Alumni News Summer 2009

Alumni News S o u t h ea s t e rn L o uisi a na Uni ve rsit y • Hammond

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Southeastern has $564 million annual economic impact First doctoral degrees awarded Alum has vision for the future

Summer 2009

SOUTHEASTERN HOMECOMING 2009

R o o m i e ’s G o t G a m e Information: 985-549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM, www.selu.edu/homecoming All times are tenative.

Events brought to you by …

Alumni Association Business Week Dream Team Athletics Fanfare Senior Day

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4 pm – Homecoming Court Reception, President’s Residence 7 pm – Southeastern Family Reunion, Student Union park and mall Fanfare: “Flight” 7:30 p.m., Vonnie Borden Theatre. Tickets 985-543-4371 Tuesday, Oct. 13

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Business Week, Garrett Hall (Oct. 13- 17). Information: 985-549-2258 12:30 pm – Lyceum Lights, Twelve Oaks 2 pm – Phi Kappa Phi Homecoming Quiz Bowl, Student Union Theatre 7 pm – Dream Team’s Fear Factor, Strawberry Stadium 7:30 pm – Fanfare: Pianist William Chapman Nyaho, Pottle Recital Hall DSA vs. Students Flag Football

Wednesday, Oct. 14

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11 am – Gumbo YaYa, Student Union Park (Introduction of Homecoming court and football team; Campus door decorating contest winners announced) Noon – Downtown decorating contest judging 1 pm – Fanfare Lecture, Pottle

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4 pm – Children’s Contest Awards, Alumni Center Thursday, Oct. 15

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11 am-2 pm – Gamma Beta Phi’s “A Ton of Fun Food Drive,” Student Union Mall Noon – FE-Lions Luncheon 5 pm – Faculty/Staff Cook-off, Alumni Center 7:15 pm – Bonfire – University Center lot 7:30 pm – Fanfare: Some Strings Attached 8:15 pm – After the bonfire Lip Sync Contest Friday, Oct. 16

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All day – Free workouts, Pennington Center 8:30 am – Homecoming Skeet Shooting Contest 4:30 pm – Women’s Soccer vs. UTSA 7 pm – Alumni Awards Evening, Twelve Oaks (Tickets: 985-549-2150, 1-800-SLU-ALUM)

Saturday, Oct. 17 – HOMECOMING

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Senior Day All Day – Free workouts, Pennington Center 10 am – Donor Wall of Fame, Sims Memorial Library Campus Bookstore opens Noon – 5 pm – Campus tours, Marketplace shopping 12:30 pm – Educators Honor Roll, Teacher Education Center 1:30 pm – Entertainment in Friendship Circle 2 pm – Homecoming parade 2 pm – Women’s Volleyball vs. Lamar 2 pm – Decorate Your Tailgate Contest 3 pm – Reunions 3 pm – Alumni Art Exhibit Opening, Contemporary Art Gallery (100 E. Strawberry Stadium) 4 pm – Alumni Past-presidents reception 5:30 pm – Pre-game activities, Strawberry Stadium 6 pm – Southeastern vs. Sam Houston, Strawberry Stadium (queen and king crowning) Sunday, Oct. 18

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1 pm Women's Soccer vs. Texas State

Alumnus of the year

H. Roger Wang '73

H. Roger Wang, Chairman and CEO of Golden Eagle International Group, has been named Alumnus of the Year. Founded in 1992 with headquarters in the historic former Chinese capital of Nanjing, Golden Eagle has grown into a real estate conglomerate with a total turnover exceeding $7 billion in 2008.

One of the most respected businessmen in the city, Wang received the title of “Honorary Citizen of Nanjing,” and the “Friendship Award of Jiangsu.” He is also well-known for his charitable donations to various children’s institutions. Under his guidance and initiative, the Golden Eagle International Charity Foundation was established, setting up funds to aid China’s disabled.

After immigrating to the United States from Taiwan in 1970, Wang received his MBA degree from Southeastern in 1973. He resides in Beverly Hills with his wife Vivien and their daughters Janice and Dorothy.

Alumni News Southeastern Louisiana University Dr. John L. Crain ’82, ’84 President Dr. Tammy Bourg Interim 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 Pat Williams ’78, ’86 President B.J. Lorio ’68 President-elect Tony Schillage ’88 Treasurer Rita Bertolino ’78, ’96 Secretary

A message from President John L. Crain Come what may, Southeastern is up to the challenge. Whether a natural disaster, tragedy or stringent budget cuts, there’s one thing that remains constant: the people of Southeastern pull together to address the situation with noble determination.

We build upon each others’ strengths and end up even stronger, having overcome whatever obstacles confront us as a group rather than as individual divisions, individual departments or individual faculty or staff members. It’s this collective approach that lifted Southeastern above mediocrity during the oil bust budget crises of the 1980s. It’s the collaborative spirit that has allowed Southeastern to stand tall in the wakes of hurricanes. It’s the cohesion that brings such pride to our university whenever tragedy befalls one of our Southeastern family members. Now, with the national economy in recession, we must tackle another series of financial woes.

As the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget is crafted and future years’ budgets remain uncertain, we are facing a new set of financial challenges the magnitude of which has never been experienced before. While these budget cuts will restrict some programs and initiatives, Southeastern will remain committed to our core mission of academic excellence. Together we will face these challenges. I look forward to working with all members of the Southeastern family – both on and off campus – as together we continue Southeastern’s proud tradition of success.

Board Members Denis Bechac ’91 Paulette Hebert Foster ’69, ’78 Terry King ’76 George Ibert ’70 Pat Macaluso ’70 Gayle Neal ’74 Steve Parrill ’89, ’96 Seth Peterman ’97, ’01 Randi Rousseau ’05 Steven Smith ’06 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 With more than 15,000 students, Southeastern has an annual economic impact on the State of Louisiana in the amount of more than $564 million, according to a study commissioned by the University of Louisiana System. The study was conducted by Applied Technology Research Corporation of Baton Rouge. Collectively, the eight universities in the University of Louisiana System have an annual $3.4 billion economic impact on all 64 parishes.

A message from your Alumni president

Pat Williams '78, '86

I would like to express my thanks for the opportunity to serve as your 2008-2009 Alumni Association president. The year has been an extremely busy and exciting one for me. It began with tailgating activities, where we burned the paid bank note on the Alumni Center. Other memorable occasions included endorsing the $3.2 million check received from the estate of Ms. Joyce Junghans, participating in the search for a new university president, toasting the King and Queen of Omega during Mardi Gras and visiting other alumni in a variety of locations to introduce Dr. John L. Crain, our 14th university president.

Then, with a great sense of pride, I administered the alumni oath to over 2,000 graduates who pledged their loyalty to their alma mater at commencements. I can’t begin to tell you how great it was to meet so many new people, alumni, community members and students. The Alumni Association has also worked hard to involve our alumni in helping to educate our state legislators on the importance of reducing the proposed cuts to the higher education budget.

We, friends and alumni, should be very proud of our university. During my year of service to the Alumni Association, I have truly learned that Southeastern Louisiana University stands for quality education, offering a safe, clean, desirable environment for learning. The university places emphasis on learning, maintains athletic programs that promote graduation, and provides quality programs and services for students, alumni and community members. I hope that you too are proud to be a Southeastern alumnus! What an honor it was to represent you!

