Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 01/25/01
      Contact:                           Angey Saucier   144

STUDENTS HELP COMMUNITY THROUGH UPWARD BOUND
     HAMMOND   Most high school seniors spend their winter Saturday mornings tucked
warmly in their beds. But for the 127 high school students from Livingston, St. Helena and
Tangipahoa parishes in Southeastern Louisiana University's Upward Bound program, December
16 was a day to wake up early to lend a hand to communities in which they live.
     In this one day alone, Upward Bound students volunteered their time to six community
agencies.  By lunch time, the willing hands of Upward Bound students' completed tasks such as
raking leaves, cleaning offices, collating, copying, faxing and assembling material that saved
days, even weeks, of work for the agencies.  
     "Once a year, Upward Bound students participate in Service Day," said Terry Pertuit,
Interim Assistant Director of Upward Bound.  "Our program is a federally funded civil service
program, so it is a way of giving back to the community that supports us." 
     Even on a winter's day, Upward Bound students spent the morning cleaning the outside
area of offices, storage sheds and vans and picking up trash in downtown Hammond.
     In the three hours of service, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Cancer
Association, the Tangipahoa Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, the Southeast Spouse Abuse
Council, the Youth Service Bureau and the Boys and Girls Club had all received a helping hand
from Upward Bound.
     "The staffs at the social service agencies were most complimentary and appreciative of
the work that was accomplished, and the Upward Bound staff went above and beyond the call of
duty in working with this project," said Ron Abel, director of Educational Outreach. "The biggest
congratulations should be to the students who conducted themselves in a way that shows
true Upward Bound and Southeastern spirit.  They really did give a part of themselves at the
holiday time."
                              MORE
Students Help Community Through Upward Bound -- page 2
     Upward Bound, now in its 22nd year at Southeastern, is a national organization that
introduces colleges and universities into the lives of low-income high school students.  Through
course work, services and cultural programs, students receive the skills and motivation needed
for collegiate success.
     "Most of our students are referred to us by their school counselors, but there are some
who come to us by word of mouth." said Pertuit.  
     "Upward Bound provides mentoring," she continued.  "Our students are involved in
volunteer work, such as in hospitals, and they are prepared for college with basics studies classes
and developmental courses, like English 101 and college algebra."
     Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa high school students interested in the Upward
Bound program should contact their high school counselor or call the Upward Bound office
directly at 504-549-2348.
     To qualify for application, parents of the students must not have graduated from a college
or university and the family's taxable income must be no more than 150 percent of the federal
poverty guidelines. Students who meet either or both of the criteria will be selected for the
program based on individual interests, needs, ability to benefit from the program and availability
of positions.
                                
                            - SLU -
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       www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm