The Rock N’ Roar Literary Rally filled the Student Union with eager community members, high school students, Southeastern students and staff ready to promote academic excellence and show high school students what Southeastern has to offer.
The literary rally took place on Saturday, Feb. 22 and was the first event to take place in the new Student Union. The rally is for testing high school students who represent their schools in subjects of their specialty.
“The state literary rally is broken into divisions,” said Kathy Pittman, director of the Alumni Association. “They take high school students, and each school is allowed to send so many to represent their school. They have a very upscale test, and they send the students. They take a test and they win awards in different categories. It’s kind of an honor for their schools and the students that participate.”
After taking the test, the high school students joined community members and Southeastern students in experiencing what Southeastern has to offer. During the event, Southeastern was able to show both its academic and social sides.
“The rally is the state literary rally, and it shows that we have the best of the best that are taking the test,” said Pittman. “This is also an opportunity for us to show what Southeastern has to offer and to try to get students here. All of the departments are here, and they are showing the students what we have to offer and letting them ask questions for those who are unsure what they want their major to be.”
One of the main goals of the event is to expose future college applicants to the college experience and career path options.
“The purpose is for us to be able to show these students that this is the kind of school that they would want to come to. It’s a recruitment event,” said Pittman. “The rally is already happening, and this is our part to show them these are our majors. If you have questions you want to ask, Southeastern is known for their teachers to be personal, and if they want to interact, then that’s what they are doing today. Most schools don’t do this. Usually, they go to the rally, then they go home. This is an additional part.”
The academic departments each set up a table area, decorated with poster boards and other props, representing what their department and its resources. This made it easy for the high school students to interact with the faculty members and students within the department.
“I like how they are setting up this year; it’s much different than it has been the last few years. They have more activities and various things like that,” said Katie Boudreaux, a junior from Pine High School.
In addition to serving as a recruiting event, student organizations were also able to host fundraising events and sold items ranging from meals to snacks such as funnel cakes  jambalaya.
“It’s a good way to show the students that we have all these organizations. And, if they do come to Southeastern, then they have the opportunity to get more involved. It’s two-fold: money is one and exposure is the other,” said Pittman.
Activities targeting the younger students were offered including concentration in baseball, dance and art. Participation ranged between 250 to 300 students and allowed them the opportunity to interact with current student leaders and athletes.