Alumni News Spring 2011

ALUMNI NEWS

Spring 2011

Fall 2010

G raduat ion r at e s explained • Total m o b i l e a c c e ss l a u n c h e d • Stu dy i n g c l a m s fo r o il c l e a nu p

Alumni

N EW S

A message from President John L. Crain

Southeastern Louisiana University Dr. John L. Crain ’82, ’84 President

Graduation is a milestone in the lives of college students and their families.

They have worked four, five, sometimes more years – especially for some of our non-traditional students – to receive their university diplomas.

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

Commencement is also gratifying for the faculty and administration of Southeastern. The hundreds of smiling, proud faces on the floor of the University Center are the reward we receive after working with our students, teaching them, and preparing them to become conscientious members of society wherever their future aspirations take them. We take pride and a sense of satisfaction when we see the celebration these students and their families enjoy on this day.

While Southeastern produces nearly 2,500 graduates every year – more than most institutions in the state – probably very few people realize that many of these individuals “don’t count” – at least not according to statistics for the U.S. Department of Education. They don’t fit the definition to be a part of the university’s graduation rate. Our story on page 3 explains in more depth who qualifies to be a part of that important measure. Outliers – and I include myself in that category, since I was a transfer student to Southeastern as an undergraduate – simply do not count toward an institution’s official measure of productivity.

In truth, we know that all of our graduates “count.” They are important as new alumni of our university, important to their families and friends, and important to the economic health and general well-being of the state of Louisiana. I congratulate each and every one of them, whether they are part of a graduation rate or not. We are proud to count you among our 60,000+ alumni.

A message from your Alumni president

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.

Over three decades ago, I walked across the Southeastern stage to receive my diploma with a heavy heart. While excited to graduate, I was tearfully sad to leave a place where I not only received an education in the classroom, but also through my involvement in various organizations. My years serving on alumni committees and on the Southeastern Alumni Association Board of Directors have given me the opportunity to continue to be involved with our university.

Rita Bertolino ’78, ’96

I have been honored to serve you as the president of the Alumni Association for the past year. Although the university is going through difficult financial times, Southeastern continues to offer a quality education to our students and activities for everyone – including you, our alumni and families. One event is Homecoming, where our attendance has steadily increased each year. I encourage you to make Homecoming at Southeastern an annual affair in your life. Mark your calendar now for Saturday, November 5, 2011.

cover Southeastern presented 1,200 students as graduates this spring, one of the largest groups of graduates in the University of Louisiana System. Southeastern's graduation rate, one

Memorable moments during my term included meeting Robin Roberts and her family at the retirement of her basketball jersey in February. What a day that was! Of course, another memorable moment – to many people besides me – is Commencement, a day of accomplishment, success and pride for our newest alumni. This year we welcomed former university President Randy Moffett as the commencement speaker. He spoke of the Three R’s – Role, Responsibility, and Relationships. The Three R’s are the reasons that keep bringing me back to my alma mater.

statistic used to measure institutional productivity, has shown steady improvement since the university implemented admission standards in 2000.

In closing, I wish to express my gratitude to our Alumni Board, the university administration, faculty and staff and especially our Alumni Association staff! You are absolutely wonderful!

“Other universities are looking at what we’re doing because this is truly innovative.”

Southeastern introduces

– Chief Information Officer Mike Asoodeh

Total Mobile Access user-friendly formats that will be immediately accessible via mobile devices.

“There is a growing demand for this kind of service,” he said. “Our students and future students are the ‘Net Generation.’ They have grown up on video games and the Web, and they expect to be able to transact business and communicate via their mobile phones and other Web-linked devices. This is the number one technology project for the university as we move into enterprise document and content management.”

“We had several students testing the system over the last several weeks, and they love it,” said Enrollment Services Director Lori Fairburn. “All the information they need about their course work, class and exam schedules and anything about Southeastern is immediately available to them.”

“This is great,” said sophomore Sarah Boyett of Metairie, who tried out the piloted edition. “It’s user-friendly, and everything you need is at the push of a button.”

Sophomore Kayla Pittman of Angie, who uses an iPhone 3G, said the service will be especially useful during the first few weeks of a semester because it allows her to view her class times and locations.

Asoodeh said Southeastern’s current iPhone App, developed last month, will remain available in its pure App form, however all its features will also be folded into the new system.

The complete structure is expected to be fully operational before the start of the fall semester, Asoodeh said.

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Abundant and easy access to Southeastern’s online resources and services are now at students’ fingertips.

Want to check on grades? Need to know where your financial aid stands? Looking for a campus map? These things and much more are now available through the university’s new total mobile access service.

The groundbreaking concept is designed for use with iPhones, Androids, iPads and any other kind of “smart” device. There will no longer be the need to fire up the laptop or find a computer in order to maneuver through the university’s online data systems.

“It’s not an App; it’s so much more than an App,” said Chief Information Officer Mike Asoodeh.

He explained the service uses a different type of technology than traditional phone “Apps” and does not require an App download.

Users can simply go to the Web at selu.edu/m for portal access.

In the initial launch this spring, students can access the status of their financial aid and other financials, grades and term details, class schedules and details, a course catalog, and their individual planners.

In addition, faculty can lookup student information, review class rosters, teaching schedules, and grades.

“We anticipate registration will be in place in time for the fall semester,” Asoodeh said.

The mobile access technology is something “few universities are doing right now,” Asoodeh said. “In fact, other universities are looking at what we’re doing because this is truly innovative.”

HighPoint Consulting is working with Southeastern to allow integration of its PeopleSoft Campus Solutions student system into

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Total Mobile Access: selu.edu/m

Graduation

1,200 receive degrees

Another chapter in Southeastern’s history was concluded in May, when more than 1,200 students received undergraduate and graduate degrees at spring commencement.

As the third largest university in Louisiana, Southeastern consistently graduates among the most students every year in the University of Louisiana System.

In his welcome, President John L. Crain noted the individuals being recognized at commencement included 432 men and 805 women who were receiving 17 different degrees. The graduates included representatives from 28 states and 19 countries.

Four candidates received doctorates in educational technology and were hooded by their major professors: Jason E. Hanks of Baton Rouge, Deborah G. Janssen of Mandeville, Kayla Marie Lamonte of Hammond, and Fnu Mihir, a native of Rachur, India, and now working in Norwalk, Conn.

Randy Moffett, president of the University of Louisiana System and former president of Southeastern, was the keynote speaker.

In his remarks, Moffett emphasized three “R’s” for college graduates: role, responsibility and relationships.

As role models for children and grandchildren, “your college success will now serve as a blueprint for their future; and because you value education, they will value education,” he said. “That’s the ripple effect of serving as a role model.

“You can set an example for others to follow and demonstrate through your actions the value of education,” he added. “Do not squander that opportunity.”

Responsibility, he said, means using knowledge and experience to make the world a better place, to improve the quality of life.

“Being in a unique group of individuals with a degree doesn’t mean you are going to get a VIP card that gets you into special places,” Moffett said. “It means you are prepared for your respective fields and have been given a special perspective on life.”

He reminded the graduates that during their education, they have been taken out of their comfort zones and forced to see the world from different points of view.

“You have had unique experiences – knowledge you have gained outside of the classroom through internships, service-learning, research and intercultural experiences – that have broadened your perspective of the world and the human condition,” he said. “Because you have benefited from higher education, you have a responsibility to ensure others have the same opportunities, to use your knowledge and experience to make the world a better place.”

Sustained relationships, he said, can serve as the tool to not only adapt to changes in life, but to also drive change that is needed.

“We are a culture of live news coverage, reality TV and, in my opinion, a bit of over-sharing,” he continued. “There is certainly a valuable use for all new technology and social media, but don’t let it take over your life. Don’t let it replace tangible relationships.”

