Last weekend, high school students from all over the state were able to experience all that Southeastern has to offer.
The Rock N’ Roar literary rally was held on Saturday, March 23 in the War Memorial Student Union Park.
The rally gave high school students the chance to compete in their best subjects, as well as enjoy games, booths and presentations provided by various departments and organizations on campus. These activities were organized as means to promote Southeastern as an option to high school students who are exploring different universities.  
Different organizations and departments worked to build a lasting impression on high school students by selling treats, face painting and providing a space walk, among other activities.
The high school students participating in literary rally were just as helpful to the nursing department as the nursing department was for them. Nursing students contributed to their clinical hours by educating the students on the effects of alcohol through drunk goggles which made it difficult for the students to do simple task such as walking a straight line.
“These are senior level nursing students doing their pediatric clinical,” said Laurie Kinchen, doctor of nursing. “We’re reaching out to the adolescents that are here today with the literary rally, and we’re teaching them about alcohol avoidance, the effects of alcohol use and intoxication.”
Graduate students from the department of communication sciences and disorders provided free hearing screenings for students. This has not only helped students become aware of hearing problems that they may have, but it also contributes to the students’ graduation requirements.
“Part of our graduation requirements for our master’s program is that we have to have X number of clinic hours, and we have to have ten hours of direct contact with hearing, so this contributes towards that,” said Katie Gristina, a graduate student majoring in communication sciences and disorders.
Not all graduate students were present for degree requirements. Those from the science department, such a James Stewart, a graduate student majoring in biological sciences, put on several displays for the high school students to enjoy.
Stewart held a bearded dragon named Grant for students to interact with and learn about. Other biology graduate students also had snakes and turtles for educational purposes.
“Today, we’re just coming out and showing some of the interesting aspects of biology whether it’s plant anatomy, reptile diversity or microscopes,” said Stewart. We’re just doing this for fun. We just enjoy doing this.”
The chemistry and physics departments also had various displays, including the Tesla coil.   
“We’re trying to recruit students to get them interested in chemistry and physics, and hopefully in Southeastern,” said Dr. Don Elbers, professor of chemistry. “The Tesla coil produces a high voltage at a very low current, so it’s not lethal. It’ll just tickle you a little bit. We’re lighting a fluorescent light bulb with it so the current goes through the bulb and then through your body and back to the ground.”
Overall, the Rock N’ Roar literary rally seemed to leave a good impression on high school students.
“It’s great,” said Ryan Armstrong, a high school student from Mrs. Stacey Riddle’s 11th grade American history class. “It’s good to come out and see all these people and compete in a subject that I like to do.”