FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAINBOW ALLIANCE RECEIVES AWARD GRANT FROM ACPA

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., May 3, 2002 -- Southeast's Rainbow Alliance student organization has been awarded a Student Programming in Excellence Award and a $500 programming grant from the Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Awareness of the American College Personnel Association of Higher Education (ACPA).

The Rainbow Alliance was nominated for the National Coming Out Day program held in October on the Southeast campus. The program included educational panels and programs, and activities designed to increase awareness of the coming out process.

The purpose of the LGBT Student Programming in Excellence Award is to recognize outstanding programming efforts coordinated by students on their respective campuses or communities, to encourage the continuation of program development on LGBT issues, and to advance the national dissemination of knowledge and ideas.

The Rainbow Alliance was formed in the fall 2001 semester and is advised by Art Matthews, coordinator of academic advising for the School of University Studies. The group membership is open to all students.