The university awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 13 students with the highest cumulative grade point average in the university’s five colleges and Division of General Studies.

SWORN IN – Lt. Col. John Wright, right, of the LSU Army ROTC program, administers the military oath to Allen Busby of Bogalusa. In addition to receiving his degree, Busby was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Southeastern’s commencement ceremony.

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Medal recipients were: • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – organizational communication major Rachel L. Carazo of Ponchatoula, 4.0 gpa; liberal arts studies major Katie E. Montelepre of Folsom, 4.0 gpa; communication major Terry Trahan Jr. of Houma, 4.0 gpa.

• College of Business – accounting majors Joshua E. Cryer of Leesville, 4.0 gpa; and Dennis J. Haydel Jr. of Lacombe, 4.0 gpa.

• College of Education and Human Development – elementary education major, grades 1-5, Amanda M. Sciortino of Hammond, 4.0 gpa; and family and consumer sciences major Lauren M. Wicker of Mandeville, 4.0 gpa.

• College of Nursing and Health Sciences – nursing major Kayla M. Bonvillain of Baton Rouge, 3.935 gpa.

• Division of General Studies – general studies major Angela M. Overmier of Loranger, 3.864 gpa.

• College of Science and Technology – biological sciences majors Brooke K. McLin and Bryce K. McLin of Bueche, 4.0 gpa each; biological sciences major Annie T. Doucet of Raceland, 4.0 gpa; and mathematics major Erin C. Mire of Houma, 4.0 gpa.

In addition, Allen Busby of Bogalusa was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after completing the ROTC program at LSU. Administering the oath to Busby was Lt. Col. John Wright of the LSU ROTC program.

Graduation rate

– What exactly is that ?

Anyone following discussions in Louisiana regarding higher education issues has heard the term “graduation rate.” But few outside the higher education community actually know what the term means.

Graduation rate is one formula used to measure productivity. It is a measure generated by the National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Officially defined, the IPEDS grad rate is a snapshot of a cohort of students – all first time, full time freshmen who start at an institution in the fall semester and who graduate from that same institution within six years.

“While this is one official measure, it does not tell the full story,” said President John L. Crain. “It does not count transfers, part time students, those who start in the summer or spring semesters, or students who take longer than six years to complete their degrees. We have a fair number of students who may drop out of their studies for a time, perhaps for family issues, work or military deployment.”

In fact, more students who cross the stage at a Southeastern commencement do not count toward the university’s IPEDS grad rate than do. (See chart below.)

Crain noted that prior to 2000, Southeastern was an open admission institution. A high school diploma was all that was needed for admission. Southeastern initiated admission standards in 2000 and increased them four times to the present.

“Since then, we have seen steady improvement in retention/progression rates which has translated to an improved graduation rate,” he said. “The single most important factor in a student’s success in college is preparation for college at the high school level.”

He noted that Southeastern’s IPEDS rate has increased significantly since the implementation of admission standards, and the university is on target to reach the Southern Regional Education Board’s average in 2014 of 41.5 percent as required by the Louisiana GRAD Act.

SOUTHEASTERN IPEDs GRADUATION RATE 45%

41.5%

40%

36.0%

35% 34.5%

30% 28.5%

25% 20%

20.1%

15% 10% Top left: TOP GRADUATES HONORED – Southeastern awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 13 students with the highest cumulative grade point average in the university’s five colleges and Division of General Studies. Medal recipients were, front, from left, Bryce and Brooke McLin, Katie E. Montelepre, Erin C. Mire, Lauren M. Wicker, Kayla M. Bonvillain, and Amanda M. Sciortino; back row, from left, Southeastern President John L. Crain, Annie T. Doucet, Joshua E. Cryer, Dennis J. Haydel, Rachel L. Carazo, Angela M. Overmier, Terry Trahan Jr., and commencement speaker Randy Moffett, University of Louisiana System president.

Above: MOFFETT DISCUSSES THREE R’s – University of Louisiana System President Randy Moffett addresses more than 1,200 graduates at commencement in May.

2000

2008

2010

2012

2014

SOUTHEASTERN GRADUATES

2007-08 Fall 07

2008-09 Fall 08

2009-10 Fall 09

Total Baccalaureate Recipients

1,752

1,880

1,947

Transfer students

650

707

728

Part-time (not in cohort)

211

189

149

In cohort (longer than 6 years)

193

204

247

% not reported as success in cohort

60.2%

58.5%

57.7%

CAMPUS NEWS Burkhalter receives Golden Ambassador Award Longtime north shore educator Elsie Burkhalter of Slidell was honored this spring with the University’s Golden Ambassador Award.

The award recognizes individuals for “outstanding service, achievement and/or humanitarian efforts.” First awarded in 1996 to the late Louisiana Sen. John Hainkel, the award has been presented to only eight other individuals.

President John L. Crain recognized Burkhalter upon her departure from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. He cited “years of selfless service on behalf of all students.

Her decisions and her focus are always based on what’s best for the students.”

Burkhalter served 18 years on the Board of Supervisors, two of those years as chair. She was the first African American female to serve in that capacity. She is president of the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees, a position she has held since 1979. She has also served as vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and the Louisiana AFL-CIO. Burkhalter was also presented a pendant based on the design of Southeastern’s official ring. An alumna of Southeastern, having earned her master’s in education there, she is only the second person to receive the specially designed jewelry, the other being fellow alumna Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America.

Last year Burkhalter was recognized by the College of Education and Human Development as its distinguished alumnus of the year.

Campus goes to 4-day week Southeastern has implemented a four-day work week for the summer to save energy costs. The university will resume its four and a half day work week on August 7.

The campus will operate on a 10-hour workday, Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“The new schedule provides adequate hours for students and others conducting business with the university, while allowing us to capture savings in energy costs,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain.

The university expects to save approximately $200,000 by moving to the four-day work week.

Southeastern chemistry student Caitlyn Guice of Prairieville and Phillip Voegel, assistant professor of analytical and environmental chemistry, check the concentration of hydrocarbons in water collected from nearby lakes. The two are studying the possibility of using native clams to serve as natural cleaning mechanisms for oil spills.

Southeastern team studies common clam as way to clean oil-contaminated waters The lowly Rangia clam, so common in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and other brackish bodies of water in the South, may take on a new role if studies at Southeastern show the clam can actually clean oil-polluted waters.

Caitlyn Guice, a junior chemistry major from Prairieville, has received a $2,300 Louisiana Sea Grant Undergraduate Research Opportunities Grant to study the ability of the clam to remove hydrocarbon pollutants from natural water – like the oil that polluted the Gulf of Mexico last summer. She will be working under her faculty mentor Phillip Voegel, assistant professor of chemistry.

The research is an outgrowth of the work that Voegel and Guice performed last summer when they analyzed water samples from the lakes, as well as the clams themselves, to determine if they absorbed any oil.

Voegel explained that clams are bottom-dwelling filter feeders, obtaining nutrients by filtering the water around them.

“As filter feeders, these clams help maintain water clarity and quality,” said Guice.

The scientists’ thinking then turned to the possibility of the clams serving as a natural cleaning mechanism of waters polluted by oil or other possible contaminants.

“Looking at bioconcentration of hydrocarbons by shellfish in this manner is a complete shift in thinking from the typical focus on food safety,” said Voegel. “Successful completion of this project will provide new knowledge on the abilities of the clam to concentrate pollutants and determine if and under what conditions, this could be applied to the bioremediation of oil-contaminated sites.”

“Most of my work will focus on lab studies with clams grown at varied salinity and with different levels of oil pollutants,” Guice said. “Then, over time, I’ll test the amounts of oil remaining in the water to determine how well the clams absorb the pollutants.”

