Southeastern Louisiana University

CAB named best programming board by national group

Contact: Christina Chapple

3/16/06

NATION'S BEST PROGRAMMING BOARD – Officers and members of the Campus Activities Board at Southeastern Louisiana University show off the national award they received from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities naming them “Programming Board of the Year.” From left, front, are Michael Perniciaro of Chalmette, Kimberly Dottolo of Ponchatoula, CAB President Makeitta Darbonne of Lake Charles, Phylicia Common of Marrero, Erica Milligan of LaPlace; back, Bobby Bell of Angie, Michael Kyles of Baton Rouge, Brandon Parker of New Orleans, Jessica Scott of Baton Rouge, CAB Coordinator Jason Leader. 

       HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University's Campus Activities Board, the organization that plans and presents entertainment and activities for students, has received national validation that it’s the best at its job.

       At the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities national convention earlier this month in Atlanta, CAB received the 2006 Boyd Jones Award for Programming Board of the Year.

       "To be named the number one programming board in the nation is a very prestigious honor,” said Jackie Dale Thomas, director of Leadership Development/Student Activities and a CAB advisor. "I am extremely proud of this award because it recognizes the hard work of all those involved in the Campus Activities Board, the members, officers, advisors and all those on the Southeastern campus who are so supportive of CAB."

       “This award is a credit to the great staff and the student leaders who provide significant service for Southeastern students and add so much to campus life at Southeastern,” said Marvin Yates, interim vice president for student affairs.

       CAB President Makeitta Darbonne of Lake Charles accepted the award at the convention along with officers and members Bobby Bell of Angie, Phylicia Common of Marrero, Kimberly Dottolo of Ponchatoula, Michael Kyles of Baton Rouge, Erica Milligan of LaPlace, Brandon Parker of New Orleans, Michael Perniciaro of Chalmette, and Jessica Scott of Baton Rouge.

        “We are proud of ourselves!” said Darbonne. “Having our hard work and efforts recognized on a national level is what our organization deserves, and a great school like Southeastern deserves a national award winning programming board. Although many schools throughout the United States strive for this prestigious award, CAB has a passion for providing students with quality programming and our exhibitors and vendors with great Southern hospitality.”

       Leader said campus departments such as CAB are nominated for the Programming Board of the Year by the programming vendors -- the various acts, entertainers and novelty programs booked by colleges and universities. 
       ”When the call came in for me to nominate a school, my reply came instantly – Southeastern, without question and without a doubt,” said magician Matthew “Matt the Knife” Cassiere, who performed at Southeastern last fall. “Southeastern has literally become my absolute favorite school to work with.”

       He had high praise for Leader and the CAB staff and students. “They’re problem solvers,” he said. “They think outside of the box and maintain the highest level of professionalism and excellence without ever compromising that fun atmosphere that every campus board should strive for.”

       Funded by students through a self-assessed fee, CAB has traditionally offered students free movies, comedy acts, and outdoor mini-festivals such as Gumbo Ya Ya and Strawberry Jubilee. In recent years, the organization has also initiated popular events such as Southeastern Star, patterned after the television phenomena “American Idol,” and the Southeastern Music Fest, a concert that this year featured American Idol finalist Lindsay Cardinale and bands such as Stroke 9, and the Chee Weez.

       APCA named “Southeastern Star” as the “Student Programming Event of the Year” in 2005.

       CAB is open to all Southeastern students and meets each Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Student Union, room 110. For additional information, contact CAB at 985-549-3805