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Southeastern President John L. Crain presents the data associated with the university’s economic impact study to area community leaders, elected officials and members of the media. The study, conducted by Applied Technology Research Corporation of Baton Rouge, showed that every dollar the state invests in Southeastern yields an $8 return.

Southeastern adds $564 million to economy

It’s been said that education is economic development. And a new study commissioned by the University of Louisiana System shows exactly that.

The economic impact of Southeastern on the state is more than $564 million annually, and the university’s impact supports more than 5,700 non-university jobs, according to the study.

Overall, Southeastern and its seven sister institutions across the state annually have a collective $3.4 billion impact that touches all 64 parishes in Louisiana.

Spending by Southeastern’s more than 15,000 students accounted for an approximate $237 million impact, while faculty and staff spending had a $99 million impact, the study showed.

In addition, the study analyzed non-economic factors such as cultural, education and business-related outreach projects.

“This report on the economic and community impacts of Southeastern highlights our multi-faceted role in serving the people who live throughout our region,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain.

The study was initiated last year and developed by Applied Technology Research Corporation of Baton Rouge. The study relied on data provided by the eight universities that make up the system, and also included data collected from the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana, and the Office of Group Benefits. The methodology used is considered consistent with that of other university impact studies conducted around the nation.

ULS President Randy Moffett said the state’s fiscal year 200708 investment of $438.7 million in University of Louisiana 2

System schools yielded the $3.4 billion impact to the state’s economy through spending alone.

“Every dollar of state funding Louisiana invests in the University of Louisiana System generates an $8 returned,” Moffett said.

The study examined each ULS university’s impact in four areas: spending, teaching, research and quality of life.

For Southeastern, spending includes a $42 million impact of university operating expenditures, $33 million from capital outlay and construction projects, $24 million from health insurance payments, $16.7 million from retiree spending, $101 million from visitor expenditures, $98.7 million from spending by faculty and staff, and $237 million from student expenditures.

According to the study, Southeastern’s spending created 5,748 non-university full-time jobs throughout Louisiana that support areas such as construction, healthcare, and food services. Those include 2,300 jobs related to student spending, 900 to faculty and staff spending, 600 to university operations, 1,000 jobs to visitor spending, and 150 jobs to retiree spending.

The study notes that six university construction projects between 2001 and 2008 yielded a $267.5 million impact and created more than 2,500 jobs. An eight-year average of construction at Southeastern revealed an average annual impact of $33.4 million with more than 300 non-university jobs tied each year to construction projects.

“All of the area banks are directly impacted by Southeastern as one of our major employers,” said Michael R. Sharp, president and CEO of First Guaranty Bank. “Many of Southeastern’s approximately 1,600 employees have accounts or loans with us. All of this has a ripple effect on the economy. The university’s partners reap the benefits of what we consider to be an

outstanding academic institution.”

In the area of teaching, the study found that the 19,397 graduates who have earned degrees at Southeastern over the last 10 years have added about $1.1 billion to Louisiana’s economy during that period.

The university’s bachelor’s degree holders have generated $960 million, master’s degree holders almost $112 million, and associate’s degree holders $13 million. Southeastern produced 56,845 degrees over the last 50 years with 20,053 graduates between 1998 and 2007. Southeastern’s top graduate producing programs include education, health and related clinical sciences, engineering technicians, business administration and social services.

Michael R. Sharp, president and CEO of First Guaranty Bank, notes the The study identified 32 reimpact and ripple effect students, search and service programs at faculty and staff have on the region's Southeastern, including three economy. in economic development, six in cultural development, four in environmental and natural sciences, and 19 in education, health and human services.

An example is Southeastern’s Small Business Development Center that provides assistance for starting and expanding a business, bringing new products to market, and seeking to increase sales or increase profits.

“The university has a big impact on the quality of life in our region, especially relative to education and workforce development,” said Lacey Toledano, chief executive officer of the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce. “The Southeastern Small Business Development Center works closely with us, pro-

viding counseling in our offices and advising and assisting entrepreneurs with business plans throughout the entire area. The population on the north shore is going to continue to grow over the next 20 years, and Southeastern is crucial to our success in the world of business.”

The study also found that approximately 787,000 people attended events at Southeastern last year, including Fanfare, the university’s fall festival of the arts, humanities and social sciences, which alone attracted audiences of more than 130,000 last year. Of the people attending events, 67 percent were from off-campus, adding to the $101 million impact from visitor spending.

Southeastern also impacts quality of life through service, Lacey Toledano, chief executive officer of the St. Tammany West Chamber of the study found, offering mulCommerce, said Southeastern is critical tiple service-learning courses to the success of business in the region. and expanding programming through the Center for Faculty Excellence. Additionally, Southeastern faculty and staff volunteered 69,000 hours last year, and students contributed 254,000 hours to enhancing area communities.

As one of the area’s largest employers, Southeastern’s economic contributions are obviously very visible, Crain said.

“Beyond that,” he said, “are the fundamental contributions Southeastern makes to develop an educated citizenry, a workforce prepared for today’s knowledge-based economy, and numerous cultural, creative and other resources that contribute to our quality of life and the well being of our region. No price tag can be placed on these contributions.”

Impact at a Glance Student spending Visitors Faculty/staff spending Operations Construction Health insurance Retirees Affiliated organizations T OTAL IMPACT

$237 million $101 million $ 99 million $ 42 million $ 33 million $ 24 million $ 17 million $ 10 million $564 million

The complete report can be viewed at www.selu.edu/impactstudy.

Spending by Southeastern's more than 15,000 students accounts for an approximate $237 million impact on the state, while faculty and staff spending accounts for a $99 million impact, according to the study.

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Southeastern begins renovation of Turtle Cove Renovation and repair of Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station is getting underway, three and a half years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita battered the century-old building on Pass Manchac, headquarters for university wetlands research and environmental education and outreach programs.

Turtle Cove Director Rob Moreau said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has committed to fund an estimated $4.8 million in four phases of renovation projects – replacement of bulkheads and docks (approximately $3 million), replacement of boardwalks leading to research sites in the Manchac Swamp ($600,000), repair and elevation of the three-story main building ($800,000), and construction of a new elevated caretaker’s building ($400,000).

“This is great news, not just for Southeastern but also for our entire region,” said President John L. Crain. “It means the educational programs and vital wetlands research our scientists, graduate and undergraduate students are conducting in the marsh will take a major step forward after the setbacks from the hurricanes of 2005.”

“This is just fantastic,” Moreau said. “We have been without this for so long.”

Leased to the university by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries since 1981, Turtle Cove has served as a research setting for Southeastern faculty and student scientists investigating wetlands ecology and restoration as well as a wide variety of other scientific and history-related projects. The facility, located at the tip of the 8,300-acre Manchac Wildlife Management Area in northwestern St. John the Baptist Parish, has also served as an outdoor classroom for educational outreach programs for area teachers and their pupils.

Moreau said he and Ken Howe, director of facility planning at Southeastern, have worked closely with state architects and engineers to map out plans for Turtle Cove repairs and to secure FEMA funding.