Voegel said the information obtained could lead to environmentally friendly methods that would use clams to clean oil-contaminated Collected clams will be placed in tanks with varying degrees of oil and salinity to check effectivess in cleaning waters. Of course, that would contaminated water. require further studies, he said.

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Lion’s Roar newspaper honored by LPA Southeastern’s student newspaper, The Lion s Roar, earned the award for General Excellence among college and university newspapers for the second consecutive year at the 131st Annual Louisiana Press Association Convention held in Marksville.

The competition bestowed the award based on points earned from three randomly selected issues of the newspaper.

Bejeaux “I am proud of the performance by our students at the LPA convention, said Lee Lind, director of student publications. “To get the award for General Excellence for the second year in a row is a good testament to their work and dedication.”

The Lion' s Roar Editor-in-Chief Nick BeJeaux, a sophomore English major from Denham Springs, won first place in the competition for best column.

“Being recognized for this is a real honor and is very uplifting,” said BeJeaux. “I think editorials are important because they help direct discussion on campus about important issues. We try to present topics to start conversations among students and get people to really think.”

Nearly 80 newspapers, publications, and college and university student newspapers submitted more than 3,800 entries, which were judged by the Kentucky Press Association.

Southeastern students work in the Lake Maurepas wetlands to deploy discarded Christmas trees.

Recycled trees shore up wetlands Despite losing state funds that included placement of recycled Christmas trees in the wetlands this year, a group of Southeastern students picked up the slack and carried out the project themselves.

“With the cuts in the state budget this year, our annual grant to place Christmas trees in the wetlands and to plant marsh grasses got cut,” said Robert Moreau, director of Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, located on Pass Manchac between lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain. “But volunteer businesses and the Tangipahoa Parish government helped us by serving as collection points for the trees, and our students helped to place them as part of their course work in environmental awareness.”

Since 1994 in St. John the Baptist Parish and 2000 in Tangipahoa Parish, Moreau and Fred Stouder, Turtle Cove marsh restoration coordinator, have deployed discarded Christmas trees and planted various types of marsh grasses.

“Both programs have been funded by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and got high marks on evaluation,” Moreau explained. “The money just wasn’t available this year, but we were determined to continue at least a portion of this successful work through our students’ efforts and volunteer assistance.”

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Former Enron vice president Sherron Watkins of Houston accepts a plaque from College of Business Dean Randy Settoon recognizing her as the 2011 James and Evelyn Livingston Lecturer in Business Ethics. The lecture is supported by the Junghans Business Endowment and long-time Livingston family friend John Batson.

Enron whistleblower stresses business ethics If your personal value systems are challenged where you are working, then take steps to get out as quickly as you can, the Enron “whistleblower” told a Southeastern audience this spring.

Sherron Watkins of Houston, whose revelations of corporate wrongdoing at the giant energy trading company launched its demise, said she thought she could approach the Enron CEO with her information about accounting irregularities only to learn her warnings were too little and too late. Instead, he looked for ways to fire her from the company.

“Most people who speak the truth to power are crushed,” Watkins said.

Watkins delivered Southeastern’s James and Evelyn Livingston Lecture in Business Ethics, a function sponsored by the College of Business.

The lecture, founded in 1984 and considered one of the oldest series of its kind in the nation, honors the late James Livingston, a prominent Hammond businessman, and his late wife Evelyn, who was an active community volunteer.

In early 2000, Enron was the seventh largest U.S. company based on revenues, with stock prices rising rapidly. As it collapsed, its stock plummeted from $35 to nine cents a share.

“Enron was THE place to work in Houston,” she said. “We attracted top talent from all over the country. We had Ivy League folks throughout.”

Enron was considered one of the most innovative companies in America by a Fortune Magazine ranking, Watkins said.

“The problem with that is when you are constantly pushing your employees to innovate, innovate, innovate, you’re pushing them to the dark side; and the dark side of innovation is fraud,” she said.

STUDENT NEWS Student honored at Kennedy Center festival Southeastern Theatre’s production of Candy Said, an original play written by student Zach Boudreaux of Walker, was a finalist in the One Act Play Category at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival hosted by Amarillo College and the city of Amarillo.

The play was a finalist at the regional festival, placing it into consideration for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival held annually in Washington, D.C. Boudreaux was recognized last year at the competition for his original play Parking Lot Babies that earned him a fellowship to the Kennedy Center, where he studied under professional playwrites.

“We are proud of him for reaching the final 16; it’s pretty impressive considering he was up against 400 other writers across the nation,” said theatre instructor James Winter. “He is a great writer.”

Students perform summer research in Japan Southeastern chemistry majors Patrick Flowers of Ponchatoula and Katelyn Dreux of Slidell will be going to Japan this summer for seven weeks of intensive materials science research.

Both will be working at Tokyo Denki University to study and characterize the bonding strength of various thin films on different materials. Flowers will perform experimental work using a laser interferometer, and Dreux will conduct computer simulations to interpret the data.

Their trip is sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant awarded to Southeastern physics Professor Sanichiro Yoshida. The grant is designed to encourage student experimental research in physics. Southeastern maintains a collaborative agreement with TDU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Yoshida said the students will be a safe distance from any of the contaminated areas of the country that resulted from the tsunami that struck northern Japan in March. He said he checks regularly with colleagues in Tokyo on the conditions in the area.

Southeastern Channel students who work on the station’s Northshore News program recently won a number of Mark of Excellence Awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 spring convention. From left are channel General Manager Rick Settoon, reporter Jessica Leblanc; John Reis, program supervisor; reporters Chrissy Carter and Anna de Tiege; and videographers Nick Elliot and Daron Short.

Students at the Southeastern Channel won more television awards than any other participating university in the competition.

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DSA Woman & Man of the Year recognized Jenée Nicole Ratelle, a senior in marketing from Baton Rouge, and organizational communication junior William Takewell of Hammond were named the Outstanding Woman and Man of the Year at the annual Division of Student Affairs Awards Convocation. Ratelle served as the university’s homecoming queen and is involved in numerous activities on campus. Takewell is chief justice of the Student Government Association and founded “The Big Event,” a day of service by students throughout the community.

Student honored for programming activities Sophomore Ashish Acharya was recognized with the Outstanding Student Programmer of the Year Award by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. He was selected from a large pool of nominees by the national campus activities organization. The group provides services for university programming departments throughout the nation.

CAB is a Southeastern organization that plans and presents special campus events, such as the university’s Gumbo Ya-Ya celebration in the fall, Jam the Jungle for Lion basketball, and the Strawberry Jubilee, an annual spring event.

Acharya and Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Jim McHodgkins attended the APCA convention in Atlanta in late March at which Acharya received the award.

“Ashish goes above and beyond,” says McHodgkins. “He wants to make sure everything is perfect and he wants to work out different ideas. It’s a great honor, and it really says a lot about him.”

SUPER FANS

– Ron & Gwen Traylor

What is a true fan? Webster suggests it’s an

attended Southeastern and her mother is also an alumna. Both her sister and brother – Southeastern Opera Workshop Director Chuck Effler – are graduates as well. Ron’s brother and his wife are Southeastern alumni, and their son enrolls in the fall.

Members of the Alumni Association and the Lion’s Athletic Association, the Traylors attend many sporting events, both home and away. Volleyball, however, is their favorite.

“We attended volleyball games because we each had a team member in a class,” Ron said. “Thinking we would attend a game or two to support our students, we became hooked. We fell in love with the players. They are good sports, good students and good athletes.”

Now, the Traylors even host a dinner for team members in their home each spring semester.

