Southeastern music student recognized in competitions A Southeastern music student has been recognized for her performances in competitions
sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) at the state and regional
levels. Sungkyung Woo, a violin performance major studying under Southeastern Professor
Yakov Voldman, won first place in the state level competition held in Alexandria recently.
In addition, she earned second place in the South Central MTNA Young Artist Performance
Competition held in Houston. The regional competition includes performers from colleges
and universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. A junior, Woo is a native of Icheon, South Korea. “These were my first competition experiences in the United States, and I appreciate
the opportunity to perform,” Woo said. “I am especially appreciative of the assistance
in preparation for the competitions by my teacher, Dr. Voldman.” “Sungkyung is very talented and I am so glad to have such an amazing student
in my studio,” said Voldman. “We worked very hard over the winter break in preparation
for the competition. She truly deserves the prize from the competition.”

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Teacher candidates host event Teacher candidates enrolled in their first level of Early Childhood Education methods
(EDUC 323) invited foreign exchange teachers attending Southeastern to join them in
celebration of a cultural event and to play learning games. The teacher candidates were charged with creating games designed to support learning
of early literacy skills and practical math skills such as counting U.S. currency
and making correct change. The teacher candidate-created games had to meet differing
ability levels so that each game could be used both in early childhood classrooms
where a variety of skill levels exist and could also be used with the Panamanian teachers
learning to use English as a Second Language. The teacher candidates said that they entered this teaching experience with some
trepidation, but left feeling that they had learned a great deal about another culture,
engaged in differentiating learning tasks, and developed a greater appreciation for
cultural diversity. The three professors that coordinated this event, Dr. Debra Jo Hailey, Dr. Stacy
Garcia, and Dr. Letitia Walters, agreed that throughout the event, teacher candidates
and Panamanian teachers worked and played together while sharing teaching ideas and
resources which resulted in a day of truly authentic engagement, fun and dynamic learning
for all.
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Book signing scheduled Library Director Eric Johnson and Librarian Cathy Tijerino will sign their book Hammond, a volume in the “Images of America” series published by Arcadia Publishing, at Bayou
Booksellers, 201 West Thomas St., on Thursday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. The book is a photographic overview of Hammond from its beginnings to 1950 and
contains over 200 historical images with captions. Books will be available for purchase during the signing.
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Southeastern Sims Library to host series on Latino Americans Southeastern Louisiana University’s Sims Memorial Library will host a free, six-week
series on Latino Americans beginning Feb. 17. Offered in conjunction with the Tangipahoa Parish Public Library and the Hammond
Regional Arts Center and titled “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History,” the series
will feature two documentary film screenings with scholar-led discussions about the
history of Latino Americans from 1946 to 1980, as well as lectures on Latino American
arts, a reading for children, and a dance demonstration. Southeastern is one of approximately 200 libraries, museums, and art and historical
associations across the country to host the programs, which will run through March
19. Eric Johnson, program coordinator and director of Sims Library, obtained a grant
from the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities,
which made the programs possible. “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History” is a national grant initiative that
provides DVDs of the documentary series shown on PBS, discussion guidelines, resource
guides, and Web support,” said Johnson. “I decided to focus on the arts because of
the excellent opportunities both in Hammond and in the greater New Orleans area, and
to give the series a different focus from other programs across the country.” Instructor in Foreign Languages Marianna Kunow will serve as the project scholar,
leading the video discussions and providing a reading at the parish library. Programs
scheduled are at Sims Library unless otherwise noted and are as follows: • Feb. 17: “The New Latinos (1946 - 1963),” video and discussion, 6:30 p.m. • Feb. 18: “From Zorro to Machete: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood,” Dr.
Jason Landrum, 2 p.m. • Feb. 24: ‘The Mexican Muralists and Chicano Variations,” Dr. Marianna Kunow,
Hammond Regional Arts Center, 5 p.m. • March 2: “Prejudice and Pride (1965-1980),” video and discussion, 6:30
p.m. • March 5: Latin American Dance Demonstration, Javier’s Dance Company, Tangipahoa
Library Ponchatoula Branch, 1 p.m. • March 10: “Chicano Rock and the Influence of Latino Music on Rock Stars,”
Dr. Joe Burns, 2 p.m. • March 16: “Latinas on Broadway,” Eric Johnson, 12:30 p.m. • March 19: Children’s Reading, Tangipahoa Library, Hammond Branch, 1 p.m. Latino Americans: 500 Years of History is part of an NEH initiative and The Common
Good: The Humanities in the Public Square. The PBS documentary film series was produced
by WETA Washington, D.C.; Bosch and Co. Inc.; and Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB);
in association with Independent Television Service (ITVS). For more information about the series, contact Johnson at 549-3962 or via e-mail
at Eric.Johnson@southeastern.edu.
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Thomas wins state LATAN award Donna Thomas, assistant professor in Southeastern’s Communication Sciences and Disorders
(CSD) program, was presented the Citizen Award by the Louisiana Assistive Technology
Access Network (LATAN). LATAN is a statewide, nonprofit organization that connects individuals with disabilities
and older persons with the assistive technology that encourages independence in employment,
school and community living. Thomas, a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist, received the award
for her work in supporting the use of assistive technology in the public school system,
community and at Southeastern’s Speech and Hearing Clinic. She has also developed
and taught a graduate course at Southeastern on augmentative and alternative communication. A resident of Ponchatoula, Thomas also teaches classes in the areas of speech
and language development, language disorders and swallowing disorders. She also provides
clinical supervision to undergraduate and graduate students in Southeastern’s program.
Her research interests are in the areas of literacy, augmentative communication and
language development. She is a member of the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association, the Louisiana
Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology, and serves as secretary for
the Louisiana Speech and Hearing Association.
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