Those repairs are now getting underway with the bulkhead project awarded to Great Southern Dredging Inc. of Mandeville, which will install approximately 830 feet of stateof-the-art erosion-fighting bulkheads along the banks of Pass Manchac in front of Turtle Cove and its caretaker’s house.

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Moreau said the bulkheads should be completed in three to six months.

The new bulkheads are being built with long term stability and sea level rise in mind, Moreau said, and will be a foot higher than the 25-year-old wooden bulkheads they are replacing.

He said the university is seeking bids to replace more than a half mile of wooden boardwalks that lead to wetlands restoration-related research projects in the marsh behind Turtle Cove.

The new boardwalks will be six feet wide, twice the width of the old boardwalks, allowing researchers to transport themselves and their materials to experiments using four-wheelers or golf carts. The wider width boardwalks are actually more economical to build, Moreau said, since the contractors will be able to move equipment along the boardwalks as the construction progresses. “No motorized equipment is allowed on the marsh surface,” he explained. “Previously, boardwalks were built by hand by crews working on foot in the marsh.”

Bids let this spring, and work is projected to begin this summer to raise the three-story cypress structure of Turtle Cove itself, built in 1908 as a hunting and fishing camp.

Howe said the building will be elevated three feet on massive helical screw pilings to level and stabilize its foundation.

“Basically, they will be gutting and rebuilding the ground floor,” he said, which shifted and settled under the onslaught of the hurricanes’ five-foot flood surge.

Moreau said the work is projected to be completed by the end of the year.

Top: Four phases of repairs to Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station are getting underway with $4.8 million in funding from FEMA. Left: Turtle Cove Director Rob Moreau inspects the bulkheads damaged by Katrina.

Southeastern confers first doctoral degrees

FIRST DOCTORAL GRADUATES – Southeastern awarded its first doctoral degrees in educational leadership to, from left, front, Sharon Southall of Denham Springs, Linda Saucier of Pine Grove and Christel O'Quin of Clinton. Congratulating the new graduates are, back, President John L. Crain; Diane Allen, dean of the College of Education and Human Development; education professors and the candidates' dissertation chairs Ken Lane and Michael D. Richardson, head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Technology; and Randy Moffett, president of the University of Louisiana System.

A new chapter in Southeastern’s history was written at spring commencement in May when three students were “hooded” and received the university’s first doctoral degrees.

Christel O’Quin of Clinton, Linda Saucier of Pine Grove, and Sharon Southall of Denham Springs each received the doctorate in educational leadership (EdD) as the initial graduates of the university’s first doctoral level program offered through the College of Education and Human Development.

The program, which was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents in spring 2006, is offered in consortium with the University of LouisianaLafayette. Currently 43 students are enrolled in Southeastern’s program.

“It is definite cause for celebration,” said President John L. Crain.

“Southeastern has been known for years for the quality of classroom teachers we prepare. With this new program, we are now helping to groom a new generation of school system leaders who understand the challenges of today’s educational environment.”

The three candidates all enrolled in

Southeastern’s program in its initial semester in fall 2006.

“This has been a lifelong desire and a personal goal for me,” said O’Quin, who is principal at Mohican Education Center, a school of overage middle school students in Baton Rouge.

Her dissertation focused on feedback from students in the instructional process, and her research – which is now part of an international study through her collaboration with three other researchers – indicated that teachers are not using that feedback effectively.

“Perhaps if we used feedback in a better, more efficient instructional way, student achievement in Louisiana’s schools would increase,” said O’Quin who also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Southeastern.

As a principal at St. Helena Central Elementary School in Greensburg, Saucier entered the doctoral program hoping to enhance her capabilities as a leader. She found Southeastern’s program to meet the specific needs of current school administrators.

“The program offers a combination of online and classroom-based courses

and is designed to enable students to incorporate their real-life experiences into class assignments,” she said. “I believe it has enabled me to become a more competent administrator.”

Her area of research was teacher efficacy in a high-poverty school. “I wanted to understand why some high-poverty schools are high performing and some are low performing,” said Saucier. “I believe teacher efficacy is one factor that determines a school’s level of performance.”

Southall, who is a senior policy advisor with the Louisiana Board of Regents, looked to the doctoral degree as a way of gaining the tools and skills necessary to perform her professional duties at the highest possible level. “I chose the Southeastern program because it was new and carefully designed to give a practitioner’s approach to research and literature review,” she said.

Her research also looked at the issue of high performing, high poverty schools. She said she wanted to “identify school leader behaviors that create the conditions for underrepresented students to become successful in a postsecondary educational environment.” The study included an analysis of data that examined successful leadership practices of principals in high performing, high poverty schools.

“I could not have advanced through the program without the support and advice of the educational leadership professors at both Southeastern and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette,” she said. “The professors offered unique skills that contributed to my endurance and success.”

JOB HUNTING? Southeastern current and nontraditional alumni can use the free services of the university's Office of Career Services.

985-549-2121 • selu.edu/career 5

Campus Headlines ASAP provides tutoring for children, practical experience for teacher candidates

Southeastern tutor Aimee Adams of Denham Springs works with eighth grader Myeisha Williams during last spring’s ASAP program, which matched Southeastern education students with elementary and primary school children in need of extra help in math.

A $30,000 Learn and Serve grant from the University of Louisiana System is allowing Southeastern to continue and expand “ASAP,” a free after-school mathematics tutoring program successfully piloted last year.

ASAP (After-school Achievement Program) matches Southeastern education students with elementary and primary school children in need of extra help in math. It got underway last February as the brainstorm of Southeastern mathematics professor Tena Golding, who wanted a hands-on service-learning component for her students, and the Tangipahoa Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council (TADAC), which saw an after-school support program as a way to combat the risk factor of low school performance.

This fall, ASAP will transition from its “pilot” status to an improved and established program, thanks to the Learn and Serve grant, which will fund a mobile math lab complete with six laptop computers, math manipulatives and other math skillbuilding supplies.

The program, said TADAC Director Beth Abel, “is a perfect example of how when the right people get together you can do so much more.”

Golding, Abel, VISTA volunteer Lynn Hoover, and Janis Vicknair, director of field experiences for Southeastern’s College of Education and Human Development, devised the pilot math tutoring program after brainstorming and pooling funding sources, including grants from JC Penney and the Louisiana and Kentucky Campus Compact programs.

The approximately $5,000 was used for instructional supplies, snacks for the young pupils, and a t-shirt “uniform” for the university tutors. It also provided stipends for two supervising teachers –Vineyard Elementary second grade teacher Debbie 6

Barker and Ponchatoula Junior High science teacher Wendy Barker, who are mother and daughter and both Southeastern graduates.

The 21 tutors came from Golding’s and fellow math professor Danny Acosta’s Math 367 classes, a math content course for sophomore-level teacher candidates. Although their education methods courses and student teaching semester are still ahead of them, the students are required to gain 15 hours of practical experience in the field during the course of the semester in addition to putting in their regular three hours in the classroom.

ASAP, Golding said, has been the perfect vehicle for doing so.

“I really wanted a service-learning experience for my students,” she said. “I wanted them to give back to the community, to be somehow civically engaged.” She also saw the tutoring program as a way to better control her course content, since all the students would be getting the same kind of experience rather than having to make individual arrangements to fulfill their 15 hour requirement.

