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AST selected top collegiate chapter |
Hispanic Summer Leadership Camp |
Faculty-staff convocation launches academic year Friday
Southeastern will launch the 2010-11 academic year with its annual fall convocation for faculty and staff on Friday, Aug. 13, at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond.
Scheduled for 10:30 a.m., the event will include a state of the university address by President John L. Crain. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg will preside over the event, which is open to the public.
The convocation will include presentation of the President’s Awards for Excellence, the university’s highest faculty and staff honors, as well as presentation of service awards to faculty and staff who have been with the university for 25, 30, 35, and 40 years. Also to be recognized are new faculty and staff, faculty tenure and promotions, emeritus faculty and donors who have established newly endowed professorships.
The university will provide a shuttle service for the event for faculty and staff to and from the parking facility adjacent to Strawberry Stadium beginning at 9 a.m. The annual Alumni Association-sponsored picnic will immediately follow the morning’s ceremonies at Twelve Oaks on campus.
Turtle Cove receives grant from Monsanto
Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station has received a $4,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, to help support wetlands restoration programs in Tangipahoa and St. John the Baptist parishes.
Both programs, ongoing for several years now, are designed to stabilize the shoreline of the marshland called West Jones Island located in Lake Maurepas. They involve the replanting of an open body of water called “the Prairie” on the western shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain in order to restore it back to a grassy marsh wetland habitat.
“Turtle Cove is pleased to team up with the Monsanto Fund to create a partnership, working together to restore our area’s wetlands that provide the community with natural storm protection, as well as replenish fertile breeding grounds for the seafood we enjoy and other animal habitats,” said Robert Moreau, Turtle Cove manager. “This grant will not only provide funding for the plants, but will also help educate the public on the importance of wetlands through volunteer help and public outreach.”
Scientists and educators at Turtle Cove, located on Pass Manchac between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, conduct research and instruct students and teachers through outdoor classroom activities, canoe trips into the wetlands, and pontoon boat outings, often in conjunction with other universities and other research institutions. Staff at Turtle Cove have been planting cypress seedlings and marsh grasses as well as deploying discarded Christmas trees in the wetlands since 1995, to varying degrees of success, mostly dependent on elevation and salinity levels.
The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, its primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. The Monsanto Fund is focused on grant-making in four main areas; nutritional well-being through agriculture; science education, primarily on professional development for teachers; the environment, which includes conservation, protection of biodiversity, clean water and restoration of wildlife habitat; and improving the quality of life in communities where Monsanto employees live and work.
Monsanto Company Human Resources Business Lead Sandi Eitel, right, presents an oversized check for $4,500 to Robert Moreau, left, director of Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, and Fred Stouder, Turtle Cove staff member. The funds will be used to support the university’s wetlands restoration program in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.
Southeastern student awarded prestigious scholarship
For the third straight year a Southeastern student pursuing a minor in Italian has received the prestigious Rotary Foundation/Capozzoli Exchange Scholarship. The $14,000 scholarship allows the recipient to study for one academic year at the University of Verona, Italy, with whom Southeastern has a cooperative agreement.
This year’s scholarship recipient is Amber Crum of Plaquemines Parish. Past recipients were Tiffany Thomas of East Baton Rouge and Anna Cooper of St. Tammany. Applicants for the scholarship come from all over the state of Louisiana, and undergo a rigorous selection process that includes interviews with members of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.
Southeastern’s Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority selected top collegiate chapter in nation
The Phi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority at Southeastern was honored with the sorority’s Founders Award at the 38th National Convention in Birmingham, AL.
The Founders Award, distributed by the Alpha Sigma Tau National Council, recognizes the top collegiate chapter in the nation as outstanding in all facets of sorority, college, and community life.
Phi chapter also received the first place Martha Drouyor Belknap DeCamp Outstanding Collegiate Chapter Philanthropy Award for their efforts in philanthropy and community service and second place for the National Convention Music Award. Also Vice President Danielle Lapuyade received the Collegiate Top Tau Award for Phi Chapter at the national convention.
