Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
publicinfo@selu.edu
Date: 12/4/96
Contact: Christina Chapple 1
Editors: Photo accompanies release
SEN. JOHN HAINKEL RECEIVES FIRST SLU "GOLDEN AMBASSADOR" AWARD
HAMMOND -- Senator John J. Hainkel Jr. has been named the recipient of Southeastern
Louisiana University's "Golden Ambassador Award," a prestigious new award designed to honor
outstanding service, achievement and/or humanitarian efforts.
"The Golden Ambassador Award," said President Sally Clausen, "recognizes individuals
who have brought honor not only to themselves, but also to our university. Through this award,
Southeastern will show our support and appreciation for visionary thinking and tenacious action
on behalf of this institution and higher education."
"As Southeastern's senior Senator, John Hainkel has had the vision to recognize
Southeastern's needs and the know how to assist us. He has been a true friend and supporter of
our university and we are honored to, in turn, honor him as our first recipient," Clausen said.
Hainkel will receive the Golden Ambassador Award at Southeastern's December 14
commencement ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m. in the University Center arena.
Through Hainkel's post as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, he led this area's
legislative delegation to ensure that Southeastern would win approval for its most aggressive
legislative package in years. Because of his success, Southeastern will receive $13 million for a
new multipurpose classroom building, $4.4 million for renovations and improvements to
Westside Elementary, and $425,000 for technology upgrades. University faculty statewide also
received a pay raise and Southeastern was given approval to use $9.8 million in self-generated
funds for a new student activity center.
Hainkel, a New Orleans native, served five terms as 89th District State Representative
(MORE)
GOLDEN AMBASSADOR AWARD -- Add One
and was Speaker of the House from 1980-84 before being elected to the State Senate in 1987. In
1995, he was re-elected to the Senate representing Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and
Tangipahoa Parishes.
Since his first election as a state representative in 1967, Hainkel has effectively sought
legislation in education, jobs, consumerism, criminal justice, parks, preservation and
environmental quality. He has actively served on numerous legislative committees encompassing
a broad range of issues since 1968. He was chairman of the Joint Legislative committees on drug
abuse, juvenile crime and industrial inducement. Currently, he chairs the Finance Committee;
serves on Insurance, Judiciary A, and Labor & Industrial Relations committees and is ex-officio
member of the Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Committee.
The Republican Senator was one of only six state legislators on President Ronald
Reagan's Federalism Commission and was also a member of the President's Advisory Transition
Committee in 1980-81. He is a member of the executive committee of the Southern Legislative
Conference, a joint research agency of all state governments.
Hainkel's awards for public service have included the National Republican Legislator of
the Year Award and the Orleans chapter of the Alliance for Good Government's Legislator of the
Year and Special Awards. He was named Alumnus of the Year by Tulane University in 1983 and
also has received the Brown Pelican Award for his efforts in the environmental field and a
special award from the Citizens and Victims Against Crime.
A practicing attorney, Hainkel is the senior partner in the law firm of Porteous, Hainkel,
Johnson and Sarpy and has actively engaged in civil trial practice since 1961.
- SLU -
SLU Public Information on the World Wide Web:
www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/maincont.htm