Monroe-West Monroe Business and Professional Women makes donation to ULM scholarship fund

Published June 24, 2026

A group of women hold a large check signifying a donation to ULM.

CAPTION: Members of the Monroe-West Monroe Business and Professional Women group pose with ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille (third from left) at the check presentation on June 15, 2026.  

MONROE, La. – The ULM Foundation recently welcomed members of the Monroe-West Monroe Business and Professional Women for a check presentation celebrating more than three decades of partnership between the organization and the University of Louisiana Monroe. 

Founded on a mission of advancing equity through advocacy, education, and opportunity, Monroe-West Monroe BPW established their scholarship at ULM in 1989 to support non-traditional female students with demonstrated financial need. The organization presented a $4,500 gift from their 2026 scholarship fundraising efforts, continuing a tradition of investment in ULM students that has spanned more than thirty years. 

The occasion also marked the announcement of a transformational estate gift from the late Peggy Wells, a Past President of Monroe-West Monroe BPW and State President of the Louisiana Federation of Business and Professional Women from 2010 to 2011. Her gift has nearly doubled the size of the endowment, ensuring that Monroe-West Monroe BPW's impact at ULM will grow for generations to come. 

“We want to acknowledge what you have built in your commitment to our university,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille, to the members of the group. “These are the types of gifts that have a long-lasting impact. Thank you for your generosity and your commitment to women and women in leadership. It’s truly a blessing.”   

The reach of this scholarship is already evident in the ULM community. LaShonda Reese, a ULM employee and former recipient of the Monroe-West Monroe BPW scholarship, attended this year's scholarship luncheon and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the organization for the support that helped shape her path. 

Monroe-West Monroe BPW is a member of the Louisiana Federation of Business and Professional Women and meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit bpwmwmla.wildapricot.org. 

For more information on giving to ULM, visit ulm.edu/give.