In addition to the national award, Phi chapter has received Southeastern's Outstanding Panhellenic Chapter of the Year award and reignedas Greek Week champions for the past two consecutive years. Over the past year, AST completed over 1,000 hours of community service, celebrated 70 years as the first sorority on Southeastern's campus, and also celebrated as Phi chapter's Rita Bertolino become president of the Southeastern Alumni Association president.
For more information on Alpha Sigma Tau, visit www.alphasigmatau.org. For information on Phi Chapter, visit www.phiast.org.
SBDC hosts sales workshop series in August
The Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at Southeastern, along with the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and Hammond Area Economic and Industrial Development District, will host a series of sales seminars throughout August called “Selling, the Art of Mutual Benefit.”
Held each Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Southeast Louisiana Business Center on Martens Drive in Hammond, the series will address various topics related to the aspects of sales.
“Imagine how successful your business would be if your sales skills and processes were as good as your services and products,” said Sandy Summers, assistant director of the Southeastern SBDC. “Attendees at these workshops can strengthen several key skills and experience the sales process ranked number one by ‘Entrepreneur Magazine.’”
Cost per workshop is $75 or $200 for the series of three. For more information or to pre-register, contact the Louisiana SBDC at Southeastern at 985-549-3831 or www.lsbdc.org.
Workshop topics include:
• August 10 – “Prospect Like a Pro: Make Sure You’re in Control” instructs how to create mutual control and benefit, how to identify “tire kickers” before investing significant resources in activities, and how to grow revenue with effective methods for cold calling, networking and referral marketing.
• August 17 – “Find the ‘Pain’ or Find the Exit” identifies motivations among prospects. Attendees will learn what to say and do in the critical first three minutes to gain the interest, respect and approval that lead to the next step.
• August 24 – “Identifying the Budget and Decision Maker” will teach attendees how to identify the real decision maker to avoid wasting time with prospects who cannot authorize a purchase of products or services.
Phi Mu chapter recognized at national convention
The Alpha Psi chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity at Southeastern was honored as one of the organization’s top two chapters in the nation at the 51st National Phi Mu Convention held recently in Phoenix, Ariz. The Alpha Psi chapter received this prestigious honor based on the national organization’s evaluations of the chapter’s programming, academics, membership, risk management, finances, philanthropy, public relations, and new member program.
“The members of the Alpha Psi chapter are very dedicated to Phi Mu,” said Lorraine Favre, of Hammond, who serves as the chapter’s adviser. “These awards are the result of their hard work and commitment. Being named one of the top two Phi Mu chapters in the nation is quite an honor for these young women.”
In addition to this honor, the collegiate chapter was also awarded the Polly Bird Freear Booth Cowherd Panhellenic Award, the Georgie Perkins Williamson Ritual Award, and the Most Outstanding Collegiate State Day Award for their efforts throughout the last two years.
Prior to the convention, Alpha Psi was also awarded the Intramurals Championship Cup and the Student Organization Award of Excellence by Southeastern’s Division of Student Affairs.
“This is an achievement for the Southeastern community as well, because it is Southeastern who gives us the opportunity to succeed in our endeavors,” said Chapter President DeAnn Lemus, of Belle Chasse.
Also, Phi Mu alumna and Southeastern graduate Ashley Hebert McDaniel, of Baton Rouge, was elected to Phi Mu’s National Council as Vice President of Collegiate Operations during the convention. McDaniel is currently the assistant principal of St. Thomas More Catholic School in Baton Rouge.
Founded in 1852, Phi Mu is a woman’s organization, which provides personal and academic development, service to others, commitment to excellence and lifelong friendships through a shared tradition. Phi Mu promotes vibrant living encouraging members to achieve their personal best.
For more information on the Alpha Psi chapter at Southeastern, please visit www.selu.phimu.org. For more information on Phi Mu Fraternity, please visit www.phimu.org.
