipment. As a result of her achievements, the nation’s security and lives of military service members can be better protected.

Top image: Alison Smith. Bottom image: Alison Smith working in her lab.

Photo by NSWC Crane Public Affairs

Along with the help of her team, Smith grew nanoparticles in unique geometric patterns then placed them on the electronic components of equipment. Light is reflected by these nanoparticles in a certain way, creating original markers, or fingerprints.

These fingerprints can then be read with properly equipped cameras, including the ones on smartphones, to allow military to identify authenticity. Not only can these fingerprints not be replicated or tampered with, but functionality of the part is also not affected.

According to Naval Surface Warfare Center Director of Research Jonathan Dilger, Dr. Smith’s innovative research has “opened the door to a new age of anti-counterfeiting and antitampering measures” that could help prevent malfunctions in strategic weapons systems.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Finance Team Takes Third in National Competition CONTINUING A TREND OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS FINANCE PROGRAM, SOUTHEASTERN HAD A TEAM OF FIVE STUDENTS RECENTLY PLACE THIRD IN THE CONFERENCE OF STATE BANK SUPERVISORS COMPETITION OF REAL-WORLD BANKING STUDIES. Kathryn Bokun, Nicholas Brennan, Mason Case, Elizabeth Hunter, and Robert Maddox comprised Southeastern’s winning team. Together they advanced through three rigorous rounds of judging from a pool of 51 other university teams, a record number of entrants.

Southeastern’s team also finished in the top 10 the previous two years, including a first place finish in 2016.

“We knew it would be difficult to return to the top 10, especially since many more schools participated this year,” said Danielle Lewis, Southeastern professor of finance and faculty adviser for the team. “I am extremely proud of their third place finish in the entire nation.”

This year’s case study looked at how community banks are using technology to streamline processes and better serve their customers. Lewis said the team members worked closely with representatives of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. Lewis described the exercise as an excellent learning experience for the students with real-world applications. The work was well beyond something most students would experience in a typical classroom setting, she added.

“The competition was very stiff this year but our team put in the study, time, and effort to develop a first-class report that caught the attention of the judges,” said Lewis. “We will be back again next year with a new team and continued dedication to reaching the top level.”

Seated, left to right: Team members Mason Case, Elizabeth Hunter, Kathryn Bokun, and Nicholas Brennan. Standing: Team member Robert Maddox (far left) and Southeastern team advisor Danielle Lewis (center left) with representatives from Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

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news in learning

Health Education and Promotion Program Named First in State SOUTHEASTERN’S HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION PROGRAM HAS BEEN RANKED AS THE BEST PROGRAM IN THE STATE BY UNIVERSITIES.COM.

Each school’s ranking is based on a compilation of data from government sources, student surveys, college graduate interviews, and editorial reviews.

The purpose of the Health Education and Promotion program is to prepare students to work in the field of public health.

Students in the program have an opportunity to work with nationally known faculty, participate in student research, and travel to professional conferences. Graduates of the program receive the prerequisite knowledge and skills necessary to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

“I am very proud of the accomplishments of the faculty and students in this degree program,” said Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “This unique program teaches methods needed to help people make healthy behavior changes by addressing knowledge, attitudes, skills, and beliefs in various settings.

Being ranked number one demonstrates our commitment to excellence and meeting the needs of our community.”

New Lions for Life SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY CONFERRED DEGREES ON 1,098 GRADUATES ON SATURDAY, MAY 12 AT THE UNIVERSITY’S SPRING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. For their inaugural event as newly minted alumni, these graduates were invited to a party full of food, music, games, and even a mobile ice cream parlor. Lion Legacy VIPs (members of the University’s first student-driven initiative of giving back in honor of their time at Southeastern) were treated to an exclusive pre-party complete with margaritas and a drawing for a Southwest Airlines gift card.

This annual event, titled Lion4Life Launch and hosted by the Alumni Association, attracted several hundred celebrating new alumni.

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news in learning

Students Move in to New Residence Halls ON THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 11 AND 12, OVER 500 STUDENTS BECAME THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN'S NEWEST ON-CAMPUS HOUSING. With construction completed on Twelve Oaks Hall and Ascension Hall, these students were greeted by state-of-the-art facilities that offer private and shared rooms, classroom spaces, meeting and common areas, and dining and retail spaces.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

A somewhat scientific polling of ALUMNI Do you belong to a health club?

you know it you said it

When was your last visit to campus?

6.9%

WITHIN THE PAST YEAR

YES AND ALMOST NEVER USE IT

59.7% NO

33.4%

ABOUT 3 YEARS

YES

63%

What is the one iconic physical feature you remember about Southeastern's campus?

14.5%

2.57%

34.19%

REEL-TO-REEL TAPES

CASSETTE TAPES

5 YEARS OR MORE

CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME

7.5%

15%

Which of the following types of music media do you still own?

OVERWHELMING TOP ANSWER

Friendship Oak / Circle 8-TRACK TAPES

7.62%

VINYL ALBUMS

41.64%

CDS

97.60%

Have you ever met a major celebrity?

Do you know how to change the oil in your car?

46.7% YES

53.3%

NO

46%

54%

YES

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M e x i c

BY SHERI GIBSON

Thousands of energetic and talented young adults graduate from Southeastern every year, excited to launch their careers and hit the ground running. Most of them settle in our region to have a life-long impact. Not only do these graduates bring fresh skills and cutting edge training to the workforce, but they also fill a need for our region's and state’s workforce demands. In today’s economy, jobs that require a college education are rising significantly, and those that do not are shrinking. To be competitive, Louisiana and the Gulf South will need new graduates each and every year. Their economic impact will be great. But their stories are even greater.

To uncover some of these stories, we decided to hit the highway to visit five members of our Lion Pride in their new workplaces—exploring where the road has taken them since receiving their diplomas. Buckle up for a trip around the region as we catch up with a few interesting young alumni.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

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Tika Pahadi is plugging away at his computer when ORLEANS To help him achieve this life-long goal, Tika chose to NEW we enter his office at Omnidek, situated on bustling move across the world to attend Southeastern.

Assumption Sherwood Forest Blvd. Tika, originally from Nepal, is a 2017 computer science graduate with a passion for “Southeastern has a very good program in computer creating software. science, Saint Charles Saint Bernard and the professors are great,” he reflects.

“We had classes that let us think out of box. Most His passion has driven quick success. Tika, only of the classes were project classes—you have your L. Salvador one year out of college, is already a senior software own idea, do it, and present it. So it gave a more engineer / architect at Lafourche Omnidek, as well Jefferson as a hands-on experience.” private consultant for other companies in the Terrebonne Baton Rouge area.

While Tika did enjoy attending events on campus and Plaquemines spending time with friends, the computer science He gets right to business. “This will be the next classes and professors were his favorite part of big thing,” he explains about his major project at Southeastern. “The collaboration,” he reminisces Omnidek. “We’re trying to make a big productwith a smile, “and how you could just knock on any based footprint in Louisiana, one that will be the professor’s door at any time and they would be happy next big thing in business. One software for every to help. Those things helped create an atmosphere of business need.” a sense of home.”

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Tika’s love for his field is both evident and deeply ingrained within him. He’s focused on the great possibilities of the future. Particularly, he is interested in how data sets can be used to predict problems.

“It’s amazing how we can predict traffic accidents and drive times right down to the minute. Who knows, we might be able to cure cancer by analyzing data and the cells’ behavior. For me, it’s not just a software product.

It’s the way we live and the change we can see.”

Tika has wanted to work with software from the time he was a small child. “I was playing video games and asked my uncle, ‘How does this happen? How does it know what to do?’ He told me that it was something called software, and explained it to me. I said, ‘Alright.

Someday I’m going to write software.’”

