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Published January 31, 2018

With a check for $15,000 to help provide scholarships for 20 University of Louisiana Monroe students are, from left, Susan Chappell, Executive Director of the ULM Foundation; President Nick J. Bruno; Emily Smith, Director of External Relations for the Community Foundation of North Louisiana; Dean Ron Berry, College of Business and Social Sciences; Dr. Patti Calk, Associate Director of the School of Health Professions; Dr. David Irwin, Director of The Autism Center at ULM; and Dr. Ed Brayton, Director of the School of Construction Management. The funds are from the Annie Lowe Stiles Fund of The Community Foundation of North Louisiana. Emerald McIntyre/ULM Photo Services

Twenty students at the University of Louisiana Monroe will be assisted with scholarships thanks to $15,000 provided by the Annie Lowe Stiles Fund of The Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

The announcement was made at a ULM Foundation press conference Tuesday.

The Community Foundation is providing a matching grant of $10,000 to the School of Construction Management for a total of $20,000 to create 10, $2,000-scholarships. A $5,000 matching grant will go to The Autism Center at ULM to make available 10, $1,000-scholarships. 

In presenting the scholarship grants, Emily Smith, Director of External Relations for the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, said, “On behalf of the Community Foundation of Northern Louisiana, we are proud to partner with the ULM Foundation to make an impact with student scholarships. Our donors give with the confidence that they will make an impact in the lives of children, the elderly, and collegiate students. This year marks the second year in a row we have been able to give this donation, and we are excited that its impact will be felt for many years to come.”

In a statement released earlier, Susan Chappell, Executive Director of the Foundation, said, “Scholarship grants are a critical source of funding that enables students to enroll and/or continue their higher education. With the ever-increasing cost of tuition, and less state funding to educate our future workforce, scholarships are essentially an investment in the future of our state.”

Dr. David Irwin, Director of The Autism Center expressed gratitude for the scholarships, which he said have a broad impact.

“… (scholarships) are allowing us to train and educate future professionals here at ULM on how to help families and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Irwin said. “We are very proud to partner … it is making a difference in the students’ lives, it’s making a difference in individuals, children and their families throughout northeast Louisiana.”