Above, from left, alumna members of Phi Mu’s Alpha Psi chapter April Field of Amite and Lorraine Favre of Hammond, current Chapter President DeAnn Lemus of Belle Chasse, and fellow Alpha Psi alumna members Ashley Hebert McDaniel of Baton Rouge and Allison Richard of Slaughter, celebrate together after receiving the chapter’s awards at the 51st National Phi Mu Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., in July.
Area students participate in Hispanic summer leadership camp
Nearly 40 students from area colleges and universities recently completed a summer camp at Southeastern designed to enhance their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
The second annual Hispanic Business and Leadership Camp hosted students from Southeastern, LSU, Nicholls State University and Delgado Community College. Sponsored by the Hispanic Business and Leadership Institute in Southeastern’s College of Business, the program focuses advancing the professional development and growth of young Hispanic leaders and other interested students.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for young Hispanic students to discover new opportunities in their lives and to learn the practical skills they need to advance in the real world,” said Aristides Baraya, director of the institute and a member of the College of Business faculty.
“The Hispanic community has become a growing economic force in south Louisiana,” he added. “By training these young leaders and directing them to the resources they will need to develop business opportunities in their lives, we are also helping to improve and strengthen the economic development of our state.”
The students were encouraged to do their part to help develop a solid citizenry that can enhance the social, political and economic development of their respect regions, he added.
Conference speakers included Marco Ameglio, a member of the Panama Canal Board of Directors; Jaime Barroso, deputy mayor of the city of Panama; Johana Valero, director of the Melanie Klein Foundation of Colombia’s management and entrepreneur program; Darlene Kattan, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana; Martin Gutierrez, Catholic Charities of New Orelans; and members of the College of Business faculty.
Cowser named among ‘Northshore’s Finest’ 
Erin Moore Cowser of Hammond, executive assistant to the president, has been selected one of “Northshore’s Finest Under 40” young professionals in a fundraising event sponsored by the Louisiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The event recognized 15 young professionals from the region who exemplify outstanding leadership qualities, are active in volunteer roles and have excelled in the business community. In her position, Cowser works on public policy and public relations initiatives for the university including academic endeavors, athletics programming and alumni activities. In addition, she serves as legislative liaison for the university.
The honorees were recognized recently at a luncheon at Tchefuncta Country Club and were asked to use their talent and leadership qualities to further the mission of the CF Foundation: to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
“Events like the Northshore’s Finest are essential to finding the next generation of leaders for the CF Foundation,” said Jim Harp, executive vice president and CFO of Hornbeck Offshore, which sponsored the event. “We have an abundance of leadership talent in the area that could help us close the door on this disease. We are very close to moving CF from being the number one genetic killer of children to a nuisance disease that can be easily controlled or managed through medication.”
A member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Cowser received the 2009 Community Service Award for her work as chair of the chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee. She is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute and Leadership St. Tammany West. She has served on the boards of the Leadership St. Tammany Alumni Foundation, the Zeta Tau Alpha Northshore Alumnae and Hospice Foundation of the South. A graduate of LSU with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, she is currently pursing a graduate degree in organizational communication at Southeastern.
Dr. Hye-Young Kim (Chemistry and Physics) has published an article titled “Transition of gases physisorbed on graphene,” in the Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol.22, 304001 (2010) in collaboration with Penn State and University of Wisconsin researchers.
Dr. Luanne Billingsley recently attended a nursing research conference in New Orleans entitled, “Translating Nursing Research: Changing Practice...Changing Lives”, where she presented “The Role of Technology in Advancing Evidence-Based
Practice” at the pre-conference workshop of the same title. Dr. Billingsley is also hosting a research poster presentation in a collaborative effort with Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans in Second Life at SELU Regents, a virtual learning environment. The purpose of this presentation is to share some of the research posters previously shared during the New Orleans conference. The virtual environment will provide a benefit to the nurse researchers by offering another opportunity to disseminate their research findings. These posters are great examples of the outcomes associated with the translation of research to clinical practice and will benefit several nursing groups and nursing students that will be invited to view the posters.
ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@selu.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to Public Information Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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