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Keeping himself busy at all times, Tika started an internship his first semester of college. By his second semester, he was employed full time for Fusionstak LLC in Baton Rouge, where he worked for the next two years. Even with this full time position, he graduated with a BS from Southeastern in three years, taking over 20 credit hours every semester.

Even though Tika enjoys keeping a full workload, he also likes to take time out for friends, fishing, and working on his Corvette—as well as table tennis. So he gladly shows his ping pong skill in action during a friendly match in his office’s breakroom. Apparently there’s nothing like hitting a ping pong ball around to get pumped up for creating potentially futurealtering software.

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L A FAY E T T E

jordan reid KATC-TV

A 2017 communications graduate, Jordan Reid is now a news producer for KATC TV-3’s 5 pm show and is already making an impact.

and won second place. She comments that this conference was one of her favorite experiences during her time at Southeastern.

“As a news producer, I write multiple stories for the 5 o’clock newscast,” she starts. “Along with writing the stories, I set up how they will be executed and which visual elements will be used to enhance the story (video, graphics, monitors, etc.). …Once it gets closer to show time and the scripts are printed, I head into the control room. When I’m in the control room I’m pretty much managing the show.”

She has many fond memories of Southeastern. “I don’t miss homework, but I always enjoyed sitting in a classroom to learn more about something," she says.

"I also miss downtown Hammond—just being able to walk to whatever event was going on and also the great friends I made.”

There is a lot that Jordan enjoys about her job, including having the opportunity to work in this type of leadership role. “I am in kind of a management position,” she says. “I get to work with almost everyone in the newsroom. And by working with more people, I get a better understanding of what is expected from each job and how it works. …While at Southeastern, I was president of the University’s chapter of the Broadcast Education Association and worked as a producer at the Southeastern Channel; so it was nice to still be able to take on a leadership position in my career as well.”

In addition to working with the Broadcast Education Association and the Southeastern Channel, Jordan was also involved with other areas of campus life.

She was a member of the Press Club and attended the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC).

During her first year at SEJC, she entered the news reporting competition with a fellow student

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Upon asking Jordan why she decided to attend Southeastern, the Luling, Louisiana native explains, “One of my friends told me about the Southeastern Channel, and I knew I had better opportunities at Southeastern to pursue something I was really interested in. I had the best resources to use while learning. Also, Southeastern was the perfect size.”

Attending Southeastern was something that Jordan readily admits helped prepare her for both a future career and life in general. “I felt most of the things we were taught were important beyond having a job.”

Jordan felt ready to start her career and her life because of Southeastern. Like Tika, she also gives credit to the hands-on learning style and knowledgeable, caring professors.

CITY OF HAMMOND

With so many fun events and programs always going on in Hammond, 2016 Southeastern graduate Christiano “Chris” Mouswaswa’s role as the assistant director of recreation for the city of Hammond is one that impacts many people all year long.

Chris, who was a business major, moved to Hammond from the Kongo, in Central Africa, to study at Southeastern. He was already enrolled at a college closer to his home, but one visit to Southeastern prompted him to make the extreme move. He explains, “I had heard that it was a good school. A couple friends of mine were at Southeastern, so one told me to just come and check it out. And as soon as I did, I transferred.”

The move to Southeastern helped lead Chris to the type of job that he had always wanted. “I wanted to be a manager growing up,” he says. “My dad was a doctor, and my mom had her own business.

So I was at first interested in entrepreneurship, and that led me to realize that I wanted to go into management. I always liked dealing with people and solving problems.”

Southeastern and the surrounding community quickly came to feel like home for Chris, who enjoyed going to campus events, attending football games, and playing intramural soccer. He also began working full time for the city as a youth coordinator while still taking a complete class load. But successfully finishing his program of study was his major goal, so he was happy to find that the program and its faculty earnestly supported him in achieving it. “The classrooms were

A

H

chris mouswaswa

MM OND

small compared to other universities; we had handson opportunities and one-on-one instruction with teachers. We could talk to the teachers at any time, and they were very helpful,” he says.

But as much as Chris loved his classes on campus, taking advantage of a summer study abroad program was his most memorable experience. He traveled to Costa Rica with the College of Business for hands-on learning—and of course a little time for fun, including ziplining through a rainforest. When Chris talks about the program he participated in, his eyes light up and a smile immediately crosses his face. “It was the best 10 days of my life,” he says. “It was awesome! Anyone who goes to Southeastern should definitely check out the study abroad program. It was the best experience, and it allowed me to earn credit for two classes—so it helped me graduate quickly as well.”

Chris believes that all of these learning experiences have served him well. He is now in a job that he both enjoys and finds personally enriching. While he does love overseeing and directly working with sports programs, after school academic programs, summer camps, offerings for seniors, and community events, for him the most important aspect is being able to connect with and help others. “I love working with and meeting people,” he says. “And most of all, the kids.

Getting to help change their lives—that’s the part that I enjoy the most.”

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35

82

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82

87

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chris mouswaswa

CITY OF HAMMOND

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G u l f

o f

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Madison 128

18

Claiborne

Tensas

18

Hinds

17

27 18

Choctaw

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49 18

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28 28

jamie ban vogel

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27

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OSCHNER MEDICAL CENTER 24

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jordan showalter Plaquemines

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NASA MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY 1

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jamie ban vogel

SLIDEL

OSCHNER MEDICAL CENTER

When we arrive at Oschner Medical Center in Slidell, Jamie Ban Vogel takes a break from her normal duties as a diagnostic medical sonographer to meet.

Jamie, who is originally from Covington and graduated in 2016 with a major in kinesiology and minor in health promotion, begins by giving us an overview of her current position as a diagnostic medical sonographer. “As a sonographer I verify physician orders and procedures to assure accuracy, explain the procedure to the patient to ensure understanding, independently operate ultrasound equipment to complete imaging procedure according to protocol, and review patient images prior to transmission to ensure images meet diagnostic quality standards. I also assist the radiologists in guided procedures,” she says.

The investigative and varied nature of this type of work fascinates Jamie. “Every day I am learning something new about the human body, my career, and myself,” she notes. “We get to see some pretty neat pathology and assist with procedures, making every day different and non-repetitive.”

In addition to the work itself, Jamie also very much enjoys her workplace environment. The young alumna talks about how much she appreciates and values the teamwork, atmosphere of positivity, and availability of state-of-the-art technology and tools.

While Jamie does indeed take great pride in her current work, she also believes in continually learning

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and growing. Jamie is currently studying to become a registered vascular technologist. “I will soon be registered in assisting physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of disorders and diseases affecting the vascular system,” she says.

Jamie knew from an early age that she wanted to go into the medical field, working directly with patients. She begins to discuss how Southeastern helped her get where she is now. “I received an amazing education at Southeastern. Through my time in the Kinesiology Building, I developed a better appreciation and understanding of the human body and how it works," she says.

Jamie particularly credits her professors for helping her gain such skills and knowledge. “My favorite thing about my program of study was the professors.

Each professor made class interesting and used relatable terms and examples to help students better understand the subject.”

Outside of classes and studying, Jamie also kept busy by becoming involved with several campus organizations—something that she recommends all students do in order to make the most out of their college years. She was a member of Phi Mu, the Rec Sports and Wellness Council, Southeastern’s chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and the Homecoming Court.

Additionally, Jamie recently married another class of 2016 Southeastern graduate, creating a true Southeastern family.

L

NEW ORLEA NS

jordan showalter

NASA MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY

Upon entering the gates of the NASA facility, an enormous rocket powerfully looms into view. It’s obvious that Jordan Showalter, a 2017 engineering technology graduate originally from nearby Chalmette, Louisiana works at a place with real consequence.

Describing his time at Southeastern, Jordan explains that he kept quite busy with both classwork and extracurricular activities, and very much enjoyed the routine it provided him. He was on the Lions football team as a fullback throughout college; in Kappa Sigma fraternity, in which he served as the organization’s events coordinator; worked at Our Mom’s as a security manager before being promoted to bar manager; completed an internship; was a part of the ExCEL scholarship and leadership program; and was a member of Tau Alpha Pi engineering honors society, the National Honors Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the American Association of Drilling Engineers.

