IN THIS ISSUE ... 

SLU, BRCC sign agreement

Alumni fundraiser a success

Professor earns national award

From art to aid

Professor installed as fellow

Students win journalism awards

Southeastern in the news

This Week in Athletics

Professional activities


Southeastern, BRCC sign 2+2 agreement on computer science programs
SLU, BRCC sign agreementSoutheastern and Baton Rouge Community College have signed a“2+2” articulation agreement designed to facilitate the transfer of BRCC computer science students into Southeastern’s undergraduate programs.
     Officials at both institutions said the agreement provides a seamless transition for students graduating with computer science associate’s degrees from BRCC who intend to pursue bachelor’s degrees at Southeastern in computer science and information technology programs.
     A 2+2 program is a cooperative endeavor between a two-year community college program that offers associate degrees and a four-year institution that provides students with an easy transition through the sharing of application and admissions information, transcripts and other records.
     The agreement will facilitate transfer to Southeastern’s bachelor degree programs in computer science and information technology upon the student’s completion of the AS degree program in computer science at BRCC.
     “This agreement represents another sign of cooperation between Louisiana institutions intended to advance the success of higher education students at both the community college and university levels,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “It also addresses important workforce development and technology issues for the state.”
     “This is an exciting journey for both institutions. A partnership with Southeastern will open up more avenues for BRCC students to achieve their dreams of furthering their education. It also provides opportunities for students who may not have otherwise considered completing a bachelor’s degree,” said BRCC Chancellor Andrea Lewis Miller.
     Also signing the agreement on behalf of Southeastern were Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg and Dean of the College of Science and Technology Dan McCarthy; signing for BRCC were BRCC Chancellor Andrea Lewis Miller and Dean of the STEM Division JoDale Ales. Also participating in the signing event were Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology at Southeastern, and Karim Elkholy, interim chair of the Department of Engineering and Computer Science at BRCC.
     Under the agreement, students who complete two years at BRCC and earn an associate’s degree in computer science can easily transition into Southeastern computer science bachelor’s degree programs, which include pre-MBA and scientific concentrations, or a bachelor’s degree in information technology.
     van Delden said students at BRCC will take 60 credit hours, which includes most of their general education coursework, including math, English, science, social studies, humanities and basic computer science. Their remaining 60 hours at Southeastern will focus primarily on computer science coursework, addressing algorithm design and analysis, programming languages, operating systems, software engineering and other advanced computing topics.
     “This partnership gives students in the region an additional educational pathway to pursuing a high tech career in computing,” he said. “With the high demand for application developers and software engineers in south Louisiana now, we are very excited to see this partnership formalized.”

SLU, BRCC SIGN AGREEMENT – Southeastern President John L. Crain and BRCC Chancellor Dr. Andrea Lewis Miller sign a “2+2” agreement between the institutions that facilitates seamless transfer of BRCC computer science students into Southeastern’s four-year programs.

 


Southeastern Alumni Association sponsors ‘Champagne, Chocolate & Diamonds'
Diamond winnerThe Southeastern Alumni Association recently sponsored a new fundraising event, Champagne, Chocolate and Diamonds in cooperation with George Ibert's Jewelry and Gifts of Hammond.
     The event featured jewelry displays, modeling of dresses and the presentation of a one-carat flawless diamond to a lucky patron.
     Among those attending were, from left, Daryl Ferrara, past president; former Miss Southeastern and Miss Louisiana Lacey Sanchez; Yvonne Ibert; Glenda Whitaker who won the diamond; George Ibert; Alumni Director Kathy Pittman; Ricky Masarrachia, planning committee member, and Julie Perise, assistant director. Not shown is Teri Blackwell, planning committee member.

 


Professor earns national award for safety instruction
Lu Yuan, associate professor of occupational safety, health and environment at Southeastern, was recognized by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) for his innovative approaches to teaching.
     A resident of Baton Rouge, Yuan received the ASSE’s William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year Award at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Dallas.
     He was recognized for providing innovative student engagements through hands-on experiences and valuable internship opportunities.
     Yuan is a certified safety professional and serves as coordinator of Southeastern’s occupational, safety, health and environment program, one of the few such programs in the South.

