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Art on display at President's residence |
Ponchatoula artist Nancy Lowentritt, right, talks with Susan Needom of Slidell about
Lowentritt's painting "Growin Wild," which is on display in the President's Residence
at Southeastern.
Lowentritt was one of 51 artists from Louisiana whose work was featured at the
recent 8th Annual Louisiana Fine Arts Showcase, which was the introduction of new
artwork that will be enjoyed at the President's Residence for the upcoming year.
Software company develops new, highly accurate grading product
An award-winning software design and development company housed on Southeastern's
campus is making tests easier – for teachers, not students.
Seeking to make multiple choice grading more efficient, Envoc, working out of
the business incubator in the Southeast Louisiana Business Center, has released a
new education-based product called BubbleVision.
"BubbleVision was developed as a quick and easy way for educators to grade bubble
sheet tests," said Calvin Fabre, owner and CEO of Envoc. "With over 99% accuracy,
BubbleVision is changing the face of student assessment and teacher efficiency by
reading what other systems cannot. It can differentiate between intended and unintended
marks on a test sheet with the ability to learn and adapt to real-world examples.
It even becomes more accurate over time."
Fabre said the idea for BubbleVision came from working with a client who had
5,000 bubble sheets rejected by a grading machine. The company was asked to write
software that could recognize unintended marks as opposed to hand-grading the rejected
5,000 tests, Fabre explained.
"After some revisions, our software was able to grade the tests to over 99% accuracy,"
he said. "When a second client had the same issue within a few months, we knew a product
was missing from the marketplace. Thus, BubbleVision was born."
With locations in Hammond and Baton Rouge, Envoc employs nine Southeastern computer
science graduates and has hired four Southeastern interns who currently are gaining
real-world experience working in a software development operation.
"That team of staff and students worked almost exclusively on BubbleVision using
their creativity and the software development skills learned from Southeastern," Fabre
said. "The team will continue to manage, refine, monitor and host the software while
writing integrations when bringing on new clients that need accurate bubble sheet
grading."
Fabre said there is a mutually beneficial energy shared by the university and
Envoc. Students get excited about being involved in real-world problem solving with
actual clients, and Envoc is energized by the youthful energy, commitment and enthusiasm
of students gifted and trained with problem solving skills in technology.
"It's a win-win," he said. "I wish I had this opportunity in my impressionable
years as a computer science student. It would have made my first few years of study
much more enjoyable and meaningful."
For more information about Envoc's BubbleVision contact Fabre at (225) 910-8239
or visit the website bubblevision.org. For information about Southeastern's computer science program, go to southeastern.edu/csit.
University Alumni Chapter to meet Tuesday and Homecoming Committee to meet Thursday
The University Alumni chapter will meet on Tuesday, July 8, at 12:15 p.m. at the Alumni
Center. A free lunch of fried fish and all the trimmings will be provided.
The chapter is open to all current employees who join as dues paying members.
If you are an alumnus of Southeastern, annual dues are only $10, and for non-alumni,
the annual dues are only $15. You can still join by going online to www.southeastern.edu/alumni.
Please send in your RSVP so that we can plan for lunch.
Additionally, the Homecoming Committee will meet this Thursday, July 10, at 12:15
p.m. in the Alumni Center. A complimentary lunch will be served.
If you would like to serve on the Homecoming Committee, please call the Alumni
Center at 549-2150 so we will know how many to plan for lunch.
Recent Southeastern graduate exploring drone technology, creates campus video
Four years of working toward his degree in computer science flew by, and Simon Andersson
has the aerial footage to prove it.
Andersson needed a break from studying for final exams. That's when the recent
Southeastern graduate pulled out his recently purchased drone and did what any guy
would do with a new toy. He put the machine through its paces, flying the four-prop
DJI Phantom 2 drone around the tree-filled university and making a short, aerial video
of the Hammond campus.
"It was a nice stress reliever," said Andersson, a native of Sweden who moved
to the United States with his family several years ago. "I did it to leave a legacy
of the campus where I walked the sidewalks for the past four years. I wanted to showcase
some of the nice parts of campus on a beautiful spring day in Louisiana."
The drone is equipped with a stabilized, controllable 124 megapixel action camera
known as GoPro. This allowed him to shoot overhead video of the entire 365-acre campus,
ranging from the historical part of the campus at the south end to the modern residential
areas of the north. The video – which lasts slightly more than two minutes – can be
seen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8513qOVStto and is being used by the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology
to showcase the talents of one of its students.
"Simon was one of our best students and a great guy" said John Burris, assistant
professor of computer science who, Andersson says, was one of his most influential
instructors and mentors. "It's not surprising he would tackle a project like this
on his own."
Now a full time computer programmer, the Mandeville resident is putting the knowledge
and skills he learned at Southeastern into his new job at a software company in Metairie.
He is also starting work toward earning an MBA.
"The things I get to do at work are a great reflection of what I've learned at
Southeastern," Andersson said. "The computer science program truly prepared me, even
more than I expected."
He said he especially appreciated that Southeastern introduces its computer science
students to project classes starting in the sophomore year that emphasizes teamwork
and instruction in Agile Development, a team-based software development approach being
used increasingly in business. In addition, he praised the tight bond the faculty
members create with their students.
"I knew all my instructors personally," he said. "Their passion to teach and
get students a quality education shines through everything they do."
While no faculty members were involved in his aerial fly-over project, Andersson
had been talking with computer science Professor Kuo-Pao Yang, who shares his interest
in drone technology.