As an operations maintenance supervisor for Syncom Space Services, a contractor at NASA Michoud, Jordan is very much able to use that same discipline and strong work ethic in his current career. Only a year and a half out of college, Jordan has already been promoted once at Syncom. In addition to scheduling maintenance, monitoring systems, and running metrics to increase productivity, he supervises a group of highly skilled personnel who do preventative maintenance work across the facility, as well as

maintain major systems that actually work on the tank. “It’s a lot to take on,” he admits, “but I’ve found a routine to make it work.”

Being in the engineering field and taking on these types of responsibilities is something that Jordan has always wanted to do. Growing up he idolized his uncle who was an engineer and wanted to follow in his footsteps. He also dreamed of one day being able to work with rockets, which is now his favorite part of the job. “I’ve always wanted to work as part of NASA. And now I’m doing something that actually impacts the build of the rocket,” he says with a wide smile.

Jordan also explains why what he does is so important to him. “I care about the little stuff, because it will make a difference in the bigger picture,” he starts. “For example, a simple light fixture could be in a critical area. If someone picks up and uses a wrong chemical on the tank because there’s dull lighting in the area, now they’ve just scrapped a couple million dollar tank.

I take that to heart.”

Jordan concludes with how much he enjoyed his days at Southeastern, and describes some of the things he likes doing when he’s not helping maintain vital systems for space missions—including socializing with family and friends and going fishing and to the shooting range with his brother. “I try to stay active most of the time,” he mentions.

These five young alumni, so full of positivity and passion for what they do, are truly living their dreams. From their professors and programs to campus organizations and extracurricular activities, Southeastern was able to help them achieve these goals and enter the working world with deep strength. Yet these five amazing young adults are only a very small percentage of the Lions out there, both near and far, who are now achieving the success that they always hoped for and making an impact on the world around them.

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media shelf

Southern

STORYTELLING

BY DAVID ARMAND

SOUTHEASTERN PROFESSOR EMERITUS / WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE TIM GAUTREAUX'S LATEST OFFERING, SIGNALS: NEW AND SELECTED STORIES, COLLECTS TWELVE NEW SHORT STORIES ALONGSIDE NINE OTHERS FROM HIS PREVIOUS TWO COLLECTIONS, SAME PLACE, SAME THINGS AND WELDING WITH CHILDREN, RESULTING IN A NICE SAMPLE OF THE AUTHOR'S RICH AND UNIQUE OEUVRE OF SOUTHERN STORYTELLING.

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It is a great starting place for newly introduced readers and a fine summation for old fans of Gautreaux's work.

Like most of his fiction, the bulk of these stories deals with failed relationships, the trials of old age, matters of faith and morality, and the blue-collar Cajun culture of Southwestern Louisiana. They are stories that are peopled with lonely and sometimes bitter men and women who live to fix things, but who also work to take them apart. Gautreaux is able to warmly infuse humor and wit so that his stories are never down-and-out depressing, thus comfortably eschewing the modern inclination toward nihilism and gimmicky structure and plot.

It is clear after reading these stories that Gautreaux, like one of his characters, would find “it hard to believe that anything on earth was empty,” thus reinforcing the idea of how important telling stories—sending out “signals”—is to the world and for posterity.

These stories are further able to provide a sort of moral guidepost without ever being overly didactic or preachy.

But much like Mark Twain, Gautreaux is at his best when he uses figurative language to convey not only humor, but a resounding message as well.

In “Radio Magic,” for example, when the protagonist Cliff takes up painting in order to try to become “famous,” Gautreaux comments on his character's failed attempts at painting nudes, saying they “looked like white cattle that had grazed too long on a nuclear test site.”

The deeper message of this story, though, is one that also resonates in a very unified and satisfying way throughout the entire collection, and that is the myriad ways in which we attempt to communicate with one another; and “how the sounds we make never really stop, and [how] all of us are famous but just don't know it yet.”

The author here is able to weave this theme of communication throughout the majority of his stories. It is the idea of “signals” and the messages one sends out to the world, often never knowing who's retrieving those messages—or if anyone's retrieving them at all. In “The Furnace Man's Lament,” for example, Gautreaux's narrator poses the question: “Where does someone who's totally disconnected go to connect?”

In perhaps the most satisfying story of the lot, the answer to that question is an online marketplace where disgruntled customers go to review products they don't like.

This is a surprisingly different tale for Gautreaux called “The Review,” in which an aspiring novelist tracks down the person who gave his first novel a one-star review on Amazon.com. Usually stories that are about writing and writers are hard to pull off without them feeling insular or trite, but Gautreaux brings the reader to near-tears with the surprising revelation in this one.

Gautreaux is also a writer who very clearly “like[s] symbols, [sees] the meanings in objects.”

A radio, a mysterious sewing machine, an antique toy collection, a pair of old pilot's wings, each offering a window into their owners' souls. Yet as one character laments, “It's all crap if you don't know anything about it.”

Signals Signals is a collection that reaches beyond the South, stretching Gautreaux's “own little postage stamp of native soil” to include stories that span the geography of North America—from Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Canada, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia—in order for him to communicate the vital necessity for art, for conversation, for

But Gautreaux does know about these things, and he knows them well. And his job here seems to be to tell the reader about them, about the “importance of objects.”

For “it [is] all about connections.”

Both literal and figurative. And that's just what these stories do. They serve as conduits for the reader to connect with Gautreaux's often down-and-out characters, folks about whom the author writes with compassion, clarity, and warmth.

preserving one's history through

This review, in modified form, was originally published in the New York Journal of Books.

and well-crafted tale.

the things one collects and then leaves behind, the earthly work one undertakes. This collection of stories becomes, for its readers, “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,” and it serves as a beacon of light and hope, a reminder of the importance of the finely honed

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LEADING THE WAY IN

RESEARCH Southeastern Professor is the First American to Receive International Award

BY TONYA LOWENTRITT

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF HEALTH & HUMAN SCIENCES AND SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE NINA SIMMONSMACKIE WAS HONORED RECENTLY AS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO RECEIVE THE ROBIN TAVISTOCK AWARD FROM THE TAVISTOCK TRUST FOR APHASIA (TTA) IN BRITAIN. 24

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

The award is named after the 14th Duke of Bedford who founded the TTA after suffering a brain hemorrhage in 1988 that left him with aphasia, a complex communication difficulty caused by stroke, tumor, or injury to the language areas of the brain. People with aphasia can find it hard to speak, read, write, or understand language; however, intelligence remains intact. At least 2.5 million people in the United States suffer from aphasia.

The award is presented annually to a group or individual who is inspirational and has made a significant contribution to the field of aphasia.

“Nina is known for her quiet yet authoritative leadership, her strategic research, and a gift for being able to go directly to the heart of a problem and apply her unerring wisdom.

This is coupled with warmth and kindness, as well as a keen sense of humor,” said Nicole Campbell of the TTA. “It is for her outstanding contribution to the world of aphasia that Professor Nina Simmons-Mackie is being honored and is the first ever recipient of the Robin Tavistock Award from the United States.”

Simmons-Mackie, a resident of Abita Springs, worked clinically as a speech-language pathologist with aphasia patients prior to joining Southeastern’s faculty. It was there that she became passionate about finding ways for those with aphasia to fully access life, striving to accomplish this by improving their language and quality of life within their individual social settings. She quickly realized that traditional aphasia therapy had its limits, which led to her research on social model approaches to improve life participation for aphasia patients.

also played an important role in a number of organizations, such as the National Aphasia Association and the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences.

Convinced that healthcare professionals required more support and resources to help those with communication difficulties, Simmons-Mackie, along with others, founded Aphasia Access and became the organization’s first president in 2014. Aphasia Access is dedicated to ensuring communicative access for all who have aphasia so that they are not excluded from decision making and participation.