Ron promotes Southeastern athletics in his classes by encouraging student attendance at games. He has had a number of athletes in his classes and has been an honorary coach for football, baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball. Gwen has been an honorary coach for volleyball as well.

“We are enthusiastic fans and provide support and encouragement to the athletes whether they win or lose.”

“enthusiastic devotee.” There could not be a more accurate description for Southeastern alumni Ron and Gwen Traylor.

Both natives of Hammond and graduates of Southeastern in the early ‘70s, they pursued their professions – Ron in marketing, Gwen in education – in Texas, where Ron completed his master’s and doctorate in history while working for Chevron and Gwen worked in the Dayton Independent School District. They returned to Hammond in 2004 and joined the Southeastern faculty.

Gwen taught in the Education Department at Southeastern for five years, serving as a member of the Faculty Senate and liaison to the Student Government Association before retiring; Ron teaches in the History and Policital Science Department and currently serves on the Faculty Senate.

“We love Southeastern,” said Ron. “It prepared us well for our careers and we love supporting such a distinguished institution.”

Southeastern is a family tradition for the Traylors. Gwen’s dad

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FACULTY/STAFF NEWS INTERNATIONAL GROUP HONORS BALLARD WITH LEADERSHIP AWARD Mary Ballard, interim assistant dean of the Southeastern College of Education and Human Development, has been honored with the Outstanding Leadership Award from the International Association of Marriage and Family Counseling.

A division of the American Counseling Association, the IAMFC serves clinicians, counselor educators and students from around the world who have an interest in the issues surrounding counseling couples and families.

Ballard served on the IAMFC Board of Directors for over eight years, including two years as president. She was instrumental in expanding the organization’s presence in Europe through its sponsored Northampton Summer Institute in Northampton, England.

BURROUGHS RECEIVES STATE DUNBAR AWARD Betty Burroughs of Tickfaw, retired library specialist supervisor at Sims Memorial Library, was among the 12 people chosen this year for the Charles E. Dunbar Career Service Award.

The award is named for the founder of the Louisiana Civil Service League and co-author of the original civil service law in Louisiana.

Burroughs began working at Sims Memorial Library as a typist clerk in December 1977. She advanced to become a specialist supervisor in the circulation department and, after 33 years, retired in August 2010.

In addition, two other Southeastern employees received certificates of merit in the awards program: Denise Lee of Hammond, administrative assistant in the School of Nursing, and Dawn Dottolo Starkey of Loranger, administrative assistant of the Campus Activities Board.

DeNOUX AUTHORS NEW POLICE NOVEL BASED ON PRE-KATRINA NEW ORLEANS Southeastern police detective O’Neil DeNoux has released his eighth novel, a thriller set in preKatrina New Orleans.

John Raven Beau, the title of the 72,000-word novel and the name of

its primary character, focuses on a desperate search for a killer who is ambushing police officers in the Crescent City.

DeNoux has authored 15 previously published books and has received two national writing awards: the Derringer Award in 2009 from the Short Mystery Fiction Society and the Shamus Award in 2007 from the Private Eye Writers of America for best short story.

He is currently working on a historical epic set during the Battle of New Orleans under a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

BARBARA MOFFETT NAMED TO NURSING HALL OF FAME Barbara Moffett, former professor of nursing and interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has been named to the Louisiana Nurses Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Louisiana State Nurses Association and the Louisiana Nurses Foundation and recognizes lifetime achievements of nurses in the state of Louisiana. Moffett, who has retired from her position at Southeastern, was nominated by fellow members of the School of Nursing and university President John L. Crain.

A resident of Baton Rouge, Moffett joined the Southeastern School of Nursing as a member of the faculty in 1976 and in 2001 was named director. During her tenure as director, Southeastern’s program was recognized three times with the Nightingale Award by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation (LNF) as the Nursing Program of the Year.

Over the years, Moffett earned a number of honors, including LNF’s Nurse Educator of the Year in 2003, the Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Nurse of the Year Award by the Tangipahoa District Nurses Association. In 2004, she was cited as a New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year.

JOUBERT, RICKS CITED FOR STELLAR ASSISTANCE Two staff members at the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern have been recognized with awards for stellar assistance to clients.

Center Director William Joubert was the sole recipient of the “Five Million Dollar Club” award at the state’s Small Business Development Center awards reception held recently in Lafayette. The award recognized

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his efforts in helping to secure more than $5 million in client capitalization.

Joubert has been a part of the LSBDC network for more than 15 years. He also directs the university’s Southeast Louisiana Business Center.

Consultant Wayne Ricks received the “One Million Dollar Club” award for helping area businesses receive more than a million dollars in capitalization. A previous recipient of the Five Million Dollar Club award, he was also recognized for developing a document management system last year that is now being adopted by centers statewide.

At the LSBDC, Ricks works with start up businesses and existing business owners, providing individual consulting, assisting clients in creating financial projections and performing industry research.

NURSING COORDINATOR HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Lorinda Sealey, a nurse educator at Southeastern’s School of Nursing for 22 years, has been honored for excellence in teaching by the Baton Rouge District Nurses Association.

An associate professor and coordinator of the nursing school’s graduate program, Sealey received the Helen Johnson Cremeens Excellence in Teaching Award at the association’s annual Celebrate Nursing Awards Banquet in Baton Rouge in early May. A nurse for 39 years, Sealey is a member of several professional organizations, including the Rho Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses, the Louisiana State Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association.

AAHPERD CITES SYNOVITZ WITH TOP HONOR AWARD Linda Baily Synovitz has received the Honor Award from the Southern District American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

The Honor Award is the highest recognition by AAHPERD and is given based on the merit of scholarly works and services rendered. The award was presented at the organization’s recent convention in Greensboro, N.C. Synovitz has served as a professor of health education and promotion in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies for 15 years. She has received numerous past honors for research and service and was the National Health Education College Professional of the Year for the American Association of Health Education. She is also a member of four national, one regional and one state health organization and has served on their boards or as an officer.

NURSING INSTRUCTOR NAMED TO STATE EMERGENCY BOARD Kristin K. Whitty, assistant professor of nursing, has been appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board.

The 28-member board is charged with developing and implementing a statewide network of emergency response units to provide coordinated access to medical services in response to emergencies or crises. Whitty was nominated by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

An authorized standardized awareness trainer by Homeland Security, Whitty has 10 years of experience as an emergency department nurse. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from LSU Health Sciences Center, a master’s degree in nursing from Southeastern, and a doctorate in nursing from LSU. In addition, she earned a post-master’s adult nurse practitioner certification from Southeastern. Her doctoral dissertation focused on preparation for mass casualty incidents.

Whitty participated in providing care to hundreds of post-Katrina victims at the 800bed facility housed at LSU in Baton Rouge. A member of Southeastern’s community emergency response team, she teaches courses in disaster management training for nurses at Southeastern’s School of Nursing. She is an active member of the American Red Cross and serves on the board of directors for the Baton Rouge chapter.

Southeastern researchers have determined that playing exercise games on a Wii play system – especially at higher levels – can be an effective method of physical activity for women.

Research evaluates health benefits of Wii Former student researchers at Southeastern have determined that playing certain video games is not only fun but could play an important role in keeping you healthy.

As undergraduate students, Jennifer Worley and Sharon Rogers set out to measure the metabolic responses of the body when playing Wii Fit, a popular health wellness game created by Nintendo.

Robert Kraemer, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, supervised the project.

“These games can be used as an effective mode of physical activity to improve health in adult women,” said the researchers, whose study was published in the March issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning. “However, players should strive to participate at higher game levels to gain exercise benefits.”

Their work is considered to be among the first studies to evaluate whether video games that incorporate physical activity can actually provide sufficient exercise to improve a person’s health.

