Month: April 2019

Spring 2019 commencement is almost here! Whether you have a loved one graduating or simply want to be a part of this special Southeastern tradition, there are a few things to keep in mind to help the day go smoothly. A few changes have been made within the past year, including alterations to the list of allowed items, the addition of bag checks, an increased number of attendants to assist guests, and live streaming of the big event on The Southeastern Channel. Please continue reading below for further information, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

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Time & Place
Doctoral, Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s Degree Ceremony
Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.
University Center, 800 West University Avenue
Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
The commencement ceremony is anticipated to last until 12:30 p.m.

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Live Stream
Watch the ceremony online on the Southeastern Channel’s live stream.

Parking & Seating
Parking
Complimentary parking is available in all campus parking lots to guests attending the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Guests walking from South Campus to the University Center should utilize the tunnel for the safest route.

Accessible parking at the University Center is limited and is on a first-come basis. Please note that disabled plates and/or hang tags are required to secure space in lots reserved for accessible commencement parking.

Shuttle
A complimentary commencement shuttle will be available on Saturday, May 18, to transport guests from (the Gen Pershing and Univ/Oak Street parking lots) to the University Center. The shuttle will operate before and following the ceremony. One (1) bus will have wheelchair accessibility.

Seating
The doors to the University Center will be opened for guests at least one hour before the start of the ceremony. We kindly ask that you refrain from saving seats out of consideration for other guests. Seating is available on a first-come basis so groups should plan to arrive early to find seats together.

Maps
For suggested parking lots and a layout of the University Center, please refer to the below maps.

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Etiquette & Prohibited Items
Etiquette
Commencement is a ceremonious occasion honoring your student’s accomplishments. Decorum and courtesy are important to you, as well as to all degree candidates and their families. Guests and graduates are encouraged to remain for the duration of the ceremony.

• Once seated, all participants are expected to stay until the conclusion of the ceremony.
• Cell phones and other electronic devices should be silenced.
• Candidates should plan to meet their guests outside the University Center as guests are not allowed on the arena floor or stage.
• Southeastern maintains the historic tradition of each degree candidate shaking hands with the President as his / her name is called. The last degree candidate is as important as the first so we ask guests to be considerate and keep celebratory applause to a minimum so that each graduate’s name can be heard.

Prohibited Items
For security purposes, all commencement attendees are asked to limit the handbags, camera bags, and tote bags they bring with them to only those that are absolutely necessary. All articles brought into the facility will be subject to search, and this may delay attendees from entering the University Center.

To ensure a safe and comfortable Commencement, the following items are strictly prohibited from being brought into the University Center:

Containers of any kind (including but not limited to coolers, thermoses, cups, bottles, cans, flasks)
Aerosol and spray cans
Animals (except for service animals for persons with a disability)
Balloons and beach balls
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons
Signs, banners, and flags
Laser pointers
Noisemakers (including but not limited to whistles, air horns, bull horns, sirens, thunder sticks, etc.)
Strollers
Drones
Confetti, glitter, streamers, and silly string
Fireworks, party poppers, and sparklers

 

Inclement Weather Policy
We are hopeful that Mother Nature will cooperate in the celebration, but inclement weather is possible.  To ensure a safe commencement, the following plans are in place:

1. The ceremony is scheduled to take place rain or shine. Given the size of the gathering, it’s not feasible to move the ceremony to an alternate date.
   1. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony may be delayed, paused, or canceled. The safety of our guests is our highest priority.
   2. If a schedule adjustment is required prior to your arrival, information will be shared via email, social media (facebook.com/southeastern, Instagram.com/oursoutheastern,  twitter.com/oursoutheastern), website, and local news media.
2. At the venue, instructions will be given via the stage announcer. Graduates and guests are asked to listen for announcements and remain seated until otherwise instructed.

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Accessibility
The commencement ceremony will be fully accessible. Accessible seating will be available for individuals with disabilities or guests with limited mobility. ASL interpreters will be on site. Guests who utilize sign language interpreting services should sit in sections 114 and 115.

Seating Accommodations
If you or anyone in your party is in need of accessible seating or assistance, we recommend arriving early as the seating will be determined on a first-come basis. Accessible seating is limited to only those guests who require it. The seats will be for the person with accessible needs and for one companion. No pre-ticketing will occur for accessible seating.

Wheelchair Seating Locations
Wheelchair and wheelchair companion locations are scattered throughout the main level concourse 100 level at sections 104, 109 and 110.