The organization provides education and resources for professionals, increases awareness, and provides tools to support those who help aphasia patients.

“It is not possible to list all of Simmons-Mackie’s achievements. What is striking about her career is how it straddles so many strands of the aphasia world,” Campbell said. “Nina has made a significant contribution as a clinician, an advocate, a researcher, a teacher, and as a generous mentor for others.”

Simmons-Mackie’s previous awards include being named to the VA Speech Language Pathology Hall of Fame and receiving the Charity Hospital Outstanding Professional Award, the Outstanding Volunteer Award and Leadership Award from the American Heart Association, and the Audrey Holland Speak Up Award.

Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford (left) presents the award to Nina Simmons-Mackie (right)

Simmons-Mackie has served in Southeastern’s communication sciences and disorders program since 1995, where she conducts independent research and teaches graduate level courses in adult aphasia, discourse and conversation, and neuropathologies of communication.

She has worked in clinical services at Tulane School of Medicine Speech Pathology Department, the Louisiana Rehabilitation Institute, and Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. She has FA L L 2 0 1 8

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look at us now

SOUTHEASTERN'S NEW RESIDENCE HALLS, TWELVE OAKS HALL AND ASCENSION HALL, CREATE A NEW WELCOMING LANDSCAPE ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF CAMPUS.

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Did you KNOW?

by the

numbers

GOING GREEN 85 60 223 178.83 74.47 5.17 28

36,000

Christmas trees recycled since 1994

recycle bins

5

solar thermal systems for water heating

regular trash cans

2

geothermal systems for heating and cooling buildings

tons of paper, plastics, and metal cans recycled since July 2012

4

photovoltaic systems for generating electric power from the sun

bike racks

tons of cardboard recycled since June 2013 tons of used print cartridges and packaging recycled since 2014

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1

wind turbine for generating electric power

A NEW ERA FOR THE DRIVER’S LICENSE:

feature story

Southeastern Alumni Develop the Nation’s First Legal Digital Driver’s License

BY SHERI GIBSON

The driver’s license has been an indispensable part of many Americans’ lives for decades. But while its components have evolved over time and between states, at its core it has essentially remained the same—a physical piece of identification. Now, well over 100 years after the first personal driver’s license was issued on a simple, small piece of paper, the State of Louisiana and one local company have begun ushering in the second phase of the driver’s license by pioneering the arguably inevitable digital future of personal identification.

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In 1903, the year that the Wright Brothers took to the sky at Kitty Hawk and only five years before Henry Ford’s iconic Model T was unleashed on the world, Massachusetts and Missouri began issuing the first required non-commercial automobile driving licenses. Americans were on the move, and state regulations had begun trying to keep up.

Over the next 51 years, possessing a driver’s license became a requirement in every state for those getting behind the wheel. Louisiana adopted this policy in 1946. Photographs were added to non-commercial driver’s licenses for the first time in the US one year later, and by the mid-1980s the incorporation of anti-counterfeit devices on state IDs was becoming standard.

But these advancements have now fallen behind where we are today: a world where a continually increasing majority of people turn to tiny, illuminated screens to discover current news, learn, be entertained, keep up with their mail, and connect with others. Love it or hate it, using mobile technology for all the information you need while on the go, and then some, is the new norm.

Two years ago, the State of Louisiana addressed this need to meet citizens where they are by passing House Bill 481, a legislation championed by Representative Ted James.

Louisiana had officially become the first state in the nation to legislatively approve acceptance of a digital driver’s license, leading the way for the next chapter in the story of the American driver’s license.

But then there was a new challenge—actually creating it.

After thoroughly assessing proposals from various companies, Louisiana chose the well-developed, creative approach offered

by Southeastern alumnus Calvin Fabre and his company Envoc.

Fabre, along with his all Southeastern alumni Envoc team of six developers and a group of 10 state employees, met the challenge by creating a user-friendly and secure app for both iOS and android devices—an app that also meets a myriad of legal requirements for acceptance by State Police and other agencies. They named it LA Wallet.

Achieving this, though, was certainly not without obstacles.

“The most challenging part of the project is always a commitment to ongoing privacy and diligence,” said Fabre. The user’s safety and security were indeed of primary concern when developing the app, which is not only secure but also contains anti-forgery precautions and carries a notouch policy.

“State Police asked for a no-touch solution,” said Fabre. "This means that when showing your digital ID to an officer or anyone else, you will never have to allow them to touch your phone, let alone hand it over."

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1920s New Orleans driver's license. Image courtesy of Lolo Lyons

To combat fraud and prove that it is a valid license, there are two simple methods the driver can utilize. The first one is to hit the refresh button, which connects the app with the Office of Motor Vehicles, resending the information to the device and proving that the license is still valid. The second method is interactive with the user. When a user presses the rendering of their driver’s license in the app, the seal for the State of Louisiana pops up—effectively demonstrating that the license is real and not a screenshot.

The image of the license itself is not a direct capture of a physical driver’s license either. Information is pulled directly from the Office of Motor Vehicles and reassembled to create a high-resolution digital rendering. As Fabre explained, the result is “a unique image generated by our servers, that only our servers can create. And it is a unique image that leverages all of the anti-forgery, anti-tamper-proof techniques that the state has developed.”

Calvin Fabre, founder and president of Envoc

While the image on the “front” of the license will still be familiar to people though, the “back” looks somewhat different. This screen contains additional information such as endorsements. To further aid the no-touch policy, the bearer’s license number appears in a large font on this side for better readability at a distance.

The beauty with which all of these new technological and identity challenges were overcome is perhaps only overshadowed by the truly collaborative effort involved.

According to Fabre, “Public Safety, State Police, state attorneys, and technology all got in one room and all worked together to find something that’s going to best serve the citizens, and they were genuinely wanting to serve the citizens.

It’s a great application of many disciplines that don’t normally get together. That’s diversity.”

of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control’s responsible vendor program. With this agency’s approval obtained, LA Wallet is now valid for the purchase of alcohol and other restricted products sold at Louisiana retailers, including bars, restaurants, and stores. However, since the app is quite new and businesses are still implementing it into their procedures, for now it’s a good idea to also carry along your old driver’s license before heading to your local watering hole or picking up a six-pack.

From library cards to school IDs, this new technology has a potentially bright future aside from the driver’s license as well—with further applications that Fabre is passionate about one day bringing to life. “Think of the possibilities of allowing a college to have an extension of the digital driver’s license on their phone,” he said.

And this product of Louisiana’s insightful vision, Envoc’s technological innovation, and the harmonious collaboration between state and private—between various backgrounds and specialties with one common purpose—has now truly made history. In early July, the final app store approvals were granted and the product officially launched to the public.

All of this has not gone unnoticed by other states, either.

One undisclosed northern state has already reached out to Envoc, expressing interest in following the path now being blazed in Louisiana. As the download numbers keep going up, an increase in other states looking to Louisiana will likely closely follow.

Its prospects extend even further—far beyond acceptance by State Police, and most likely beyond Louisiana. According to Act 625, all parish and municipality police officers in Louisiana are also legally authorized to take LA Wallet for identification purposes, and the establishment of state-wide acceptance procedures and training is currently underway.

And there’s plenty of reason it should. Fabre said that while we may not have always received national coverage on it, “Louisiana is very forward thinking in this and other areas related to serving its citizens through technology. We are the Silicon Bayou.”

Envoc has additionally worked closely with the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and has met their requirements by completing requested modifications to the app. This summer, the digital license officially became a part

Anyone with a current Louisiana driver’s license can now download the app for both Android and iPhone. The app can immediately be used for identification with Louisiana State Police, with the other uses to evolve in the very near future.

The app itself is free, but an in-app purchase is required to initially activate and then to renew the license when it expires, similar to paying for a new physical driver’s license.