"I love where drone technology is moving, and I love being creative with cinematography
and photography. I know I will keep challenging myself in my hobby," he said. "It
is a growing field with use in lots of areas, including real estate and surveying.
A lot of people and companies will pay good money for nice aerial shots that could
have never been achieved before unless you paid well for a helicopter to do the shots.
If I get some chances to make some money with this, I would probably take the opportunity."
DRONE IN FLIGHT – Recent Southeastern computer science graduate Simon Andersson puts his drone through its paces in an open field. While finishing up his last semester in the spring, Andersson used the drone to create an aerial video of the university's campus.
The Anne M. Ferguson Endowed Scholarship
The Southeastern Foundation is seeking applications for the Anne M. Ferguson Endowed
Scholarship, which will be awarded once again commencing in the fall semester 2014.
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to a deserving student
who is a dependent of a Southeastern faculty/staff employee.
Criteria for the awarding of the scholarship include: (a) the student must have
achieved a high school/college grade point average of 2.5 or higher, (b) the student
must demonstrate involvement in leadership activities/programs; and (c) the student
must be enrolled full-time. The recipient may retain the scholarship as long as he/she
meets the criteria.
Scholarship application forms are available in the office of Jodie Chain (Dyson
Hall, room 150) and the Scholarship Office (North Campus, Building A, room 120). To
request an application to be sent to you via e-mail, please contact Jodie Chain at
549-5545 or jodie.chain@southeastern.edu. The deadline for returning the completed application is Thursday, July 31. Please
return completed applications to: University Advancement, Attn: Jodie Chain, SLU 10293,
Hammond, La., 70402.
Artist Linda Dautreuil on exhibit at Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery
A wide range of paintings by award-winning artist Linda Trappey Dautreuil is currently
on exhibit through August 26 at Southeastern's Contemporary Art Gallery.
The exhibit, "Convergent States," represents Dautreil's paintings from 2004 to
2014. Her works generally cover observations of the relationship between culture and
environment and are influenced by local mythology and native landscapes.
Gallery Director Dale Newkirk said the exhibition is a survey of 10 years of
Dautreuil's paintings.
In writing about her work Dautreuil has said: "My observations of the relationship
between culture and environment have influenced variations on themes I take from local
mythology, the native landscape, and historical narratives which have found new meanings
through generations of imaginative recycling."
The gallery is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
A native of New Iberia and resident of southwest Louisiana for most of her life,
she currently resides in the Covington area. She began painting while pursuing a master's
degree in creative writing. In 1984, she completed studies in visual arts at the University
of Louisiana-Lafayette and moved her studio to Covington in 1996.
Dautreuil has been awarded a Visual Arts Fellowship from the Louisiana State
Arts Council, the President's Award for Visual Arts in St. Tammany Parish and numerous
other recognitions. Her work is in the permanent collections of the New Orleans Museum
of Art, the New Orleans Public Art Collection, the Hilliard University Art Museum
in Lafayette and the St. Tammany Public Art Collection.
For more information, contact the gallery at 549-5080.
Tickets for Aug. 23 Lion Nation Celebration now available at LionUp.com
Tickets for the Lion Athletics Association's Aug. 23 Lion Nation Celebration are now
available for purchase at LionUp.com, the official website of the development arm
of Southeastern Athletics.
The event, which runs from 5-9 p.m. in the University Center, will celebrate
a historic 2013-14 season that saw SLU win a school record five Southland Conference
championships, while also officially kicking off the 2014-15 athletic year. All proceeds
from the event will support Lion and Lady Lion student-athlete scholarships.
Tickets for the event are $25. Table seating for eight are available for as low
as $300 with corporate sponsorship tables starting at $500. A BBQ dinner and cocktails
will be served and fans are encouraged to wear their green and gold.
A silent and live auction featuring unique game day experiences with SLU teams
and coaches, vacation packages, golf packages, autographed apparel, tickets, gift
baskets and much more.
LNC 14 attendees will have access to BidPal bidding, which gives fans a new opportunity
to experience auctions at their fingertips. At LionUp.com, fans will have the ability to pre-register payment information online to ensure
quick and easy checkouts the night of the auction. All items will be viewable at LionUp.com as they become confirmed for the event and will be available to be pre-bid on leading
up to the Aug. 23 celebration.
For more information on the event, to purchase a table or to become an official
LNC 14 corporate table sponsor, contact Assistant Director for Athletic Development
Cody Gougler at 549-5226 or cody.gougler@southeastern.edu.
Southeastern in the news
BR Advocate
Laitram, Southeastern partnership blooms
http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/9485301-123/laitram-southeastern-partnership-blooms
Port Manchac targets oil to rail business
http://theadvocate.com/news/business/9612629-123/port-manchac-targets-rail-to-barge-oil
The Outdoor Wire Retired LDWF alligator research pioneer honored
http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/story/1403562857cfansxphxzh
Washington Times Teachers in training learn with students at camps
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/5/teachers-in-training-learn-with-students-at-camps/?page=1
Professional activities
C. Roy Blackwood (Fine and Performing Arts, Columbia Theatre) attended the annual Boar Retreat of
the Louisiana Citizens/Louisiana Partners for the Arts in Shreveport June 17-19. He
represents the Louisiana Presenters Network as a board member. The LCA is the advocacy
arm and the LPA is the delivery of services arm. Both function in partnership with
the Louisiana Division of the Arts in the office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@southeastern.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to University Marketing and Communications Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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