Worley is currently working on a master’s degree in exercise physiology at East Carolina University, while Rogers will be entering a doctor of physical therapy program at LSU Health Sciences Center.

Kraemer said the researchers brought in eight untrained adult women for a fitness assessment and then put the partici-

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pants through a series of sessions on Hula, the hula-hoop simulation game, and Step, an aerobic step exercise. The students assessed oxygen consumption and energy expenditure along with other metabolic responses as the participants progressed through more intense levels of the game.

“We decided to look at what kinds of metabolic responses people would experience by playing Wii Fit,” says Kraemer.

“Oxygen consumption, which represents cardiorespiratory fitness levels, was a key factor because it deals with the heart, muscles and use of oxygen in muscles.”

Initially neither game produced the effects the researchers predicted, but as the difficulty increased, the results showed definite improvement. Both games gave the same results at the intermediate level as walking at a speed of 3.5 miles per hour. In the end, the Hula game produced the strongest results.

The researchers concluded the study showed that this form of video gaming could be used as an effective mode of physical activity to improve health in the population.

“Using the Wii Fit puts the right kind of stress on your body, helps burn calories, and puts stress on the muscles,” said Kraemer. “And sometimes, when weather doesn’t permit you to go outside, this provides a nice mode of exercise.”

CHAPTER NEWS Red Stick Chapter hosts events

Golden Silence honors departed

The Alumni Association’s Red Stick Chapter hosted a tailgate for alumni, friends, and the baseball team March 1 after the Lions played LSU at Alex Box Stadium. They welcomed alumni at the Baton Rouge weekly “Live After Five” event and enjoyed the entertainment provided by area artists. The group also hosted a very successful crawfish boil on May 1 at Southeastern’s Nursing School campus in Baton Rouge. Congratulations to new officers Jim DeFranceschi, Mike Hackler, Mary Kenelly, and B.J. Lorio.

The Southeastern Family came together on April 7 to honor the memory of Southeastern alumni, faculty, staff and students who passed away in the last year. At left, Julie Rawls Hollenbaugh of Walker holds a lighted candle while her daughter Lydia and her cousin Liz Foster look on. Hollenbaugh attended the ceremony in memory of her mother Patricia Rawls.

Welcoming new grads

Yellow Jackets/Kappa Rho visit, make scholarship donation The Yellow Jackets/Kappa Rho Sorority hosted its annual reunion luncheon at the Alumni Association on April 7. Members of Southeastern’s oldest social organization enjoyed mixing and mingling.

They also made a donation to the Stella McKinney Scholarship.

The Alumni Association had the opportunity to welcome our newest alumni with multiple events. The Association hosted Grad Fair on March 10-11 at the Alumni Center, where graduates were able to purchase caps, gowns and graduation supplies to get ready for the big day. The Association also welcomed graduates at Senior Salute on May 11, where they were treated to a gumbo dinner, door prizes and a photo with President Crain.

Baseball players gather for reunion

Rock ‘N Roar entertains area students The Alumni Association hosted high school students participating in the District Literary Rally with its annual Rock ‘N Roar fest March 19. After testing, the students visited departmental information booths and food booths sponsored by various campus organizations. The Alumni Association’s Red Stick, African American, and Former Football Players chapters hosted booths. Many thanks to these chapters for their support of Rock ‘N Roar.

Honoring the 1965 and 1966 Gulf States Conference champions highlighted the annual baseball reunion April 2. Seventeen members of those two teams were among 55 former players, coaches and managers returning for the day’s activities and game vs. Texas State. Former Lion Lamar Labauve, a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame, threw out the honorary first pitch, representing the players from the championship seasons.

Dallas area alumni meet Dallas Alumni were hosted by Mark and Lynn Solomon in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area before the Lions vs. UT- Arlington baseball game on April 10. Alumni and friends feasted on great burgers and hot dogs with their families and met other Southeastern alumni living in the Dallas area. Following the tailgate, everyone cheered on the Lions as they faced their conference opponents in an exciting contest.

Associate Professor John O’Reilly of the Department of Biological Sciences demonstrates the reactions of a crawfish to stimulation to Mallory Garcia of Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge at Rock ‘N Roar.

Alumni socialize in St. Tammany

Tom Sharp Memorial Golf Tournament

Southeastern Aumni from St. Tammany Parish gathered at the popular N’Tini’s on April 28 for a networking event. Guests had a great time socializing with other alumni and listening to live music

by Southeastern alumnus Chad Reeves. Many thanks go to our host for the evening, Southeastern alumnus Mark Benfatti.

Alumni of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity joined together April 29 for a day of golf and fun at Money Hill Golf & Country Club in Abita Springs. All proceeds from the tournament are dedicated to the Tom Sharp Endowed Scholarship.

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KEEPING IN TOUCH ’68 James Kuhn, a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, has been named Hibernian of the Year for the State of Louisiana by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a Catholic organization formed to support the Church, the Irish people and charitable causes. He was honored in New Orleans on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

‘70 T. Jay Seale III, Hammond businessman and attorney, has been named to the Hancock Bank of Louisiana’s Hammond Market Advisory Board. He is a partner and practice manager at the Seale & Ross PLC law firm.

‘72 John Beca of Canandaigua, NY, has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing for the Robert Kach Group, a company headquartered in Clinton, Conn., that designs and manufactures custom display systems. Previously he spent 33 years with ITT Corp. in numerous marketing management positions. A certified business communicator, he received his undergraduate degree in liberal arts studies from Southeastern.

‘75 Eugene Cutrer, a 36-year veteran of the teaching profession, was honored recently upon his retirement by members of the Tangipahoa Parish School System’s talented music program, the Kentwood Music Club and Osyka Baptist Church. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music and master’s degree in administration from Southeastern.

‘76 Katie Wainwright of Hammond has authored her first novel, Cuba on My Mind, a story about a woman remembering her teenage years in Batista’s Cuba as told to her grandson. Wainwright was born in Cuba in 1935, the daughter of a Cuban mother and Scottish father who worked for United Fruit Company growing sugar cane. Author Tim Gautreaux said her “prose is intelligent, passionate and sensitive …it’s a great read.” ’83 Jacqueline Pepitone Mitchell has been chosen the 2011 Distinguished Graduate of St. Joseph School in Ponchatoula. A

1975 graduate of St. Joseph, she currently teaches math at Holy Ghost School in Hammond. ’84, ‘95 Kelly Grunditz was promoted to assistant principal at Fontainebleau Junior High School near Mandeville, where she has served as the school’s athletic director, volleyball, and track and field coach since 2009. She earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s and master’s plus 30 hours at Southeastern.

‘84 Julie Johnson-Busbin has been nominated for the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching at Western Carolina University. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Southeastern, master’s and doctoral degrees at Georgia State University. At WCU, she teaches professional selling and principles of marketing.

‘86 Billy Kennedy has been selected as head basketball coach for Texas A&M University, where he once served as an assistant coach. He previously served as head basketball coach at Murray State University and Southeastern. Kennedy also has been awarded the 2011 John Lotz Barnabas Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The award honors the basketball coach who best exhibits “a commitment to Christ, integrity, encouragement to others and lives a balanced life.” Kennedy coached six years at Southeastern, guiding the Lions to their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

‘87 Regina Gray Johnston of Chatham Charter School in Raleigh, N.C., has been named a regional teacher of the year by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in the charter schools category. A fourth-grade math and science teacher, she was among nine teachers selected to represent their regions as the state’s regional Teachers of the Year. ’87 Marcus C. Naquin has been named the 2010-11 Distinguished Graduate for Holy Ghost Catholic School in Hammond.

A 1979 graduate of the school, he is currently an administrator at Hammond Nursing Home.