While you shouldn’t plan on tossing out your current Louisiana ID just yet, it’s quite possible that time may soon come. The first paper driver’s license was created to keep up with people more on the move as a result of the day’s increasing acceptance of and reliance on industrial technology. Americans today are still on the move, perhaps more than ever; but we have also collectively embraced a whole new concept of being mobile—and a whole new era of technology.

Louisiana, along with Envoc’s Southeastern alumni-led team, has now crossed the threshold of being the first state to fully join its citizens in this digital era. The next chapter in the story of the American driver’s license has begun, and Louisiana citizens can now be among the first to help it unfold.

Envoc LA Wallet developers and Southeastern alumni.

Left side, front to back: Kyle Joiner, Matthew Vidacovich, and Robert Schroeder. Right side, front to back: Jake Borel and Justin McLin

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giving back

ALUMNI giving back - time, talent, and networking

AS STUDENTS, WE ARE ALL A PART OF THE SOUTHEASTERN FAMILY.

BY MIKE RIVAULT

We feel it, we know it. We’ve made friends, attended games, bonded with professors, been involved, and been a part of something larger than ourselves. As we graduate and move into careers, new geographic locations, family life, and other major life changes, our focus tends to look forward, not back. The time spent at Southeastern is a great memory, but many of us lose touch.

Southeastern needs its alumni. While it always needs the financial support of graduates, it also needs another type of support—involvement. As our graduates know, what is special about Southeastern is its caring environment where you feel like people know you and are concerned about your future and success. That family-like culture also stems from alumni stepping up to be supportive with their time and talents.

Two new programs have been launched to bridge the space between being a student and making financial donations. That space is all about involvement.

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SOUTHEASTERN CONNECT This online community was launched as a networking-type platform for Southeastern alumni and friends to meet, build networks, offer mentoring, and support career development and advancement. Southeastern Connect is a platform in which Southeastern alumni can reach out to other alumni, primarily for the purpose of ultimately advancing one’s career.

Much like a Southeastern specific social media site, it serves to help people find one another and make contact. Alumni can search for mentors and networking opportunities, as well as browse job listings. Whether one is in need of a mentor or looking for a job, Connect can help.

Connect has 20,000 page views and over 700 active users, 80 percent of whom have indicated that they are willing to mentor fellow alumni.

“We really felt that our alumni involvement in this careerfocused sector needed some help and a place where people can interact specifically geared toward building careers," said Executive Director for Alumni Relations Michelle Biggs.

"We are focused on building significant levels of involvement.

While all alumni cannot always give financially, they can give of their time and talents.”

Ultimately Southeastern Connect gives working professionals the chance to step forward and make a difference in the lives of Southeastern alumni and students.

“It was so easy to find someone and make contact,” said Allie Dyer, graduate student in business.

Dyer searched for people in her area that were also in the banking industry and found Shane Purvis (class of ’10), small business relationships manager at Fidelity Bank, and sent a message.

“I wanted to investigate if the banking and finance industry might be a good fit for me and my skills. I found Mr. Purvis, reached out to him and we met to talk. His insights were great and the time he spent with me has given me a great deal of practical knowledge,” she concluded.

Dyer is one of many who are already taking advantage of this new platform. As of publication, Southeastern

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GOLD COUNCIL “Young alumni are so important to a vital alumni program, and they are often a missing piece of the complete puzzle,” said Biggs. "Younger graduates from recent years have the desire to stay involved and do something meaningful with their time, but are often lost in the shuffle after graduation." Nationwide, universities are seeing the need to create programs specifically geared to keeping recent graduates from losing their connection to the university. Southeastern’s answer: the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council.

The Alumni Relations Office has been charged with building meaningful programming and opportunities for young alumni—opportunities where they can both give and receive.

They can receive guidance and help as they launch their lives, but they can give of their time and help service the needs of others as well. The GOLD Council is an initial group of 12 young alumni who will work to connect alumni efforts of the University with the needs of their generation.

“Young professionals continually express the desire to give back. They want to make a difference and tend to have a very philanthropic mindset. Southeastern’s effort to reach out and develop this group and opportunities for them is a great idea,” said David Cavell, GOLD Council member.

The GOLD Council held its inaugural meeting this summer.

“Our goal was to start to build a team culture and ethos by bringing in speakers to get the program off to a spirited start,” said Biggs.

Members include David Cavell of Thibodeaux; Shawn Gatlin of Brooklyn, New York; Michael Kyles Jr., Marjorie Parker, and Yazmyn Smith of Hammond; Chris Mycoskie of McKinney, Texas; Renee Picou of Livingston; Shane Purvis of Mandeville; Malayne Sharp of Denham Springs; William Takewell of Lexington, Kentucky.; and Jeremy Troulliet and Rebecca Schnadelbach Troulliet of Ponchatoula.

Members of the 2018 Gold Council. Front row, left to right: Renee Picou, Yazmyn Smith, and Malayne Sharp.

Back row, left to right: Chris Mycoskie, Marjorie Parker, Shane Purvis, Michael Kyles Jr., and David Cavell

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after hours

THREE FRIENDS’ DISCOVERY OF A LONG-LOST FAMILY RELIC

BY SHERI GIBSON

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FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARKETING PROFESSOR MIKE BUDDEN, SEARCHING THE EARTH FOR PHYSICAL REMNANTS OF THE PAST IS A POPULAR PASTIME—ONE THAT WAS CHRONICLED

BY THE SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE TWO YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, BUDDEN AND HIS FRIENDS DAN FONTENOT AND GARY GUIDRY (SOUTHEASTERN CLASS OF ’76) HAVE COME ACROSS AN ARRAY OF FINDS, BOTH TRASH AND HISTORICAL TREASURES. BUT WHAT THEY DISCOVERED IN EARLY 2017 TRULY TOOK THEM BY SURPRISE.

The three men received permission to hunt the soil of a property in Jefferson Parish. One day Fontenot, who has known Budden since childhood, got a hit on his detector while working the area. What he eventually found, buried within the brown dirt, was a small gold ring.

Fontenot was of course happy with the catch, but because of the way that he found it his first reaction was one of shock. “It was deep, probably over a foot deep,” he recounted. “What I found was a big hunk of lead, probably the size of a fist, and then I checked the dirt before I filled the hole back in. I always check whenever I dig out the dirt, just to make sure there’s nothing in the pile by the hole, and then I got a hit when checking that dirt and the ring was in it. So if I hadn’t initially hit on that hunk of lead, I would never have found the ring.”

Finding the ring was only the first surprise that the piece of jewelry brought the three friends. After cleaning the ring off, Fontenot could tell that it was a seemingly simple band made of gold and, from the tiny size, had likely belonged to a petite woman. While the three men all dedicate time to tracking down the history behind the items that they discover, none of them noticed or suspected anything unusual about the ring itself.

Such rings are indeed foreign to many people today, but according to Fontenot’s research they were quite popular in the nineteenth century. This ring, carefully engraved on the inside with tiny cursive lettering, is believed by the men to have been a wedding ring due to the inscription. There are two

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

With this information as a guide, Fontenot got to work on tracking down the ring’s story. Upon scouring the internet, his search led him to the ring’s rightful heir, Kimberly King.

King also has a passion for history, but she channels it through genealogy rather than metal detecting. Fontenot was able to locate her because of the genealogical research on her family which she has made available online. “Just from the name of the man on the ring, which is her great-great-grandfather, I was able to find her on the net, and then we just got in touch via email and went from there,” he said.

Kimberly King's great-great-grandparents, Caroline Jaufroid Ferchaud and Louis Ferchaud

A visit with fellow metal detecting hobbyists at a Southern Historical Research and Recovery Association meeting changed that perception.

“Gary and I took it to one of our club meetings,” Fontenot said.

