Southeastern students honored with LAB Scholarship, Award

Two Southeastern Louisiana University students were honored recently at the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters’ Prestige Awards.
Darci Lourigan, a KSLU radio student broadcaster from Mt. Hermon, was named the 2026 Student Radio Broadcaster of the Year, while Southeastern Channel Student Assistant Director of Entertainment and Cultural Programming Emma Loper of St. Rose was awarded the 2026 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Scholarship.

Southeastern Alumni Kevin Meeks, who was the first voice ever heard on KSLU in 1974, was also honored with a posthumous induction into the LAB Hall of Fame.

Southeastern Channel Director of Student Programming Steve Zaffuto said Loper is a unique student.

“Emma is one of those students whose talents are made even more apparent due to both her work ethic and desire to constantly improve upon her already impressive creative skillset,” he said. “She is extremely deserving of this award and will no doubt achieve further honors as an accomplished media professional.”

Assistant AD for Broadcast Services/KSLU General Manager Damon Sunde said Lourigan has fully embraced her role as a reporter at KSLU.

“Whether interviewing student-athletes or visiting dignitaries like Robin Roberts, writing and recording daily news reports, or engineering remote broadcasts, Darci takes on each challenge with an enthusiasm that comes through in the final product,” Sunde said. “She is a leader among the station’s student staff and has played a major role in training new members of KSLU.”

The LAB established the scholarship program to support promising future broadcasters and aid them in seeking the best quality education in the field of broadcasting. By sponsoring the awards, the LAB endeavors to encourage students of the highest caliber to enter broadcasting as a career and guarantee the future quality of broadcasting in Louisiana.