Rock’n Roar instructors and students demonstrating various activities for high school participating in SE Literary Rally 
The Lion's Roar/Ian Fischer

A record breaking number of students from high schools in the Southeast Louisiana District attended the Southeast Louisiana District Literary Rally and Rock ‘n Roar Fest, competing for the chance to go to the state competition.

Almost 3,000 students were at the university on Saturday, Mar. 5. The Southeast Louisiana District Literary Rally is a competition held at the university, where high schools compete in various academic subjects by either taking a test or submitting work. Winners will move on the State Literary Rally in April and according to the Director of the Southeast Literary Rally Wendy Van Dalen, the record-breaking turnout was phenomenal. 

Artwork was one of the subjects students could have competed in on Saturday. One high school student, Ava Perego submitted an oil painted portrait of an African woman with traditional beads. Perego said it took her around three months to complete the project for the competition.

“I just hope that good artwork gets recognized and I think it’s fun just to put your stuff out there and see how it goes,” said Perego. 

According to Assistant Alumni Director Julie Perise, it was Rock ‘n Roar’s 20-year anniversary. Rock ‘n Roar is an event which coincides with the Literary Rally. While visiting high school students are at the university waiting for their tests, members from student and alumni organizations and academic faculty set up stands demonstrating who they are. Student organizations raised money by hosting different activities for students and selling food.

“This is one of those few times where all of these people come together for the good of the university,” said Perise. “And I think that’s really cool.”

According to Perise, the record-breaking turnout was likely due to the high schools getting more students to show up. 

Each academic department had an interactive display with activities for the visiting high school students. For example, the Department of Educational Training had students take selfies with historical props, the Department of Mathematics tangled people in a rope puzzle and the Department of Chemistry and Physics had a variety of experiments on display. 

Computer science professor Dr. Kouo-Pao Yang ran a stand demonstrating robotics to interested high school students. He demonstrated how Java was used for the sensors in both wired and wireless robots at his stand. He enjoyed presenting to the visiting students.

“I saw a lot of students who are interested in our robotics projects,” said Yang. 

Freshman orientation leaders took the opportunity to give visiting high school students tours of the campus. 

“It’s fun to try to recruit a little bit,” said freshman communication major and freshman orientation leader John Sartori. “All the kids were really great and really interested in it.”

According to the Literary Rally website, first place winners were awarded a $100 scholarship if they attend Southeastern for both fall and summer semesters. The high school competitors can win up to four scholarships.

Rock’n Roar instructors and students demonstrating various activities for high school participating in SE Literary Rally 
The Lion's Roar/Ian Fischer

Rock’n Roar instructors and students demonstrating various activities for high school participating in SE Literary Rally 
The Lion's Roar/Ian Fischer

Rock’n Roar instructors and students demonstrating various activities for high school participating in SE Literary Rally 
The Lion's Roar/Ian Fischer