“I thought it was just a gold ring, but then another guy saw it and said ‘It’s a split ring.’ …He opened it right in front of me and then it turned in to two halves with an engraving on the inner part that you couldn’t see when it was whole.”

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names listed, Louise Cantrelle and Louis Ferchaud, along with a date of August 25, 1870.

If the name Kimberly King sounds familiar to you, there’s a reason.

Serendipitously, King was the guest speaker at Southeastern’s annual Marketing Breakfast this past April. She is also a class of 1985 Southeastern alumna, who now resides in Tennessee.

Upon learning of the connection, Budden was shocked. “It was amazing when I saw the emails and realized that it was Kimberly King, who was our marketing speaker. I told Dan ‘I know that lady!’ …It’s amazing, I just met her in the spring,” he said.

King is not related to Louise Cantrelle, as she died in childbirth at the tender age of 21. However, Louis Ferchaud eventually remarried Caroline Jaufroid, and King is a direct descendent of this couple.

How the ring came to be buried where it was remains a mystery, though the men have a conjecture that the young couple may have lived there. “We’ve pulled out hundreds, if not thousands, of square nails from that property, which is a pretty good indicator that there was a building there,” explained Guidry. “So I think there was a house there that burned, and that’s how the jewelry got left there. That’s my theory, but we’ll never really know.”

While the possibility—albeit rare—of finding buried gold objects might draw some people to metal detecting, the three friends all commented that the biggest thrill for them lies in the history. They take the time to conserve and study the past behind the pieces that they uncover and then generally keep or give them away. Most of the objects found are also not of much monetary value, but the men are genuinely awed with the historical significance and connection to the past the pieces represent. “It’s amazing to find something from 200 years ago, or longer, and I just don’t see myself selling it,” said Budden. “It’s part of history.”

So rather than keeping or selling the wedding band, the three friends traveled together to Tennessee in August to gift it to King—bringing to her a tangible piece of her own family’s history in the form of one extraordinary little gold ring.

Left image: Dan Fontenot gifts the ring to Kimberly King in Tennessee.

Below image: Gary Guidry and Mike Budden with their metal detecting equipment

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out there

YEARS OF THE COLUMBIA THEATRE BRINGING THE ARTS TO LIFE IN DOWNTOWN HAMMOND

BY SHERI GIBSON

On September 1, Southeastern’s Columbia Theatre turned 90. Generation after generation have been able to enter Columbia’s doors to escape into another world—a world of music, movies, theatre, art, and beauty. And with both Southeastern’s Fanfare festival and the annual theatre season once again in full swing, the opportunity for everyone in the region to experience the arts through this jewel in Hammond’s downtown is as timely as ever.

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Hammond residents and visitors flocked to the Columbia Theatre for its first event and celebration in 1928. After a silent movie accompanied by a live organ and tenor performance, attendees moved outside for a dance party in the middle of Thomas Street. Over the next two decades, the theatre served as a center of entertainment for the region, providing an escape for people facing the uncertainty and harsh realities of the depression and war years—if only for a couple of hours.

Early appearances included those of internationally-renowned playwright Edward Albee, poet Maya Angelou, and singer Louise Mandrell, as well as popular performers from within the community. This tradition of pulling in talents in a variety of fields, from both near and far, has continued. Fanfare patrons can experience over 50 events that span theatrical productions, films, lectures, workshops, concerts, dance performances, and art exhibitions.

By the 1960s, however, people had begun neglecting downtown areas in favor of local malls, and movie theatre attendance was suffering with the rise of home television. The Columbia was in need of major repairs, and while some were made its revival was not able to fully come to fruition. By the 1980s the theatre lay vacant, its days of venerated grandness only a memory.

But as fun and exciting as Fanfare may be, it is certainly not the only reason for people to pay a visit to the Columbia Theatre today. When Fanfare’s month-long celebration of the arts draws to a close at the end of October, the party is still just getting started.

But as fate would have it, the Columbia Theatre’s story was far from over. In the early 1990s Marguerite Walter, director of the Hammond Downtown Development District, and Harriet Vogt, director of Southeastern’s Fanfare, began working to save the theatre. Under advice from a representative of the League of Historic American Theaters, who pointed out the need to act quickly with the roof in danger of collapsing at any moment, Walter and Vogt registered the theatre as a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) and secured funding for the most pressing repairs.

In 1994, First Guaranty Bank, who owned the building, agreed to donate it to the Hammond Downtown Development District (DDD) for restoration as a theatre. Plans were made for Southeastern to take ownership and manage the theatre’s operation after the improvements were made. The DDD, City of Hammond, and Southeastern worked together to secure funds to revitalize the theatre. The adjacent former JC Penney building was also purchased and a portion of the old Firestone Tire building was received through a donation, further expanding the Columbia’s footprint in downtown Hammond.

Upon completion of the restoration, Southeastern received ownership of the Columbia Theatre in the spring of 2001.

The Columbia was once again filled with the happy chatter of theatre-goers and the reverberation of quality performances.

With Southeastern now having the Columbia Theatre as a resource in the heart of downtown Hammond, the University began using it for some of its popular Fanfare programming as well—directly bringing this festival for all even deeper into the surrounding community.

Fanfare had begun a decade and a half earlier, in October of 1986. It was launched by a group of Southeastern faculty members, among them the current executive director of the Columbia Theatre, Roy Blackwood, to celebrate the arts, humanities, and sciences while heightening cultural awareness and making the arts more accessible for everyone within the region. The festival became so successful that it eventually encompassed the entire month of October.

Right page images, clockwise from top: Performance of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes during the 2005-2006 season. Performance by internationally-touring Eisenhower Dance during the 2016-2017 season. The Columbia Theatre today

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Fanfare serves as the opening act of the theatre’s annual performance season. From newer works and youth-oriented programs to beloved hits such as The Nutcracker, visitors of all ages and tastes can take in a favorite classic as well as experience something completely new to them.

While much has changed in the world since visitors first filled the Columbia’s seats, when the house lights dim this season, it’s still easy to see how patrons must have felt 90 years ago when taking in that very first performance. The beauty of the Columbia Theatre proudly lives on—in not just its renovated physical structure and accoutrements but in the timeless, personally enriching experience that the arts can bestow.

2018–2019 SEASON SCHEDULE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 7:30 pm Lonesome Traveler: The Concert with Peter Yarrow THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 7:30 pm Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 2 pm Missoula Children’s Theatre: Alice in Wonderland FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 7 pm Hammond Ballet Company: The Nutcracker SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 7:30 pm Aquila Theatre: Frankenstein SATURDAY, APRIL 6 7:30 pm Artrageous SATURDAY, APRIL 13 2 pm Pajamas & Play: Toying with Science

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athletics

INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH

BY KEMMLER CHAPPLE

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

SOUTHEASTERN NAMED FRANK SCELFO THE 16TH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IN PROGRAM HISTORY ON JANUARY 30, 2018. SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE SAT DOWN WITH THE 59-YEAR-OLD ABBEVILLE, LOUISIANA, NATIVE HEADING INTO HIS FIRST SEASON PATROLLING THE LION SIDELINES TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MAN AND HIS PLANS FOR SLU.

Q:

Your background as a student-athlete was as a baseball player (Scelfo starred on the diamond at ULM from 1978-81 and was named the school’s Athlete of the Year as a senior). How did you make the transition from being a baseball guy to a football guy?

My dad coached football and baseball, so every fall I was at football practice with him as long as I can remember. That’s just what we did. We played football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. When I graduated high school, I signed a football scholarship with ULM (then Northeast Louisiana) with coach John David Crow and was planning on playing both football and baseball.

A:

I decided to focus on baseball, because I thought I might have a chance to play at the next level. Even though I didn’t play football, my passion for the game never waned. Although I wasn’t on the team, Coach Crow allowed me to work with his staff as a student assistant. My first job was at Prairie View Academy in Bastrop and I was the football and baseball coach. I love both sports, but my opportunities came in football, so that’s the way I went.