This has shown them that being able to do the math is a lot different from being able to explain it to someone else."

- Tena Golding

A brief newspaper announcement and information provided to southern Tangipahoa Parish schools attracted approximately 45 first to eighth grade pupils to the free after-school math tutoring. The young students and their Southeastern tutors met at the Miller Memorial Library Family Resource Center, TADAC’s headquarters, for 45-minute sessions beginning at 3:30 p.m.

“This was really an eye-opener for my students,” Golding said. “They all think they know enough math content to teach elementary school. In class, they tend to tune you out, thinking ‘I’m never going to use this!’ This has shown them that being able to do the math is a lot different from being able to explain it to someone else. Communication is one of the most important things in the math classroom.”

“Being a tutor at the ASAP taught me a lot about myself,” said Aimee Adams of Denham Springs, one of the tutors in Golding’s class. “It taught me things about myself as a person, and things I can use as a teacher. It taught me skills I need to possess in order to be an effective educator, like patience.

Building on the pilot program’s success, ASAP plans in the future to pair 25 teacher candidates with an additional 50 elementary students each semester.

“You teach content by modeling good methods,” Golding said. “If you’re modeling good pedagogy with the content, I think that’s the best of both worlds.”

Campus Headlines Southeastern enhances alcohol awareness educational activities

Top area high school seniors enrolling at Southeastern in fall Bryan DePoy, interim dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, chats with Hahnville High School student Bryan H. Robinson of Luling and his parents, Monica and Cory Savoie, at Southeastern’s annual Scholar Showcase. Robinson said he was attracted to Southeastern because of its mass communication program.

An increasing number of the area’s top high school seniors are looking to enroll at Southeastern this fall, according to university officials.

President John L. Crain said he was pleased to see that the number of entering freshmen with an ACT score of 24 or higher – those considered highly qualified – continues to increase from year to year. To date, the number of freshmen formally admitted for fall with a 24 or higher ACT score is up more than 13 percent compared to the same point last year.

In addition, total applications for the fall semester are up more than 4.5 percent, with freshman applications up slightly more than 4 percent.

Significantly, the number of new freshmen who have already completed the

application process and have been formally accepted to the university is up 6.3 percent over the number at the same time last year.

“We’re excited about the fall numbers and are proud that so many students are expressing confidence in our academic programs – despite reductions in state funding for Southeastern and other Louisiana colleges and universities,” said President John L. Crain. “We remain committed to our core mission of academic success.”

In the spring, Southeastern recognized top high school seniors from 45 Louisiana parishes at Scholars Showcase, where the students were awarded scholarships and housing assistance based on their ACT scores and grade point averages.

Executive MBA program listed among top 21 in South Southeastern’s Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree program has been listed among the top 21 programs in the South by BusinessWeek magazine.

The program is one of only two in Louisiana to be listed, the other being Tulane University. Regional listings are not ranked, but are listed alphabetically.

Other prominent EMBA programs in the South that were listed include Auburn University, Duke, Emory, the University of Florida, University of Miami and Vanderbilt University.

Southeastern’s program is under the direction of John L. Cresson, associate professor of finance in the College of Business. The listing is based upon a variety of criteria, including surveys, numbers of graduates and various academic quality measures.

The Southeastern program, which was initiated in 1999, begins every spring semester and lasts for 17 months, with classes held primarily on Saturdays.

A vehicular accident involving an alleged drunken driver took the lives of one former and two current Southeastern students earlier this year. In the tragedy’s wake, university President John L. Crain pledged to take steps to reduce the possibilities of a similar incident occurring in the future.

Crain committed to meet with city and community officials and to work with faculty, staff and students to enhance student-oriented alcohol awareness educational activities.

“An initial meeting included Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster and several other community and civic leaders,” Crain said. “Focus group meetings were also held with students and faculty members with expertise in areas such as social behavior and addictions to brainstorm ideas and come up with approaches that we hope will help make tragedies of this nature less likely. We’re collecting ideas and suggestions from various groups and individuals and will meet again in the near future to see what can be implemented.

“We all recognize that it is not just a problem of the university, but one that impacts the entire community,” he added. “In order to reduce the scope of this problem, we need to work in partnership with our area elected officials, law enforcement personnel, various agencies and the owners of establishments that dispense alcohol.”

Crain said he has charged the Division of Student Affairs at Southeastern to review the university’s current programming in the area of alcohol abuse and to determine what might be enhanced through additional or improved programming.

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Faculty and Staff News Retirees represent 570 years of service to Southeastern Southeastern composer releases new CD Starlit Starlit, a new compact disc representing a cross section of the more than threedecade career of Southeastern composer-in-residence and music professor Stephen Suber, was released April 1 by Centaur Records.

Recorded by orchestras and choirs in the Czech Republic, the CD will be available in retail stores and online outlets such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It includes six of Suber’s compositions spanning 1971-2003, and features as piano soloist David Evenson, head of Southeastern’s Department of Music and Dramatic Arts.

“Dr. Suber is a valuable and productive member of our music faculty,” said Bryan DePoy, interim dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “His latest CD release is a significant milestone in an extraordinary and ongoing music career. I admire his collaborative approach to music making, as is evident by featuring Dr. Evenson in one of his pieces on this recording.”

“The quality is really top notch and it is something I’m proud of,” said Suber, who has been a member of the Southeastern faculty since 1982 and whose many honors include the university’s 1987 President’s Award for Excellence in Artistic Activity.

A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Suber received his master’s and doctoral degrees at Mills College in Oakland, Calif., and Indiana University, respectively. His compositions for a wide variety of media have been heard throughout the United States and Europe.

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Above: Twenty-seven Southeastern employees retired this past year, representing a cumulative total of 570 years of service to the university. Attending the annual retiree reception in March were, front row, from left, Shelia Tregre, College of Business; Sara Spence, English; Daniel Hotard, Management; Bobbye Davis, Business Administration; Marie Billings, Nursing; Patricia Duplessis, Admissions and Financial Aid; and Gloria Burton, Post Office; back row, from left, Donnie Booth, College of Nursing; J.W. “Hoppy” La Croix, Basic Computing Services; Sarah Ross, English; President John L. Crain, who recognized the group; Paul Goodwin, Teaching and Learning; Linda Buras, Internal Audit; Joseph Bravata and Mark Cook, Physical Plant.

Stiegler named Healthcare Hero Lillian Stiegler, a specialist in the field of autism spectrum disorders, was named a 2009 Healthcare Hero by New Orleans CityBusiness. The awards program cited 55 professionals in various health care fields for excellence.

A professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, she was recognized in the Professional Category for her work in autism, a disability typically seen in children that is characterized by impaired social interaction and problems with verbal and non-verbal communication.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Stiegler’s caliber helping to prepare future professionals in speech-language pathology and in devoting countless hours working with area parents and family members of children with autism,” said Donnie Booth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Stiegler, who served as a technical consultant to the Lifetime movie Miracle Run that was based on the story of a single mother struggling to raise twin boys with autism, has been recognized by the Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Autism Society of America with the Award for Higher Education Excellence. She has also been honored three times by the Southeastern College of Nursing and Health Sciences with the Award for Excellence in Service.

