On January 6, 1925, Linus Sims sat at his kitchen breakfast table in Hammond mulling over an idea. There was a stirring of fervor in the area to create a local junior college—to find a way for the region’s children, many of whom could not afford to move away for school, to continue their education and achieve a better future. With unstoppable determination and commitment to the community, he made it his mission to bring this dream to life.

After countless hours of planning, political battles, recruiting, and doubtlessly missed sleep, history was set. On September 14, Southeastern opened its doors. Sims, alongside five faculty members, forty students, and supporters, had helped usher in a new era of deeply woven impact across the entire region and in the lives of future generations.

The university has come a long way since those first days, and as Southeastern’s 100th year unfolds, so do the stories of the people and milestones that made it what it is today. Southeastern has overcome strong adversity over the past ten decades to cement itself as a cornerstone of Louisiana education, and it only continues to grow from here. The past 100 years saw continuous growth in both campus size and student body, with new programs being added and more buildings being introduced to give students the best education possible.

This documentary goes into the details as to what makes this university what it is, along with the profound impact it has had on the people, culture and economy of the region. From its current faculty and students to those who came before, the Southeastern family has served as a pinnacle of excellence in college education for Northshore Louisiana residents and beyond. You’ll hear stories from every aspect of campus, from our current students to some of our oldest alumni as we glance back on a century of impact and prepare to continue towards a future of promise.

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