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‘91 Coletta Barett, vice president of mission for Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge, has been selected by Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden to head the Mayor’s Healthy BR Initiative. The program is a coalition of citizens, healthcare leaders, policymakers and business leaders committed to addressing the city’s healthcare challenges.

Barrett is a graduate of Southeastern’s nursing program.

‘91 Gary Daigle, director of music at St. Edna Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, Ill., recently performed “An Evening of Liturgical Music” at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. He has composed and recorded music through GIA Publications. His albums include “Safety Harbor (1990), “Change Our Hearts” (2000), “The Feast of Life,” (2000) and “Today” (2007).

‘91 Glen Harris has been selected as Agency Field Executive by State Farm Insurance for the new Coastal AFO in New Orleans. He joined the company in 2004 as an agency intern and became an agent later that year. He is currently completing his CLU designation.

‘91 Lamar Partin of Baton Rouge was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Redemptorist Order in February. He had been working in the psychiatric ward at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge in recent years.

He is currently assigned to St. Gerard Magella Parish in Baton Rouge. ’92 Steve Bishop has been named president of Southwest Mississippi Community College. Formerly the school’s vice president of student affairs, he will become president July 1. Bishop, who has been at SMCC for 19 years, holds a master of arts degree from Southeastern. ’97 Margaret W. Hastings has been named the elementary school Principal of the Year by St. John the Baptist Parish School System. She has been principal at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School for four years, having previously taught in St. Charles and St. John parishes.

‘99 Rachel Trepagnier-Champagne was named 2011 Queen of the Krewe of Tchefuncte by the Greater Madisonville

Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been a teacher for 12 years at Lee Road Junior High School, where she also serves as volleyball coach. ’00 Jennifer Balisteri, a kindergarten teacher at Holy Ghost Catholic School in Hammond, is the 2010-11 recipient of the Wilson-Wells Teacher Appreciation Award. Criteria for the award included leadership and service in developing the minds of students, directing their moral and social values and active participation in professional development.

‘01 Denise Tullier-Holly, art instructor at Southeastern Laboratory School, was one of three art educators to receive the Claire Flanagan Memorial (Grand) Award from the Council for Art Education.

She was cited for her creativity following the aftermath of hurricanes by incorporating ecological disaster into artistic expression. She holds a master’s in education from Southeastern.

‘02 Trudy Armstrong is the charge nurse at Hospice of the Hills Hospice House, a community-owned, volunteer-driven hospice in Harrison, Ark. She has resided in northwest Arkansas for two years. ’03 Sara Hess has been promoted to Loan Operations Manager for BizCapital in New Orleans, the small business lending

division of Advantage Capital Partners.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Southeastern.

shipping related industrial technology. He is a graduate of Southeastern’s computer science program.

’03 Kelli Joseph, principal at GaryvilleMt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School for six years, has been named Principal of the Year by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board. Under her leadership, the school has seen dramatic gains in student achievement. She received her master of education degree in administration-supervision from Southeastern.

’07 Sherry Leboeuf, counselor at J.B. Martin Middle School in Norco, was named Louisiana Middle School Counselor of the Year by the Louisiana Counseling Association. The award goes to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to school counselors or the profession. As the only counselor at the school, she serves approximately 600 students.

‘03 Eleanore Krentel was one of the first recipients of a grant from the non-profit organization Art for Madisonville that allowed her to participate in a visual arts workshop conducted by William B. Crowell of the Louisiana Watercolor Society.

She is in her fourth year of teaching art at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington.

‘04 Candice Hickman, a parish-wide assistant principal in the St. Tammany Parish Public School System, will now work full time at Chahta-Ima Elementary School in Lacombe. She earned her master’s degree from Southeastern.

‘06 Matthew Magnuson was profiled in a recent issue of Baton Rouge Business Report for his work with Harbor Telematics, a new division of St. James Technologies. The company develops and sells

‘08 Jordan Montz has earned his license as a certified public accountant. He currently works at the accounting firm of Laporte, Sehrt, Romig and Hand and resides in Ponchatoula. ’08 Tori B. Umbu graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tex. He received his bachelor's degree in Spanish from Southeastern. ’09 Tyrone Hayes recently performed in “All That Jazz 2” at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge. He was part of a group of singers performing numbers from Cole Porter, the Gershwins and Broadway. He earned his master of music degree at Southeastern.

Donald George releases new CD: ‘Love Is Everywhere’ Southeastern’s most recent alumnus of the year, tenor Donald George of The Crane School of Music at State University of New York - Potsdam, has had a new CD published that’s getting rave reviews from fellow artists.

The CD, Love is Everywhere: Selected Songs of Margaret Ruthven Lang, Vol. 1, has been released by Delos. Accompanied by pianist Lucy Mauro of West Virginia University, George performs a significant body of songs by the noted composer Lang, the first female composer to have work performed by a major American orchestra. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lang’s music was performed around the world,

and she played a major role in the musical life of the Boston area.

Her songs are considered an American treasure.

Since being released in January, Love is Everywhere has received critical acclaim by classical TV station WETA of Washington, D.C. as the “Vocal CD Pick of the Week” and on iTunes for their “New and Noteworthy” selections. It was the featured CD in the February Naxos Newsletter. Metropolitan Opera star Stephanie Blythe praised the recording, saying “Donald George and his pianist Lucy Mauro have done a wonderful service to the art of song with this recording – his singing is fresh and beautiful, with immediate diction.”

The CD includes a companion disc with printable files of sheet music for all of the songs in Volume 1 and the upcoming Volume 2.

In addition to being named the university’s Alumnus of the Year last October, George, a 1969 music graduate, is also a member of Southeastern’s Music Hall of Fame.

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’10 Chase Duplantis won the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition held in Milwaukee, Wis., playing the euphonium. He is currently pursuing a master of music performance degree at LSU. ’10 Chris Mycoski has joined the Southland Conference as director of television and electronic media to oversee broadcasting efforts in traditional and new media platforms. In his new role, he will work to enhance affiliate relationships and secure broadcast agreements for the conference. While attending Southeastern, he worked in the Sports Information Department. ’10 Patrick Sullivan, former Southeastern basketball standout, picked up his first honor in the NBA Development League when he was named a first-team member of the league’s All-Rookie team.

He is a member of the defending NBDL champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In his first season, he played in 50 games with 19 starts. ’10 Rebecca Weber, a graduate in chemistry, has received a three-year, $120,000 National Science Foundation Fellowship to study theoretical chemistry at the University of North Texas. Previously she had been awarded a Master’s and Doctoral Fellowship from UNT, which completely funds her graduate studies.

’57 Edgar J. Lacoste – Feb. 21, 2011 ’60 Mary Louise Babington Jones – Dec. 12, 2010 ’61 Edward Webster Burke – Dec. 24, 2010 ’64 Robert L. “Bob” DeViney – Jan. 5, 2011 ’65 Kennard Lawrence “Larry” Kyte – Dec. 21, 2010 ’66 Nancy Langham Mitchell – Dec. 27, 2010 ’67 Harold Allan Courtney – Nov. 16, 2010 ’68 Robert Jules Egnew – Dec. 11, 2010 ’68 Lorah Mae Drury Jackson – July 8, 2010 ’69 Rojean Boutwell Tedder – Jan. 24, 2011 ’70 Ervin Wayne Cook – July 27, 2010 ’72 Ellis Russell McGee – Feb. 26, 2011 ’72 Patricia Bates Rawls – July 11, 2010 ’73 Donald Goblowsky – Feb. 11, 2011 ’73 Doris Starns Pigott – March 2, 2011 ’75 Edward Louis “Eddie” Leonard, Jr. – Aug. 6, 2010 ’79 John Morris Mire – Sept. 19, 2010 ’80 Glynn Edwin Kron – Feb. 11, 2011 ’87 Julie Stephenson Barkurn – July 15, 2010 ’91 Tressie Anne Gayle Foster – Jan. 16, 2011 ’91 Patsy Kay Field Turner – April 28, 2010 ’98 Benjamin G. Farmer II – Feb. 21, 2011 ’01; '03 Lisa Lynette Foster Weaver – Dec. 30, 2010 ’06 Leslie F. Flucke – Sept. 30, 2010 ’08 Matthew De Carlo – Dec. 31, 2010

Rec Sports – Join now!