UPD's De Noux wins writing award Police Investigator O’Neil De Noux won a 2009 Derringer Award for Best Novelette for his story, “Too Wise.”

The award was one of four presented by the Short Mystery Fiction Society for excellence in mystery short story form.

De Noux’s story “The Bonnie and Clyde Caper” appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in August 2008 and was also nominated for a Derringer Award in the Best Long Story category.

A professional writer since 1988, De Noux joined Southeastern’s University Police Department in 2006.

Student Highlights Senior chemistry student earns national scholarship Megan Lanier, a Southeastern senior from Husser, has been awarded a Gladys Anderson Emerson Scholarship from Iota Sigma Pi, the national honor society for women in chemistry.

A chemistry major in Southeastern’s American Chemical Society-certified curriculum, Lanier received one of two $2,000 scholarships awarded by the national organization.

“It is truly an honor for the university and our chemistry program in particular for one of our students to be recognized with this national award,” said President John L. Crain. “The award reflects on Ms. Lanier’s dedication and diligence in her studies and research, as well as the support she receives from our faculty.”

She was nominated for the award by Debra Dolliver, assistant professor of chemistry. In her nomination letter, Dolliver said, “Megan is the best overall student I have had during my teaching career, and I can think of no better recipient for this award. Not only is she an excellent researcher, manager, and leader, she also has displayed scholarly talent in her course work.”

Lanier expects to graduate from Southeastern in May 2010 and plans to pursue a doctorate in organic synthesis.

She hopes to work in research and development at a pharmaceutical com-

Above: Assistant Professor of Chemistry Debra Dolliver, left, observes the lab work of senior chemistry major Megan Lanier, who was one of only two students to receive a Gladys Anderson Emerson Scholarship from Iota Sigma Pi, the national honor society for women in chemistry.

pany or similar firm.

She is one of two student leaders in the university’s SEAL (Student Entrepreneurs as Active Leaders) program, in which groups of Southeastern students are linked with various industrial clients in the area to work on specific projects. As a student manager, she assists other students with their research, maintains project budgets and meets with clients.

“Working with SEAL has been a tremendous help to my professional career by allowing me to perform research for a client and attend local and national scientific conferences to present my

research to other scientists,” Lanier said.

Lanier also participates in Southeastern’s outreach programs to local schools to promote science education in the community.

Founded in 1902, Iota Sigma Pi has more than 10,000 members and 40 chapters in colleges and universities. The organization’s primary objectives are to promote interest in chemistry among women students, foster mutual advancement in the field, and stimulate personal accomplishments in the fields of chemistry.

Doctoral fellow selected for DOE internship in Washington, D.C. Southeastern doctoral fellow Beth Meyers, center, was selected to serve a special internship with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. She spent the month of May in the nation’s capital, working in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development Performance Information. An 18-year veteran of the Livingston Parish school system, Meyers is currently on leave from French Settlement High School as she pursues her degree. Having completed her coursework, she returns next year to work on her dissertation with an eye on obtaining her doctoral degree next year. With her are Dean Diane Allen, left, and Michael D. Richardson, head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Technology.

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Student Highlights President's Medal winners honored at commencement

Above: Southeastern awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 10 students with the highest cumulative grade point averages in the university’s five colleges and Division of General Studies. From left, front, are general studies major Jeanne Louise Villere of Slidell, early childhood education major Allie L. Sturino of Marrero, elementary education major Courtney Bright Dupont of Ponchatoula, psychology major Hannah Esther Locke of Slidell, communication sciences and disorders major Shannon Alyssa Wheeler of Walker; back, Congressman Steve Scalise, the commencement keynote speaker, President John L. Crain, biology major Meggie Elizabeth Doucet of Raceland, finance major Tiffany M. Mizell of Livingston, English major Mechelle A. Rouchon of Clinton, marketing major Melissa Karen Morse of Robert, political science major Elizabeth Gravois of Vacherie, and Andre Coudrain, member of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

Pinnacle of Pride Awards presented

Above: Southeastern recognized several students and student organizations for national achievements recently with the President’s Pinnacle of Pride Award and the Southeastern Alumni Association’s Friendship Oak Award for contributions made on behalf of the university. From left are President John L. Crain; Brittany Bacques, president of Theta Phi Alpha sorority; Jared Eusea, president of Gamma Beta Phi academic honor society; Matt Taylor, vice president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity; Tim Mitchell, cartoonist for the Lion’s Roar; Ally O’Keefe, editor in chief of Le Souvenir yearbook; and Julie Perise, assistant director, Southeastern Alumni Association.

Phi Kappa Phi national award recipient At the induction banquet of Southeastern’s chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Southeastern senior vocal performance major Jane Frances Rownd of Hammond, left, was recognized as one of 40 national recipients of the honor society’s Award of Excellence.

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Art students create brochure designs

The Hammond Chamber of Commerce is one step closer to its goal of creating a new marketing plan, thanks to the assistance of Southeastern digital design students.

The Chamber recently tapped the talents of students enrolled in Southeastern art professor Gary Keown’s upper level print design class to create an informational brochure.

After approximately a month of design work, drafts that whittled the field to four designs, and presentations by the four finalists to the Chamber’s marketing committee, “We have a winner,” Chamber Executive Director Charlotte Lenoir said.

Lenoir came to Keown’s class March 5 to announce that, after what she described as “heated discussion,” the Chamber had selected Lacey Schexnayder’s design. The art major from Baton Rouge received a $50 prize and will be credited on the printed brochure. She was also introduced and her winning design unveiled at the Chamber’s May meeting at Twelve Oaks.

Above: Hammond Chamber of Commerce and Southeastern representatives congratulate art major Lacey Schexnayder, whose entry was selected as the winner among designs created by 12 of her fellow students. From left, are Bryan DePoy, interim dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; art professor Gary Keown, Chamber Specialist Jenni O’Neil, Schexnayder, Chamber Executive Director Charlotte Lenoir, and Chamber Membership and Marketing Coordinator Donna Hellmers.

Alumni Feature:

Vision for the future

with a guy whose dad had started a practice about 60 years ago in Amite. There was a doctor in his 70s and on his way out.

On a whim I called him to schedule a meeting.”

That very day, sitting in the waiting room, the doctor agreed to sell the practice, Bond said.

“People had previously tried to get him to sell, and he just wouldn’t do it,” Bond said. “For some reason, he agreed to sell the practice to me. I guess he saw something in me that he liked. That’s one of those meant-to-be things - fate.”

In Amite Bond met and married his wife of 10 years, Dana.

The couple has three children – Kirstie, Kolby, and Hunter.

I can think back to an actual hallway at Southeastern and a bulletin board that had information about a career in the eye field – optometry."

- Optometrist and Southeastern alumnus Hunter Bond

Above: Hunter Bond at the Bond Eye Clinic in Hammond.

Fate.

Some believe in it; others don’t. Southeastern alumnus and optometrist Hunter Bond absolutely believes.

A pre-med zoology major, Bond graduated in 1989, but his scholastic journey was different from most. In his last semester, at Southeastern he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“The night before my surgery in Baton Rouge, I remember they wheeled me to the lobby, and there were more people waiting than they had ever seen,” Bond recalled. “It was a testament to the support of my family and friends. There was a push for me to go to Houston for treatment, but I wanted to stay close to home with my friends and family.”

