Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           
    Date: 12/14/96
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  1

SLU NAMES HAINKEL "GOLDEN AMBASSADOR"
     HAMMOND --  Senator John Hainkel can now add the title of "ambassador" to his lists of
offices and honors thanks to a new award from Southeastern Louisiana University. 
     At Southeastern's commencement exercises Saturday, SLU President Sally Clausen presented
the New Orleans legislator with the university's first "Golden Ambassador Award," created to
recognize "outstanding service, achievement and/or humanitarian efforts." 
     "This is the highest honor I've ever been paid," said Hainkel in accepting the award before
796
fall semester graduates and several thousands of their family members and friends at the SLU
University Center.
     In one of his first official actions as Louisiana's new Commissioner of Higher Education,
keynote commencement speaker E. Joseph Savoie told graduates that they are among only 16
percent
of Louisiana's population to earn a college degree. It is the responsibility of Louisiana's educated
citizens, he said, "to take democracy seriously. Don't ever separate yourself from the common
good.
Fulfilling that responsibility is in your own self-interest."
     Clausen praised Hainkel's accomplishments in the Senate and his strong support for
Southeastern. Thanks to his legislative leadership, Clausen said, "those of us at Southeastern who
are
the beneficiaries see an improved university, better paid faculty and a much more aggressive
legislative package for the university and higher education."
     As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Hainkel led this area's legislative delegation to
ensure that Southeastern would 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 served five terms as 89th District State Representative 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.
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