Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
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                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
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    Date: 8/23/96
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  

FIRST GUARANTY BANK DONATES $250,000 TO SLU
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University President Sally Clausen Friday
announced that First Guaranty Bank of Hammond has donated $250,000 to Southeastern, the
largest single corporate gift  in the university's history.
     The donation, said First Guaranty Bank Chief Financial Officer Michael Landry, will be
made in $50,000 a year installments over the next five years. He credited Clausen's "persistent"
inquiries of "What can you do for Southeastern?" with inspiring the bank's board of directors to
make the donation.
     "I am told that this has not happened before," said Clausen, who made the surprise
announcement at the university's annual faculty convocation. She said the bank's gift will likely
be used to meet the Southeastern Development Foundation's goals of establishing additional
scholarships, professorships or an endowed chair.
     The quarter-million donation was one of  several surprises at the convocation. Clausen
also announced a $60,000 donation from the Merritt family of Hammond to establish the first
endowed professorship in Southeastern's College of Education. The Merritt family previously
endowed a professorship in Southeastern's department of accounting. Dr. Clausen also indicated
that an endowed professorship in environmental science may be announced soon.
     The president also announced the appointment of two new vice presidents, both of them
long-time Southeastern's deans. College of Basic Studies Dean Patsy Causey has named to the
newly created position of vice president for student affairs, while College of Business Dean
Joseph Miller has been appointed acting vice president for institutional advancement, pending
approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Trustees.
     As in past convocations, the university president presented plaques to faculty and staff
recipients of the President's Award for Excellence for teaching, research, artistic activity and
service. This year's award winners were professors William Robison, history and government;
Gary Shaffer, biological sciences; Harriet Vogt, music and Fanfare; Anne Ferguson, Junior
Division,  and Judy Couvillion, Human Resources. 
     Also recognized were retired Southeaster professors Lou E. Ballard and Roy J. Bernard,
who recently  were named professors emeriti for their long-term service to the university.
     Retirees recognized were Lou E. Ballard, Macel K. Bourgeois, Jagit Brar, Peggy
Brumfield, Linda Chaloux, Tony Coniglio, Shirley A. Earnest, Edwin J. France Jr., Bertram
Groene, John S. Henry, Jake D. Johnson, Rosalie Lato, Avery Lay, Cynthia H. Lobue, Thurrell
O. McClendon, Angie M. Navarra, Wanda R. Pettigrew, Janice M. Riggs, Fred Travis, M.
Malissa Turner, and Edward Williams.
     Recipients of 30-year service awards were Kay T. Adams, Headley Adelmann, Betty
Baker, Milton R. Ballard, Walter Corkern, Larry Hymel, Robert Priez and Joyce Travis.
     Receiving 25-year service awards were Vera DePriest, Mary Blalock, Carol Giles,
Barbara Hyde-Robertson, Mary Margaret Linton, Bryan Schisler, Jerry Voorhees and Henry
Ziller.