Entrances
Street-level entry to the building is through gate 4 on the north side of facility. Passenger elevators with priority for persons with disabilities are available at gate 5, near section 111 / 112.

Restrooms
The public restrooms are accessible and all contain diaper-changing stations.

Concessions
The concession stand is accessible.

Messages and Emergency Information
In case of an emergency, the ASL interpreter will alert the deaf and those hard of hearing. Emergency messages will be announced from the stage via the announcer.

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Additional Activities
Lion4Life Launch Party
Thursday, May 16 | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Alumni Center
Register Online

Hotels & Restaurants
To plan your weekend in Hammond, go to www.tangitourism.com.  Enjoy your time in beautiful Hammond, America!

The Southeast Louisiana Historical Association will hold its annual meeting in Hammond April 17. The event will take place at the Hammond Regional Arts Center in the Levy Building downtown at 6 p.m.

Southeastern professors Samuel Hyde and Robert Moreau will headline the event centered on continuity and change over 150 years in Tangipahoa Parish.

The Leon Ford Endowed Chair, Professor of History, and Director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, Hyde will provide a short presentation on dramatic events from Tangipahoa’s past and details from his new book.

Moreau, a professor of biology and director of the Turtle Cove Research Station, will present details on current projects at Turtle Cove and highlight continuing, and newly emerging challenges to the Manchac Swamp ecosystem.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with refreshments and conversation. Dinner, with regionally appropriate foods courtesy of Chef John Jordan, will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by Hyde and Moreau’s presentations. A book signing will follow the presentation with books available for purchase.

Hyde said SELHA is a town and gown organization devoted to promoting and preserving the history and culture of Louisiana’s Florida Parishes and surrounding environs. The organization is housed in the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern.

“New members and guests are welcome,” Hyde said. “A $25 membership fee entitles one to attend the April 17 meeting and dinner, along with a one-year membership in the organization and a copy of the annual newsletter ‘The Centerpiece,’ and the SELHA’s scholarly journal ‘The Southeast Louisiana Review.’”

Spouses or member guests may attend for a $10 fee, Hyde added. Those interested only in attending the April 17 dinner and lectures may do so for $15.

For additional information on tickets or the SELHA, contact the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at 985-549-2151 or email selahistory@southeastern.edu.

The Southeastern Louisiana University student organization Reconnect is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with a farmers market on April 17 in front of the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sponsored by the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department, the market will feature locally grown produce, pies, food, coffee, soaps, jewelry, live music and more.

In addition to the farmers market vendors, representatives from various student and community organizations will be on hand to celebrate Earth Day, including the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, the Sustainability Center, biology graduate students, Dining Services, Reconnect, the Sierra Club, and the Citizens Climate Lobby. The first 300 participants will receive a free reusable water bottle.

A student environmental club, Reconnect participates in the Real Food Challenge, a national effort among college students to promote the use of locally grown, healthy and sustainable food products.

For more information, contact Associate Professor of Sociology David Burley at david.burley@southeastern.edu.

A Southeastern Louisiana University librarian has been recognized with a state award by the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Louisiana Library Association. Angela Dunnington, head of access services of Southeastern’s Sims Memorial Library, received the 2019 Academic Award for Outstanding Librarianship at the LLA annual conference held recently in Baton Rouge.

A resident of Hammond, Dunnington was nominated by Sims Library Director Eric Johnson, as well as her peers.

“Angela has passion for librarianship, a strong desire to provide the best possible service that Sims Library can offer, the ability to work through thorny problems to find appropriate solutions, and an ongoing commitment to faculty and student assistance and instruction,” Johnson said.

Dunnington received a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Southeastern in 1995 and a master’s degree in library and information science from LSU in 1997. She has worked at Sims Memorial Library in various capacities since 2001 and has introduced new technology to library collections, led information literacy assessment projects, written grants, improved policies, and created a student/employee training course.

Perhaps most importantly, Johnson said, Dunnington frequently shares her expertise locally, statewide, and nationally. She has published and presented extensively and frequently mentors new librarians.

“It is an indescribable honor to be selected as this year’s Outstanding Academic Librarian. It has been an incredible journey to be part of academic libraries and higher education spanning 22 years,” Dunnington said. “I share this award with Southeastern librarians, staff and fellow colleagues who mentored and inspired me throughout my career. It is not every day a librarian gets to spend the majority of her career working at their undergraduate alma mater.”

 

A Southeastern Louisiana University student and two alumni were recognized at the 2019 Mississippi Guitar Festival Guitar Competition at William Carey College in Hattiesburg.

