Editorial appointees named for The Tech Talk - dtucker

New Tech Talk editorial appointees include, from left, senior Rhiannon Weber of Prairieville, news editor; junior Judith McDaniel of Oak Grove, news editor; senior Michelle Hudgens of Pineville, associate editor; junior Jennifer Reynolds of Shreveport, senior news editor; senior Heidi Hausmann of Opelousas, editor; junior Amber Miles of Dallas, associate managing editor; and senior Jennifer Watson of Shreveport, managing editor.

With the announcement of winter quarter editorial appointments for The Tech Talk, Louisiana Tech graduating senior Nicole Broussard has handed off her two-term editor’s role to senior Heidi Hausmann, 21, of Opelousas.

Broussard, 21, of Mandeville, is interning with KNOE-TV in Monroe during her last quarter after spending much of her Tech career working for the student newspaper in leadership capacities. She previously served as staff writer, news editor, associate managing editor and associate editor.

Broussard is a recipient of the Press Club of New Orleans 2002 Scholarship and the 2003 Jim Leslie Memorial Scholarship. Formerly a Tech TV anchor, she has also been included in the 2004 Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

She said she is leaving the student paper in highly capable hands.

“Heidi’s great,” she said. “We moved up the ranks together, and she was always so much help to me, especially on grammar matters. Everyone can look forward to some great papers this quarter with her there.”

Broussard said she takes with her an improved ability to connect with others. “Working for The Tech Talk really teaches you how to open up to people,” she said. “I learned to go from talking to John Doe in the Student Center to Dr. (President Dan) Reneau 30 minutes later.”

Hausmann said she would strive to maintain Broussard’s standards. “When people move into new jobs they say, ‘Oh, I am going to do this and this better,’ but things have been so good I just want to keep it up to the level at which Nicole had us performing.”

She said she learned a lot about keeping things in perspective from watching Broussard react to difficulties.

“She was always so collected and calm,” Hausmann said. “We would be freaking out, and Nicole would have such a good, common-sense solution to the problem. That will help me remember that people will be looking to me on how to act.”

Hausmannn sees The Tech Talk’s role as a critical campus service. “Without The Tech Talk, a lot of times people don’t know what’s going on outside their major,” she said. “While we’re learning about our own major, we’re helping to keep other students informed.”

Hausmann is a recipient of the Press Club of New Orleans 2003 Scholarship; Louisiana Press Association 2002 Better Student Newspaper Competition - first place, best column; Society of Professional Journalism – second place, spot reporting, March 2003; Southeast Journalism Conference – one of the Ten Best Opinion/Editorial Writers in the South award, (two others were also from Tech); and the 2003 Kerry Garland Memorial Scholarship from the Shreveport Journalism Foundation.

Hausmann previously served the paper as staff writer, contributing editor, associate managing editor, managing editor and associate editor.

In other staff appointments:

Associate editor is senior Michelle Hudgens, 21, of Pineville; managing editor is senior Jennifer Watson, 21, of Shreveport; associate managing editor is junior Amber Miles, 20, of Dallas; and news editors are junior Judith McDaniel, 20, of Oak Grove; junior Jennifer Reynolds, 20, of Shreveport; and senior Rhiannon Weber, 22, of Prairieville.

Sports editor is junior Josh Milton, 20, of Dubach, and associate sports editor is senior Bret McCormick, 21, of Ruston.

Chief photographer is junior Melissa Humble, 20, of Harrisonburg; online editor is senior Pete Thompson, 21, of West Monroe; and graphics editor is sophomore John Adams, 19, of Pineville.

Advertising manager is senior Mavy Foreman, 20, of Dry Creek.

Senior Hillary Edman, 21, of Shreveport has been given the key assignment of covering the Student Government Association.

Cited for excellence in reporting were junior Raymond Adeeko, 18, of Lagos, Nigeria; senior Tilisha Alexander, 25, of Shreveport, and junior Anna Holton, 23, of Jonesboro.

The assisting faculty and staff include Wiley W. Hilburn Jr., journalism professor and department chairman; Sallie Rose Hollis, Tech Talk adviser and associate professor of journalism; Dr. Eddie Blick, advertising adviser and associate professor of journalism; Rita Pepper, production manager; and Mary Brown, ad production manager.