Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 3/8/02
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple
          or Amy Lawless (Jumpstart, 985-549-5273)

JUMPSTART RECRUITING BEGINS FOR 2002-2003 ACADEMIC YEAR
     HAMMOND  Southeastern Louisiana University students can earn a $780 AmeriCorps
education award by working one-on-one with preschoolers in the Hammond area for a minimum
of 11 hours per week. 
     Jumpstart, a national non-profit organization that began on the Southeastern campus in
the fall of 2001 strives to engage college students in service to work toward the day every child
in America enters school prepared to succeed.
     Jumpstart Program Coordinator Vaunne Blossman-Hand is recruiting 46 students to be
paired with children at the organization's partner sites, Southeastern and Hammond Head Start
program. A third partner site may be added soon. 
     Participants become AmeriCorps members and pledge a minimum of 300 hours of
service for the 2002-2003 academic year. In addition to the education award dispersed at the end
of their term of service, students who qualify for federal work-study can earn up to $6.30 an hour
while working in the program. 
     Students can obtain more information about participating in Jumpstart by calling 985-
549-5273. Interested students are also invited to visit the Jumpstart at Southeastern's Rock 'N
Roar festival at the War Memorial Student Union on Saturday, March 23.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html