Q : How did your dad being a coach influence Q : Is there a moment during your career that you as you were growing up?

A:

Everything I am came from my parents. I was one of eight kids, and all eight of us graduated college. They were doing something right to go eight for eight. We learned so many lessons growing up that we didn’t even realize we were even learning. I don’t coach for a living; a coach is just what I am. Even when I was watching my sons playing as they grew up, it’s hard to just watch as a fan. I’m always analyzing what I’m watching from a coach’s perspective, and I think I get that from my dad.

After a game that he won, my dad would always still see the issues his teams had. It took me becoming a coach myself to truly understand. Even when you win, there’s always room for improvement. On the flip side, he was never devastated by the losses. He knew there was always another chance to be better the next day.

you would consider your first big break?

A:

No. My dad told me when I first started, “Make every job your last one.” If other opportunities come and you want to take them, that’s fine. But if you treat the job you’re doing today like it’s your last, you’ll be sure to make it the best job you can. I just wanted to do the best I could at wherever I was at the time. I just want to coach.”

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Q : Besides your father, who were some of

the coaches who influenced you during your career?

A:

Everyone I’ve worked with has had an impact on me.

Frank Monica taught me a lot when I was coaching under him at Jesuit High School. Dickey Meeks at Chapel Hill High School along with Buddy Teevens, Tommy Bowden, and my brother Chris at Tulane were all people who taught me things that I use to this day.

Q : Where do you want to take the Lion Football program?

A:

I learned from Derek Dooley at Louisiana Tech and Mike Stoops at Arizona, and those are two guys who draw on a wealth of knowledge from a lot of different people. Gus Bradley at Jacksonville was a great influence.

I took a lot of things from all of those guys.

Q : How proud are you of the influence you’ve

Everything we’re doing now is built for the long term.

We want to set ourselves up for long-term success.

Q : The three pillars of the Southeastern

Athletics mission statement are excellence in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. Your program has adopted Child Advocacy Services’ CourtAppointed Special Advocates (CASA) as a charity this season. How important is being involved with CASA to you and your players.

had on coaches and players you’ve worked with over the years?

A:

Making a difference in the lives of the players we coach is the most important aspect of coaching. If you’re just in for the numbers on the scoreboard or on a paycheck, you’re not going to be a coach very long.

If we teach our players to do the right things, which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives, positive results are going to come on the field. I’ve talked to a lot of my old players, and it’s amazing the things that impacted them that I didn’t even realize would have an effect.”

Q : Why Southeastern?

A:

This is home for me, and it’s great to come home after coaching all over the county. I developed an affinity for Southeastern when I used to come work the Manning Passing Academy and when we came here for training camp when I was at Tulane. The campus, the city, and the area are just all beautiful. My wife and I love the people here.

I’ve always looked at Southeastern and said, “That would be a great job.” I’ve always loved Hammond.

When I interviewed for the job, it was exciting to see the growth throughout the University and the city.

This was an easy call to come to Southeastern.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Football-wise, I want to consistently be a force on the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.

Academically, we have to do a better job as a football program of stressing the importance for our studentathletes to get a college degree. We want our players to be able to contribute to society in a positive manner.

And then hopefully down the line, they’ll think so highly of their time at Southeastern that they’re willing to give back to the program so we can continue to give student-athletes opportunities.

A:

It gives the members of our program the realization of how much they can impact others' lives. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Our players can be influenced by the kids they mentor, and that experience will be a great life lesson for our student-athletes. We can also show these kids that someone cares about them and they too have a chance to reach their goals.

We’re also hoping that more of our fans will consider being CASA volunteers. If we do our job, we’ll have a huge influence on the city of Hammond and Tangipahoa Parish through our partnership with CASA.

Join Us for This Sampling of

COMING EVENTS

OCTOBER SAT

20

THU

HALL OF FAME AND GOLD OUT FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST ABILENE CHRISTIAN | 7 pm Strawberry Stadium

25

WEARABLE ART FASHION SHOW | 5 pm - 7 pm Contemporary Art Gallery

NOVEMBER TUE - SAT

SAT

10

JOLLY JINGLES MARKET | 9 am - 5 pm Pennington Student Activity Center

13-17

ALMOST, MAINE | 7:30 pm Vonnie Borden Theatre

DECEMBER FRI

7

SAT GOLDEN GRAD REUNION LUNCHEON | 11 am Alumni Center

8

GOLDEN GRAD BREAKFAST | 8 am COMMENCEMENT | 10 am University Center

SAVE THE DATE

CHEFS EVENING

CHEFS EVENING SUNDAY, MARCH 31 More information coming soon!

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TOM AKERS

Alumnus of the Year TOM AKERS, AN INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED METAL AND MANUFACTURING EXECUTIVE, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE SOUTHEASTERN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2018 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR. AKERS IS THE RETIRED PRESIDENT OF TRADING AT METAL EXCHANGE CORPORATION (MEC) AND A 1969 AND 1973 GRADUATE OF SOUTHEASTERN.

“During his tenure with Metal Exchange Corporation, Tom was responsible for growing the company from a US regional trading company with sales of approximately $400 million to an international organization with sales approaching $2 billion.

The company’s offices are located throughout the US, as well as internationally in Switzerland, China, and Brazil,” said Beth Carney Ebberman, president of the Alumni Association.

Akers is also an alumnus of Harvard University Business School as a graduate of its Advanced Management Program in 1991. His areas of business expertise include management and strategic planning; marketing; operations; international trade; import / export; commodities markets; risk management; derivatives; logistics; and extensive international negotiating in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Eastern Bloc.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Prior to MEC, Akers worked for Consolidated Aluminum Corporation for 13 years, where he was vice president of metal supply and general manager of its recycling division. He also worked for Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation early in his career in Louisiana and served two years active duty and four years reserve duty in the US Navy in the 1970s.

Over the last decade, Akers has served as adjunct professor in St. Louis at both Maryville and Webster universities, teaching courses in leadership and international marketing.

Now retired, Akers works part time with MEC coaching and mentoring personnel in their Management Development program. He also serves on the Southeastern Foundation Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to honor Joni Smith as our Young Alumnus of the Year,” said Ebberman. “Using her depth of knowledge in science and math, Joni became a STEM enrichment teacher in the science classroom at Albany Middle School. She has been identified as a master teacher in her school and district and is often asked to help other science / STEM teachers in their classrooms.”

“As an educator, I embarked on a journey to remove the negative labels from my students and replace them with positive ones. The students owned up to their identities and became leaders both in the classroom and in their community,” she said. “All students are just one caring adult away from being a success story. I may teach in a small town, but I have a big vision to be a bold advocate for students, no matter their background.”

Smith graduated from Southeastern in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and has been teaching for 10 years.

In addition to being named the 2017 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, an honor which earned her special recognition at the White House during an Oval Office ceremony with US President Donald Trump, she was also named the 2018 Louisianian of the Year.

JONI SMITH

Young Alumnus of the Year JONI SMITH, A 7TH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER, STEM EDUCATOR, AND THE 2017 LOUISIANA STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, HAS BEEN NAMED SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY’S 2018 YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR.

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KEEPING

class notes

'65

'65

in touch '6 8 & ' 91

' 73

T H O M A S BO N N ER J R . ,

J U D I T H HO P KINS

GUY WOOD was named as

ROGER WANG has been

professor emeritus of English at Xavier University of Louisiana, has recently published a book titled Parterre: New and Collected Poetry and Prose. His newest work includes essays on Kate Chopin, William Faulkner, John Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and New Orleans writers, as well as short stories and poems.

