A new academic year has officially begun after the conclusion of the 2013 fall Convocation, where dozens of awards were bestowed to faculty and staff and words of encouragement were spoken.

The annual ceremony was held on Aug 16 at 10:30 a.m. in The Columbia Theatre for the performing arts. The ceremony began with introductions of special guests and the recognition of new faculty and staff. Faculty tenure and promotions, awarded to 29 faculty members, were also recognized.

Part of every Convocation, the university recognizes faculty and staff that have served 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. However, history was made this year when the administration honored maintenance worker Thomas W. Hogan, who has served Southeastern Louisiana University for 50 years.

“Southeastern has been very good to me and to my family,” said Hogan. “I have two daughters that graduated from Southeastern; I love Southeastern. Southeastern has always been like a family. I know everybody at the university, but it has grown so much in the last 10 or 12 years; it’s hard to keep up with everyone now.”

One faculty member who was recognized for 35 years, Dr. Richard Louth, has not served as long as Hogan but possesses the same passion for his work.

“You keep on working and you love what you do,” said Louth, a professor of English and director of the Southeastern Writing Project. “If you don’t, I don’t think it’s possible to do it as long as I have. I love teaching creative writing; there’s a joy in that. Also, I think that working with young people allows you to stay a little younger. I think a lot of energy comes from working with my students and teaching what I like. I have a good family too, that’s important.”

After the Service Awards, recipients of the President’s Excellence Award were named. They are David Wyld, Excellence in Teaching; Jackie Guendozi, Excellence in Research; Alissa Mercurio Rowe, Excellence in Artistic Activity; Joseph burns, Excellence in Service (faculty) and Marcus McMillian, Excellence in Service (unclassified staff).

Professor Emeritus is the highest title an educator can receive. While four individuals received the title this year, former Southeastern and University of Louisiana System president Randy Moffet raised the bar by being named both Professor and President Emeritus. The title of President Emeritus has been awarded in the past, but the Louisiana Board of Supervisors must approve the candidate. Moffet left the university in 2008 to represent Southeastern and other universities in Baton Rouge for four years until retiring in 2012.  After over 40 years working in the field of higher education Moffet says he’s looking forward to some relative quiet time.

“I’m really enjoying retirement; I can spend more time with grandkids and I’m doing a little bit more fishing and golf,” said Moffet. “I’m just pleased and honored; I never expected something this exciting would happen to me. It’s a great university and I’m pleased that I’ve had time here; hopefully I contributed something along the way.”

The ceremony concluded with a speech from President John L. Crain, who was introduced with a speech by Dr. James Kirylo that discussed Southeastern’s budget challenges.

“Certainly, we will come out of these difficult day unless more of us rise up from our silent slumber,” said Kirylo. “There’s an elephant in this room, a big one; that elephant is that we have a crisis. We have a leadership crisis in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While we are starving higher education, other states are reinvesting in higher education.”

Crain’s own speech was more relaxed, but encouraged everyone to find positive opportunity in the hard times ahead. As an example, Crain referenced the recent turn-around of the United State’s automobile industry to show that opportunity can be found in a crisis.

“During the recession the three biggest companies, GM, Ford and Chrysler, were brought to their knees,” said Crain. “Today, all three are not only prospering but arguably producing the best vehicles in their histories. Even during the most difficult parts of the recession, all three continued to design and launch new models in order to be responsive to their audience; they would have failed otherwise.”

Crain concluded that the drive to seek these opportunities is rotted within the desire to serve the student body, which is why the university exists at all.

For me, the choice to become a faculty member many year’s ago, was because of the students,” he said. “Then, as today, I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction when I see the transformation students go through when they enter and leave the university; I’m willing to be you feel the same way. So despite what the pundits or the press may see, I believe our best opportunities for success remain firmly linked to our ongoing efforts to be responsive to the needs of our students; current and future.”