Support a Scholarship

A scholarship provides the opportunity to change the lives of students who might otherwise not have the financial resources to attend college.

Creating a scholarship is a special way to honor or remember someone, or to celebrate a significant event. Establishing a scholarship not only supports a student in need of financial assistance, but also provides an opportunity to commemorate what is important in a donor’s life.

“Our students face a variety of challenges,” said Dr. Paul Sisson, Dean of the College of Sciences. “Some of them try to work full-time and succeed as full-time students as well, but end up hurting themselves academically because they can’t commit the necessary hours to their studies. In the worst cases, they drop out of school in order to meet the short-term goal of making a living.”

M’Lise Westmoreland, a spring 2005 graduate and recipient of the Computer Science Engineering and Math Scholarship, credits LSUS with changing her life. She originally enrolled in another Louisiana public college but felt lost. “There was no one-on-one contact. I had virtually no relationships with my professors,” she said.

“The faculty are completely different in the LSUS Math Department. My professors actually cared about me and my progress. I became part of a family.” When asked whether or not she thinks she can compete in her field, M’Lise enthusiastically responded, “Oh, absolutely! My degree from LSUS can certainly stand up next to others. Plus, I am much more confident. I have been changed by LSUS.”

Tailoring Your Gift

Donors may assist in drafting the criteria for a scholarship and tailor the scholarship to suit their personal interests and passions. Scholarships provide incentives to attract the brightest high school students, reward students for academic success while attending LSUS and help students with special needs.

Donors may choose to create an annual scholarship or a permanent scholarship endowment. Annual scholarships are funded each year by the donor and are renewed at their discretion. Many donors find it convenient to establish these types of scholarships because they do not require a large initial gift.

Endowed scholarships are an investment in deserving students’ futures that exist forever. A minimum contribution of $10,000 perpetually funds an endowed scholarship. The LSUS Foundation invests the funds and a portion of the interest earned is awarded to qualified students, thus assuring that the principal of the endowment continues to grow.

Regardless of the type of scholarship established, it is ultimately the donors who receive the greatest gifts - the knowledge that their support has had a lifelong impact on students.