News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 8/26/03   Click on image for publication quality photo 2003 PRESIDENT’S EXCELLENCE AWARDS -- The 2003 recipients of Southeastern Louisiana University’s President's Awards for Excellence, shown with President Randy Moffett, far left, are, from left, Ann Carruth, professor of nursing, Excellence in Research; Jean Urick, assistant professor of nursing, Excellence in Teaching; Diane Singletary, controller, Excellence in Staff Service, and Steve Schepker, associate professor of communication, Excellence in Artistic Activity. Not shown is Ann Nauman, professor of educational leadership and technology, Excellence in Faculty Service. SOUTHEASTERN PRESENTS PRESIDENT’S AWARDS TO FACULTY, STAFF       HAMMOND -- Four Southeastern Louisiana University professors and a staff member have been awarded the university's most prestigious honor, the President’s Award for Excellence, in the areas of research, teaching, artistic activity and service.       The recipients, recognized at the university's August 22 faculty/staff convocation, are Ann Carruth, professor of nursing, for research; Jean Urick, assistant professor of nursing, for teaching; Steve Schepker, associate professor of communication, for artistic activity; Ann Nauman, professor of educational leadership and technology, for faculty service; and Diane Singletary, controller, for staff service.       Since joining the Nursing faculty on a full-time basis in 1990, Carruth has published numerous articles and made state, national, and international presentations. She has held the Epic Endowed Professorship in Research, earned the Louisiana Nurses Foundation’s coveted Nurse Researcher Award, and has been honored for best paper by the Midwest Business and Health Administration Association.        A graduate of Southeastern, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Louisiana State University Medical Center, Carruth has received 22 grants totally approximately $1.6 million, including funding for the Healthy Farm Families Initiative, which was named Outstanding Program of the Year by the Louisiana Rural Health Association, and its offshoot, the Farmworkers Health Initiative. The programs have been credited with boosting faculty research, and have expanding students’ experiences through intervention programs on farm health and safety offered throughout the region. They also have fostered multiple partnerships and raised the visibility of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.       A member of the faculty since 1985, Urick has gained recognition for successfully integrating technology into the curriculum, grant writing, the development of a computer lab for her department. Her peers attest that she is sought out by other nurse educators across the country for advice on establishing instructional labs and interactive computer programs for student use  and for teaching distance learning and Internet courses. Urick earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University, and master’s degree from LSU Medical Center. She received the School of Nursing’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998-99.       Schepker serves as Southeastern’s primary technical director for theatrical productions in addition to teaching communication and theater courses. His awards as a lighting director and set designer including recognition from the American College Theatre Festival and the Louisiana College Theatre Festival. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Schepker came to Southeastern in 1993 after receiving a master’s degree from Western Illinois University.       Naumen’s skills, talents, and expertise have been utilized on numerous Southeastern committees and councils for 27 years. She was instrumental in helping to organize and administer two new education departments, and currently advises all graduate students in the Educational Leadership and Technology Department. Nauman earned two bachelor’s, two master’s, and a doctoral degree from Louisiana State University.         Singletary, who recently left her position as Southeastern controller because of her family’s move to Ruston, La., is a Southeastern graduate who worked her way through the ranks over a 23-year career. Her long list of activities at Southeastern and in the community include participation on more than 40 organizations and committees, including the auxiliaries for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, Holy Ghost Catholic Church, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Southeastern Alumni Association, College of Business Alumni Club, and Louisiana Special Olympics. She has held leadership positions within many of the organizations and recently was named Kiwanian of the Year by the Hammond Kiwanis Club.  Return to News Releases