 Lt.
Gen. Russel Honoré to address graduates
Lt. General Russel L. Honoré, the U.S. Army commander and
Louisiana native who led the task force charged with the recovery
of the area in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, will
address graduates at the university's spring commencement on May 12.
Southeastern will confer associate,
bachelor's and master's degrees on more than 1,050 students at the
10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center.
The commanding general of the First
Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., since July 2004, Gen. Honoré was
designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina with the responsibility
for coordinating relief efforts for the New Orleans and Gulf coast
areas. Called "one John Wayne dude" who was "getting
some stuff done" by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Gen. Honoré
was recognized for his leadership following the hurricane with the
Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award presented at the Independence
Bowl in Shreveport in December 2005.
Gen. Honoré has served in a variety
of command and staff positions, including overseas assignments in
Korea and Germany. Prior to assuming command of the First Army, he
served as commander of the Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland
Security. He has also served as deputy commanding general for the
Army Infantry Center and School at Fort Benning, Ga., and assistant
division commander for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
A native of Lakeland, La., in Pointe
Coupee Parish and holding the nickname "The Ragin' Cajun,"
he was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry and awarded a
bachelor of science degree in vocational agriculture upon graduation
from Southern University in Baton Rouge in 1971. He holds a master
of arts degree in human resources from Troy State University. He has
been awarded an honorary doctorate in public administration from Southern
University and a doctor of laws honorary degree from Stillman College
in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The general's awards and decorations
include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior
Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze
Star, the Global War on Terror Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal,
and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Table
of content
Robin Roberts signs book, greets fans and friends
Fans -- and a number of friends -- of Southeastern alumnus Robin
Roberts, co-anchor of ABC's Good Morning America, were on
hand Saturday to greet her as she signed copies of her book, From
the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By, at Hammond's Books-A-Million.
The book, which shares "life
lessons" that Roberts jokingly calls "Roberts's Rules
of Order," makes a number of references to Roberts' days as
a member of the Lady Lions basketball team and her start in broadcasting
at Hammond's WFPR radio.
At the booksigning, she visited with
the current Lady Lions team and coaches (above, right) and reconnected
with old friends such as retired Southeastern Head Athletic Trainer
Robert "Doc" Goodwin (left). Prior to the booksigning,
she was interviewed by the Southeastern Channel.
Table
of content
 Keddy
to receive national wetlands award
Southeastern wetlands expert Paul Keddy has been selected from
researchers across the country to receive the 2007 National Wetlands
Award for Science Research co-presented by the Environmental Law Institute.
The prize will be awarded at a national
ceremony May 9 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's headquarters
in Washington, D.C. Five other individuals will also be recognized
in other categories.
Keddy, Southeastern's Schlieder Endowed
Chair for Environmental Studies, will receive the award in recognition
of his work in developing strategic plans for scientific wetland restoration.
"The award recognizes the seminal
work in wetlands ecology that Dr. Keddy has developed and is sharing
with students and colleagues as we work on rebuilding our wetlands
environment," said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. "This
award Dr. Keddy's work as among the most comprehensive treatments
available on wetland conservation."
Keddy is the author of more than 100
scholarly papers on plant ecology and has been designated a Highly
Cited Researcher in Ecology and Environment by the Institute for Scientific
Information. He has written internationally-acclaimed books, including
"Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation," a work considered
fundamental for students and professionals involved in wetland conservation
and management and which received the Society of Wetland Scientists'
Merit Award. His book, Competition, received the Lawson Medal
by the Canadian Botanical Association and the Gleason Prize by the
New York Botanical Garden. He co-edited "Ecological Assembly
Rules: Perspectives, Advances, Retreats" and "The World's
Largest Wetlands: Ecology and Conservation," a 10-year research
project involving 22 authors to catalog by size and significance the
top 11 wetlands on earth.