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

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

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

Name E-mail *Spouse name

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OBITUARIES ’40 Thelma Lee Bankston – March 26, 2011 ’47 Harold West – March 18, 2011 ’49 Annes Wood Burris – Nov. 1, 2010 ’49 Helen Ann Behrman Wall – Dec. 6, 2010 ’49 Virgin F. Underwood – Sept. 29, 2010 ’50 John G. Barrilleaux – Feb. 5, 2011 ’50 Katherine “Katy” Cockrell – July 31, 2010 ’51 James Russell Camp – Feb. 8, 2011 ’51 Dorothy Davis “Dottye” Rosenthal – April 2, 2011 ’51 Ray J. Wadenpfuhl, Sr. – Jan. 16, 2011 ’54 George Louis Lezu – July 29, 2010

SOUTHEASTERN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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Today’s date

PHILANTHROPY SGA PROVIDES FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, FANFARE To address the challenges Southeastern students experience in financing their education, the Southeastern Student Government Association Cavell recently approved an $80,000 gift to continue to fund endowed scholarships in every academic college and athletics. The gift, proposed by outgoing SGA President David Cavell, was passed recently by the SGA unanimously. Cavell said, “Our goal this year has been to instill a sense of philanthropy in the students so that one day they too will give back to this great university.

Our motto has been ‘We are here to serve, not to be served.’”

Another recent initiative of the SGA was the passing of a $75.25 student referendum fee increase to benefit the student body as a whole and the athletic community. One of Cavell’s initiatives was to help secure SGA funding for Fanfare, Southeastern’s monthlong celebration of the arts, which will be celebrating its 26th season in the fall.

AN EVENING IN NEW ORLEANS WITH PRESIDENT CRAIN

President John L. Crain, right, presents a gift from the university to Frances and Calvin Fayard for their ongoing support of Southeastern.

On a recent spring evening in New Orleans, Calvin Fayard and his wife Frances hosted a Southeastern gathering at their St. Charles Avenue home for “An Evening with the President.” Among attendees were some of Southeastern’s most influential and faithful Crescent City alumni, donors and friends.

Fayard gave a warm welcome to guests and shared his personal testimony of the significant influence Southeastern has had on his life. His philanthropy to the university reflects his strong commitment to the institution he said provided the foundation for his professional success. Fayard is a recipient of Southeastern’s Golden Ambassador Award.

FRIENDSHIP HERITAGE SOCIETY MEMBERS HONORED ON CAMPUS

President John L. Crain hands the microphone to Foundation Board Member Joe Luquet at the Heritage Society reception. Looking on is Vice President for Advancement Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE.

The Friendship Heritage Society, whose membership includes individuals who have named Southeastern as the beneficiary of their will, life insurance, trust or other planned gift arrangements, gathered for a reception at the President’s Residence in early May. Guests were entertained by pianist Zhaolei Xie, an international student and scholarship recipient. Society members were welcomed by President John L. Crain, university Advancement staff and Foundation Board member Joe Luquet, who shared his memories of Southeastern, the ease with which his own estate gift was made and the impact such a gift has on future generations of Southeastern students. College of Business Dean Randy Settoon added his comments about the impact of the $3.5 million estate gift of Joyce Junghans, ‘44, which has provided essential scholarship and program support for the university's business programs. Estate gifts assure the continued vitality and development of the university from one generation to the next.

J. EDGAR MONROE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FANFARE/COLUMBIA THEATRE PROGRAMMING A generous gift to support children’s programming for Fanfare and the Columbia Theatre season has been provided by The J. Edgar Monroe Foundation and its board of directors’ member, Marjorie Colomb. A member of the Advisory Board of Fanfare and Columbia Theatre, Colomb has long supported the artistic activities of the university. Education outreach is an important component of Fanfare and Columbia Theatre activities, and the support provided by this gift helps provide area school children with special performances and in-school visits by guest artists.

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MUSIC STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED The Lucille J. Blum Music Study Abroad Scholarship has been established with a gift from the Louisiana Council for Music and Performing Arts and will provide support for a Morrison student participating in a Southeastern Music Study Abroad program.

The gift and scholarship were facilitated by LCMPA Board Member and friend of Southeastern Marjorie Morrison. Blum was the founder of the organization whose goal is to support art and art education in Louisiana schools. The scholarship will perpetuate her memory and support a student in furthering their love of music.

ESTATE GIFT PROVIDES FUNDS FOR SOUTHEAST STUDIES CENTER A recent estate gift from an anonymous donor has provided funds to establish an endowment for perpetual support of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, along with a fund for current use dollars for support of the Center. This generous gift provided the impetus for a campaign for the center, designed to replace funds lost through recent state budget cuts. Among those contacted in the Friends of the Center Campaign are those families whose collections are currently housed in the center.

The center’s mission is to preserve and promote the history and culture of Louisiana's Florida Parishes, southwestern Mississippi and surrounding areas through scholarly research, lectures, and publishing. The center, under the direction of Ford Chair of Regional Studies Sam Hyde, played a major role in the recent celebration of the bicenntenial of the West Florida Revolt.

Make an Impact, Create a Legacy Make your gift today. selu.edu/give • 985-549-3770

Chefs Evening sponsors recognized Chefs Evening 2011 sponsors gathered at the President’s Toast preceding the event on April 3. Pictured are, front, from left: Shirley Hsing, North Oaks Health System; Cindy Shelton, Hancock Bank; Karen Vines, LaCapitol Federal Credit Union; back, from left: Stan Dameron, American Bank and Trust; Mike Sharp, First Guaranty Bank; and Mike Hooper, LaCapitol Federal Credit Union. Chefs Evening ticket sales and sponsorships provide Southeastern with valuable unrestricted funds.

Why give to Southeastern?

Patrick Ponder’s first gift to Southeastern came when he arrived on campus in 1961 to share his athletic abilities as a Lions baseball player. In time, he increased his giving, by leading initiatives of the Student Government Association, serving as Treasurer, Vice-President and as Director of the Employment Conference (now known as “Career Fair”).

With his Southeastern degree in accounting in hand, Patrick found his first job with Shell Oil Company at the same Southeastern Employment Conference he directed. Later he established his own accounting firm in his hometown of Mobile, and during his long and successful career, he never forgot his alma mater.

As a faithful Alumni Association member for many years, he established the Patrick and Gail Ponder Endowed Scholarship in Accounting. Remembering that he had been assisted by generous scholarships during his days at Southeastern, he feels strongly about giving back to the

university “that means everything to me.”

“Southeastern gave me the best four years of my life,” he recalls.

“Establishing the scholarship was a way for me to acknowledge that, to pay back for all it has meant to me professionally and personally, and to assist other young people aspiring to become the best that they can be,” he says.

Southeastern is Patrick Ponder’s No. 1 philanthropy. And though he hasn’t been to campus in many years, the memories he has are forever fresh and his enthusiasm for the university lives on in the accomplishments of the many students he has helped through his generosity.

Like Patrick, we ask you to consider starting your own legacy of giving to Southeastern today. Your gift can change the life of a student scholar, student-athlete or student leader, whether you choose to give a gift to the Southeastern Annual Fund or create a named endowment as Patrick and Gail Ponder did.

