The Need Was Always Real
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VOL.1 | NO.11 | FALL 2003 The old President’s Home, photographed in 1912, is now the Ropp Center, a university faculty and staff club. THE NEED WAS It was 1912, the year the Titanic set sail for New York, L.L. Bean launched its first catalog, Perry Como was born, Chevrolet designed its first car, the Girl Scouts were founded, Fenway Park opened, and Oreos took their inaugural dunk into milk. ALWAYS REAL Institute on Blindness opens Louisiana Tech University NONPROFIT ORG. Division of University Advancement U.S. POSTAGE P.O. Box 3183 YOUNG ALUMNI Ruston, LA 71272-0001 PAID JACKSON, MS Making a mark after Tech PERMIT NO. 80 HOMECOMING Friends, fans, honorees and a bird’s-eye view TOLLIVER HALL From dated cafeteria to cyber central LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY www.latech.edu ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS A Word from the Alumni Director Robert Kyle Steve Bates CONTENTS – President – Vice President Russell A. Nolan Steve Davison With homecoming behind us and the school year in full swing, we bring you the 2 | From the 16th Floor – Treasurer – Past President first installment of Louisiana Tech Magazine—a new take on Alumni News—which Tech triumphs Daniel D. Reneau you likely have received for years. – Ex-Officio The Alumni Association and the division of marketing and public relations are 4 | Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness working to improve communications with alumni and friends. Louisiana Tech’s 4 Abolishing stereotypes BOARD OF DIRECTORS magazine has a unique role because it’s one way we can regularly connect with John Adams, Bobby Aillet, alumni — 75,000 at latest count. Ron Ainsworth, John Allen, 6 | Joanne Wilson Dr. John Areno, Paige Baughman, You will still get the magazine twice a year, but its new name will better reflect Where there’s a will Ayres Bradford, Carroll Cochran, what’s inside. We’ll highlight significant national or international stories in which Todd Davison, James Duke, Tech is involved — the Professional Development and Research Institute on Allison Duncan, Dr. Grant Glover, Blindness, for example. We’ll keep you up-to-date on research and innovation Kenny Guillot, Justin Hinckley, 7 | Mike McCallister springing from among the ranks of our students, faculty and staff. We’ll work hard 12 Marsha Jabour, Chris Jordan, Tim King, Tech’s Tower Medallion recipient Dr. John Maxwell, Mac McBride, to feature what our alums are accomplishing around the globe. You will also receive Cliff Merritt, Robert Saums, a message from President Dan Reneau in every issue. Arlis Scogin, Stephanie Sisemore, 8 | Young Alumni Kristy Smith, Markus Snowden, One editorial change to the new magazine format is that the “News About You” Barry Stevens, Bennie Thornell, Eddie section is now a supplement to the magazine. Whether that section comes stapled They’re energetic, active and oh so on the verge Tinsley, Trey Williams into the magazine as it does this time or arrives separately, you will still receive “News About You” twice a year. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF 18 12 | Homecoming Old friends, young fans, honorees and a bird’s-eye view Corre Stegall Meanwhile, we want to hear from you. Please let the Alumni Association know – Vice President for University Advancement about significant events in your life. You can do this via our Web site, www.latechalumni.org, or you can mail us your information. We also welcome your Kyle Edmiston thoughts, story ideas and suggestions for Louisiana Tech Magazine. Please send them 18 | Ropp and Tolliver – Director of Alumni Relations my way by e-mailing [email protected] or writing to Louisiana Tech Magazine, Remodeling to preserve and advance Ryan Richard P.O. Box 3183, Ruston LA 71272. – Coordinator of Alumni Programs Barbara Swart Thank you for your continued support of Louisiana Tech University and the 20 | Jennifer Porter – Administrative Assistant Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. Insight from a student leader CONNECTED TO THE WEB 22 | Endowed Foundation Scholarships www.latechalumni.org The gift of knowledge lasts a lifetime www.latech.edu www.latechsports.com www.zlatech.com 26 | News Around Campus Louisiana Tech Magazine is published semiannually by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. Letters and inquiries 30 | For Life should be addressed to: VOL.1 | NO.11 | FALL 2003 Alumni Association celebrates new lifetime members Louisiana Tech Magazine P.O. Box 3183 | Ruston LA 71272 31 | Walking in Their Footsteps Kate Archer – Director, Marketing and Public Relations Volunteer program pairs high school students with alumni THE NEED WAS Nancy Bergeron and Darlene Bush Tucker ALWAYS REAL – Contributing Writers Institute on Blindness opens YOUNG ALUMNI Donnie Bell Making a mark after Tech – Creative Services Manager HOMECOMING Friends, fans, honorees and a bird’s-eye view Mark Coleman ABOUT THE COVER TOLLIVER HALL From dated cafeteria to cyber central – Designer Ron Gardner is the director