The strategy paid off, he said. In fact, the local community supported Bond so much that even area store signs sported messages that read, “Pray for Hunter.”

“The prayers were answered,” Bond said. “Actually, divine intervention has kind of been the cliché of my whole career.”

Overcoming insurmountable odds, he survived surgery and treatment and managed to graduate. During his radiation treatment, Bond had time to ponder his career and the direction he wanted to take. He remembers when he decided to pursue medical school.

“I can think back to an actual hallway at Southeastern and a bulletin board that had information about a career in the eye field – optometry,” Bond said. “I remember thinking I could do anything in medicine except the eyes. There was just something about it. And now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Bond opened his first office in 1996 in Amite – a small spot across the railroad tracks in the middle of town. Once again the way it happened, Bond insists, was fate.

“I wanted to move back to Denham Springs, but that didn’t work out,” he recalled. “I was doing a rotation in New Orleans

“I’ve been totally blessed with my family, my wife and my kids,” he said. “I also coach sports. When I leave the office I’m at the ball field or a cheering event just like everyone else. I enjoy that even more than what I do at work every day.”

Over the years, Bond’s practice has continued to grow. In 1997 he opened an additional location in Denham Springs, expanded to a larger office in Amite in 1998, and opened services in Hammond in 2005.

In 2007, his Amite practice was dubbed one of the finest and most technologically advanced health care practices in the region.

“I’m really big into technology. We buy a lot of things that help in our decision making about what is best for the patient,” he said. “Our philosophy as far as eye care is ‘we care for people not just eyes.’”

Bond’s practice offers eye exams, glasses and contacts, surgery and everything in between. He said his patients remind him that he is doing exactly what he’s meant to do. He recalled a conversation with one patient in particular.

“She came to me with tears in her eyes and said, ‘I just want to say thank you. You saved my life,’” Bond said. “I detected something that warranted referral to a cardiologist for a carotid ultrasound. They found 95 percent blockage on one side and 90 percent on the other. She had to undergo surgery; without it, she may have had a stroke.”

Eye care, Bond says, is his mission. “I want to do the most good for the most people when it pertains to eye care. If I can help patients in other ways, then I want to do that too. And it all started with my educational background at Southeastern.”

He attributes his success to faith and the drive to overcome whatever challenges come his way. From humble beginnings as an adopted child to surviving a battle with cancer, he has always had faith.

“I was adopted, and my parents are my parents – there’s no difference. My whole life started in a divine nature,” he said, “because every aspect of my life has just been a miracle. Now reflecting back 41 years later, everything along the way has molded my character and has brought me to where I am today – completely blessed.”

11

Association News

Rock n' Roar 2009 Rock n’ Roar was a big hit on Southeastern’s campus in March with nearly 2,600 students from 60 schools competing in the District Literary Rally, which celebrated 100 years. Students and counselors joined the community to experience the festive atmosphere in the Student Union Park after their tests, enjoying entertainment, educational exhibits and a variety of foods from student organizations. The Red Stick and African American alumni chapters hosted the hamburger and drink booths.

St. Tammany reception for President Crain The East St. Tammany Alumni Chapter held a reception honoring President John L. Crain April 9 at the home of Sen. A.G. and Linda Crowe in Pearl River. Southeastern alumni and friends gathered to congratulate Crain on his appointment. Pictured are, from left, University of Louisiana System Board Chair Elsie Burkhalter, Poppi Crain, Kris Jones, Greg Crain, President Crain, Dianne Baham, Linda and A.G. Crowe, and Martin and Eileen Bruno.

Legislative hobnob Southeastern Alumni and the Chambers of Commerce of Hammond, Amite, Ponchatoula, and Independence hosted a legislative hobnob on March 24. The event enabled the community to visit with area legislators.

Golden Silence Alumni, faculty, staff and students gathered April 1 to honor the memory of Southeastern family members lost during the past year. President John L. Crain presided over the memorial service which culminated with a symbolic candle lighting in remembrance of the lives of those who were a special part of Southeastern. Above, Allie J. Hyde of Amite, right, lights the candle of Sarah Lipscomb of Ponchatoula in memory of her late husband Samuel C. Hyde.

Yellow Jackets reunion

Members of the oldest social organization on campus, the Yellow Jacket/ Kappa Rho sorority, met at the Alumni Center for a luncheon April 2. The group marked its 80th anniversary by recognizing two members of the original Yellow Jackets club who attended the event, Anna Webb McGehee Ory and Helen Ricketts Rownd. Special thanks were extended to outgoing officers Kitty Laiche and Jane Wainwright for their years of service and dedication.

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Lady Lions fans tailgate The Alumni Association, Ladies Top 28 Committee and the Tangi Alumni Chapter sponsored a tailgate for the Lady Lions March 4. Attendees received a complimentary ticket to watch the Lady Lions basketball team defeat McNeese State.

Thanks are extended to the Ladies Top 28 Committee, Pascal Dean, Gary Sandifer, and Tangi Alumni President Ava Ladell for making the event possible.

Delts celebrate 40 years Members of Epsilon Phi Chapter of Delta Tau Delta gathered for a weekend golf tournament and formal/banquet April 17-18 in honor of the fraternity’s 40th anniversary on Southeastern’s campus. Members turned out in force for the fraternity’s annual Tom Sharp Memorial golf tournament held at Carter Plantation, as well as the initiation, banquet and formal.

Ring ceremony

Southeastern senior Shawn Parker of Denham Springs shows his new Southeastern ring to his parents Katie and Charles Parker, and grandmother, Janice Crawford. Seniors ordered official university rings and were invited to participate in the special ceremony held in the Student Union Theatre April 24.

Car Show For a Cause

The African American Alumni Chapter held a premiere car show fundraiser April 25. The Southern Showoff featured all years, makes, and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles – from low riders to the classics. Everyone enjoyed food, music and family fun, and awards were given in a number of categories. The proceeds went to the African American Alumni Chapter scholarship fund.

Spring Football The Alumni Association hosted a group of alumni during the spring football scrimmage in Strawberry Stadium on March 28. Everyone enjoyed a good game and good company as they cheered on the green and gold!