"The Schlieder Endowed Chair has
been very important in allowing me to continue my research,"
said Keddy, who was recruited as Southeastern's first Schlieder Chair
in 1999. "I have taken risks, spoken openly and honestly about
important issues and pushed the boundaries of wetland ecology to achieve
maximum benefits for the citizens of Louisiana, as well as for the
plant and animal species so important to our environment. It is also
recognition that wetlands conservation is a global ecological and
environmental concern and an issue of tremendous and immediate importance."
"In addition to the support provided
by the university, the work of Professor Keddy has been supported
by our EPA-funded Pontchartrain Basin Research Program," said
Daniel McCarthy, dean of the College of Science and Technology. "We
are delighted that the work that has come from this program is proving
to have such a widespread impact."
A native of Ottawa, Canada, and resident
of Ponchatoula, Keddy's current work focuses on biodiversity and competition
among marsh plants. Forthcoming work includes a 35-page environmental
history of the Manchac Swamp, a book chapter on the beneficial effects
of alligators in wetlands, a new text on plant ecology and an eco-tourist
guide to Louisiana.
Keddy's web site (www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/pkeddy)
includes his research papers as well as pages of advice for students,
commentaries on scientific and environmental concerns and descriptions
of work in progress.
During the ceremony, other individuals
will be recognized for contributions to wetland conservation in the
categories of education and outreach, conservation and restoration,
landowner stewardship, wetland community leadership, and state, tribal
and local program development. In addition to the Environmental Law
Institute, co-sponsors of the program include the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Federal Highway Administration, and the National
Marine Fisheries Service.
Table
of content
Phi Kappa Phi initiation, banquet May 2
Members of Southeastern's chapter of the National Honor Society
of Phi Kappa Phi are invited to the chapter's annual initiation and
banquet, Wednesday, May 2.
The chapter will initiate undergraduate
and graduate students and faculty members at the 5:30 p.m. ceremony
at the Student Union Theatre. Initiates and their guest will then
gather at Twelve Oaks at 6:30 p.m. for the annual banquet. President
Randy Moffett will be the guest speaker and the banquet will also
recognize outstanding juniors in each academic college; Albert "Snapper"
Poche Jr., recipient of a prestigious National Phi Kappa Phi Graduate
Fellowship; and the first recipient of the Southeastern Phi Kappa
Phi Endowed Scholarship, established last year in honor of the chapter's
50th anniversary.
Banquet tickets may be purchased online
at www.selu.edu/phikappaphi.
Table
of content
 Nursing
students stage 'mock crash' for high school students
Smoke billowed from the "wreckage," sirens wailed and
a helicopter dropped into the north endzone of Strawberry Stadium
last week as senior nursing students staged a graphic "mock fatality"
for high school students.
Designed to bring home to the students
the potentially deadly consequences of drinking and driving, the
event was hosted by the students of Dr. Catherine Holland's Nursing
Lab 488.
Seniors and juniors from Independence,
Loranger and St. Thomas Aquinas high schools will attended.
Nursing students organizing the program
were Ashley Adams, Destrehan; Candece Kilbride, Hammond; Jade Migliore,
Montz; Jenna Barois, Buras and Belle Chasse; Laura Reeves, Ponchatoula
and Metairie; Shannon Vogt, Slidell; Angela Gottschalk, Covington;
and Christine Ragas, Independence.
Table
of content
Employee Recognition Day
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has proclaimed Wednesday, May
9, 2007, as State Employee Recognition Day to honor state employees
for their dedication and service.
Dr. Moffett and the entire administrative
team take this opportunity to thank our employees for a job well done
in helping our students, fellow employees and the public.
Southeastern and the Southeastern Alumni
Association will sponsor an ice cream social on Monday, May 7, from
2 -3:30 p.m. at the Alumni Center to show our appreciation to our
employees. Please join us then.
Table
of content
Jazz Combos tonight at Pottle
The Southeastern Department of Music and Dramatic Arts' jazz
combos will present "Southeastern Jazz Spring 2007" on
April 30.
The free concert featuring Jazz Combos
I and II is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Pottle Music Building
Auditorium.
The Combos will showcase their repertoire
of music ranging from classic standards to modern and investigative
works.