of Donny Crowe Louisiana Tech’s Professional – Photographer LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY Development and Research Institute www.latech.edu Darlene Bush Tucker on Blindness located in Woodard Hall. Louisiana Tech University is an equal opportunity educator and employer. – Copy Editor OTHER SOURCES OF PRIDE AT TECH • A $265,000 grant from the National Science Foundation • An academic honor code went into effect this fall, making brought students from across the nation this summer to Tech the first school in the University of Louisiana System to conduct nanotechnology research alongside professors at have such a policy. The new code will not only educate Tech’s Institute for Micromanufacturing. students and help them fine-tune their ethical development, it will also give their Tech transcripts more merit. • Teaming faculty, students and the community, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, CEnIT, has • In advancement, five professorships have been added through served as a catalyst for activities in technology-based donations and state matching funds, bringing the university commercialization and business development. total to 100. • In sports, the Lady Techsters basketball team went to the • Tech’s emphasis on creative and performing arts has earned Sweet 16 with a new coach and only one senior, leading to the designation of “unique area of excellence” at the expectations that the coming season holds more promise than FROM THE university for Tech’s School of Art, School of the Performing ever. The Miami football game put Tech’s name and face in Arts, School of Literature and Languages, and the department 91 million homes, and the Michigan State game, well, that 16TH FLOOR of journalism, all within the College of Liberal Arts. put a smile on all our faces. • Education’s doctoral program in counseling won landmark • A cooperative alumni effort has remodeled and refurnished accreditation from the American Psychological Association my office. I wasn’t aware how shabby the office was until I was made to see the light. Apparently styles have changed “NEARLY 12,000 STUDENTS ARE NOW PURSUING A this past year. since 1972 when this office was first furnished. Who knew? • Our new SGA president, Jennifer Porter, began serving as the Now there are new drapes, furniture, lighting, a wooden floor QUALITY TECH EDUCATION, THIS DESPITE OUR lone student member of the ULS Board of Supervisors, which and a beautiful oak wall unit. Even the adjoining conference not only makes her one of my bosses, but also gives Tech a room and hallway got makeovers. Donated labor, the ADMISSION STANDARDS BEING RAISED AGAIN.” powerful voice at the system level. generosity of Tech alumni, and Tech staffers made it all possible. I’m proud and thankful. - Daniel D. Reneau, president • Having garnered an award of almost $1.4 million, a program teaming Tech students with K-12 teachers and their students Tech has indeed had another good year, but it’s been a hard is trying to make science, math and engineering more year in the Legislature. It may be difficult for Tech to eclipse here’s a feature on our newly designed university Right now let’s look back at some of the reasons our reputation accessible. this remarkable year anytime soon, but that’s the goal. Web site called Tech Triumphs that showcases some continues to grow. Apart from the fact that Tech puts “fierce Whatever cards we’re dealt, we’ll all be here, making sure Tech of the many Tech graduates who have gone on to commitment to students” at the very top of its priorities, the • Our student debate team finished second in a national continues to triumph. find continued success and fulfillment. university just keeps adding to the ways in which it triumphs championship tournament, and Tech journalism students T on so many fronts: garnered many of the top awards at a seven-state competition. I want to steal the name of that feature and change one word from a noun to a verb. The Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, begun as a program of the Louisiana Center for the Tech triumphs! Blind, is now part of our College of Education. For the second straight year we have seen the blessings of good You will learn more about it in this magazine, but I need to say fortune team up with the fruits of hard work to yield three something here as well: This institute is profoundly important record enrollment categories for fall – overall enrollment, in a world where we cannot afford to waste anyone’s talents entering freshmen, and graduate students. and gifts. Nearly 12,000 students are now pursuing a quality Tech And you can’t talk about the institute without talking about education, this despite our admission standards being raised Joanne Wilson. Founder of the Louisiana Center for the Blind again. This reinforces something you’ll get tired of hearing long and able champion of the institute, she didn’t just open doors, 1 2 3 4 before I get tired of repeating it: Good students want to go to she tore them off the hinges so that all of us, blind and sighted good universities.