A distinguished Southeastern alumnus was honored as “the best of Southeastern” on Friday, Nov. 4 as the Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association introduced its recipient for the 2011 Alumnus of the Year, U.S. Navy Commander Stan Fornea.

Approximately 350 people were present as Fornea and three other alumni were specially recognized at the annual event held on campus at the Twelve Oaks reception hall.

Fornea, who received a bachelor’s degree in history and social studies from Southeastern in 1979, was recognized by the Alumni Association with its most prestigious award as Fornea was a graduate who excelled in his field after graduation and continues to be supportive and active in Southeastern’s future.

After graduation, Fornea continued his educational career by pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology degree from Duke University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University. After 12 years of parish ministry work, where he became an ordained minister in the Episcopal Church of the United States, he began his military career after being commissioned as a navy lieutenant in 1996. Over the course of his military career, Fornea has been stationed in areas such as London, Italy and served as the Deputy Command Chaplain for Multi-National Forces at Camp Liberty and the International Zone in Baghdad, Iraq. Over time, Fornea has accumulated various military awards, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

According to Fornea, being awarded Alumnus of the Year had afforded him the opportunity for personal reflection and some self-discovery. For Fornea, it was Southeastern that instilled his love of learning, and where his education shaped and broadened him and reinforced the philosophical ideal that life is a journey. Though his faith and military experience influenced him further, Fornea implored that universities must never underestimate their potential to open a young student’s mind to explore and feel the broader world around them to hopefully shape a global impact of good through service.

“We’re not merely observers watching the world go by,” said Fornea. “We do have at least a little bit to do with how this world turns out.”

During his acceptance speech, Fornea shared the story of the Four Chaplains: Methodist minister Reverend George L. Fox, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Roman Catholic priest Reverend John P. Washington and Reformed Church in America minister Reverend Clark V. Poling. They were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship U.S. Army Transport Dorchester during World War II. They helped others board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when supplies ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.

“That is the story that every clergy person buys into when we choose to serve in the military as a chaplain; their story has become our story,” said Fornea, who believes that faith lived out in service and sacrifice has the power to build bridges.

Currently, Fornea resides with his wife Belinda and their two children in Washington D.C. where he serves as the White House chaplain for President Barack Obama. Fornea is the first chaplain ever to be assigned to the White House Military Office. He also served under former President George W. Bush as the command chaplain at the Presidential retreat Camp David. In Bush’s autobiography “Decision Points,” Fornea was described as one of the best preachers the former president had ever heard and Fornea’s optimism and sense of hope lifted Bush’s spirits during the Iraq War.

“More than once I have seen President Bush shed tears in the recognition of the enormity of sacrifice paid by those serving in our nation,” said Fornea. “I have witnessed President Obama take full days just to walk the halls of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to thank those who have been wounded and to bow down to place on their chests purple hearts in acknowledgement of their most grievous wounds. And I salute all of them.”

Along with Fornea, the Alumni Association also paid tribute to other alumni, including Randi Rousseau as the Young Alumnus of the Year, Billy Ladner with the Distinguished Service Award and Charles Dykes with the L.E. Chandler Award.