B O N N ER presented a lecture on the Hispano-American colonial painter Jose Francisco Salazar at the Denver Art Museum. She is senior curator and curator of art at The Historic New Orleans Collection in New Orleans.

one of the 50 Directors Who Make a Difference in the December 2017 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He has been a teacher for 50 years and currently instructs at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero.

elected as chairman of The Committee of 100 (C100.) This non-profit organization aims to develop and promote constructive relations between the US and Greater China. Wang is also the founding chairman and CEO of Golden Eagle International Group.

' 81

'8 1

'8 3

'87

T E R RI M . LE WI S has been named vice president of Surgical and Emergency Services for the North Oaks Medical Center’s Level II Trauma Center. She has been an integral leader within the organization since she joined as a staff RN in 1981.

48

D O N N A G AY

JEANINE B AR NES

SCOTT IL LI NG

( B O R D EN ) A NDER SON

won a Principal of the Year award for St. Tammany Parish for the 2018–2019 school year. She has been an educator for 35 years and was appointed principal of Lyon Elementary in 2005 after previously serving as assistant principal of the school.

has been confirmed as the US marshal for Southeast Louisiana.

Illing, who was nominated for the position by President Donald Trump, had a fruitful career with the State Police before becoming an investigator for US Customs.

published an article on her experience in a low residency MFA program in The Dramatist, the official journal of the Dramatists Guild of America. The former director of Southeastern's Columbia Theatre, Anderson is now a Louisiana playwright currently pursuing an MFA in creative writing with a concentration on playwriting.

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

' 91 S TACE Y N E A L was honored with a Greater Hammond Chamber Annie Award. As director of community competitiveness for Louisiana Economic Development, she has been an integral part of growing Tangipahoa Parish, served as Southeastern Alumni Association president, and earned two prestigious industry certifications.

'07

' 95

' 9 9 & ' 15

'04

S T UA RT D OW N S was

MEL ISSA STIL L EY

CAR L TUR NER was

awarded with the second annual Executive Nursing Leadership Excellence Award. He is currently vice president and chief operating officer of the WellStar Atlanta Medical Center.

has been selected to serve as Tangipahoa Parish School System superintendent. Stilley, who is the first woman to hold this position, is also currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Southeastern.

welcomed by Mercy Hospital Ada and Mercy Hospital Tishomingo as their new executive director of finance.

'07 & '09

'08 & ' 15

'10

S E AN M ICH A E L CHI C K

ED D I E B R ESC HER

JEAN GENZAL E-

MONICA B ROWN

has recently published a book about the Battle of Petersburg, written articles for nationally recognized magazines, and is working on books for the Emerging Civil War Series.

has been named the interim women’s golf coach at The University of Southern Mississippi. He played golf through college and spent two years at the professional level, where he competed on the Adams and Hooters golf tours along with qualifying stages of the PGA Tour Q School.

B ERTR AND became the first

was appointed principal of St. John the Baptist Public School District. She formerly served as assistant principal at John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School.

recipient of the Nurse Practitioner of the Year award for North Oaks Health System. She has served as a nurse practitioner for North Oaks Physician Group since 2009.

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class notes

' 11

' 12

M E RE D IT H COO P ER

DU R A N D J O NES

was awarded the prestigious title of Clinical Practice Nurse of the Year by the Louisiana State Nurse Association at the annual Nightingale Awards banquet.

and his band appeared on an ABC News special with Good Morning America co-anchor and fellow Southeastern alum Robin Roberts.

' 15

' 15

' 12

'12

W IL L TAKEW EL L was hired as the assistant dean of students and assistant director of fraternity and sorority life at the University of Kentucky. At this year’s Coalition for Collegiate Women’s Leadership Conference in Atlanta, he was also named the 2017 Outstanding Fraternity and Sorority Life Professional for the entire Southeast.

B ENJAMIN C AV I N was honored as the first recipient of Zachary’s Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Award. He is currently serving as senior vice president of Landmark Bank and is a Zachary city councilman and mayor pro tempore.

' 15 & ' 17

'16

JU L IE F OS T E R HAG A N

HU TC H G O N ZAL ES,

SAR AH DR AGO

NICHOL AS P RI OLA has

has accepted the role of assistant secretary for the Office of Citizens with Development Disabilities (OCDD), for which she has worked for the past 19 years.

a former Southeastern wide receiver, has been serving as the head coach at Mandeville High since May. Last season he was head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas in Hammond and led his team to the second round of the playoffs.

has been accepted to the MA program in Victorian Literature and Culture at the University of York in the UK, starting in fall 2018. She has been awarded one of only five available £5,000 Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships for exceptional postgraduate students.

been named safety supervisor for Cycle Construction Co. LLC in Kenner. He formerly served as a safety specialist at Safety Solutions & Supply.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Lower Your Taxes with the New Tax Law

For smart taxpayers, the new law provides easy opportunities to lower taxes even more.

The most significant opportunity for you is probably the standard deduction.

It can be used instead of itemizing your deductions, where in the past you might have claimed a deduction for mortgage interest, state and local taxes and charitable giving.

Congress doubled the standard deduction to: $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married filers.

Whether you typically itemize or take the standard deduction, there are some strategies you can use to receive new tax savings as well as other non-tax benefits.

Call or email us to learn how you can use the new law to its fullest advantage.

18AB29

Fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder unitrust Either strategy provides you with annual income, a charitable income tax deduction and potentially favorable capital gains treatment while allowing you to support the causes that matter most to you. Your specific benefits will be affected based on whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

Give from your pre-tax assets by making an IRA rollover gift If you are 70½ or older, this strategy allows you to give up to $100,000 directly from your IRA rather than take the required distribution from your IRA. This strategy does not result in a charitable deduction but will help you avoid tax on the distribution.

This strategy works for both itemizers and non-itemizers.

Make an outright gift of an appreciated asset to charity This strategy allows you to support the causes that matter most to you while generating a charitable tax deduction and potentially capital gains tax savings. This strategy provides tax benefits to itemizers and non-itemizers.

For more information contact Katherine Rose at 985.549.5225 or krose@southeastern.edu.

SoutheasternFoundation.org

Copyright Š 2018 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Used by permission.

identified!

READERS OF THE PAST TWO MAGAZINES HAVE SEEN THEMSELVES AND FRIENDS. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSES:

Lloyd Spring said the cheerleader photo was likely from 1977

Ann Razey Gowdy and Janice Talluto

BACK ROW L-R Suzie Lemkie Johnny Henshaw Cheryl Mandola Jay Alvarez Holly Brothers Lloyd Spring Mary Rush-Borne Bob Mueller

Ann: I'm seated, on the far right with a book in my hands. This was taken during the school year 1959-60, my freshman year at SLC, as it was then.

The fellow sitting on the steps, front row center left, wearing a white sweater and glasses is Phil Gugliuzza, a very popular and active guy on campus. Next to him is Pat Loflin. Also seated in the center group, Miriam Dahmer.

FRONT ROW L-R Kay Drago-LeBlanc Lynette Navarre-Shaffett

Richard Cahanin I’m in the middle of the picture with back to the camera, pinkish shirt next to a guy with a white shirt. The fellow in the white shirt is Henry Hudson. Not sure what the function was but that picture was in the 1964 or '65 yearbook.

Wish we would’ve faced the camera but didn’t know it was there.

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SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!

Paulette Perrin & Nancy Joyner named the Lionettes from 1966 Paulette: My sister and I, along with our cousins, were all on the twirling team. We have many fond memories. Suitcases like the one in the picture were used when we travelled.

LEFT TO RIGHT Annette Corkern, Sharon Steger, Melanie Perrin, Phyllis Perrin, Cheryl Stephens, Paulette Perrin, and Sharon Auster

SOUTHEASTERN MET LSU ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN

69 years this fall

NOVEMBER 19, 1949

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 51 HAMMOND, LA

Office of Advancement, SLU 10293 Hammond, LA 70402 southeasternfoundation.org

Success: Southeastern Louisiana University was again named to the Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges 2018. Only the top 650 public and private higher education institutions in the United States make this annual report.