 


Southeastern art exhibit to transform into home for Fuller Center
Daphne Vernon, Aaron Vernon, Cedar Lorca NordbyeA sculpture installation by artist Cedar Lorca Nordbye on exhibit at Southeastern ’s Contemporary Art Gallery will be used to construct a new home for a local family upon conclusion of the exhibit.
     The exhibit, “Building Ethics,” is not only an art installation, but also a social action, according to Nordbye of Memphis. It will be on display in the gallery through Aug. 21.
     Gallery Director Dale Newkirk said the first phase of the art project, which blends printmaking, sculpture and social engagement, manifests itself as a sculpture installation of painted and printed lumber, a towering three-dimensional artwork that Nordbye, Southeastern students and volunteers from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia are constructing in the university gallery.
     “Cedar Lorca Nordbye has created a large-scale architectural sculpture in the Contemporary Art Gallery out of painted and screen-printed construction lumber. The sculpture was made on-site in the gallery by the artist, gallery staff, art students taking summer courses and volunteers,” Newkirk said.
     “Mr. Nordbye has created several gallery installations using these materials and methods,” Newkirk added, “but what makes this artwork more interesting is that the decorated lumber will be going into the construction of someone’s home after the exhibition is over. It is also the first time that the gallery has worked with an outside non-profit organization.”
     The second phase begins after the exhibition, when volunteers will dissemble the structure, and the painted lumber will be donated to The Ginger Ford Northshore Fuller Center for Housing. The materials will then be used in the construction of a new home for Daphne Vernon of Hammond, a single working mom, and her four-year-old son Aaron.
     Vernon is excited to have been selected to receive a home to call her own.
     “First I want to give all thanks to God, because without him none of this would be possible,” she said. “Secondly, my son and I are grateful to have such wonderful and kind people to come into our lives to make what was a dream for us into a reality. It is truly a wonderful feeling to soon have a place we can call home.”
     In the past year, Nordbye has carried out two smaller projects that involved partnerships with Habitat for Humanity – one in Memphis, Tenn., and one in Lexington, Ky.
     “For 15 years I have dreamed of using painted, printed lumber to completely transform the appearance of a framed house to be something awe inspiring,” Nordbye said. “A significant motivation of this project is to bring excitement and energy to the charitable organizations that are carrying out the important work of creating housing across the country and the world.”
     Raised in California, Nordbye was educated at New Hampshire College and the University of Iowa and now resides in Memphis, where he is associate professor of art at the University of Memphis.
     The Southeastern Contemporary Art 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.
For more information, contact the gallery at 985-549-5080.

HOME SWEET HOME – Daphne Vernon and her son Aaron meet artist Cedar Lorca Nordbye as he builds the art exhibit “Building Ethics,” in Southeastern’s Contemporary Art Gallery. Upon completion of the art exhibit, the materials will be used to build a new home through The Ginger Ford Northshore Fuller Center for Housing for Vernon, a single working mother, and her son. The art exhibit will be on display through August 21.


Southeastern professor installed as fellow of national nurse practitioners group
Lucie AgostaLucie J. Agosta, an associate professor of nursing at Southeastern, was installed as a 2015 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners at the organization’s national meeting in New Orleans June 9-14.
     The designation is designed to recognize nurse practitioner leaders who make outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, education or policies designed to enhance the mission of the association, explained Eileen Creel, head of the Southeastern School of Nursing.
     A resident of Baton Rouge, Agosta is one of only two nurse practitioners from Louisiana selected as a 2015 Fellow. She was among the 70 NPs from throughout the nation recognized by the AANP.
     “Dr. Agosta is widely recognized for her work as a nurse practitioner and educator of graduate students seeking to become nurse practitioners,” Creel said. “As nurse practitioners begin to play a more critical role in the health system, educators and mentors such as Dr. Agosta are an important element in the future of the profession.”
     Agosta is coordinator of the Woman’s Hospital Employee Health NP Clinic and received the AANP State Award of Excellence in 2008. She joined Southeastern’s faculty in 2007 and serves as coordinator of the family health nurse practitioner track in Southeastern’s School of Nursing graduate program. She is a recipient of the Nightingale Award from the Louisiana Nurses Foundation as Advance Practice Nurse of the Year. She is the advanced practice registered nurse representative on the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

 


