Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 12/12/00
      Contact:                           Angey Saucier   64

Editors: Photo accompanies release   Please note local interest
OUTSTANDING JUNIOR FINDS FUTURE IN SOUTHEASTERN PROGRAM
     HAMMOND   On December 11, art lovers gathered at the Rhizomat in Hammond to
marvel over the artworks of  "Digital Works at the Rhizomat."  Children and adults viewed
photographic collages by Southeastern Louisiana University professor Denise Tullier-Holly and
donned 3-D glasses, amazed at the interactive images of Martin Holly popping from the walls.  
     The night was tremendously special to Holly, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas and
Superior High School Junior at Southeastern. This was his night to shine, his opportunity to
share
with the public the artistic future he discovered at Southeastern. 
     Holly is one of 25 area high school students who completed college credit courses this
semester through the university's Superior High School Junior Program.  The scholarship,
designed for outstanding high school students in their junior or senior year, waves the cost of
tuition on up to six hours at Southeastern per semester.
     "I heard about the program and decided I didn't want to take high school classes doing
arts and crafts," said Holly.  "So, I talked to my guidance counselor about it and here I am."
     After being accepted into the program, Holly had to decide what classes to take. While
other students signed up for courses such as freshman English and college algebra, Holly strayed
from the pack.
     "I decided to do something I wanted to do," said Holly.  "I took some graphic design
classes and it has become very valuable.  Now, I'm really doing something."
     Holly's design classes not only awarded him with college credit, but a direction in life.
     "This is a very good program," said Holly.  "I now have a jump start on something I am
interested in, on having an idea of where I want to go in college.  I now have a direction."

                              MORE
                                
Outstanding junior finds future in Southeastern program   page 2
     He also found his visual arts professor, Doug Easterly, to be a great inspiration on his life
and future career.
     "Doug was very influential in helping me find out my direction.  He would push me to do
things most high school teachers wouldn't do," said Holly.  "He taught me to question teaching. 
I would like to do more work with him over time, you know, collaborate on some art work."
     With college credit under his belt and a promising career ahead, Holly's creativity and
perseverance are beginning to pay off.  He is most proud of his 3-D digital and material works in
which the images are designed to "jump off the page."  The works have found to be impressive,
as Holly learned from a guest artist critic in his Southeastern graphic design class.
     "The artist was a big fan of my works.  He thinks they would be a big hit with the artistic
tastes in New Orleans,".said an enthusiastic Holly.  "So, we're putting them on display for
Hammond, hoping the news will get back to somebody else for a display in New Orleans."
     "I'm really doing something, and that is the most valuable of my experience with
Southeastern," said Holly.
     Holly's portfolio of 3-D material and material artwork from his college courses and
Tullier-Holly's artwork will be on display at the Rhizomat at 111 E. Morris St., Hammond,
throughout December.  

                            - SLU -
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