Supporters of the University of Louisiana at Monroe received special recognition during Thursday night's Evening of Honor in the Student Union Building ballroom. ULM supporters, which included several community leaders and alumni, helped make 2006 a record-breaking year for private donations.

ULM enjoyed a significant increase in private giving in 2005, and an additional increase of 21 percent in private giving in 2006. Additionally, the total number of donors increased 13 percent from 2005 to 2006.

Don Skelton, vice president for University Advancement and External Affairs, expressed his sincere appreciation for ULM’s avid supporters. "There is no greater support than a person who stands behind a university in its time of need. That creates emotion in me and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Skelton said.

ULM hosts the annual event to honor University Associates, which includes donors who support the university annually with gifts of $1,000 and more. The event also recognizes students who received private endowed or annual scholarships.

The following ULM students were honored:

- Senior Rob Carroll, 24, a political science major from Pittsburgh, Penn., serves as the SGA president, and is a former Mortar Board Honor Society president. Carroll, who will graduate with a B.B.A. in May, is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, ULM Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Basketball Pep Band. Carroll, who plans to pursue a graduate Ph.D. in political science, received the Franky Russell Endowed Memorial Jazz Ensemble Scholarship and the Nick Lassiter Endowed Memorial Scholarship.

- Senior Emily Rowland, 24, a construction management major from Shreveport, will intern with Mario Sinacola and Sons Excavating, Inc., in Frisco Texas, where she hopes to work upon graduation in December. She attended Louisiana Tech for four years before transferring to ULM during her senior year. Rowland, a carpenter with the Louisiana National Guard, aided in Hurricane Katrina clean-up. She is the recipient of the Homebuilders Association of Northeast Louisiana Endowed Scholarship.

- Junior Persephone Alexander, 20, a criminal justice major from Shreveport, works part-time for the Ouachita Parish District Attorney's office. Alexander, a member of ULM's 31 Ambasso received the "Outstanding Student Leader of the Year" at the Association of Student Advancement Programs district conference in Dallas. She is a member of CAB, NAACP and BCM. Alexander, who will graduate with a B.B.A. in May 2008, plans to attend law school and become a prosecutor. She is the recipient of the Mike Kees State Trooper Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the West Monroe Police Reserves Criminal Justice Annual Scholarship.