Southeastern students win at journalism conference
Southeastern students in broadcast and print journalism recently won awards at the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), hosted by Georgia State University in Atlanta.
     Awards were given in the “Best of South” competition from over 523 entries representing 33 universities from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
     The Southeastern Channel, the university’s educational television station, was named second-place winner as “Best College TV Station in the South,” and the channel’s student newscast, “Northshore News,” won second place for “Best College Video News Program in the South.”
     KSLU-90.9 FM, the university’s public radio station, was awarded second place for “Best College Radio Station in the South.”  Southeastern’s student newspaper, “The Lion’s Roar,” took sixth place for “Best College Magazine in the South” for its back to school issue.
     “Best of the South” individual student winners were:
   Paul Rivera of Slidell, a reporter-anchor for the Southeastern Channel, second place for Best TV Journalist and 10th place for College Journalist of the Year;
   Michael Vinsanau of Mandeville, reporter-anchor for the Southeastern Channel, second place for Best TV Hard News;
   Matthew Doyle of KSLU, third place for Best Radio Journalist;
   Olivia Moreno, third place for Best News Editorial Artist;
   John Binder, ninth place for Best News Writer;
   Fernanda Chagas, ninth place for Best News Graphic Designer;
     The onsite competition involved individuals or teams working in 15 different categories within specified time limits to produce a specific product. Southeastern student winners in the onsite competition were Paul Rivera, first place for TV Anchoring, and Sara Patrick of Houma, second place for Entertainment Writing.  

 


Southeastern in the news

WAFB-TV
BRCC and Southeastern sign agreement to help computer science students continue their studies
http://www.wafb.com/story/29297825/brcc-and-southeastern-sign-agreement-to-help-computer-science-students-continue-their-studies

 


Lions still roaring in summer leagues
The college baseball season may be winding down, but 19 members of the 2015 Southeastern Louisiana diamond squad are finding a way to sharpen their skills in various summer leagues around the country.
     For the third-consecutive year, the Lions have placed a pitcher in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Junior left-hander Kyle Cedotal has a 1-0 record for the Orleans Firebirds and has allowed just two hits through six scoreless innings of work. The native of Denham Springs follows Andro Čutura, Jameson Fisher, Mason Klotz and Tate Scioneaux in logging time on the cape.
     Sophomore second baseman Carson Crites traveled the farthest, landing with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaska Baseball League.
     Freshman first baseman Scottie Sanders is spending the summer in the nation's capital as a member of the D.C. Grays (Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League). Through 11 games, he is hitting .357 with a team-high three doubles.
     Klotz, Kennon Menard and Mac Sceroler are playing for the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League. Once healthy, senior catcher Sam Roberson is expected to join them.
     Outfielder Ryan Byers, a sophomore from Ponchatoula has already cranked three doubles and a pair of home runs in just 35 at bats for the Derby Twins of the Jayhawk League.
     Sophomore outfielder Webb Bobo and junior southpaw hurler Domenick Carlini are in the Northwoods League as members of the St. Cloud Rox.
     Taylor Schwaner, a freshman infielder from New Orleans was named the Prospect League Hitter of the Week following a 10-for-21 (.476) performance, June 1-7. He and fellow freshman Kade Granier are playing for the Quincy Gems.
     Pitcher Scott Szush and outfielder Jacob Seward, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, stayed close to home and are playing with the Acadiana Cane Cutters of the Texas Collegiate League.
     Junior Daniel Midyett and freshman Drew Avans are with the Strasburg Express of the Valley League. Playing left field, Midyett is hitting .289 with nine RBIs in his first 11 games. Avans is 2-for-8 (.250) at the plate and has not allowed a run in his first nine innings pitched. He has a 2-0 record and has allowed just four hits and a pair of walks, fanning six.
     Freshmen Nico Cuccia, Josh Green and Ray Hutchinson are getting a chance to showcase their skills after a year of seasoning at the collegiate level. Green and Hutchinson are pitching for the Nevada Griffons of the MINK Collegiate Baseball League. Cuccia is catching for the Shelter Island Bucks in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League.
     The 2015 Lions, who finished 42-17 overall and 25-5 in the Southland Conference, set the school record for overall wins and the Southland record for conference wins on the way to claiming the conference's regular-season championship.

 


Professional activities
David Armand (English) just learned that his fifth book, a chapbook of poems titled The Deep Woods, has been accepted for publication by Blue Horse Press in California that also recently published a chapbook by Larry D. Thomas, former poet laureate of Texas. Armand’s book is scheduled to be released at the end of the summer.

 


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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