Keeping in Touch what are you doing? ’62 Raymond Braun, Ponchatoula, LA, was named the 2009 Distinguished Graduate by St. Joseph School. ’72 Nick Bruno, Hammond, LA, received the National Association of College Auxiliary Services’ South Region Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008. ’73 Paula Spear, Amite, LA, is presently teaching at Bowling Green School upon retiring from teaching more than 35 years for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Ascension and St. Charles Parish schools. ’75 Charlotte Campbell, Pearl River, LA, a 30-year educator who teaches science, was recently named Creekside Junior High Teacher of the Year. ’75 Judy McKee, Hammond, LA, of Stirling Properties has been selected as the 2008 Human Resource Executive of the Year by the Northshore Human Resources Association. ’75 Mignhon Tourne', Metairie, LA, is chief executive officer of ASI Federal Credit Union. ’76 Gary Sandifer, Hammond, LA, was recently elected to New York Life Insurance Company’s Agents National Advisory Council. ’78 Rita Bertolino, Norco, LA, is now serving as the Reading Recovery Teacher Leader for St. Charles Parish Schools. ’84 Johnette Downing, New Orleans, LA, was recently honored as one of New Orleans CityBusiness’ Women of the Year for 2008. ’84 CDR Tim LaPlante, Marion, AR, is Navy and Coast Guard Programs Officer at the American Embassy in Doha, Qatar. He is assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Central Command as the U.S. Navy Liaison to the Qatar Naval Forces. ’86 Danny Heitman, Baton Rouge, LA, author of A Summer of Birds, was recently honored by the West Feliciana Parish Library and Friends of the Library as an outstanding regional author. ’86 Robin Huffman, Lexington, KY, is a part-time administrative assistant at Lantern Hill Farm, LLC. ’90 Sonya Traylor, Pumpkin Center, LA, has been elected to a position on the Tangipahoa Parish School Board. ’91 Paul Mastio, Mandeville, LA, was recently promoted to senior vice president of operations and accounting at Stirling Properties. ’97 Daniel Clifton, Slidell, LA, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Joint Service Commendation Medal for his individual meritorious achievements during combat operations in Iraq. ’98 Shelia Savoy, St. Amant, LA, is taking over as supervisor of elementary education for Ascension Parish Schools. ’03 Jan Dorris Linton, Ponchatoula, LA, recently participated in the National Book Signing event sponsored by Second Wind Publishing where she autographed copies of her thriller, False Positive. ’07 Amanda Gaspard, Covington, LA, has been named technical recruiter by Diamond Data Systems, LLC.

deceased ’48 ’61 ’63 ’65 ‘67 ’71 ’89 ’97 ’06

Doris Bankston Sweatt, February 10, 2009 Roland Edward Des Roches Jr., March 1, 2009 Joseph Baist Dupont Sr., March 5, 2009 Katherine Clark, January 31, 2009 Linda Louise Milton Williams, March 27, 2009 Ellyson Frederick Dyson Sr., March 22, 2009 Joseph Costanza, Jr., March 26, 2009 Gerald Wayne Grimmer Jr., March 20, 2009 Shaun Paton Pendarvis, April 1, 2009

weddings ’91 ’01 ’02 ’02 ’03

Christine McKegney and Daniel Finn, May 29, 2009 Adrienne Ann Diffey and Michael Scott Vercher, May 1, 2009 David Louis Barbato and ’03 Leah Ann Melsheimer, May 15, 2009 Rex Guzzardo and Jamie Dugas, March 14, 2009 Allen Robert Battles and Rebecca Mary Chustz, June 20, 2009

’04 ’04 ’04 ’05 ’05 ’05 ’06 ’06 ’06 ’06 ’06 ’07 ’07 ’07 ’08 ’08

Justin Lane Kittrell and Kimberly Ann Ducote, December 27, 2008 Jill Neyland McDowell and Ryan Matthew Smith, May 2, 2009 Brandi Deshan Smith and Elliot Donnan Beaudoin, June 13, 2009 Jake Allen Hoffman and Lynette Marie Alleman, April 17, 2009 Michael David Johnston and Julie Kristin Metz, May 23, 2009 Landon Allen Jordan and Leigh Ann Gillis, May 1, 2009 Lacey Lee Averett and David Charles “Charlie” Ard Jr., April 11, 2009 Keslie Cazes and Troy Smith, April 17, 2009 Katye Lyn Dickinson and Joshua Todd Ott, May 2, 2009 Anna Kathryn Percy and Bradley Winston Richmond, May 2, 2009 Gregory Guy Rockenbaugh and Jessica Lynn Smith, April 17, 2009 Tamron Belle and Kirt Allen, April 18, 2009 Heather Kenaley and Thomas Casselberry, May 23, 2009 Shane Michael Thomas and Alyson Elizabeth Roussel, April 3, 2009 Crystal Caraccioli and Cody Hebert, March 14, 2009 Kara Suhrke and Travis Simpson, May 29, 2009

Red Stick Chapter welcomes president The Red Stick Chapter hosted a reception for President John L. Crain at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Hays Town Jr. in Baton Rouge in April.

Hosts included Annabelle Armstrong, JoAnn and Glen Bowman, Karen and James Brady, Diana and James Corbin, Jim Defrances, Michael Hackler, Pam and Bill Hyde, Mary and Ken Kenelly, Terri LeBlanc, B.J. Lorio, Karen and Gino Marino, Mary and Clif Murphy, Debbie and Larry Nicholas, Brenda Truxillo, and A. Hays Town III. Above are, from left, Town, Armstrong and Crain.

Alumni cruise -

January 9-16, 2010

Key West & The Bahamas | leaves from New Orleans

Call 225-767-4444 for information

It's never too late Order your official Southeastern ring today.

1-866-Balfour or balfourcollege.com

15 13

Development Student Memorial Scholarship established As part of the funds raised from Chefs Evening, a scholarship has been established in memory of the two students and one former student who were killed in a tragic accident near campus in March. The Southeastern Development Foundation Student Memorial Scholarship will memorialize the late Beth Marie Boudreaux, sophomore from Husser; Maxime Profit, an MBA student from Vaires Sur Marne, France; and former student Thurman “Rion” Lowe III of Kenner.

“It is important we remember these individuals whose lives were cut so short,” said President John L. Crain.

“They had tremendous promise and potential and are certainly missed.

“This incident has affected not just our Southeastern family, but the entire community,” Crain said. “A number of citizens have asked about helping establish the memorial, and we welcome their participation and assistance.”

Individuals may contribute by sending donations to the “Student Memorial Scholarship,” in care of the Southeastern Development Foundation, SLU Box 10450, Hammond, LA 70402.

Left: Members of Alpha Omicron Pi – Taylor Thompson, Ashley Lemoine and Carley Bushnell – read tributes to their fellow sorority member Beth Boudreaux at the memorial.

Chefs Evening most successful ever Left: Corporate sponsors for Chefs Evening 2009 were recognized by President John L. Crain, right, for helping Chefs Evening break a fund raising record. Pictured are, front row, from left, Stacie Richardson and Ronaldo Hardy of La Capitol Federal Credit Union and Kristin Williams, First Guaranty Bank; back row, Daryl Ferrara and Cindy Shelton, Hancock Bank; Stan Dameron, American Bank and Trust; and Cheryl Brumfield, First Guaranty Bank. Not shown is Eric Gray of Gray Insurance Company, a Gold Sponsor of the event.

Antonellis endow new scholarships The Angelo C. and Marguerite Antonelli Endowed Scholarship in Athletics (Football) and the Angele C. and Marguerite Antonelli Endowed Scholarship in Education were recently established by Angelo and Marguerite Antonelli.

Antonelli was a member of the Lion football team in 1942, 1946 and 1947 and was selected to the All-Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference team in 1946 and 1947. In 1946 the Lions won their conference with an undefeated season and went on to win the Burley Bowl. He was inducted this year into the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame.

Preference for the football will be given to a student from Norwood High School, Norwood, Mass., or Breaux Bridge, La. Marguerite Hutchinson Antonelli is a member of the Southeastern class of 1943 and graduated with a degree in business administration. She is a retired high school guidance counselor. The scholorship will be awarded to an education major.

