Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 9/11/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   

SLU STUDENTS CAN EARN  AMERICORPS  SERVICE STIPEND
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University is now participating in AmeriCorps, a
federal program that allows qualified students to earn a cash stipend in return for community
service.
     Students can learn about the program, its benefits and requirements at a special informational
meeting at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15. Julie Dupuy, Southeastern s assistant director of
financial aid, said the meeting will be held in the SLU University Center, room 127.
     "We're very excited to be able to offer the AmeriCorps program to our students," Dupuy said.
 It gives students the opportunity to help the community while also helping themselves and
developing valuable leadership skills." 
     Dupuy said AmeriCorps allows students to earn a $2,363 cash stipend that
can be used for tuition, paying student loans or additional education opportunities such as graduate school. In
return, the students work up to 450 hours a year for non-profit community service organizations.
AmeriCorps members must serve 900 hours over a two year period to earn the stipend, Dupuy said.
     Dupuy said Southeastern s America Reads tutoring program for elementary students will be
one of the service projects included in AmeriCorps. Currently, approximately 40 Southeastern
students are participating in America Reads through federal work-study, while another 300 students, many of
them members of university sororities and fraternities, are America Reads volunteers, Dupuy said.
     Approximately 20 Southeastern students are also performing AmeriCorps-type community
service at agencies such as Louisiana Special Olympics, Hammond Boys and Girls Club,
Hammond Health Services, Hammond Developmental Center, United Blood Services in Baton Rouge, the
Washington Parish Office of Family Support and the Wesley Foundation.
     "We're inviting any student interested in learning more about the program and its requirements
to come to the meeting on Tuesday," Dupuy said. She added that refreshments will be served.
     For more information about AmeriCorps, call SLU Financial Aid at 504-549-5307.
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