Year after year, relatives search for the perfect gift for a graduating student. They want a gift that will show love but at the same time leave a lifetime impression. Project Friendship offers anyone to literally leave a lifetime impression on campus through a brick.
A brick may seem like a pointless and boring gift, but on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus, it will pave fresh pathways that cross Friendship Circle. Friendship Circle marks the center of Southeastern’s main campus and consists of a huge Oak tree. Friendship Oak is where many students gather to catch shade from the bright sun and a nap from long study nights.
Bricks in front of Fayard hall on Southeastern Louisiana University campus. Bricks similar will be layed on the walking path in Friendship Circle.
Project Friendship was started by former President Randy Moffett and his executive director of public and governmental affairs, Erin Moore Cowser, said Adrianne Roques, development coordinator of the Southeastern Development Foundation.
“Project Friendship was created to be a fund raiser that would provide an opportunity for alumni and friends of Southeastern to leave a lasting imprint in the historical heart of Southeastern’s campus,” Roques said.
Project Friendship bricks can be personalized with up to three lines of engraving and up to 16 characters per line, including spacing and punctuation marks for $100 per brick.
Some purchasers may choose to dedicate the brick to a deceased love one or use it to mark their time at Southeastern by including their name and graduation year.
Dave Busekist, a mathematics instructor at Southeastern, said he would purchase a brick. He stated he has been at Southeastern for 22 years and is enjoying his time there.
He also stated that there are some faculty members, who if were deceased, he would purchase a brick for in their memory.
Jasmine Amedee, a junior at Southeastern, feels the bricks are a good idea. However, at this time she is not interested in purchasing one. “Maybe during graduation time, it’ll be my mark on Southeastern,” Amedee said.
She also mentioned that if she, as a buyer, could write her signature in the brick or leave another type of personal mark, she would be more interested.
According to the Southeastern Website, “Proceeds from the purchase of bricks will be part of the Development Foundation’s Annual Fund, a key source of support for Southeastern’s academic programs.”
Entrance to Friendship Circle at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Roques says, “The Southeastern Annual Fund supports all academic programs at Southeastern. In particular, the Annual Fund:
– Strengthens the curriculum and outreach programs
– Provides access to the latest classroom technology
– Supports creative teaching methods
– Provides scholarships for deserving students
– Attracts and retains excellent faculty
– Maintains and enhances our campus
and
– Provides unrestricted dollars to address the most critical needs of the University.”
In addition to supporting the academic programs, a portion of the $100 contribution is tax deductible.
Brick installations are scheduled to occur twice a year. However, they will not begin to be placed in the sidewalk areas of Friendship Circle until the minimum order of at least 100 bricks is met.
A student studies at Friendship Circle on Southeastern's campus..
Project Friendship brick purchases can be made at https://www.selu.edu/alumni_donors/dev_foundation/project_friendship/purchase/index.html or mailed by printing and sending the form on the above website to Southeastern Development Foundation, SLU 10293, Hammond, Louisiana, 70402.
Breathe In Letters, Exhale Words 