All gifts to the university, whether large or small, make a statement about the impact Southeastern has made in your life and your desire to see the university continue to make a difference in the lives of Southeastern students for generations to come.

Leave it Simple. Make a Bequest. Make a Difference.

YOU CAN Without much effort, you can make a long-lasting impact on Southeastern by endowing a scholarship, a professorship, or a faculty enrichment program to name a few. Besides its simplicity, a bequest to the Southeastern Foundation will allow you to achieve a number of immediate and long-term financial advantages. Bequest benefits provide: • A flexible way to create an enduring legacy • Full use of your assets during your lifetime • A simple way to control distribution of your assets after death • Tax advantages for both you and your loved ones Most important, by making a gift to the Southeastern Foundation through your will, you can achieve the immediate satisfaction of knowing that your life’s work will make a long-term difference in the lives of so many people for generations to come.

She may never know you, but she’ll always remember the opportunity YOU gave her.

FIND OUT MORE

Your generosity can create new opportunities. We are available to provide you with more information on gifts that fit your financial and philanthropic goals. Please contact Wendy Johns Lauderdale, Vice President of University Advancement, at (985) 549-2239 or toll-free at (866) 474-4438 or e-mail wlauderdale@selu.edu.

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ATHLETICS Southeastern receives NCAA recertification

Top student-athletes honored at banquet Southeastern’s top male and female student athletes, Katie Duhe and Josh Cryer, second from right, were recognized for their academic accomplishments at the Athletic Academic Banquet in April. With them are President John L. Crain, left, and Athletics Director Bart Bellairs. Both seniors with 4.0 gpas, Duhe played second base on the softball team, while Cryer played catcher on the baseball team. Cryer was also awarded the Southland Conference’s F.L. McDonald Post-Graduate Scholarship, the league’s top academic honor.

Athletics program produces 59 graduates Fifty-nine members of the Southeastern athletics family were among the over 1,200 students that had degrees conferred at the university’s Spring 2011 commencement exercises.

Highlighting the graduating contingent was Lion baseball player Josh Cryer, who was awarded the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence. Cryer’s honor marks the third straight semester a Southeastern student-athlete has been a President’s Medal recipient. He joins softball player Katie Duhe (Fall 2010) and women’s soccer player Dana Mayer (Spring 2010) as President’s Medal winners.

He was joined by seven members of the Southeastern baseball program. The Southeastern football program had nine graduates, while the track and field program was also well represented with eight graduates.

Other teams with graduates included: women’s soccer, women’s basketball and volleyball, each with five graduates; golf, men’s basketball and softball with two graduates each. The university’s athletic training staff saw nine members earn their degrees.

The NCAA has granted Southeastern recertification of its athletics program.

Certification is intended to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and is good for 10 years, President John L. Crain said.

“Achieving certification is an important accomplishment and means that our program is being operated in accordance with the NCAA’s standards and values,” Crain said.

“Southeastern’s primary focus is always on the student and that certainly includes the student-athlete.”

The certification process involves a self-study led by the institution’s president and includes a self-review that evaluates the university’s governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, gender/diversity issues, and student-athlete well-being.

The Steering Committee completing the self-study was chaired by Rick Simpson, associate professor and head of the Department of Accounting and Finance.

“The committee and its various sub-committees put in considerable time and effort in this evaluation and deserve to be recognized for driving this process,” said Athletics Director Bart Bellairs. “The certification process is a very thorough evaluation of our program, and I’m pleased with the news.”

Southeastern’s Division I athletics program includes 15 men’s and women’s teams.

Baseball, Golf, Track updates BASEBALL COMPLETES SEASON AT CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Southeastern finished the 2011 regular season with a 35-22 record and earned the fourth seed in the Southland Conference Tournament in San Marcos, Tex. The Lions finished fourth in the SLC. Several Lions were named to the All Boudreaux Efferson Watkins Conference Teams. Junior shortstop Justin Boudreaux, senior pitcher Brandon Efferson and senior pitcher Tyler Watkins were all second team selections, while junior second baseman Brock Hebert and senior outfielder Jeff Harkensee were named to the third team.

GOLF GOES TO REGIONAL TOURNAMENT, SCOTTO HONORED BY CONFERENCE

The Southeastern men’s golf team made its second straight trip to the NCAA Championships, finishing 10th at the Southeast Regional on May 19-21 in Ocala, Fla. The Lions placed two individuals in the top 10, as Rhys West finished fifth. TeamWest Westerman Scotto mate Philipp Westermann was tied for 10th.

In other news, Cedric Scotto was the first golfer in Southland Conference history to be named the Student-Athlete of the Year for three straight years. It is the fifth time a Southeastern student has earned the honor.

SIMMONS EARNS ALL-AMERICA TRACK HONORS, SETS RECORD

Behind a school record performance, Southeastern pole vaulter Kovey Simmons earned All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 8.

Simmons, a native of DeRidder, broke his own school record, clearing 17 feet, 2.75 inches (5.25 meters) to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place.

“The national meet is a competition of nerves, as much as it is one of skill and talent,” head coach Sean Brady commented. “To come to a national meet and set a personal record is almost unheard of.”

Simmons is the 25th men’s track and field All-American in school history.

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Football schedule to be a challenge Non-conference games against Football Bowl Subdivision members Tulane and Southern Miss, home dates with Savannah State and Texas State, along with a rugged Southland Conference slate, highlight the 2011 Southeastern football schedule.

“We feel like it’s very challenging for us playing two Conference USA opponents in Tulane and Southern Miss,” head coach Mike Lucas said.

Southeastern will play five home games in 2011 and will open the season for the second consecutive year against Tulane in the Louisiana Superdome.

Southeastern opens its five-game home slate on Sept. 10 in its first-ever matchup against FCS member Savannah State, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Lions open Southland Conference play on Sept. 24 at in-state rival McNeese State.

Season ticket information was sent out for renewals in May. For information on tickets, contact the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at LionSports.net.

Football 2011 Date Opponent

Time

SEPTEMBER 3 at Tulane 10 SAVANNAH STATE 17 at Southern Miss 24 at McNeese State *

TBA 7 pm TBA 7 pm

OCTOBER 1 LAMAR * (HOF) 7 pm 15 at Northwestern State * 6 pm 22 TEXAS STATE 7 pm 29 at Central Arkansas * 6 pm NOVEMBER 5 SAM HOUSTON STATE * 7 pm 12 at Stephen F. Austin * 6 pm 17 NICHOLLS * (Thursday) 7 pm * – Southland Conference game

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Get your

Green and Gold!

Southeastern merchandise makes great gifts. Items available at Bed, Bath and Beyond include: (1) Southeastern Tervis Tumbler, $14.99 with matching lid available in green, yellow and black, $2.99 each.

Items available from the Book Store include (2) assorted key chains, $5.99 - $7.99 (3) Southeastern umbrella, $20.99 and (4) girl’s pink jersey, $20.99. (6) Short sleeve tee, available at Albertson's, $11.99.

ALL CAPS – Home games Italic – Homecoming (HOF)

– Hall of Fame Game

Dates and times are subject to change

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

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

On a pleasant spring day this semester, Professor of Accounting Robert Braun moved his advanced auditing class to Tinsley Gardens, the park-like area in back of the Norval Garrett Business Building, for a well-deserved change of pace and scenery. “My graduate students in accounting are the best of the best, in my opinion,” he

said. “They had been working hard and performing at a high level throughout the semester. When they noted that it was a beautiful day and that a change of pace would do them good, I was inclined to take them up on the suggestion. My only regret was that we did not do it more often.”