Jazz Combo I, under the direction
of Richard Schwartz, instructor of saxophone and jazz at Southeastern,
will begin the program with Harold Arlen's piece, "Let's Fall
in Love," followed by Richard Rodgers' composition of "My
Favorite Things."
Jazz Combo II, also under Schwartz's
direction, will entertain the audience with "Buhania's Delight,"
composed by Curtis Fuller, and "It Might As Well Be Spring,"
by Richard Rodgers.
"The Combos have been performing
together since the beginning of the semester," said Schwartz.
"They have donated performances through Southeastern's Christwood
Lecture Series, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Toast and Jam Festival
and the Vicksburg (Miss.) Riverfest."
Jazz Combo I members include: Jon
Walkenford (Mandeville), alto saxophone; Angel Sepulvado (Covington),
tenor saxophone; Jordan Beard (Abita Springs), trumpet; Justin Burdette
(Denham Springs), guitar; John Braud (Hammond), bass; and A.J. Lassere
(Destrehan), drums.
Jazz Combo II members are Emmanuel
Seals (Fair Hope, Ala.), tenor saxophone; Skyler Stroup (Mandeville),
trumpet; Wilson Marks (Ponchatoula), guitar; George Bosnea (Constanta,
Romania), bass; and Wade Hymel (Mandeville), drums.
"Members have also had the opportunity
to interact with internationally acclaimed jazz artists including
drummer, Jeff "Tain" Watts, pianists, Joey Calderazzo,
and Bill Dobbins," said Schwartz.
For more information, contact Schwartz
at (985) 549-5938.
Table
of content
 French
singer to present 'cabaret' concerts Tuesday
Actor-singer Claudia Hommel will present two special multi-lingual
concerts at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium May 1.
Best known for her cabaret concerts
and recordings celebrating Paris, the city of her birth, Hommel will
perform at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The free performances are open to the
public.
Not to be limited to the role of "French
chanteuse," Hommel is a gifted and uniquely versatile artist.
Her repertoire encompasses French chansons, American standards, 19th
and 20th century art songs and theater music. Her performances at
Southeastern will include songs in French, Spanish, German and Italian.
Jazz critic Neil Tesser describes Hommel
as, "Not Piaf, or Dietrich or Garland; instead Hommel sings in
blithe celebration of life and love, in a tone as clear as the bells
of Notre Dame; more the boulevardier, a latter-day counterpart to
Maurice Chevalier, the quintessence of all things French."
Touring nationally, Hommel is a favorite
from the Club at Chicago Symphony Center to the Frick Center in Pittsburgh,
from California to North Carolina, offering also a variety of school
programs and master classes.
Her guest appearance is sponsored by
Southeastern's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Student
Government Association, and French Club and the French Consulate in
New Orleans.
For more information, contact the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures' Evelyne Bornier, ebornier@selu.edu,
or Katherine Kolb, kkolb@selu.edu. To learn more about Claudia Hommel,
visit www.cabaret-paree.com.
Table
of content
 Chamber
Orchestra to perform classical favorites Tuesday night
The Southeastern Chamber Orchestra will present a program of classical
favorites by Mascagni, Tchaikovsky, Weber and Offenbach on May 1 at
the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the
university's downtown Hammond theater, 220 E. Thomas St. Tickets are
$5 adults, $3 senior citizens, Southeastern faculty and staff, and
all students are admitted free with ID.
Under the baton of Yakov Voldman, director
of Southeastern's string program, the orchestra will welcome soloist
Andrew Seigel, Southeastern assistant professor of clarinet. Currently
the principal clarinetist of the Gulf Coast Symphony, Seigel has performed
throughout the United States and in Hungary, Germany, and Romania.
Seigel will join the orchestra for Weber's "Concerto No. 1 in
F Minor."
The orchestra will also perform Mascagni's
"Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana," described as a serene
interlude representing the calm before the storm.
