Cornerstone ws17 issue by LSU GDSO

WINTER 2016 and SPRING 2017

MEMBERSHIP PROFILE

ANDREA CLESI McMAKIN & WALLY McMAKIN “We don’t like to sit on the sidelines,”

shared Charles Wallace “Wally” McMakin. Successful professionals, generous philanthropists and engaged LSU alumni, Wally (Human Sciences & Education, ’76) and his wife, Andrea Clesi McMakin (Mass Communication, ’78, ’10) are certainly no benchwarmers. Wally and Andrea don’t believe in giving back; they believe in “giving forward,” in providing for the next generation. They have supported several areas of campus over the years, including the College of Human Sciences & Education, the Manship School of Mass Communication, the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, LSU Laboratory School and athletics, and they have multiple endowed live oak trees. “Everyone can ride in LSU’s wagon, but someone has to pull that wagon,” Wally said, reflecting on why philanthropy and leadership are such importance pieces of their lives. “Luckily, some people step up.” Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Andrea said she is “one of those people who bleeds purple and gold.” Her childhood memories are full of visits to Mike’s cage, sliding down the Indian Mounds on cardboard boxes and attending LSU football games with her family. She began her 31-year career in broadcast journalism as an intern at WBRZ-TV in 1977, working her way up to become an anchor and a face of local news. She’s received numerous accolades for her work, including the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award, and is an inductee of the Manship School of Mass Communication Hall of Fame. Through her leadership as the chair of the

2010 Manship School Excellence Fund and her membership on the Manship School Alumni Executive Board, Andrea has worked to secure resources for the future of her alma mater and the future of journalism. “I believe that if you have a passion for something, you should pursue it,” Andrea said. “If you love what you do, and you’re good at what you do, you can rise and rise and rise to the top. If that’s your goal, don’t be afraid to go after it.” Unlike Andrea, Wally was not born a Tiger. A Monroe native, Wally came to LSU on an athletic scholarship. As the third baseman for Tiger baseball, he became a fouryear letterman and member of the All-Southeastern Conference and All-South Region teams. For the first time since 1961, his 1975 team won the Southeastern Conference championship. Wally still proudly wears his SEC Championship ring. He began the LSU Baseball Coaches Committee, a primary fundraiser for Tiger baseball, helped to hire Skip Bertman and went on to pitch for the Minnesota Twins. Now, Wally is an investment advisor and a partner at Altus Wealth Management, LLC. He has been recognized as a member of the All-Alex Box Stadium “Foundation Era” Team, the 1991 LSU Baseball Alumnus of the Year and an inductee of both the LSU Athletic and College of Human Sciences & Education halls of distinction. “It’s our turn. Some people came before us, and it was their turn. They gave, and we were able to reap those benefits,” Wally said. “Everyone has their passion. One of our passions just happens to be LSU.” LSUFOUNDATION.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

CORNERSTONE

ABOUT THE COVER

Hayden Nagin, a graphic design junior, was tasked to create a visual representation of “Here to Win,” the university-wide celebration of the victories of students, researchers and alumni off the field. He wanted to capture the “spirit of competition and perseverance that is so indicative of LSU.” A Belle Chase, La., native, Nagin has taken advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom by working with real world clients in the Graphic Design Student Office and attending design lectures and conferences with the Graphic Design Student Association. One of his “winning moments” at LSU was having his photography featured twice in Gallery 229, an on-campus student art gallery. Nagin, who is also minoring in photography, said he plans to create his “best and most creative work yet” during the remainder of his time at LSU and wants to build a career in editorial and publication design. Nagin knows that a fierce team always has fierce fans, and LSU would be nothing without the loyal support of its alumni and friends: “I couldn’t say thank you enough to the donors of the School of Art! Ours is a program that is often overlooked and underfunded, so the contributions from generous donors are so noticeable and so deeply appreciated.”

INSIDE CORNERSTONE 4 5 6 8

WELCOME Stephen Moret

Engineering Leaders Priceless

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Profile: Robert M. Stuart Jr.

TIGER HEROES LIFELONG FRIENDS

18 20

TR ANSFORMATION

PROUD PARENTS Expanding Horizons

DISCOVERY Lousiana Gone Second Time's a Charm Flying High

TEAM SPIRIT One Big Family Culture of Giving

Leading by Example

What It's All About

LOYAL ALUMNI

26 27

Heart & Soul

For Our Grandchildren A Natural

ONGOING IMPACT

IN LOVING MEMORY A Little Offbeat The Pursuit of Excellence The General

LEGACY Leave a Legacy

#ManshipLoyalty

An Awesome Legacy

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Making the Grade

HERE TO WIN President F. King Alexander Points of Pride

Our Backyard EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jennie Gutierrez

WRITERS

Trent Andrus

Eddy Perez

PRINTING

Josh Duplechain

Andrea Barbier

Jeannie Frey Rhodes

A S S O C I AT E

Lance Frank

Tobie Blanchard

Marshall Roy

EDITOR

Marissa-Beth Humphrey

David Bowles

Jamie Sapp

P L E A S E C O N TAC T :

Sara Whittaker

Mimi LaValle

Michele Crowe

Madelyn Smith

Sara Whittaker at swhittaker@lsufoundation.org

Lahna Roche

or 225-578-8164.

Jennie Gutierrez

Colby Sterling

ART DIRECTOR

Kelli Jennings

Rachel Street

Hayden Nagin

Todd Landry

Jim Zietz

Emprint/Moran Printing, Inc. T O S H A R E F E E D B AC K ,

CONNECT WITH US: lsufoundation.org

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

/lsufoundation

@lsu_foundation

W E LC O M E

LETTER FROM STEPHEN MORET Dear Friends, This fall, LSU welcomed its most academically talented freshman class ever, with an average GPA of 3.4, and achieved record highs in enrollment of African American and Hispanic students. Our graduation rate is nearly 10 percent higher than the national average, and our alumni boast the fourth-highest starting salaries in the SEC. Indeed, LSU is here to win. Such wins are made possible by the generosity of loyal donors like you, choosing to make LSU a philanthropic priority. The newly adopted mission of the LSU Foundation is to cultivate and invest in philanthropic partnerships that advance LSU’s academic priorities—as you have done by investing in the university. Together with LSU, we have identified three goals that will guide our work: 1.) Raise LSU alumni giving participation from last to among the top third of SEC institutions; 2.) Grow academic philanthropy for LSU’s flagship campus from a three-year average of $60 million annually to $100 million annually; and 3.) In collaboration with other LSU support organizations statewide, lead Louisiana’s largestever capital campaign. Thinking innovatively about how the LSU Foundation can support LSU is requisite to advancing the university’s academic priorities and achieving its philanthropic potential. One such example is the Nicholson Gateway Development Project, which is currently one of the largest public-private partnerships in the country. This innovative “P3” is an exciting, important step toward supporting LSU in a way we’ve never been able to do before. Such P3 models have been successfully used by peers to accelerate meeting campus infrastructure needs, just as is the case at LSU. The project to improve the Nicholson Gateway site, 28 acres of undeveloped land near the campus core, will generate $218 million in new revenue for LSU housing and other related purposes over the next 40 years. Once completed in fall 2018, Nicholson Gateway will be home to more than 1,500 students, offer student-focused retail and University Recreation space, and transform the western edge of campus, extending LSU’s campus character and student life experience across Nicholson and creating a distinct entrance corridor for the university. The launch of the Nicholson Gateway project also makes it possible for LSU to direct a portion of new, self-generated dollars to help fund LSU’s next campaign. That investment is expected to yield a return of $5-6 per dollar invested, an ROI that will be achieved through new academic fundraising to support student scholarships, professorships and chairs, research initiatives and campus capital projects like the ones profiled in this issue. These faces of philanthropy tell a compelling story of what philanthropy can make possible at LSU today, tomorrow and for generations of Tigers to come. Sincerely,

Stephen Moret President and CEO

E. J. Ourso College of Business Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Name Change The E. J. Ourso College of Business recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its name change, which honors benefactor E. J. Ourso. Dean Richard White Jr. reflected on the notable events to take place at the college in the last two decades, and Jesse Arboneaux of the E. J. Ourso Foundation spoke about Ourso and his wife Marjory and how their lives have touched many through their generosity to the college. Among those who joined in the celebration were 10 professors who hold E. J. Ourso chairs and professorships.

CORNERSTONE

B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S

PROFILE: ROBERT M. STUART JR.

aton Rouge native Robert M. Stuart Jr. was born a Tiger: both of his parents are LSU alumni, and some of his earliest memories take place on LSU’s campus. As chairperson elect of the LSU Foundation Board of Directors, Stuart is helping to prepare a bright future for LSU’s flagship institution and the many Tigers to come. “I view the LSU Foundation as an integral part to LSU’s success,” Stuart shared, continuing, “We understand that LSU is late to the game in terms of fundraising. It’s been really exciting to see the change of course under the new leadership, Stephen’s focus and the opportunity to propel LSU—through the LSU Foundation—to where it can be competitive with its peers, not only in the SEC, but public universities across the nation.” An inductee of the E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction, Stuart earned bachelor's (’78) and master's (’79) degrees in finance. He was president of Sigma Chi fraternity and met his wife, Donna (Humanities & Social Sciences, ‘78), during their junior year. Stuart laid a platform for his career at LSU and was heavily influenced by his banking professors. Although he had opportunities out of state, he decided to build his career at home, in Louisiana. Stuart joined Fidelity National Bank, which was acquired by Hibernia National Bank, in 1986. At Hibernia he served in a variety of management positions, ultimately serving as the Chief Credit Officer of the company. During his tenure at Hibernia, he completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School. Since the acquisition of Hibernia by Capital One in 2005, Stuart has served in a variety of management positions, including president of Capital One BankLouisiana. Today he is the national head of Middle Market Corporate Banking, leading regional and national teams in middle market banking, as well as teams in energy banking, government banking and wealth and asset management. A dedicated philanthropist, Stuart has served as chair of the board of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Woman’s Hospital. He has additionally served on boards for many other organizations, including Council for A Better Louisiana, Public Affairs Research Council, Blueprint Louisiana, the Tiger Athletic Foundation and The Committee of 100. Stuart focuses his efforts on public policy boards and considers the LSU Foundation to be a top priority. “I wanted to focus on boards that have the opportunity to change things,” Stuart said. “Education, particularly public education, is important to me. It has a major impact on the future economic development potential of Louisiana, as well as the preparation of students to become great contributors to our society. Across the country, we’re seeing state support for public universities drop, largely compressed with other entitlement spending that is occurring.”

Philanthropy is becoming an ever increasing part of how public universities support themselves. Through his efforts with the LSU Foundation Board of Directors, Stuart’s greatest ambition is to achieve success in LSU’s next capital campaign. Apart from his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Stuart enjoys spending quality time with Donna and their three children, Robert III (Business, ’06, ‘12), Maggie and Philip (Business, ‘11) and their families. He rarely misses an LSU football game. L S U F O U N DAT I O N . O R G / B OA R D

O FFIC E RS T. Cass Gaiennie • Shreveport, LA Chairperson of the Board & Director Robert M. Stuart Jr. • Baton Rouge, LA Chairperson-Elect of the Board & Director Clarence P. Cazalot Jr. • Houston, TX Corporate Treasurer & Director Stephen Moret • Baton Rouge, LA President and CEO & Ex Officio Director William L. Silvia Jr. • Baton Rouge, LA Corporate Secretary & Ex Officio Director

D IRE C TO RS Mark K. Anderson • Monroe, LA J. Herbert Boydstun • Baton Rouge, LA J. Terrell Brown • Baton Rouge, LA Robert H. Crosby III • New Orleans, LA Laura L. Dauzat • Marksville, LA William T. Firesheets II • Baton Rouge, LA Beau Fournet • Dallas, Texas G. Lee Griffin • Baton Rouge, LA Frank W. “Billy” Harrison III • Houston, TX Roger W. Jenkins • El Dorado, AR Gary L. Laborde • New Orleans, LA Immediate Past Chairperson of the Board Charles A. Landry • Baton Rouge, LA David B. Means III • Mansfield, LA W. Henson Moore III • Baton Rouge, LA Dr. Mary T. Neal • Bellaire, TX D. Martin Phillips • Houston, TX Sean E. Reilly • Baton Rouge, LA John F. Shackelford III • Bonita, LA Jeffrey N. Springmeyer • Houston, TX Sue W. Turner • Baton Rouge, LA Burton D. Weaver Jr. • Flora, LA Felix R. Weill • Baton Rouge, LA Rick Wolfert • Greensboro, GA

E X O FFIC IO F. King Alexander LSU President

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

TIGER HEROES

he Brookshire Military and Veterans Student Center, slated for completion in fall 2017, will ensure that Tigers who have served our country receive the academic resources and support they deserve. “With a history steeped in military tradition, the Brookshire Military and Veterans Student Center is another physical symbol of LSU’s commitment to those who have served this country. The center positions LSU to better serve veterans, active military and their dependents,” said Dr. Darrell C. Ray, assistant vice president for student affairs. Veteran and Military Student Services assists student veterans, active military, reservists, guardsmen and their dependents with the transition to LSU’s campus culture and academic expectations. Students participate in programming specifically designed for them and are offered academic assistance, career development, financial assistance, alumni engagement and community service opportunities. Veteran and Military Student Services also advises two student organizations, LSU’s Student Veterans of America chapter and Semper Fi Society. The new, 4,600-square-foot center, comprised of a computer lab, meeting rooms and offices, will allow Veteran and Military

Student Services to deliver a level of service that matches LSU’s respect and appreciation for military and veteran students’ service to the U. S. Ray explained, “Expanded space will allow us to grow the staffing, offer dedicated programming space and, most importantly, provide students with a home on campus. It will surely be a benefit as we seek to recruit veterans at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.” Centrally located between the African American Cultural Center and the Women’s Center, the Brookshire Military and Veterans Student Center will give veteran and military students a sense of belonging on campus—a shared on-campus home where they can find camaraderie among each other, along with guidance and assistance from a staff of experts who are focused on their long-term success. Dr. Bill Brookshire, currently the center’s sole benefactor, knows from experience how difficult it can be to juggle responsibilities throughout college. After graduating from the University of Houston, Brookshire received his master’s degree in 1959 and his PhD in 1961, both in chemical engineering, from LSU. To fund his education, he worked during the day and took classes at night. “I think the whole thrust of my giving at the University of Houston, LSU, my high school and the community

CORNERSTONE

college was to support students working their way through school,” Brookshire said, sharing, “I want to help people who are helping themselves. At the company I founded, S&B Contractors, we have a good record of that same philosophy, where four of our six top executives worked full time and went to night school.” The Brookshire Military and Veterans Student Center, part of a larger project to renovate Memorial Tower, future home of the LSU Military Museum, is a critical step toward LSU’s vision of providing a premier college experience that specifically attracts and retains outstanding veteran and military students and the dependents of military families. The center reflects the Tiger spirit and pride that the LSU family feels for these students and will give them a springboard to achieve their post-service goals. STUDENTS.LSU.EDU/VETERANS A B O V E GRAD U ATING V ET ERA N S, S ERV I C E MEMB ERS AN D COM MISSIONING C A D ET S AT T EN D T H E G RA D U AT I O N R E COGNITION REC EPT I O N AND RECEIVE HONOR CORDS FROM PRESIDENT F. KING ALEXANDER IN MAY 2016. I M M E D I AT E R I G H T D R . B I L L B R O O K S H I R E

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

L I F E LO N G F R I E N D S

FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN “If anybody had ever told me that I would still be in Louisiana now, I wouldn’t have believed it, and they wouldn’t have believed it either,” Ayan Rubin shared. “You never know where life’s trajectory is going to take you.” That trajectory took Mike Rubin, born and raised in Baton Rouge, back to his roots, and his wife, Ayan, a Bostonarea native, to the Deep South. They intended to return to the North once Mike graduated from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1975. Ayan, who received her master’s degree in 1973 from what is now the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, taught in Ascension Parish for three years prior to landing a job as the instructional television coordinator for Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Given Ayan’s new job opportunity and Mike’s growing law practice, they decided to stay in Baton Rouge to raise their family. The Rubins maintain close ties to LSU. Mike was an adjunct law professor for 40 years, and the couple regularly donate to several areas of campus, including the LSU Law Center. Avid readers, they have a collection of more than 4,000 books, which Ayan bemoans are “an

endangered species.” By supporting the LSU Press, they hope to help preserve the culture of the printed book. “If you are an affiliate of a university, like the LSU Press, your mission is to foster education, learning and the spread of knowledge, but you don’t have a built-in alumni constituency,” Ayan shared. “We feel it is imperative to support and maintain the LSU Press for our grandchildren and, hopefully, for theirs as well.” The Rubins are not only book lovers, but are also authors. Years ago, Ayan and Mike began brainstorming ideas for their first novel during the daily 4:30 a.m. walks they took before their two daughters awakened. Ayan’s experience in broadcast storytelling and Mike’s legal expertise team up in The Cottoncrest Curse, a multigenerational thriller with a taut storyline careening from the Civil War era to the Civil Rights era. Released by LSU Press in September 2014, The Cottoncrest Curse was honored at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Library Association as the “Best Suspense/Thriller of the Year” published by a university or independent press. “We created characters who faced ethical dilemmas. We would walk with a Dictaphone, and if we came up with a great idea, Mike would record it, and I would transcribe it. Then we started calling our voicemail. We ended up with a folder full of notes from which to work,” Ayan remembered. Mike added, “The initial impetus for Cottoncrest was an early morning discussion we had concerning how little we knew about our own great grandparents and those who came before them. We wondered if knowing more would have changed how we viewed ourselves or others. Cottoncrest’s multigenerational saga flowed from that." The Rubins have completed two more novels and continue to conjure up characters and plotlines, all of which are set in Louisiana and are connected through the exploits of successive generations of the fictional families who populate The Cottoncrest Curse. “They say to write what you know!” Ayan laughed. A senior partner at McGlinchey Stafford, Mike is also an internationally known public speaker, so the couple does much of their writing on airplanes. After almost 30 years with LPB, Ayan retired to travel with Mike. The most recent of the Rubins’ university endowments, the Ayan and Mike Rubin Endowment for the Study of Civil Rights and Social Justice, benefits the LSU Press. LSUPRESS.ORG

M I K E A N D AYA N R U B I N ’ S F I R S T N O V E L , T H E C OT TO N C R E S T C U R S E , P U B L I S H E D BY L S U P R E S S I N 2014

CORNERSTONE

L I F E LO N G F R I E N D S

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

ROBERT AND ADELE ANDING

he late Robert Anding became the president of Exxon Chemical Americas through pure dedication and hard work. “My dad worked in a grocery store all through high school to support his family. He gave all of his money to his mother,” Robert’s son Bob said. “He was always very grateful to people who encouraged him to pursue his education and succeed, because that was not where his life was headed.” After an intermission to serve in the U.S. Navy, Robert received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at LSU in 1948. While attending LSU, he met his wife, Adele, a Tampa native who was completing her nursing training at Charity Hospital. Adele’s wedding dress, which her sister sewed out of an army surplus parachute, is now part of the LSU Rural Life Museum’s archives. Early on in the couple’s marriage, Robert kept his achievements to himself. “It wasn’t until the time of graduation, when one of her friends pointed out an article written about

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

him in the newspaper, that my mother learned of my father being the valedictorian of the university’s graduating class,” Bob said. “My dad would never say anything to anyone about his successes. That’s the perfect example: here he is, engaged to my mother, and had never mentioned how well he was doing.” Robert went on to earn his master’s in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949 and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. His 37-year career at Exxon Corporation was marked with achievement: he was the first manager of Exxon Chemical Company USA’s chemical plant in Baton Rouge, became the senior vice president of Exxon Chemical Company USA, and was senior vice president of the worldwide organization. By 1981, after four years as president and director of Essochem Europe, Inc. in Brussels, Belgium, he reached the capstone of his career as president of Exxon Chemical Americas. His induction into the LSU College of Engineering Hall of Distinction in 1981

celebrated Robert’s outstanding career. Bob, while proud of his father’s professional accomplishments, admires him most for his great character and peaceful nature. “He lived a very good life, one that is hard to emulate. He was a Christian who had very strong beliefs. He wasn’t very demonstrative in anything that he did. There is nothing that he had said that I could not repeat in church.” Robert put his faith into practice, lending his talents to Junior Achievement, serving as president of the Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council, and offering guidance to various industrial and governmental organizations, his churches and alma maters. He learned that through leveraging ExxonMobil’s triplematch program and the Louisiana Board of Regents’ matching gift opportunity, he could multiply the impact of his donation to LSU. He took it upon himself to call other ExxonMobil retirees and LSU Alumni and encourage them to give, too. Today, LSU alumni are among the most generous participants in ExxonMobil Foundation’s Educational Matching Gift Program. “He always felt a strong allegiance to LSU. He was thankful for the opportunity LSU had given him to pursue his career,” Bob said. A chemical engineering biotechnology laboratory inside of the newly expanded Patrick F. Taylor Hall is named in Robert’s and Adele’s honor, and Adele and her children, Bob, Judith (Education, ’72), Keith and Ellen, continue to perpetuate Robert’s legacy as an outstanding alumnus. The Adele W. and Robert D. Anding Professorship in the College of Engineering ensures that future Tigers learn from the best and brightest faculty, preparing them to lead stellar careers like Robert did. ENG.LSU.EDU

L I F E LO N G F R I E N D S

A NATURAL

Peggy Laborde’s multigenerational connection with LSU dates back to before the 1920s. Her father, Walker Thomas Nolin, returned to Hamburg, La., after WWI and started farming at a plantation, where agronomists from LSU used part of his land as experimental plots. An only child, Peggy assumed that she would have to fill her father’s shoes and take over the farm one day. Luckily, she fell in love with it. “It was just natural. I was raised on the farm, and I was more of a tomboy, in a way. I followed my father around,” Peggy remembered. “At that time, we only had 20 employees and tenants on the farm. I was very involved with it all. We didn’t have all of the inside activities that they have today. I was out on the farm, riding a horse and checking on cows with my father.” In 1947, Peggy became the first woman to graduate in agronomy from the LSU College of Agriculture. Returning home after completing graduate work in Wisconsin, she began teaching World War II veterans the business of farming. She married Lucien Laborde, a 1937 LSU agronomy alumnus who went into business with Peggy’s father at Hamburg Mills Farm. The farm grew into a major producer of clover seed and cattle, and Peggy and Lucien became leaders in statewide and LSU agriculture organizations. It wasn’t long before they began giving back to their alma mater. “When Lucien was president of the Alumni Association, people didn’t give to LSU, because it was a state university. In 1964, Lucien started the Century Club, which asked for a $100 donation to become a member,” Peggy shared. “From there, we became accustomed to giving and wanted to give because we saw the need. It couldn’t all come from

P E G G Y L A B O R D E A N D FA M I LY AT H E R 9 0 T H B I R T H DAY PA R T Y

the state; we had to pay LSU back for the things that we received from the university.” With four children also receiving degrees from the College of Agriculture, the family remains tightknit with LSU. Peggy and Lucien were both named outstanding alumni by the College of Agriculture and received the LSU Foundation President’s Award for their lifetime of support. They have established a number of scholarships and professorships and endowed oak trees. Her most recent gift is a scholarship in plant and soil systems, her specialty, funded in part by memorial gifts following Lucien’s passing in August 2015. “The average age of the farmer is around 65 years old. We need these young people. We need to urge them to get into agriculture,” Peggy said, continuing, “It’s become a very scientific process. You don’t just go out there and plant it. You have to know when and where, and what varieties you need … Otherwise, the country is going to be in sad shape and unable to feed the population.” Dr. Don Labonte, director of the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences and recipient of the Lucien and Peggy Laborde Endowed Professorship, said their gift is “cherished:” “A student’s joy in being able to continue their dream needs no words. A scholarship is a perpetual gift that makes a lasting impact on the lives of our students.” Peggy still resides on her family’s property in Hamburg, where she enjoys spending time with her 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. L S U . E D U / AG R I C U LT U R E

CORNERSTONE

LOYA L A L U M N I

#MANSHIPLOYALTY

LANCE FRANK

he Manship School of Mass Communication, with leadership by Lance Frank, a 2011 alumnus who studied broadcast journalism at the school, has launched the #ManshipLoyalty campaign to deepen alumni engagement with and investment in their alma mater.

Frank remembers the enthusiasm he and his peers felt about their next chapter as they approached graduation, sharing, “When my class graduated in 2011, we were excited about the future. Not just ours, but the school’s, as well.” Out of a sense of appreciation for the education they’d received, Frank and his peers were inspired to give back to the school philanthropically. “We started the Senior Class Gift Fund, a first-of-its-kind campaign that raised approximately $10,000. We wanted to make sure that generations of students would have the same amazing opportunities we had, such as covering the Iowa caucuses, attending industry-related conventions and receiving financial support while interning around the country.” Five years later, Frank hopes to reignite that spirit of giving, this time inclusive of all graduates of the school. “Now that we’re settled into our careers across the nation—I’ve landed at CBS News in New York—it seems like the perfect time for us to make a more substantial commitment

and begin a culture of giving.” Frank and Dean Jerry Ceppos have evolved the Senior Class Gift Fund into a new endeavor, the #ManshipLoyalty campaign. Frank shared, “I can’t think of a better time to do this. In the last year alone, Manship has further bolstered its standing as a leader in media and public affairs education by launching its statehouse program that immerses our students in the study and practice of covering state government and building a state-of-the-art social media lab. An accrediting team of outside experts described our school as being in ‘the ranks of the country’s strongest programs.’” Frank and Ceppos have reached out to all graduates of the school to invite their participation in the effort, specifically to give the next generation of Manship graduates the opportunity to study abroad or in Washington, D.C., attend the Iowa caucuses or intern in New York. M A N S H I P. L S U . E D U

COUNTING IN EVERY TIGER LSU is consistently named one of the best public universities in the country. Alumni support can make LSU even better, making an LSU degree even more valuable, which is why increasing the university’s alumni giving participation rate is a key priority. Today, LSU is tied for last in the SEC in alumni giving, at just 7 percent. Rising to the top takes every Tiger saying, “Count me in.” And that’s just the kind of team spirit for which LSU is known. LSU is home to its most academically talented, diverse student body ever. Those students are counting on every alumnus to show his or her Tiger spirit by investing in them—the future of LSU. It takes the whole team working together to win.

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

Being a Tiger means being part of a community that stands together, united by a shared college experience unlike any other. The next generation of proud LSU alumni is building the kinds of memories that will stay with them beyond graduation, and they’re earning an education with a proven return on investment: LSU outpaces its peers in affordability, mid-career earnings and minimizing student debt.

LOYA L A L U M N I

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING "What do you give someone who has everything his heart desires?” That’s the question Hillery Scavo asked herself as she brainstormed a birthday gift for her husband, Alton. She wanted the gift to be meaningful and last forever, yet also be completely altruistic. Finally, she decided to make a “gift that keeps on giving” to the place that gave Alton his start: LSU. She created the Alton J. Scavo Endowed Scholarship in Landscape Architecture. “A good mind is a terrible thing to waste. LSU is a vehicle for gifted students to expand their minds, reach their potentials and see the world,” Hillery shared, adding, “Successful alumni should aim to expand LSU’s base and make it a stronger, better school by increasing the number of creative minds it encourages.” The Scavos met when Hillery was only 16 years old, and they were married three years later. Following Alton’s graduation from the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture within the College of Art + Design, he accepted a job with The Rouse Company, a publicly held commercial banking and development firm. The Rouse Company developed, owned and operated retail projects, including Faneuil Hall in Boston and The Shops at La Cantera in San Antonio. The Rouse Company also

developed, purchased and operated new towns, such as Columbia, Md.; The Woodlands in Houston, Texas; and Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nev. After the sale of Rouse, Alton retired as the executive vice president and a member of the company’s five-person executive committee. He co-founded a commercial real estate, development, investment and operations company. Currently the company owns and is working on multiple projects in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Naples, Fla. “Alton went the extra mile. He worked really hard and spared no efforts on his projects. They were always innovative,” Hillery said. “You’re not going to get anywhere without giving it your all. I think that LSU reinforced that principle. He came

from a New Orleans public school system with limited preparation for college. He did what he had to do, and when he graduated, he received the Dean’s Medal in the landscape architecture program.” The Scavos spend the summer at their waterfront farm on the east coast of Maryland and winter at their bayside residence in Corpus Christi, Texas. They have two children and two grandsons, who Hillery said are “healthy, bright and grandma’s pride and joy.” Every year they visit Baton Rouge to see friends, enjoy an LSU football game and check out the “growing and thriving” campus and the College of Art + Design that Hillery calls “home.” DESIGN.LSU.EDU

L E F T A LTO N A N D H I L L E RY S C AV O A B O V E A LTO N J . S C AV O E N D O W E D S C H O L A R S H I P I N L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E R E C I P I E N T RY ’ YA N C L A R K W O R K S W I T H B R U C E S H A R K Y, PROFESSOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.

CORNERSTONE

J O H N A N D A N N E T T E D O U T H AT AT T H E I R H O M E O N U N I V E R S I T Y L A K E

LOYA L A L U M N I

OUR BACKYARD John Douthat almost missed his calling. “When I was in seventh grade, I had a pig as part of the FFA pig chain. My sow rolled over on one of the runts and split open his stomach. I got my mother’s needle and thread and saved the pig,” John shared. “I thought this meant my calling was to be a veterinarian. It wasn’t until I met Annette that I found out that my true calling was to get in the sewing business.” Fast forward to 2016: John and Annette are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their company, Allbrands, a multimillion dollar sewing, cleaning and home appliances retailer. Annette, who received her bachelor’s in home economics from the LSU College of Agriculture, spearheaded the idea. In 1996, Allbrands became one of the first vendors to make the online transition. “Our son was 12 years old, and he said, ‘Dad why aren’t you on the internet?’ I said, ‘What’s the internet?’” John remembered with a laugh. “He said, ‘Let me put you up a page.’ Now, we have 15,000 pages of products. He went to LSU, graduated in computer science and is our technology director.” John and Annette were both selected for the prestigious Danforth Graduate Fellowship Program (he at University of Florida, she at LSU).

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

They met through the program and, bonded by love for agriculture, married a year later. Ralston Purina, John’s employer at the time, sent the couple to Thailand for a year, followed by another in South Korea. “We were the only Americans in the company. We had to learn some language just to get by … You have to get along on your own, be your own chief cook and bottle washer,” John said. The adventure inspired the Douthats’ latest gift to LSU, an endowed international internship for students within the College of Agriculture. They hope the award will give its recipients similar eye-opening experiences, plus an edge in the everglobal business world. The Douthats moved to Baton Rouge in 1976 and opened the first branch of what is now Allbrands. The couple live on University Lake, and all four of their children attended LSU. The Douthats’ first gift to LSU was for costumes needed by the LSU Opera, where their daughter Yvonne, now a professional mezzo-soprano, began her career. Since, they have given generously to the College of Music & Dramatic Arts; the College of Agriculture; the Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising annual fashion show; and beyond. John is an advisor for Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and he and Annette have hosted international students for 10

years. Robert Grayson, Emeritus Kirkpatrick Professor of Voice and chair of the vocal studies division, calls John and Annette “real treasures.” “It is through the continued support of the community and alumni that it is possible to train tomorrow's artists and present highcaliber performances that celebrate the diversity of music, dance and drama, and that all-encompassing art form—opera! Through their generous endowment gifts and hosting of international voice students, John and Annette have made a real difference in the development of our nationally ranked LSU Opera. Their support has helped to enable productions, promote tours and begin the branding of our program,” Grayson said. John and Annette say that more than 40 years connected to LSU make it the “tie that binds.” “We enjoy being close to LSU. Everything is in our backyard. Even though I’m a Florida grad, my loyalties have changed because my heart, my kids and my money are all invested in LSU,” John shared. “We want to foster that relationship and set an example for others that you can help LSU maintain its status as Louisiana’s flagship institution and attract more students, particularly international students.” L S U . E D U / AG R I C U LT U R E C M DA . L S U . E D U

O N G O I N G I M PAC T

CORNERSTONE

engineering, said. “It’s value-added opportunities, like the he Chevron Leadership Academy, introduced in Chevron Leadership Academy, that allow students to January 2015, is a semester-long program that differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The aims to strengthen LSU College of Engineering value-added experiences allow them to broaden their students’ leadership skills through workshops, horizons and become better-rounded individuals who seminars and mentorship. Chevron Center for will be successful in any environment in which they want Engineering Education Director Warren Hull described the to compete.” academy as helping students develop character traits that Hull and Harvey agree that the Chevron Leadership employers, particularly those in the engineering industry, Academy is reflective of Chevron’s efforts to connect expect new hires to have straight out of college. with, invest in and attract an outstanding pool of future “Leaders need the ability to communicate, the ability engineers. Bill Hunter, Chevron’s university affairs to work on a team and an understanding of themselves. manager, shared, “Chevron and LSU have enjoyed a rich Those are the kind of qualities we try to build in the partnership together, with over 600 Tiger alumni working Chevron Leadership Academy,” Hull explained, adding, for our company around the world. We are excited to “Industry appreciates graduates who have already continue our strong relationship together through our developed that skillset.” support for the Chevron Leadership Academy and the A faculty panel selects 20 students for each session, Chevron Energy Leaders Scholarship program. These two based on their demonstrated leadership initiative and initiatives will help create opportunities for top students school performance; participants must also have earned at to further develop the leadership skills necessary to least 60 credit hours. The students selected are a diverse excel in the workplace and representation of the College of become the leaders of the Engineering. The current group These two initiatives future workforce.” is 45 percent female (whereas will help create In 2017, the Chevron the college’s student body is 20 Leadership Academy will expand percent female) and showcases a opportunities for top to include the E. J. Ourso College range of concentrations. Students students to further of Business and the College of are required to have at least Science. “Chevron has been a one semester left of college so develop the leadership longtime supporter of LSU’s that the faculty and staff may skills necessary to excel energy-related programs, and continue to, as Hull explained, we are especially grateful for “watch these students grow after in the workplace and their continued investment the academy, and also to have become the leaders of in the Geology & Geophysics them come back to future classes department,” said Cynthia to share their experiences.” the future workforce. Peterson, College of Science dean The program is designed to guide and Seola Arnaud and Richard V. students in exploring leadership: BILL HUNTER Edwards Jr. Professor. “Increasing what a leader is, how a leader interacts with others in various roles and situations, and the number and quality of graduate students is a major goal for the university, and the Chevron Leadership Academy how to hone those leadership skills within themselves. allows us to offer competitive support to attract more An introductory two-day workshop before the semester high-achieving graduate students to LSU.” begins kicks off a round of monthly workshops throughout The Chevron Leadership Academy is just one of the the semester. Through personality tests, literature and resources available through the Chevron Center for discussions on leadership theory, communications, ethics Engineering Education, a resource center for Engineering and tools for success, students discover their personal students located within Patrick F. Taylor Hall. The Chevron leadership style, explore the kind of leader they want to Center also offers 3D scanning and printing services, a be, and learn how to steward that inner growth. Upon pool of audiovisual equipment for lending, open-access PC completion, students receive a $1,000 stipend toward workstations, large-format printing, a SMART Board for tuition and fees. video conferencing, study abroad counseling and academic “I tell prospective students to come to the LSU College of Engineering for both a strong engineering education and support for engineering students. the value-added opportunities,” Craig Harvey, associate ENG.LSU.EDU dean for academic affairs and professor of industrial O P P O S I T E ( L E F T TO R I G H T, TO P TO B OT TO M ) T H E 2 01 6 C H E V R O N L E A D E R S H I P AC A D E M Y : N A D E E N A L - A L I , K R I S T E N B A R R E T T, J A R E D B I G L E R , D E VA C A B E Z O N , A M I R D O D D S , A P R I L G AY D O S , G R A N T G O N Z A L E Z , C O N N O R J O S L I N , B R E A N N A L E E , L A U R E N L I L LY, A U S T I N M A I D LO W, J A LY N N M O L L , D E N I S E O W U S U , D R U M I L PA R E K H , K Y L E R O B E R T, WA D E R OTO LO , L E A H S A N D E R S , L I N DY S H E A , E D D I E V E A L , T H O M A S W I L L I S

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PRICELESS O N G O I N G I M PAC T

ince its opening in August 2014, the state-of-the-art LSU Olinde Career Center has made impressive strides to strengthen Tigers’ real world readiness. In two years, the Olinde Career Center has increased student appointments by 23 percent and hosted more than 7,800 studentrecruiter interviews. With 22 professional interview rooms, a student reception area and employer areas such as a greeter room, lounge and business center, the Olinde Career Center offers a full-service recruiting environment. A high-tech career classroom, global teleconferencing room and executive conference room give students and employers an authentic introduction `to the work world of today and tomorrow. Director Jesse Downs said that creating a “welcoming yet corporate” environment was essential to reflect the mission of the LSU Olinde Career Center. “The Career Center is designed to help students throughout the entire career development process. First, to help understand themselves and their

career options; second, to validate their career choice through the experiences necessary to be competitive; third, to help with their professional polish,” Downs explained. “We help students understand the hiring process and, from the employer’s lens, how to maximize their candidacy in that process.” The construction of the Olinde Career Center was funded in its entirety by private donations, and the center’s services are free for LSU students and alumni, meaning that no student fee dollars are used toward its operations. The Olinde family paved the way for the project with a large gift sparked through the generosity of the late Humphrey T. “Bubber” Olinde. The family has been rooted to LSU since 1917; Bubber (Business, ’48) and his six siblings are all LSU alumni. His brother Henry D. Olinde Sr. and nephew Michael E. Olinde Sr. agree that the gift was a way to give to the entire LSU campus and ensure that the future of Baton Rouge and Louisiana is a bright one. “We see the future because we’re not going anywhere. We have to

keep the workforce here. We have to keep the young people here, and the businesses,” Michael shared, adding, “The tremendous amount of people that the Career Center can affect is a return on your investment that I don’t think anyone can put numbers on. It’s priceless.” For 25 years, what was formerly known as LSU Career Services was split into two locations: a student services center in the basement of Coates Hall and an employer relations center in Patrick F. Taylor Hall. The staff was divided, and students and employers, if they were made aware of the center at all, were often confused as to how to access it. Now, the two-level, state-ofthe-art Olinde Career Center greets Tigers, future Tigers and their families in the hub of campus activities, the LSU Student Union. “The Olinde Career Center is the first stop on the official university campus tour,” shared Downs. “At our two-year anniversary mark, more than 40,000 perspective students, parents and families had been introduced to the Career Center. That’s an amazing way to get students on the right track,

CORNERSTONE

thinking about their career before they even get to LSU and about how career development is an important part of the college experience. It’s also a great asset for our donors. Their investment is recognized on that campus tour every day.” The LSU Olinde Career Center’s resources are also maximized through collaborations with campus partners. The Office of Orientation uses the second floor Recruitment Center for summer orientations; Disability Services proctors final exams in the interview rooms; and concentrated study periods are held in the study rooms. Downs anticipates this extra exposure will draw in additional student visits and for the LSU Olinde Career Center to evolve as career readiness becomes a cornerstone of LSU culture. LSU.EDU/CAREERCENTER

LSU Cale P. & Katherine Smith Student Financial Management Center

he LSU Cale P. & Katherine Smith Student Financial Management Center, located within the LSU Olinde Career Center, encourages, educates and empowers LSU students to become financially literate, make good financial decisions and form fiscally responsible habits. Through educating Tigers on how to create and manage budgets, negotiate salaries, prepare taxes and even plan for retirement, the SFMC is committed to alleviating students’ financial stress and laying a fiscal foundation for their future. Since 2014, the SFMC has reached 4,000 LSU students through workshops and

programming and increased undergraduate appointments by 200 percent. The SFMC’s namesake donor, Cale Smith, said that he and wife Katherine wanted to help minimize LSU graduates’ debt and ensure success upon graduation. “A high rate of debt is one of the top causes of divorce among married couples and one of the top five causes of suicides. Katherine and I felt that if the financial center could provide students with the necessary skills to manage debt in such a way that would save a single marriage or save a single life, then our donation to LSU is certainly worth it, and we feel blessed to be able to do it.”

TO P O F PAG E T H E M A I N E N T R A N C E O F T H E L S U O L I N D E C A R E E R C E N T E R A B O V E , I N S E T H E N RY D . O L I N D E S R . ( F O U R T H F R O M L E F T ) J O I N S L S U L E A D E R S I N C U T T I N G T H E R I B B O N F O R T H E L S U O L I N D E C A R E E R C E N T E R O N S E P T. 2, 2 0 1 4 .

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

HEART & SOUL T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

“W

adding, “We thought LSU was the place that was the most hen I’m transported back here, I’m in my early 20s again,” said Dr. Terre Allen, sitting in LSU’s impactful on us, as people and as professionals.” The Allens’ gift will allow for unrestricted use by Shaver Theatre, in the Music & Dramatic Arts building. the Department of Theatre. As professionals in higher “The countless hours I spent on this stage and in this education, they’ve learned that unrestricted funds, given building!” remembered Scott Allen. “My heart and soul is their flexibility to meet emerging needs and opportunities, left somewhere in here.” are often the most valuable gifts. Scott and Terre met as dance partners for the opening “For us, an unrestricted gift means that we’re truly number of Louisiana Tech University’s production of giving to the future,” Terre said. “The whole idea is that the Grease. The couple moved to Baton Rouge for graduate gift needs to sustain itself over time, and the only way for studies at LSU, where Scott earned his Master of Fine it to sustain itself over time is for it to be unrestricted.” Arts in theater and Terre earned her master’s and PhD “LSU is a time of our life that we remember so fondly. in communication studies. Now, the Allens are both Through our gift, we hope to inspire others to make professors at California State University, Long Beach. They contributions to LSU in honor of their fond memories,” credit LSU for establishing their “professional identity.” Scott said. “I had such a rare opportunity Graduate student Lance to have women leaders who We all miss our days at Rasmussen said the gift will were such incredible mentors do just that: “One of the key and role models,” Terre shared, LSU. No matter where features that drew me to the listing Gresdna Doty, Mary life’s journeys take us, MFA Acting program at LSU was Frances Hopkins and Renee their commitment to having us Edwards. “Our LSU experience this was ‘home away from work with outside professionals was made exceptional by our home’ for many. This is as often as possible. I've yet connections to great role models to be involved in a production and mentors.” college, where you grow or workshop here that hasn't “It really feels like a family,” up, where you meet the allowed me to work with Scott said. “We all miss our days actors, directors and other at LSU. No matter where life’s loves of your life, personal professionals within my field. journeys take us, this was ‘home and academic, and where The Allens’ gift will, in part, away from home’ for many. This serve to help facilitate that sort is college, where you grow up, you learn to be yourself. of connection for a long time where you meet the loves of your SCOTT ALLEN into the future.” life, personal and academic, and The Allens agree that a full where you learn to be yourself.” education must include learning an appreciation for the Scott’s grandfather, Oscar K. Allen, the 42nd governor arts. To go without it, Terre calls “educational malpractice.” of Louisiana and Allen Hall’s namesake, was instrumental “The whole experience of an LSU football game is a in moving LSU to its current campus. The Allens own a performance. From Mike the Tiger, to the Tiger Band, bell that he and Huey P. Long used while campaigning. to the players on the field, to the people in the stands, It’s in their front yard and rings each time LSU makes a painting your face and costuming yourself,” Terre said. touchdown, a tradition of the Allens’ game day parties. “There’s a richness in theatre and drama that makes college “Everyone in our neighborhood knows when LSU is what it is.” playing football and when they score,” Terre explained. “Lots of friends and neighbors come by. There’s jambalaya T H E AT R E . L S U . E D U and gumbo. We’ve converted lots of California folks into LSU fans.” In 2016, the Allens committed a transformational estate O P P O S I T E A B O V E D R . T E R R E A N D S C OT T A L L E N gift for the College of Music & Dramatic Arts’ Department I N S H AV E R T H E AT R E of Theatre and the preservation of the 1930s-era Allen Hall murals. Terre said she was inspired to give by her O P P O S I T E B E LO W D R . T E R R E A N D S C OT T A L L E N W I T H T H E colleagues and mentors at CSULB and LSU. 1 9 3 4 T I G E R B A N D U N I F O R M R E P L I C A W O R N BY A S A A L L E N , “I thought, ‘I, too, want to make a difference in people’s S C OT T ’ S FAT H E R A N D T H E S O N O F LO U I S I A N A G O V E R N O R lives. I want to do something that I love and enjoy. I want OSCAR K. ALLEN, AS A CHILD. THE UNIFORM WILL BE to be a part of something bigger than me,’” Terre shared, D I S P L AY E D I N T H E N E W T I G E R B A N D H A L L .

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Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

TEAM SPIRIT

ONE BIG FAMILY

The LSU Food Pantry was established in 2013 to assist LSU students who struggle financially to meet their daily nutrition needs. Following the flooding of southern Louisiana in August 2016, generosity poured into the Food Pantry in support of affected LSU students, faculty and staff. Donations totaled 243 pounds of food, $10,825 in cash contributions and close to $10,000 in gifts purchased from the Pantry’s Amazon wish list. "Generous donors have enabled us to compassionately meet the needs of students who are food insecure, a situation we estimate impacts about one in six LSU students at one time or another. We want to eliminate this and other barriers that prevent students from succeeding at LSU,” said Mary Wallace, associate dean of students and director of Campus Life, where the Food Pantry is housed. The donations came from far and wide. For example, Ricky Cabrera lives in Salinas, California. He and his wife, Cecy, were moving their son, Ricky Jr., into his freshman residence hall as the water rose. The Cabrera family was struck by the warmth of the LSU community. “The people—the students, the parents, the faculty, everybody—set LSU apart from the other universities,” Cabrera said. “They were all very helpful beyond expectations. You would think that they were waiting for us. They offered my son the confidence and security that this is one big family.” Like true Tigers, the Cabreras stepped up to the plate when so many were in need, making a gift to the Food Pantry. In addition, Ricky and Cecy joined the LSU Family Association, which he calls “a guardian angel for LSU students,” and will donate a percentage of profits from the family’s annual gala event, a mariachi and tequila festival, toward Family Association scholarships. “Now that Ricky Jr. is enrolled in LSU, LSU is an extension of our family, an extension of our home,” said Cabrera. He encourages everyone to make a difference, adding, “There

are many ways of getting involved besides giving money. You can get involved by giving time, volunteering, and by becoming an ambassador for LSU by educating yourself about the university and promoting it to prospective college-bound kids and families.” Located in the Student Union for easy access by students, the Food Pantry is a confidential resource fully supported by private donations, fundraisers and food drives. It is operated by Kitchens on the Geaux, a student organization that also repurposes excess food from LSU Dining, the Cook Hotel and Conference Center, and local restaurants and brings it to local nonprofits, like St. Vincent de Paul. “In the United States, we produce 150 percent of the food that we really need. Since food insecurity, paired with rapid population growth, is a globally threatening issue, it is imperative that college students receive good knowledge about preventing food waste so that we can make educated and ethical choices,” shared Lily LaGrange, president of Kitchens on the Geaux. “I joined KOTG to advocate for sustainable food systems, eliminate waste on campus and spread awareness to students and faculty about the importance of good nutrition. There are many people who do not have access to nutritious foods; we believe this is an issue worth fighting.” The Food Pantry served more visitors in the first six weeks of the fall 2016 semester than in the entire 201516 academic year. The Food Pantry aims to reach the LSU student body’s projected annual supplemental food needs, based on Louisiana’s USDA statistics, of 5,253 unique visitors, which is 16.6 percent of the student population. Because the Food Pantry data shows that an average user visits 2.93 times, it strives to be equipped to supply 15,389 visits per year.

L U C K Y, C E C Y, R I C K Y J R . A N D R I C K Y S R . C A B R E R A AT R I C K Y J R . ’ S H I G H S C H O O L G R A D U AT I O N

N ATAC H A R I V E R A - R U I Z , G R A D U AT E A S S I S TA N T, S TO C K S T H E L S U F O O D PA N T RY S H E LV E S .

L S U . E D U / F O O D PA N T RY

CORNERSTONE

TEAM SPIRIT

CULTURE OF GIVING THREE GENERATIONS OF U-HIGH CUBS: (STANDING) SHELBY AND MOLLY MCKENZIE; (RIGHT) CHARLES AND ELISSA MCKENZIE WITH SONS MAC, SCOT AND CHARLIE; AND (LEFT) LANCE AND LESLIE PORTER WITH DAUGHTERS JANE SHELBY AND KATE

he 2016 University Laboratory School Foundation Annual Appeal was a record breaker. For the first time in U-High history, a grade level reached 100 percent participation: each of the 104 families with a student in the fourth grade made a donation. Parent and faculty participation rose to 77 percent and 84 percent, respectively. In total, 1,045 donors—the most in school history—gave nearly $475,000 for technological and academic enhancements. “When you believe in something, you want to be a part of the impact it is making,” shared Candace Kouns, the 2016 chair of the Annual Appeal Leadership Council. Kouns credits the efforts of the 150 annual appeal volunteers, double the number of the year before, for the success: “When volunteers speak with other parents, asking them to participate and to donate, their passion is much more evident because they fully understand where the funds are allocated.” Kouns believes that the volunteers’ contagious enthusiasm and the visible impact of annual appeal donations not only increases the quality of education and the experience of U-High students, but also cultivates a lifelong philanthropic spirit within parents and students. “We continue to build a culture of giving. They’re taking pride in the school and the future, where we’re headed,” she said. “They feel good about giving.” The McKenzie family, with three generations of U-High graduates, can vouch for the school’s continuous innovation and progress. Shelby, an inductee of the U-High Alumni Hall of Distinction, and his wife, Molly, graduated in 1957, followed by their children, Doug, Charles and Leslie. The

Winter 2016 and Spring 2017

youngest of their five grandchildren—all of whom attend or graduated from U-High—will graduate in 2022. The family has supported U-High throughout the years, participating in the annual appeal, capital campaigns and the Bench Tribute Project, donating a bench for the school in memory of Doug, who passed away in 2014. Charles and his wife, Elissa, volunteer for the annual appeal’s phone-a-thon. “We are really lucky to have U-High as our family’s common connection,” Charles, vice chair of the ULS Foundation Board, said. “U-High provided us with a wellrounded educational experience throughout its history. Students, teachers and administrators will come and go over time, but the cohesive culture and traditions will endure.” “We know from class reunions that U-High grads spread out to have many outstanding careers all over the U.S.,” Molly said. “As donors, we can be proud that our gifts enhance the educational experience of those who will continue to make our country a better place.” For more than 100 years, U-High has created engaging learning environments and fostered academic achievement for students in grades K-12. With small class sizes, an impressive record of student test scores and dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students, U-High is consistently ranked as one of the highest performing schools in Louisiana. In 2015, the school was honored with the National Blue Ribbon for Academic Excellence, the highest recognition provided by the U.S. Department of Education. UHIGH.LSU.EDU

L S U H O U S TO N A L U M N I C H A P T E R M E M B E R S AT T E N D T H E L E A D E R S H I P C O N F E R E N C E I N 20 1 5 .

TEAM SPIRIT

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

n 1998, LSU Houston Alumni Chapter President Lisa Bunch was new to Houston. “I didn’t know anybody here. The first organization that I reached out to was the LSU Houston Alumni Chapter to make friends,” Bunch remembered. “The oil and gas and health care industries bring a lot of LSU alumni to Houston. To have an instant friend base, social circle and networking opportunities here makes LSU Houston different than other chapters across the country.” Bunch has since seen tremendous growth within the chapter. With more than 600 members, it is the largest LSU alumni chapter outside of Louisiana and the largest out-ofstate alumni association in Texas. The LSU Houston Alumni Chapter is now recognized as a George M. Graham Laureate for cumulative giving of over $100,000 through the LSU Foundation. Bunch attributes the chapter’s success to reconnecting LSU alumni. “No matter where they are in the

vicinity of Houston—which includes a ton of suburbs and more than four million people—LSU alumni know that they always have a place to call home and a place to land,” Bunch said. “If you are new to town or just visiting on business, everyone knows where to go to hang out with the LSU crowd. That’s something that has taken a long time to build.” A cornerstone of LSU Houston is philanthropy, and the chapter is recognized by the IRS as a charitable and tax-exempt organization. Corporate sponsors, fundraisers and events contribute to their gifts to LSU, which include endowments, professorships and scholarships. One of LSU Houston’s most recent gifts, the Greater Houston Alumni Legacy Scholarship, will be awarded to a fulltime LSU student from the Houston area with at least one parent as an LSU alumnus. The chapter has also supported the E. J. Ourso College of Business; the colleges of Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences and

Science; the Division of Student Affairs; the Tiger Athletic Foundation; and the LSU Alumni Association. Funds are raised through the chapter’s corporate sponsors and events, such as game day viewing, 3,500-pound crawfish boils, golf tournaments and sporting clays, plus special opportunities like pregame visits with the Houston Astros. Vice President Tip Jenny, an Alaska native, said that the chapter wants to bring in the culture of Louisiana, which includes good food and a welcoming spirit, to Houston. “I want the legacy of our chapter to be one that is considered the best. The biggest and the best. We want to help out and give more dollars than any other chapter,” Jenny said. “We want to bring people from Houston, the largest constituency of out-of-state alumni, together for LSU and have everyone share the love of our alma mater. That’s what it’s all about.” L S U H O U S TO N . C O M

CORNERSTONE

L E G AC Y

LEAVE A LEGACY Each November, the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Greater Baton Rouge Chapter celebrates National Philanthropy Day to honor local donors and volunteers. Included is the Leave a Legacy award, which raises awareness of the impact that charitable bequests have on nonprofit organizations and the individuals they support— in hopes of encouraging more donors to consider similar legacy investments. The LSU Foundation is proud to recognize Sue and Donald Crow and Harvey and Betty Schwartzberg as its 2016 Leave a Legacy nominees.

SUE AND DONALD CROW Inspired by the use of integrative medicine to treat their dog Hanna’s cancer at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Sue and Donald Crow’s vision and support have helped LSU to create one of the foremost integrative medicine programs in the nation. The Crows’ Integrative Medicine Support Fund brought in renowned integrative medicine veterinarians to speak at the school. In 2013, Dr. Ronald Koh became LSU SVM’s first integrative medicine veterinarian and a driving force for the program, which has since expanded and received national recognition for excellence. The Donald and Sue Crow Chair for Companion Animal Integrative Veterinary Medicine, a charitable bequest, will ensure therapeutic treatment options are available for animals in perpetuity. When the gift is realized, it will grow the integrative medicine department by funding recruitment of faculty or visiting professors; salary supplements, research and equipment; and ongoing education for students, residents, fellows and faculty. “We do this in loving memory of the many animals that have brought us love,” Sue shared. “We think they’re angels. They’re so full of grace and goodness and abundant love. They’ve been our children all our lives.” The Crows have given LSU SVM the resources needed to remain a cutting-edge veterinary medicine school that personalizes its treatment for every animal it serves, and are partners in LSU SVM’s mission to teach, heal and discover. L S U F O U N DAT I O N . P L A N M Y L E G AC Y. O R G

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HARVEY AND BETTY SCHWARTZBERG LSU alumni couple Harvey (Engineering, ’49) and Betty (Arts & Sciences, ’50) Schwartzberg are described as a dynamic team whose charm and warmth adds yet another layer of endearment to all of their good works. Off campus and on, there is no category of art, history, nature or religion that the Schwartzbergs do not support. At LSU, they have founded a scholarship and a graduate fellowship in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, endowed two oak trees near the College of Engineering, donated collections to Hill Memorial Library, and created a charitable gift annuity. They give to the College of Music & Dramatic Arts and are patrons of the LSU Opera, charter members of the Lagniappe Studies Program, and lifetime members of the LSU Alumni Association. Harvey, who served as Cadet Commander of LSU’s ROTC unit as an undergraduate, remains committed to the Cadets of the Ole War Skule. “Why do we give to worthy causes? I think it is the way we were both raised. In the Jewish faith, the tradition of ‘tzedakah,’ charity, is a bedrock,” the Schwartzbergs said, adding, “The act of ‘tekum olam,’ healing the world, is ingrained in us. We support those causes which aid others and improve the community in which we live.” The students, faculty and staff of LSU are proud to call Harvey and Betty family. The Schwartzbergs are a shining example for all Tigers to use their time, talents and hearts to make an impact on LSU, Louisiana, our nation and the communities served by each.

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AN AWESOME LEGACY

P H I L A N D K I M B E R LY A D R A W I T H T H E I R C H I L D R E N , C O L E A N D A N N I E

t wasn’t until Phil Adra, a New Orleans native and an LSU alumnus (’05, ’06), moved to Atlanta that he realized that not everyone is a Tiger fan. “I always took it for granted that everybody knows about LSU and assumed everybody knows it’s a great school. But really, most people didn’t know much about it,” Adra shared. “I want LSU to reach more people. I’d love for LSU to be known nationally as a top academic institution and attract more out-of-state talent.” Adra’s own experience as a student fuels his passion to spread the word about LSU. While earning his bachelor’s degree in finance, Adra graduated from the LSU Center for Internal Auditing program. Through the program, he interned with Ernst & Young after his junior year.

“I was working with people who had gone to Ivy League schools, people from all over the country. When I left that internship, I realized I was getting just as good of an education as anyone else. It gave me a lot of confidence that what I was learning in school was preparing me for my career,” he remembered. Adra went on to receive his master’s in accounting and started work as a consultant with Ernst & Young. He’s now a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. Looking back, Adra said his professional growth is rooted in the education he received at LSU. “I thought to myself, ‘How can I make a tremendous impact at age 33? Given my age and my financial capacity right now, how can I make the biggest possible gift to LSU?’” Adra said.

He decided to get creative and purchased a life insurance policy with the LSU Foundation as the owner and the beneficiary. His employer pays half of the $6,000 annual premium through its matching gift program. Based on Adra’s life expectancy, the Adra Family Endowment is anticipated to ultimately grow beyond $1.3 million. “It is an honor for me, as dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business, to see one of our young alumni give back to the college in such a generous way. I’ve often said that our graduates are unique and truly something special, and I think Phil Adra’s gift proves that,” shared Dean Richard White. “At LSU I had the time of my life, I learned how to be independent, I made lifelong friends, and I got a worldclass education. My entire life was shaped by LSU. There’s no other cause that I could be more grateful towards,” Adra said. The endowment creates multiple scholarships for high school students from the greater New Orleans and greater Atlanta areas. Adra hopes that the Atlanta scholarships will attract more out-of-state students to LSU. “I want LSU’s national footprint to expand,” Adra said. “I think that it would be an awesome legacy for my gift to bring more people— who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend, consider or even know about the school had this endowment not been created—to LSU.” Adra still keeps in touch with his friends from LSU and goes to at least two football games every year. In the meantime, he’s always on the lookout for purple and gold. “I still get so excited when I pass a car with an LSU decal or when I see someone wearing an LSU shirt. All you have to say is, ‘Geaux, Tigers!’ and that person knows that you are part of the family,” Adra said. “There’s something about the bond that LSU alumni share that transcends any differences that people have. It’s a bond that can’t be broken.” BUSINESS.LSU.EDU

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MAKING THE GRADE In 2015 the National College Learning Center Association named the LSU Center for Academic Success a Learning Center of Excellence, an honor bestowed upon only two centers. The center aims to help students develop critical thinking skills so that they become independent learners and proficient problem solvers long after graduation. By encouraging self-discovery and embracing learning as an active, ongoing process, the Center for Academic Success reinforces and extends classroom-based learning. The Center for Academic Success empowers students through research-founded and strategy-based techniques that give them a fresh perspective on learning. Free tutoring in person and online, student-led Supplemental Instruction, academic coaching sessions, workshops and programming help students increase their GPAs, stay in their majors of choice and graduate on time. Facultyfocused development facilitates the integration of high-impact practices into course instruction. The proof is in the numbers: the Center for Academic Success serves over half of LSU students, including 72 percent of first-year students. Students who use the center’s services graduate at a 30 percent higher rate than those who don’t. Supplemental Instruction attendees earn an average of a half of a letter grade higher and are nearly five times more likely to graduate. Students who attend

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academic coaching sessions better their course grade by an entire letter and their overall GPA by half of a point, on average. In addition, students report a boost in confidence. “The students also seem to gain a perspective on the material that you can only obtain through a relatable peer. Having also recently experienced the same confusions and mental blocks allows an SI Leader to understand the disconnect between the student’s intuition and the material's nuances,” said Brian Dupree, a Supplemental Instruction Leader. The estate of Lorraine Maher Kelley made a gift to the Center of Academic Success to honor the legacies of Lorraine and her husband, Gerald Francis Kelley. Gerald completed LSU’s engineering management program in 1971; Lorraine received her master’s in education from LSU in 1978. She devoted her life to ensuring that Louisiana provided academic resources for children with learning disabilities, as well as gifted and talented students. Their six children, Mary, Patrick, Joseph, John, Paul and Sharon, all followed their parents’ lead by attending LSU, and they, too,

work in the education and engineering fields. They hope that the estate gift will continue Lorraine’s dedication to aiding in the educational advancement of students. Joseph, executor of his mother’s estate, shared, “When I was looking at the different giving options for LSU, I saw that the Center for Academic Success was for students who are struggling with different disciplines, one of which was engineering, my father’s area of study. Giving to the Center of Academic Success fits with my mother’s lifetime of helping struggling students make the grades and be successful. I thought it was an excellent fit. The Center for Academic Success gives them the building blocks and study habits that they need to make the grades.” The Center for Academic Success is one of LSU’s top fundraising priorities. With additional funding toward an overall goal of $5 million, the Center for Academic Success can make an even greater impact on performance, retention, and graduation rates for students campus-wide. CAS.LSU.EDU

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EXPANDING HORIZONS When Michael and Denise Durci, both University of Texas graduates, were touring universities with their oldest daughter, Lela, LSU stood out. “We were impressed with how LSU demonstrated personal interest and concern for our daughter,” Michael remembered. “The fact that LSU seemed genuinely interested in her well-being engendered our loyalty.” Lela, followed by Maggie five years later, enrolled in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, which impressed the Durcis with its one-on-one approach and supplemental academic opportunities and resources. Both daughters majored in biological science. Despite their similar tracks, the sisters had very different experiences at LSU. Lela, more introverted and artistic, enjoyed spending time with her close-knit group of friends and focusing on her studies. Maggie joined the LSU Women’s Lacrosse Club and attended football games and on-campus events. “They both believed that LSU was a party school. Once they got there, they realized that it’s what you make of it. It’s what you do. It’s who you choose to be around. It’s the activities that you choose to be involved with,” Denise said. “I think that they’re both very proud to be LSU graduates. I can see their eyes light up when they talk about LSU.” Denise volunteered and participated in fundraising at every school the girls attended, from elementary and beyond. LSU was no exception. Michael and Denise made many trips to Baton Rouge from their home in Shreveport, La., over the course of eight years that Lela and Maggie attended LSU. They enjoyed spending time as a family, cheering on the Tigers, and exploring LSU and Baton Rouge. Denise helped out with Ogden Honors College recruiting parties. Soon, the Durcis formed relationships with faculty and staff members and began making gifts to enhance the college. Their most recent gift, establishing the Durci

Family Fund Award, will assist a high-achieving freshman from North Louisiana. “Dean Earle mentioned that having an excellent education product like the Honors College is only meaningful if you can bring the prospective students to enroll, if they have the financial means to get there. This donation was our way to give the motivated and talented students from this area a first-class opportunity,” Michael said, adding, “I believe that people teach now because they love it. They are really trying to inspire. A lot of times, to make that communication really pop, to make that experience vibrant, they need a little bit more. I think our donations help in that regard.” “LSU has changed. It’s morphed into something more. LSU is increasing its acceptance standards and is more apt at retaining students, instead of letting them flounder. When I hear people say that their child is going to Yale or Harvard, I’m like, ‘Really? You are going to pay that much when they can get the same education in-state?’” Denise said. “The opportunities that LSU, specifically the Honors College, offers for the students here in Louisiana is amazing. They want you to be here. When you’re wanted, you get more out of the experience.” Now, Lela is completing her fourth year in the Veterinary Medicine Program at Oklahoma State University, and Maggie graduated from LSU in May 2016. Michael and Denise hope their gifts to the Ogden Honors College will help future students grow in the same way that Lela and Maggie grew at LSU. “Education is fundamental to existence,” Michael shared. “You are giving students an opportunity to expand their horizons and create a new self.” HONORS.LSU.EDU

They both believed that LSU was a party school. Once they got there, they realized that it’s what you make of it. It’s what you do. It’s who you choose to be around. DENISE DURCI

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S TA N D I N G T R E E S N E A R A F I S H I N G C A M P I N D U L AC , L A . , A R E K I L L E D BY S A LT WAT E R I N T R U S I O N .

Ogden Le ade rs h ip Fe l l o w M ade l yn S mi t h a n d College of E n gi n eer i n g j un i or Tr ent An d r us a r e t he creators o f Lo u is iana G o ne , a do cu me nt a r y p hot ogr a p hy p r oj ec t t ha t s how c a s es t he r es i d ent s of at-risk co as tal co mmu nitie s and aims t o b oos t p oli t i c a l s up p or t of c oa s t a l r es t or a t i on ef f or t s .

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LOUISIANA GONE

adelyn Smith, a sophomore in the LSU Roger Hadfield unless we have a huge monetary infusion of cash. And unless a lot of people work really hard, it’s not going to happen.” Ogden Honors College and the School of Renewable Madelyn brought on her friend, Trent Andrus, a Natural Resources within the College of Agriculture, has mechanical engineering junior also from Lafayette, as a lived in Louisiana her entire life. Yet it’s been only recently, camera technician, an advisor and a photographer. Smith through working on her documentary photography and Andrus modeled the project after the popular portrait project, Louisiana Gone, funded by the Ogden Leadership Fellowship, that she has come to appreciate the diversity of series Humans of New York. They chose to use black and white photography for an iconic, timeless feel and selected her home state. 120 medium-format film (70 mm wide) for higher quality. “I’m from Lafayette, and I didn’t realize until I came to Their interviews are typically with friends of friends and LSU that I am a city girl,” Smith shared. “Most of Louisiana, are usually followed by a meal of fresh local seafood. When both geographically and population-wise, is spread across complete, the project will feature Houma, Morgan City, Cut this super-productive, vibrant coastline. This project has Off, Leeville and Grand Isle. allowed me to meet people down there, Madelyn explained, “We chose gain a true understanding of the state Ms. Smith’s work our communities based on places that I live in and what the people here that are endangered but still have to say.” will stand the test of salvageable. We thought that that Smith, who is studying natural time to illustrate the would inspire people more so to resource ecology and management action. One of the problems is that with a concentration in wildlife habitat human and economic people in these rural communities conservation and management, became loss associated with generally have a deep-seated interested in the sociopolitical issues the erosion of so many distrust of government and do not of coastal erosion through the vote in such high numbers as people Louisiana Service and Leadership precious state and in urban areas. This is really Scholars Program, an Ogden Honors national resources along an attempt to bring those people’s program that aims to produce changevoices to the political seat of the affecting leaders for the state. A the Louisiana coast. state of Louisiana and to hopefully professor, Ogden Honors Associate ROGER OGDEN encourage people in urban areas to Dean Granger Babcock, encouraged vote for their representatives who her to apply for the fellowship. support coastal restoration platforms.” “The Louisiana coastline is a really tragic story in Ogden Honors Dean Jonathan Earle was on the the sense that there are all of these extremely dynamic committee that selected the Louisiana Gone proposal for communities, and the first reaction to problems dealing the fellowship. “Madelyn’s project was perfect for our with water is to build something, like levees or riverOgden Leaders award. Telling the story—the real story— control structures,” Smith, who believes river diversions of the people of Louisiana was an important part of Roger may be the best solution, said. “That’s a very Ogden’s gift, and Louisiana Gone does it well. It’s a real anthropocentric mentality … From a scientific perspective, testament to Roger’s generosity and the incredible talent of which I have gained in my studies here at LSU, we know the Honors College’s students,” he said. that saving these coastal communities is not possible Aside from her work on Louisiana Gone, Madelyn is also president of the LSU Sierra Student Coalition, a conservation group, and enjoys spending time outdoors. She is minoring in drawing and painting, which came in handy for Louisiana Gone. “This project has really given me the opportunity to find a union between my major and my minor, which a lot of people think have no relationship,” she explained. “I feel like this is a true example of how contributions by a private donor have enhanced that push toward interdisciplinary studies, which is the future of academia.” The Louisiana Gone gallery is showcased online at louisianagone.com and will be featured in a self-published book by January 2017. T R E N T A N D R U S A N D M A D E LY N S M I T H

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“ A L L I E G ATO R ,” T H E D O O R M A N AT T H E J O L LY I N N DA N C E H A L L I N H O U M A , L A . , A V I B R A N T, AT - R I S K C OA S TA L C O M M U N I T Y

T H E L A S T R E M A I N I N G C E M E T E RY I N L E E V I L L E , L A . , A N AT - R I S K C OA S TA L C O M M U N I T Y O U T S I D E O F T H E L E V E E D I S T R I C T S W I T H A P O P U L AT I O N O F 3 0 , I S C O M P L E T E LY PAV E D O V E R TO P R E V E N T I T F R O M S U B S I D I N G F U R T H E R .

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SECOND TIME’S A CHARM

D R . F R A N C E C Ó R D O VA ( C E N T E R ), D I R E C TO R O F T H E N AT I O N A L S C I E N C E F O U N DAT I O N , W I T H D R . J O S E P H G I A I M E A N D D R . G A B R I E L A G O N Z Á L E Z AT L I G O - L I V I N G S TO N

n December 26, 2015, less than three months after their first detection, LSU scientists again observed gravitational waves at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO, in Livingston, La. Those behind the historic achievement—four decades in the making—credit a strong vision, a lot of team work and a little faith, even in the absence of data. “We’re very proud, not just of the results, but of having worked together and showing that collaboration really pays off,” said Dr. Gabriela González, LSU professor of physics and astronomy and elected spokesperson of the international LIGO Scientific Collaboration. The first detection, on September 14, 2015, made international headlines, as it confirmed Einstein’s theory prediction that two black holes will eventually, after billions of years of orbiting each other, collide and form one massive black hole, emitting a burst of gravitational radiation, or a gravitational wave. The LIGO detection was made possible by an advancement in the sensitivity of the detector, which allowed for an expanded view into the universe. Originally, the LIGO team only had reliable predictions for detections of neutron star collisions, so detecting a gravitational wave from black holes was a bit of a surprise.

“The first detection was a very solid and very loud detection. But in the back of our minds, we were thinking, ‘We should see another one, we should see another one,’” said Dr. González. “And then in December, we did. That brought a lot of relief to us.” The second detection involved black holes that were 14 and eight times the mass of the sun, respectively, and combined 1.4 billion years ago to create a black hole that is 21 times the mass of the sun. The sizes of these black holes are smaller than those of the first detection, which gives insight to the range of sizes of gravitational waves. LIGOLivingston picked up the signals 1.1 milliseconds before LIGO-Hanford, which is helpful in determining the position of the source in the sky. “In the case of both observations, we were able to estimate the parameters of gravitational waves by looking at the wave form,” said Dr. Joseph Giaime, head of LIGO-Livingston and professor of Physics & Astronomy. “As time goes on, we’ll learn about the population of these objects, how they are distributed in space, how large the various progenitor black holes are, how fast they are spinning and how they are oriented in respect to one another.” The history of LIGO-Livingston spans back to 1970, with the arrival of Dr. William Hamilton to LSU. He and Dr. Warren Johnson built and operated an older generation

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This illustration shows the dates for two confirmed gravitational wave detections by LIGO, plus one candidate detection, which was too weak to unambiguously confirm. All three events occurred during the first four-month run of Advanced LIGO, the upgraded, more sensitive version of the facilities. The three events are GW150914 (Sept. 14, 2015), LVT151012 (Oct. 12, 2015) and GW151226 (Dec. 26, 2015).

of the gravitational wave detector in the basement of Nicholson Hall. Chancellor Emeritus Dr. James Wharton and a host of LSU faculty and administrators, politicians, attorneys and land owners dedicated two years to bringing the LIGO project to Louisiana and securing the Livingston site, which LSU owns, for the observatory. LSU is now the only research institution in the U.S. with a LIGO observatory close enough for daily use by students and faculty. “LSU and, by extension, the people of Louisiana, should be proud of themselves for having stuck it out this long,” said Dr. Giaime, referencing the 45 years between the beginning of LSU’s experimental gravitational wave research and the first gravitational wave observation. “The big payoff happened because we got in early and stuck it out. That’s not something you can do unless you are a patient person, or in this case, a patient university.” The LIGO Scientific Collaboration is an effort of more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and students in 15 countries. The LIGO Scientific Collaboration uses data from the twin gravitational wave detectors located in Livingston and Hanford, Wash., both of which are funded by the National Science Foundation through an agreement with Caltech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An additional detector, titled Virgo and located in Europe, will be added to the LIGO network. As of October 2016, the LIGO-Livingston team is working to increase the sensitivity of the detectors, in hopes of detecting more gravitational waves from black holes and neutron star inspirals. PHYS.LSU.EDU

TOP RIGHT LIGO-LIVINGSTON DETECTS GRAVITATIONAL WAVES BY COMPARING THE DISTANCES AMONG MIRRORS PLACED AT THE ENDS OF T WO 4-KILOMETER-LONG ARMS, WHICH ARE ARRANGED IN AN L-SHAPE. THE MEASUREMENT IS MADE WITH LASERS THAT TRAVEL INSIDE STEEL TUBES, PROTECTED BY LONG CONCRETE STRUCTURES, FROM WHICH THE AIR HAS BEEN EVACUATED. BOTTOM RIGHT THE LSU DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY’S CURRENT AND EMERITUS EXPERIMENTAL GRAVIT Y FACULT Y (LEFT TO RIGHT): DR. THOMAS CORBITT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR; DR. WILLIAM HAMILTON, PROFESSOR EMERITUS; DR. GABRIELA GONZÁLEZ, PROFESSOR AND SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LIGO SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION; DR. JOSEPH GIAIME, PROFESSOR AND OBSERVATORY HEAD, LIGO LIVINGSTON; AND DR. WARREN JOHNSON, PROFESSOR

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hrough a charitable gift by the Coypu Foundation of New Orleans, the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana will build badly needed flight cages to advance its care for sick and injured wild birds. The project, now in its preliminary architectural phase, will replace the nearly 40-year-old cages that are currently used. The Wildlife Hospital, a part of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, is the only facility in the state offering both veterinary care and rehabilitation for birds of prey and raptors. Every year, the Wildlife Hospital admits 1,000 birds, cared for by veterinary students under the supervision of faculty clinicians. Javier Nevarez, director of the Wildlife Hospital and associate professor of zoological medicine, said that flight trials are a critical component of bird rehabilitation and conservation. “Without the flight cages, we would have to shut down our raptor rehab program. We wouldn’t have any way to ensure that the birds can be properly released back into the wild,” Nevarez said, adding, “It’s also a teaching tool for our students here. Wildlife cases allow our students to have handson experience and learn critical skills in veterinary medicine.” Upon admittance, birds are given a physical exam. Bloodwork and X-rays are performed as needed to help determine the best course of action for treatment and rehabilitation. Once birds are stable, they are transferred to the flight cages to build up stamina for flight and hunting, increasing their chances of survival in the wild. Some birds not suitable for release but healthy enough to remain in captivity live at the Wildlife Hospital for educational opportunities. Students and faculty train these birds to remain still on a gloved arm and to keep calm in large crowds of people. “We do 25-30 presentations to schools and church groups about the importance of preserving wildlife each year. We want kids to make that connection with animals early on in order to decrease the number of birds that

are being injured or killed illegally,” Nevarez said. “We’ve seen a big impact from that. Ten years ago, every week we would get a hawk that was shot down. Now, we get four or five in the entire year.” Nevarez added that these outreach efforts prepare students for their careers. “Through giving these presentations, the students get the experience of being a part of the community, giving back to the community and interacting with the public,” Nevarez said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to have to do when they go out into clinics and practices.” The Wildlife Hospital’s current cages have been patched together and do not meet federal standards. Hurricane Gustav required a roof repair on the cages, resulting in a lower ceiling. The three new cages will be 20 feet tall, nearly twice as high as the current ones. A 100-foot long, L-shaped cage will allow the birds, particularly the eagles, to practice turning during flight, and a smooth siding material will ensure that the birds’ feathers stay intact. The Coypu Foundation, the name of which was taken from the Latin word for “nutria,” was founded in 1988 by John S. McIlhenny, a philanthropist, naturalist and descendent of the family that settled Avery Island. The Coypu Foundation trustees shared, “During his life, John McIlhenny provided significant support for LSU's natural science projects, especially those related to wildlife research and conservation, and the Coypu Foundation has continued that legacy since his death in 1997.” The Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana accepts more than 2,000 wild mammals, birds and reptiles annually. Many are brought in by “Good Samaritans,” who are not charged for admittance. The Wildlife Hospital relies on private funding to cover the costs of food, housing, procedures and treatments for sick and injured animals. WILDLIFE.LSU.EDU

CURRENT RESIDENTS OF THE W I L D L I F E H O S P I TA L O F LO U I S I A N A I N C L U D E T H E G R E AT H O R N E D O W L (OPPOSITE), BARRED OWL (LEFT) AND R E D - TA I L E D H AW K ( A B O V E ) .

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LISI OLIVER WORKS WITH A S T U D E N T O N A P R O J E C T TO I M P R O V E L I T E R AC Y E D U C AT I O N FOR DEAF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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A LITTLE OFFBEAT Lisi Oliver was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and grew up in Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C. She received her bachelor’s degree in theatre and speech from Smith College and, after working for the Opera Company of Boston, earned her PhD in linguistics at Harvard University. In 1996, she made a home of Baton Rouge and LSU, teaching medieval and comparative law and a range of linguistics and literature for the English department. A multi-published author and recipient of the Distinguished Researcher Master award, Lisi was respected by her colleagues and adored by her students. “You almost couldn’t turn her mind off,” Bim Oliver, one of Lisi’s brothers, remembered. “She was always trying to explore and learn. When I would visit her, I’d get up in the morning and she would already be awake, reading. That was how she started her day. That was true even as a child; she was always inquisitive. She became insatiable in her desire to learn about early English law and, more importantly, to teach and help other people understand its significance. She was always intent on learning, but I think as she got older and entered academia, she became more interested in sharing her learning with other people.” Lisi was a world-renowned scholar. She was the only woman—and one of two Americans—on the literary board of the Early English Laws project, a collaborative, international effort to publish new editions of all English legal codes, edicts and treatises produced before 1215. Outside of the academic realm, Lisi’s life was “equally rich,” and she built a family in her community. She was a super fan of the Lady Tigers basketball team, a bicyclist and Tour de France attendee, and a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus and the ukulele trio No Spring Chicks. She learned 16 languages and mothered three dogs, Sadie, Jasper and Pilot. Even with her long list of endeavors and

accolades, Bim said she is most remembered for her free spirit and her “quirky” sense of humor, which lifted up everyone in her company. “There was a spontaneity to what she did that in some ways always kept people a little off-guard, and that was a good thing. It kept everybody around her open to either what she was teaching them, or a joke she was making, or an opportunity to do something fun and interesting,” Bim shared. “I think learning to be a little offbeat, a little spontaneous, and certainly open, was a lesson she passed along to all of us.” Malcolm Richardson, associate dean of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences and J. F. Taylor Professor of English, called Lisi a “dear friend” who was a “truly irreplaceable” member of the LSU family: “Lisi loved students and never tired of bragging about their accomplishments or helping them fulfill their potential. No one ever taught more independent studies, some of them large enough to constitute a class. Her enthusiasm for learning and life was infectious. I remember one of our tutors in the Writing Center saying to another student, ‘I’m taking Dr. Oliver’s class this semester. Last semester she gave me a C, but she’s such a great teacher that I don’t care.’” In celebration of Lisi’s life and legacy, and her love for Baton Rouge and LSU, the Oliver family created the Lisi Oliver Fund for Excellence, an undergraduate scholarship endowment for the Department of English, the largest of its kind in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Lisi’s family hopes to see the fund grow over time through the support of others whose lives were impacted by her or who are inspired to continue her legacy of encouraging lifelong learning. LSU.EDU/HSS/ENGLISH

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THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Mildred “Virginia” Martin Howard’s interest in piano was sparked at a young age. Her parents hosted “musical evenings” at their home in Pineville, La., and she and her brother, Ellis, formed a keyboard and musical saw duet. What started as a youthful hobby turned into a lifetime of pursuing educational and performance opportunities. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from LSU and studied at Stephens College, the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, the Julliard School of Music and Louisiana College. A devout Christian, Howard was especially passionate about sacred music. “She had a strong faith. That was very important to her,” remembered her grandson, Joel Howard. “She believed in the pursuit of excellence and doing well with what you were gifted to glorify your creator and serve your fellow man.” Virginia served many roles throughout her musical career, including as an accompanist, an organist and a choir director at multiple churches and as a faculty member at Lees-McRae College and Louisiana College. She shared her love for music through philanthropy, supporting the arts at LSU, LSU Alexandria, the University of Michigan and Michigan Tech University. She gave to the Piatigorsky Foundation and the Moravian Music Foundation, and she created the Virginia Martin Howard Foundation in 1996 to sponsor concerts for rising musicians. “She felt called to give back,” Joel said. “She felt that God had richly blessed her through her family, her connections and her ability. She wanted to be generous and return that, to reflect His generosity. She also gained joy from leading and interacting with the people to whom she gave money

or time. She enjoyed the intellectual pursuit that comes with reading about different groups of people, getting to know them and supporting them.” Following Virginia’s passing, the Virginia Martin Howard Foundation, under the leadership of her son, Mark Eugene Howard II, Joel’s father, made a gift in her memory to the College of Music & Dramatic Arts to restore the School of Music Recital Hall and purchase new pianos for the School of Music. Willis Delony, Virginia Martin Howard Professor of Keyboard Studies and Professor of Jazz Studies, described the gift of quality instruments as “invaluable,” estimating that LSU’s practice room pianos are used 10-14 hours every day. Delony explained, “When students take a lesson, they’re playing on a nice instrument, and we work on things that make the instrument sound good. They need to be able to transfer that lesson somewhere. If they’re playing a bucket of sticks and strings that are stretched as far as they can go, it’s difficult. Now, the students can really experience what it is that they’re trying to do and transfer it to the stage one day.” Delony, an international classical/jazz crossover artist who has been a member of the School of Music faculty since 2000, said that patrons of the arts, like Virginia Martin Howard, are “vital” to sustaining the culture of the arts and society as a whole. “Much of Western music’s legacy started right here on the keyboard,” he said. “We have a great legacy to hold on to, but we also have a responsibility to make sure that it’s done right. Part of that is having good equipment.” MUSIC.LSU.EDU

ABOVE RIGHT WILLIS DELONY, VIRGINIA MARTIN HOWARD PROFESSOR OF KEYBOARD STUDIES AND PROFESSOR OF JAZZ STUDIES, PLAYS ONE OF THE PIANOS PURCHASED THROUGH THE GENEROSIT Y OF THE VIRGINIA MARTIN HOWARD FOUNDATION.

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THE GENERAL I N M E M O RY O F

CORNERSTONE

t. Gen. Syed Ali Zamin rounded out his impressive military career with 14 years on staff at LSU’s Middleton Library. He had begun his career in the British Royal Indian Air Force during WWII and, after migrating to Pakistan, became an officer in the Pakistan Army. After fighting successfully in two wars, he retired as a three-star lieutenant general and was appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador for four countries. Even with his impressive professional success, Zamin stayed grounded and maintained his compassionate nature. “My father was a very outgoing person, with an ability to connect and radiate warmth to all who came in contact with him,” daughter Zehra remembered. “When you reach the height of your career, as a general or an ambassador, people tend to be envious of you. But when he passed away, a friend remarked that Dad was one of the few people who had no enemies. That’s really saying something.” The family’s connection to Baton Rouge began when Lt. Gen. Zamin’s son, Mohammad, immigrated to the U.S. to pursue his master’s degree and began working for Exxon. His sisters, Fatima and Zehra, came to visit him and decided to pursue their own education at LSU, both earning master’s degrees in higher education and information science. When Mohammad’s first son was on the way, the first grandchild for Lt. Gen. Zamin and his wife, Saiyada, they made the trip to Baton Rouge. “Once the baby was born, they fell in love with him, and there was no going back,” Mohammad shared. Lt. Gen. Zamin missed his active social life in Pakistan, so he decided to get involved in the community. When a position opened up at Middleton Library for a stack supervisor on the fourth floor, he took it. Very quickly, Lt. Gen. Zamin incorporated his army experience to make sure his floor ran efficiently, and his personable nature helped him to connect with the faculty and students. Mohammad shared, “He made

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sure everyone did what they were supposed to do. He divided them up into teams, a blue team and a red team. He would start a competition, like how many books shelved or how many books returned. He gave them encouragement and advice and often treated them for their hard work with an outing for coffee with ‘the General,’ as they affectionately called him.” “On graduation day, time and again students would come to the library to say goodbye to the General. They told him, ‘You made a difference in my life here, and I just wanted to come and thank you,’” Fatima remembered. Jason Juneau, stack supervisor, said the General was a “combination of command and gentleness,” adding, “He gave us structure and expected results but was understanding of difficulty and was never harsh in treatment of others. He also set the example by doing the same work as the students. I have tried my best to emulate these qualities. He was a great boss who treated me as a friend. He was a spitand-polish product of the Pakistan army and yet loved to give my then 3-year-old daughter a ride on a book truck … I miss him very much.”

"While he deeply cared about his family, he also cared about the rest of humanity—a true sign of greatness,” Dr. Manzoor Abidi, a guest of the library, wrote in a condolence card to the Zamin family. “He fondly called his soldiers ‘his boys.’ His wider view of the world was demonstrated by the fact that the great general transformed himself into a popular librarian at LSU. He obviously left an indelible mark on the library.” “Men like General Zamin are so very few,” wrote the late Caroline Wire, a former employee of Middleton Library. “We are so thankful for the privilege of having known this remarkable man. He gave far more to us than we ever gave to him.” Following his passing, Saiyada, continuing her lifetime dedication to community service, decided to perpetuate the General’s legacy of helping others by establishing the General Syed Ali Zamin Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship aids an undergraduate student worker in the Middleton Library who shares the General’s pride in hard work and LSU. LIB.LSU.EDU

LT. G E N . S Y E D A L I Z A M I N , H I S W I F E , S A I YA DA , A N D T H E I R C H I L D R E N : FAT I M A , M O H A M M A D A N D Z E H R A

H E R E TO W I N

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT F. KING ALEXANDER At LSU, we’ve never been content to sit on the sidelines. We want to be a crucial part of the game. And when we play, we play to win. As part of the LSU Family, you know just how competitive we can be. And our ambitious streak doesn’t stop on the field. LSU Tigers want to be the best there is in everything we do—whether through earning national scholarships, proving Einstein’s theory of relativity, building #1-ranked programs, or simply maintaining a level of excellence in everyday life. That’s the way of the Tiger— and it’s why our graduates are so successful. In fact, our alumni earn higher-than-average beginning and mid-career salaries, and go on to run Fortune 500 companies, win Pulitzer Prizes, write Academy Award-winning musical scores and even land a rover on Mars. You’re a Tiger, and we know you’re here to win, too. Your commitment to LSU ensures that generations of future Tigers have the opportunity to take their talents to the next level and compete on a global scale. It allows us to hire and retain the world’s best faculty, who don’t just share their knowledge with our students, but who also build the state’s economy, improve healthcare, solve Louisiana’s grandest challenges and contribute to our understanding of the world around us. In fact, LSU’s economic impact on Louisiana alone was conservatively estimated to be $3.9 billion. And for every dollar the state provides our university in support, we generate $5 more. But those are just numbers, and they don’t capture the full impact our community creates. These numbers don’t show that we hosted every sixth-grader in East Baton Rouge Parish on campus for a day to start building the pathway to college earlier. They don’t demonstrate the thousands of hours our Tigers contributed to the flood recovery effort, nor the free healthcare our Health Sciences Centers provide to low-income and rural areas around Louisiana. And they definitely aren’t representative of the ripple effects these efforts have on individuals across our state. We know that it’s difficult to quantify our impact, and that’s ok. Because we’re not satisfied with the status quo—we aim for excellence at all times, for our students, our faculty, our staff and our state. Thank you for your role in fueling LSU’s competitive fire. With a community like ours, success is never far away, and our students benefit greatly from your continued dedication to the university. Sincerely,

F. King Alexander LSU President

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LSU researchers, programs and students excel over and above any Louisiana university, which is why we are the state’s flagship institution of higher education. LSU is ready, not only to play on an international scale academically … we’re here to win. Making Waves LSU researchers and graduate students working with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO, detectors, made the first and second detections of gravitational waves in history. These detections confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opened an unprecedented new window into the cosmos.

One to Grow On The LSU College of Art & Design’s Robert S. Reich School of Landscape Architecture’s undergraduate program was once again ranked #1 by DesignIntelligence, marking the seventh time in the last decade that the program has achieved the top spot. In addition to the undergraduate program, the graduate program ranked sixth this year in the same survey.

Par Excellence The Department of French Studies has a world-class faculty from all over the French-speaking world. Students take a broad range of courses from Cajun language, music and culture to French conversation, literatures, cinema and business. The Department of French Studies at LSU is recognized as one of the strongest French programs in the nation, and is one of the few programs designed as a Centre d’Excellence by the French government.

Worth a Tweet The LSU Museum of Natural Science has a jaw-dropping record of discovering 41-plus new species of birds. Our modern-day Charles Darwins have identified 11 species of fish and 27 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the world’s smallest vertebrate, a tiny frog from the jungles of New Guinea. L S U . E D U / H E R E TO W I N

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