This article is brought to you by LSU Eunice.
When Mackenzie Myers decided to stay in her hometown to pursue a nursing degree at LSU Eunice, one of her first priorities was figuring out the financial aspect. Myers qualified for a TOPS award from the state, which covered a portion of her tuition. But, she knew her education would require clinical hours, which would make it challenging to hold down a full-time job to help cover other academic expenses.
Fortunately, LSUE has numerous scholarship opportunities for students each semester. Myers received a scholarship for becoming a Bengal Ambassador in exchange for helping host campus tours and orientation events. She also received a Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship, which is available to LSUE students in allied health programs.
“I don’t think I would be where I am without those scholarships,” said Myers, who will graduate in May. “It’s been awesome to have the help, especially in nursing. I don’t think I would have been able to put in the hours and focus on earning my degree if I had to work somewhere else and always worry about how to pay tuition.”
LSUE has thousands of dollars in financial aid available every year thanks to funding from private donors, businesses and organizations. Some, such as Board of Supervisors Scholarships, Centennial Honor Awards and Merit Honor Awards, can be awarded to LSUE students who meet academic requirements, no matter their course of study. Others, particularly ones funded by individuals or groups, are earmarked for students who are pursuing specific majors, such as business, English, surgical technology, education and more.
LSUE has been able to steadily increase the amount of scholarship money provided to students over the last few years. In 2021-2022, a total of $284,000 in scholarships was awarded. That number rose to $289,450 in 2022-2023, and reached $300,200 in 2023-2024.
“Many donors like to give back in an area in which they studied or have a personal affiliation,” said Carey Lawson, executive director of the LSUE Foundation. “There is one couple whose friend was a single mother who pursued a nursing degree later in life. They were motivated by seeing her change the trajectory of her life by going back to school, and now they fund annual scholarships in nursing. We also have a family that has set up an award for a student who starts at LSUE and plans to major in engineering at LSU. The student is able to take the award with them as they transfer. For every major that we have, there is likely a scholarship available.”
In addition, numerous LSUE scholarships are designed to be awarded to students from certain local parishes or communities.
“We are in a very rural area, so every dollar matters,” said Chad Jones, LSUE Director of Recruitment. “The students are always so grateful and appreciative. I spoke with a student recently in our radiologic technology program. He is a talented athlete and even earned a tryout with the LSU football team. But, he is most proud that he earned an academic scholarship at LSUE. Those awards that show a student has been academically successful and can continue their education often mean more to them than anything else they’ve done in life so far.”
Lawson said that once a student earns an LSUE scholarship, they generally are able to keep receiving those funds as long as they continue to meet the academic requirements.
“With our tuition being so affordable, the scholarships go a long way toward helping students succeed,” she said. “If a student receives TOPS, these additional scholarships can help cover books and other expenses. Some of our scholarships are a few hundred dollars a semester, and while we would like to increase those amounts, it still does help students bridge those gaps between TOPS funding and their remaining costs.”
Jones said he urges families to start thinking about scholarship opportunities as early as eighth grade so that they can academically prepare themselves in high school by taking appropriate courses and standardized tests, as well as choose a career pathway that may open up other scholarship opportunities. In addition, Jones said families should explore other forms of financial aid, including loans, grants and work study programs.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from families is that they think scholarships and grants are the same thing,” he said. “I’ve seen students who want to apply for a scholarship, but they’ve never taken the ACT or their grades are not great. That’s when I start talking to them about the different financial aid options that are available and try to find something that works for them.”
Visit https://lsue.edu/financialaid/ to learn more about LSUE scholarship opportunities and other financial aid options.
Email Amanda McElfresh at amcelfresh@theadvocate.com
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