Also included is Tchaikovsky's "Symphony
No. 6," which is associated with the tragedy of the composer's
sudden death. Tchaikovsky's only remembered comment about the piece
is, "Without exaggeration, I have put my whole soul into this
work."
Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld"
overture will round out the evening. The music in this overture is
known throughout the world. It opens with a bristling fanfare, which
is followed by a tender love song and an "infernal" passage.
The finale is the renowned can-can.
For additional information, contact
the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts, (985) 549-2184.
Table
of content
Ceramics Club sponsors sale May 1-2
The Southeastern Ceramic Club will hold its spring sale on May
1-2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in the War Memorial Student Union mall.
The club will offer a variety of ceramics,
from thrown pottery to unique hand-built sculpture to dishware and
planters
The sale is a fundraiser for the Ceramics
Club, which helps Southeastern students sell and promote their work.
For additional information, contact the Department of Visual Arts,
985-549-2193.
Table
of content
Students compete in piano competition
Four Southeastern piano majors successfully competed in the
2007 DeBose National Piano Competition, April 20-21 at Southern
University in Baton Rouge.
Christiana Iheadindu of Bucharest,
Romania, garnered first prize in the Collegiate Senior Division.
Iheadindu, who will graduate May 12 with a degree in piano performance,
plans to pursue a master's degree in piano performance at the University
of Maryland under a full tuition teaching assistantship.
Anthony Allulli of Madisonville captured
first prize in the Collegiate Junior Division. Allulli is vice president
of Phi Mu Alpha, and will shortly begin a piano technician apprenticeship
at Lafargue Pianos, Ltd.
Kristen Hilliard of Covington won
second prize in the Collegiate Junior Division. Hilliard was recently
crowned 2007 Miss Southeastern and will compete in the 2007 Miss
Louisiana pageant this June.
Alma Iuliano of Brasov, Romania, won
second prize in the Collegiate Sophomore Division. She previously
captured first prize at the state level of the 2006 Music Teachers'
National Association Young Artist Competition. She will continue
her studies this fall at the Manhattan School of Music in New York
City.
Iheadindu, Hilliard and Iuliano are
students of Kenneth Boulton, assistant professor of music in Southeastern's
Department of Music and Dramatic Arts, while Allulli studies with
Department Head David Evenson.
Table
of content
This week in athletics
The men's and women's track and field teams will compete in
the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships during this week
in Southeastern Athletics.
With several individuals already having
earned spots in the NCAA Regionals, the Lions and Lady Lions are
looking for a strong showing at the league meet. Southeastern head
coach Sean Brady's squads will be in Nacogdoches, Texas for the
SLC Championships, which run Friday through Sunday.
The Southeastern baseball team (28-17,
11-10 SLC), which took two of three from Central Arkansas, will
look to continue its climb back into SLC Tournament contention this
week. Before returning to league play, the Lions will head to Itta
Bena, Miss., for a 6 p.m. non-conference game at Mississippi Valley
State. On Saturday, the Lions will open a three-game SLC series
with East Division leader Lamar with a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
The series continues on Sunday with
the 1 p.m. series finale. All three Lions-Cardinals games will be
broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM and on the Internet
at www.LionSports.net.
Fresh off a 1-0 upset of No. 5 LSU last week, the Southeastern softball
team (28-26, 10-16 SLC) will close out its 2007 regular season this
week. On Wednesday, the Lady Lions host Southern Mississippi at
6 p.m. The Lady Lions will welcome Central Arkansas to town for
a three-game league set, beginning with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on
Saturday.
The season finale is set for Sunday
at 12 p.m. Southeastern seniors Jamie Militello, Carolann Wenisch,
Amber Gentry, Michelle Lemons and Rebecca De la Garza will be honored
in a special pre-game Senior Day ceremony.
The Southeastern women's tennis team
(21-2), which earned its third straight NCAA Tournament berth by
winning the SLC Tournament last week, will find out its NCAA Tournament
destination this week. The Lady Lions will be in the 64-team field
that will be announced on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN News (Charter
Channel 307). Note: Previous NCAA Tournament material had the
show scheduled for 1:30 p.m., but the show has since been rescheduled.
