In honor of its 100th anniversary, Southeastern Louisiana University achieved its 100-million-dollar campaign milestone. Kace Kieschnick reports
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The national champions are home. Andrew Greenstein is outside Alex Box Stadium, where LSU fans gave the College World Series champions a heroes’ welcome.
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A new law will create a TOPS Excellence Award for students who score a 31 or higher on the ACT and have a 3.5 GPA. Colleen Crain has more.
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Southeastern Louisiana University reached its 100-million-dollar goal for its “Get There Together” fundraising campaign, celebrating 100 years of SLU. The university’s biggest fundraising campaign to date, university President Dr. William Wainwright says funds will go towards supporting scholarships and professorships.
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The campaign is led by Honorary Chair and ABC Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts. Dr. Wainwright says the former Lion will return to Hammond in October for the ribbon cutting of the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center.
Cut 5 (10) “…transformational investment.”
The initiative will continue to raise money throughout Southeastern’s centennial year. Dr. Wainwright says he’s proud of the continued growth of the university and hopes the current momentum can ensure a strong future. He invites everyone, not just alumni, to join the 100-year celebrations.
Cut 6 (10) “…our beloved Southeastern.”
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LSU fans give their team a heroes’ welcome after returning home after winning the College World Series. A few hundred braved the scorching heat outside Alex Box Stadium to welcome the team back from Omaha, including this man.
Cut 7 (05) “…was pretty cool.”
Fans both young and old came together to greet the team as they got off the buses.
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Head Coach Jay Johnson says winning the second title in four years was just as good as winning the first one, and he’s very proud of his players.
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There will be a championship celebration at Alex Box Stadium tomorrow night at seven.
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Drivers are starting to see the effects of the conflict in the Middle East at the gas pumps. But will it last long? Dr. Greg Upton, the executive director of the Center for Energy Studies at LSU, says what’s interesting to consider is that the price of crude actually dropped seven percent after Iran retaliated on U.S. military bases.
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Dr. Upton says interestingly, the Middle East crisis should not have much of a long-term impact on the oil market.
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Upton says the longer term trend will be on where companies will decide where to deploy their long-term capital to provide products derived from oil.
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A new law will adjust Louisiana’s TOPS scholarship program to provide a new “Excellence” award for the state’s top-scoring high schoolers. Ruston Representative Christopher Turner says his bill creates a new distinction for students with over a 3.5 GPA and a 31 ACT score.
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Students who qualify can receive up to 12-thousand dollars to cover tuition at any Louisiana university. Turner says this may not be the end for changes to the program. He says TOPS is an investment in the state’s best and brightest students, and like any investment, Turner hopes to see a return.
Cut 14 (10) “…state on that.”
Students currently receiving TOPS will not be eligible for the new award. Turner says his original idea was to level off TOPS and allow scholarship money to follow the student, but university discrepancies and opposition changed plans before the bill found support in the legislature.
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Another season, another title for LSU baseball. Bill Franques is the longtime public address announcer at Alex Box Stadium and has been with the program for all eight of its national championships. He says the 2025 team is a special one.
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Franques says what really made the difference for the Tigers this season was their defense.
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And while LSU certainly had the most dominant pitching rotation, bolstered by their top two starters Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, they all had a secret weapon in front of them.
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Franques was on the field in Omaha during the title celebration and says this one was extra special.
Cut 19 (13) “…ever has been.”