Valero, St. Charles Refinery supports Region VIII Science Fair and Science Olympiad The Region VIII Science Fair, hosted on the Southeastern campus for over 30 years, recently received its first sponsorship from Valero, St. Charles Refinery. The sponsorship allowed coordinators from the College of Science and Technology the opportunity to provide incentives and resources for students and teachers for both the Science Fair and Science Olympiad.

Over 300 students from Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes competed in the Science Fair, while about 340 students competed in the Science Olympiad. Those students advancing to the State Science Fair will have their registration fees paid by the generosity of the Valero sponsorship.

Participation in the Region VIII Science Fair helps students acquire skills, knowledge and expand their interest in science and math.

14

Above: The Region VIII Science Fair at Southeastern was sponsored by Valero, St. Charles Refinery. This marked the first corporate sponsorship of the fair. From left are Michaelyn Broussard, Science Fair coordinator and biological sciences instructor, Taryn Miller of Valero, and Dan McCarthy, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

Development Bartus Family Memorial Scholarship established

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. southeastern

PRIDE

Southeastern stories from yesterday and today are filled with pride. New Southeastern stories are being created everyday and great opportunities abound for our students. Through your support of the Annual Fund the success stories will continue.

This year, alumni and friends of Southeastern have pledged over $43,000 to the Annual Fund. Please join them in helping meet our goal of $50,000.

Send your donation using the form below or on line at selu.edu/give NOW!

I would like to provide for future success stories by making a gift to the Annual Fund. [ ] Please accept this gift to the 2008-2009 Annual Fund. $____________ [ ] Or restrict this gift to the following department, scholarship, or program: ______________________________________________ Name: ______________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________ City: ___________________________ State ________ Zip: __________ E-mail: _____________________________________________________ [ ] Please send me information on how I may give to Southeastern in my will, insurance, trust or other ways. [ ] Please send me information on how I may establish an endowed scholarship, professorship, or chair.

Matching Gift Program: You can double or triple your gift if you work for a company that will match your donations. Check with your personnel office for the appropriate form. [ ] My firm or spouse’s firm is a matching gift company.

The company is ___________________________________________ Enclosed is my company’s matching gift form.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

The Reverend and Mrs. Alexander Bartus Memorial Scholarship has been established by members of the Bartus family. The scholarship was established in memory of the Reverend and Mrs. Alexander Bartus and in honor of the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church.

Their children, Eugene, Louis and Goldie Bartus Hudson are all alumni of Southeastern.

Reverand Bartus was a Hungarian immigrant who came to America with the dream of owning land and becoming an ordained minister. He was pastor of the Albany Hungarian Presbyterian church for over 50 years. This memorial endowment will provide an annual scholarship to a deserving Southeastern student who is a graduate of Albany or Hammond high schools.

Danny Schilling endows scholarship in athletics The Danny Schilling Endowed Scholarship in Athletics (Football) has been established with a gift from Danny Schilling. A member of the Former Football Players Association, Schilling played Lions football from 1964-1967. He was the team co-captain and co-MVP in 1967.

The recipient of the scholarship must be a football player meeting all requirements of the NCAA, a full time student, and have good moral character.

15

Athletics

photo: Hardy Meredith

Men’s track team earns SLC championship

Above: The Southeastern track and field team celebrates after winning it's first ever Southland Conference Championship.

Trailing first-place Texas-Arlington by one and a half points heading into the final event of the 2009 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Southeastern track and field team found a way to beat the best 4x400 meter relay team in the conference to keep their title hopes alive.

For the Lions, senior George Cunningham, sophomore Jerel Butler, junior Adlus Wiltz and sophomore Shannon Grover delivered. The men’s 4x400 meter relay team posted a school record time of 3:06.79 to beat by 0.58 seconds a Texas-Arlington relay squad that posted the best time in the conference heading into the meet.

It marked the third time this season the Lions rewrote the school 4x400 record. This time the Lions shattered their previous mark by 2.11 seconds to give Southeastern 140 team points and edge Texas-Arlington by 0.5 points for the Lions’ first ever Southland Conference crown.

“It was unbelievable,” head coach

Sean Brady said. “I never would have dreamed we would win like that. It was the greatest finish I’ve ever seen a Southeastern team put together.”

“We have some elite level studentathletes, and our coaching staff has preached all year long to our younger kids that every point at conference counts and everyone needs to step it up.

They came through big. We peaked at the right time and got personal records from a lot of these kids that got us a lot of unexpected points. They really represented Southeastern well.”

Sean Brady honored as track coach of the year After leading the men’s track and field team to its first Southland Conference Championship, Lion head coach Sean Brady made program history as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named him the 2009 South Central Region Co-Men’s Head Coach of the Year.

This honor follows his being named Southland Conference Coach of the Year in May and makes the former Lion pole vaulter the only Southeastern track coach in history to claim USTFCCA honors.

Join the Pride – LAA membership drive initiated Athletics is holding its first membership drive for the Lion Athletic Association (LAA).

“The importance of private donations has never been greater, especially in our current economic times,” Southeastern Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann said.

“Receiving external support, at any level of intercollegiate athletics, is vital to the overall success of each institution.”

The Lion Athletic Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated solely to support the Southeastern Athletic Department. The LAA provides resources that supplement scholarships for student athletes and operational needs of the Athletic Department. The LAA’s goal is to assist Lion Athletics in maintaining a level of excellence in the Southland Conference and at the NCAA Division I level.

Membership in the LAA is defined by levels of giving which coincide with benefits in each level. Members can donate to the PRIDE FUND, which benefits all 15 programs, or to a specific athletic program. New members, with a donation, can also check with their employer on a matching gift program.

For more information on becoming a member, an application form is available at www.lionsports.net or by contacting David Lichtenstein at (985) 549-3227.

Football 2009 Home Schedule Date Opponent Time 9/5 Texas A&M-Commerce 6 pm 9/10 Union College (Thurs.) 7 pm 10/17 Sam Houston State * (HC) 6 pm 10/31 Central Arkansas * 2 pm 11/14 Stephen F. Austin * 2 pm 11/19 Nicholls State * (Thurs.) 6 pm 16

For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466.

All times listed are Central; dates and times are subject to change * Southland Conference game | HC - Homecoming Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SLUAthletics Facebook: Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics

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Southeastern has initiated Project Friendship to enable alumni and friends of the university to purchase personalized bricks in Friendship Circle, the historical part of the campus.

• Located in the landscaped centerpiece of the campus • A great gift for recent graduates, other alumni or to memorialize a life event • Proceeds go to Southeastern's Annual Fund in support of the university's academic programs • $100 contribution (portion is tax deductible)

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For more information, contact Michael Sistruck at the Southeastern Development Foundation, 985-549-3771.

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Alumni in Italy Alumni and friends enjoyed a 12 day tour of Italy this spring where they visited Rome, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Sienna, Florence, Verona, Venice, Assisi, Ravenna and Orvieto. In addition to the many historical sites, they also saw some of the locations where the new movie “Angels and Demons” was filmed. Pictured above is the Southeastern Alumni group in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The next Alumni trip will be a cruise to Key West, Nassau and the Bahamas January 9-16, 2010.