Herget students in Ann Martin’s and Erica Zimmer’s English 1002 classes helped raise awareness about poverty at a campus conference called  “Solutions to Poverty.”

The conference, which was part of a statewide initiative sponsored by the Governor’s office, required students to research state issues complicated by poverty and present their findings to an audience of student government officials from across Louisiana.  The students’ research was written up into policy proposal memos and presented to the Governor’s office.

“The conference gave us an opportunity to take on a leadership role, to participate in discussions about possible solutions,” one student said.

 “Our students worked hard and should be congratulated for all their effort,” Erica said.

Herget students Ryan Yoho, Laura Grobusky, and Laura Kemp
put finishing touches on their group's
Solutions to Poverty Conference presentation. 

In fall 2008 Herget students helped kids at Melrose Elementary School as part of Service-Learning for their English 1001 class. They share the following observations about their time at Melrose:

Morgan Broussard (on changing roles): “In between our visits to Melrose I am a student at LSU expected to know the derivative of a function and how the process of photosynthesis works.  While at Melrose I am a teacher expected to know how to sound out words like tobogganing.”

  Sarah Elisar: “It also surprises me that I don’t really look at this as an assignment anymore; I now look at it as more of an opportunity.”

     Jonathan Bonck: “Melrose has truly become my place of mental therapy. There is nothing like seeing a child be happy.”

Rachelle Deshotels: “Spending time with Darius . . . has not changed my life but has added to it.”