Southeastern junior Emilija Arnaudovska
will also find out her first round opponent for the NCAA Individual
Championships, scheduled to begin May 23 in Athens, Ga., this week.
The 64-player field will be announced on Wednesday. The 2007 Southland
Conference Player of the Year is currently ranked 98th nationally
and will likely receive the league's automatic berth into the field.
 Tuesday,
May 1
Women's Tennis, NCAA Tournament Selection
Show, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN News)
Wednesday,
May 2
Baseball, at Mississippi Valley State,
Itta Bena, Miss., 6 p.m.
Softball, vs. Southern Miss, North
Oak Park, 6 p.m.
Friday,
May 4
Track and Field, at SLC Outdoor Championships,
Nacogdoches, Texas, All Day
Saturday,
May 5
Baseball, vs. Lamar (DH), Alumni Field,
3 p.m. (KSLU 90.9 FM)*
Softball, vs. Central Arkansas (DH),
North Oak Park. 3 p.m.*
Track and Field, at SLC Outdoor Championships,
Nacogdoches, Texas, All Day
Sunday,
May 6
Baseball, vs. Lamar, Alumni Field,
1 p.m. (KSLU 90.9 FM)*
Softball, vs. Central Arkansas, North
Oak Park. 12 p.m.*
Track and Field, at SLC Outdoor Championships,
Nacogdoches, Texas, All Day
Table
of content
Win an I-Pod!
Professors Joe Burns and Suzette Plaisance Bryan in the Department
of Communication are soliciting participants to complete an on-line
survey regarding their use of FaceBook in establishing and maintaining
relationships. After completing the survey, each participant is
directed to a web site where he/she may register for an I-Pod to
be awarded to someone randomly selected from the registrants.
The link is as follows: www3.selu.edu/facebooksurvey/
The link can be sent to friends, family
members, acquaintances, and anyone over the age of 18 who is part
of the FaceBook community. For additional information, contact Drs.
Burns or Bryan.
Table
of content
Faculty member to ride in "Tour De Cure"
for diabetes
Anthony D. Blakeney (Computer Science and Industrial Technology)
will participate in the Tour De Cure, a fundraising effort to support
research for the cure for diabetes. He is riding on the team from
Amite Foundry and Machine in conjunction with Southeastern and would
like to invite participants from Southeastern to join the team as
well. You can support him with a donation by selecting the "Tour
De Cure" link on his faculty
web page.
"Our efforts will help set the
pace in the fight against diabetes. So let's get in gear and bike
to beat diabetes!" he said.
Louisiana's "Tour de Cure"
is scheduled June 3 and will travel from St. Francisville to Baton
Rouge.
Table
of content
Professional activities
Dr. Paul Keddy (Schlieder Chair) traveled to Arizona April 16-20
to lecture on principles of ecosystem restoration at the School
of Forestry at the Northern Arizona University. NAU is playing a
lead role in restoring the world's largest area of ponderosa pine
forest. Keddy explored some similarities among ponderosa pine forests
in Arizona, longleaf pine forests in Louisiana, and our coastal
wetlands. His talk, "Maintaining and Restoring Plant Diversity
in Landscapes" can be viewed on line using Flash at www.for.nau.edu/cms/content/view/676/927/.
While in Arizona, Keddy also led a graduate class in a discussion
of two of his unpublished essays on how to choose significant rather
than trivial research problems. He also went on a field trip to
several deserts, which provided a thought-provoking contrast with
wetlands, having too little rather than too much water.
A presentation by Ellen Bush, Sharon
Fife, Krystal Hardison, and Lorett Swank (General Studies), "Cooking
on All 4 Burners: a Generational Approach to Advising," won
"best in state" honors at the annual state conference
of the Louisiana Academic Advising Association in Lafayette, March
22-23. The honor comes with an honorarium of $100 voucher to be
used at the 2007 NACADA Regional Conference.
Table
of content
|