Southeastern junior Graham Guillory of Covington placed third in the Young Artist division of the competition that included national and international students performing music for solo guitar. Guillory, a student of Instructor of Guitar and Coordinator of Guitar Activities Patrick Kerber, performed Dilermando Reis’ “Se Ela Perguntar” and Angel Barrios’ “Arroyos de la Alhambra,” two challenging works.

Co-sponsored by the Mississippi Guitar Alliance, the festival also featured a Jazz Guitar Competition in which two Southeastern alumni earned recognition. Zakkary Garner (’13) of Hammond earned first place, and Justin Burdette (’10) of Baton Rouge took second place.

Garner is currently teaching in the Tangipahoa School System Talented Music program. His CD “Humble Ambition,” featuring mostly original compositions, was released in late 2018. In addition to his teaching duties, Garner maintains an active performance schedule as a saxophonist, guitarist, and pianist. Since graduating from Southeastern, he has been featured at music festivals throughout the United States and Europe.

Burdette maintains a substantial teaching schedule with the Overtones Music Studio in Denham Springs. He performs regularly throughout the region as a soloist and with the popular King Creole Orchestra.

“It is certainly an understatement to say that I am very proud of and happy for these young guitarists,” Kerber said. “Music competitions are very difficult propositions, as musicians have to present what makes them happy – the joy of performing music – in the face of instant comparison and judgement. Their success in this event bodes well for their future academic and professional success.”

Above Image: From left are junior Dylan Domangue of Houma and senior Amanda Kitch of Covington. Not pictured is scholarship winner Alexis Minor, a senior from Baton Rouge.

Three Southeastern Louisiana University students at the Southeastern Channel have received prestigious Emmy scholarships from the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Junior Dylan Domangue of Houma and senior Alexis Minor of Baton Rouge were awarded $5,000 scholarships each, while senior Amanda Kitch of Covington won a $4,500 stipend.

The Suncoast Chapter offers scholarships to eligible high school seniors and university students who reside within the Suncoast Region, comprised of Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Puerto Rico.

To be eligible for the university award, students must maintain a 3.5 overall grade point average with a major in communications/broadcasting and a concentration in television. Applicants are required to submit a transcript, resume, work samples, one-page biography, 250-word essay, a letter of recommendation, and participate in a personal interview conducted by the Emmy scholarship committee.

It is the second consecutive year that Domangue and Kitch received scholarships. In 2017, along with Courtney Bruno of New Orleans, they became the first students in Louisiana awarded Emmy scholarships.

“This is a tremendous honor for Dylan, Alexis and Amanda since they had to pass very strict Emmy criteria to win the scholarships,” said Southeastern Channel General Manager Rick Settoon. “This shows that not only are they all producing outstanding television work, they’re excelling in the classroom as well. The Emmy committee has rightly recognized their mature career goals and bright futures in television. We’re extremely proud of them and happy that these generous scholarships will help finance their continued education and development.”

Domangue is a producer, director, reporter and anchor for the Southeastern Channel’s live, weekly sportscast “The Big Game,” which in 2017 won first place in the nation for “Best Video Sportscast” given by College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) at the National Student Production Awards in San Antonio. The sportscast has also been named one of the top four in the country for the last two years at the College Sports Media Awards in Atlanta. In addition, Domangue has done live play-by-play announcing, color commentary, sideline reporting and directing for a number of live Southeastern sports broadcasts.

Minor has contributed to the Southeastern Channel’s student comedy show “College Night,” which recently won first place in the nation for “Best Video Comedy” at CBI’s National Student Production Awards in Seattle. She is also the student social media manager for the Southeastern Channel.

CBI has honored Kitch, an anchor, reporter and producer for the station’s student newscast “Northshore News,” during the past two years with both first place and second place in the nation honors for “Best Video News Reporting.” In addition, she received “Best in the South” recognition for news reporting at the Southeast Journalism Conference made up of universities from eight states.

Kitch has won “Best TV Reporter” and “Best of Show” honors given by the Associated Press Louisiana-Mississippi College Broadcasters over the past three years. She also won first place Mark of Excellence Awards for both news reporting and videography given by the Society of Professional Journalists for Region 12 (Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas) along with Honorable Mention Emmy recognition.

The Southeastern Channel has won over 400 national, international and regional awards in the past 16 years, including 17 awards and 62 nominations from the Emmys. The channel can be seen on Charter 199 in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany and Livingston parishes. The live 24/7 webcast and video on demand can be seen at www.thesoutheasternchannel.com.