Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985-549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 4/18/01                                           
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   55

SLU CELEBRATES AMERICA READS WEEK SET APRIL 23-26 
     HAMMOND --The Southeastern Louisiana University Financial Aid Office will host a
week of activities designed to highlight the America Reads program April 23-26. Activities
scheduled for area children include a book drive, story readings by students and local celebrities,
and parties, featuring appearances by children's author Dr. Seuss's famous fictional
"Cat-in-the-Hat."
     America Reads Week  kicks off at Southeastern Head Start at 8 a.m. on Monday, April
23, when Southeastern students and special guests will read to the Head Start student -- and the
Cat-in-the-Hat will visit -- to promote good reading habits. 
     America Reads parties are scheduled at Hammond Westside (1 p.m., Monday, 
April 23), Hammond Eastside (2 p.m., Tuesday, April 24) and the Southeastern Lab School (9:30
a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 25).
     On Thursday, April 26, a party for all area children will be held at the Hammond branch
of the Tangipahoa Parish Public Library at 3:30 p.m. In addition to guest readers and the
Cat-in-the-Hat's visit, parents and children will receive special activity packets and enjoy fun
activities, such as face painting. 
     Throughout the week, Financial Aid will conduct a book drive, challenging each student,
faculty and staff member to donate a children's book (grades K-3) to be given to area elementary
schools. Collection boxes will be placed in the Financial Aid Office (Room 121, North Campus
Building A), Sims Memorial Library lobby, and the Student Organizations Office (Student
Union, Room 111). 
     Through Southeastern's America Reads project, student tutors both volunteers, including
Greek organizations, and work-study students--work with children in grades pre-kindergarten-
third to help bolster their reading ability. The program was founded at Southeastern in 1997
when a student, Michael Taranto, brought America Reads to President Sally Clausen's attention
after learning about it in President Clinton's State of the Union address.
     For more information, contact Financial Aid at 1-800-222-SELU or 985-549-2244. 
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm