GSU Ruston Alumni Chapter Donates $10,000 to Scholarship Endowment; Awards Two Scholarships

 

Ruston Alumni Scholarship Gala Winners PR Photo - Summer 2015
The Grambling University National Alumni Association-Ruston Chapter presented two $500 book scholarships to incoming freshmen who are both Ruston natives. The scholarship winners include Psnefra Wills, who will be majoring in kinesiology and plans to become a physical therapist, and Trace Payne, who will be majoring in biology and plans to become a doctor of internal medicine.

GRAMBLING, LA – The Grambling University National Alumni Association-Ruston Chapter has donated $10,000 to a scholarship endowment fund for Grambling students at the chapter’s fourth annual scholarship gala held Saturday night in the Black and Gold Room in Favrot Student Union.

Ruston Alumni Chapter President Liz White said it is important to encourage giving in light of budget cuts to higher education.

“The gala is another opportunity, and for some, perhaps the only opportunity to give,” White said. “People will give if you ask them. We want to create a culture of giving to our state-funded educational institutions. We want to start looking beyond state funding.”

The Ruston chapter also honored eight Grambling State alumni that made contributions of $1,000 or more to make the donation possible, including Greg Ludley, a police sergeant at Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Ethel Drayton, an elementary teacher in the Jackson Parish School System; Michelle Wright, executive director of the Lincoln Council on Aging; Patricia Hutcherson, university registrar and executive director of enrollment management at GSU; Mary Richard, a retired elementary teacher with the Lincoln Parish School System; Liz White, a retired English professor at Louisiana Tech University; and Rhonda Pruitt, the owner of True Care Dental in Grambling.

The scholarship is named the Ruston Alumni Chapter’s The Family of Coach James Wicks Duncan Sr. Endowed Scholarship in memory of Duncan, a prominent Lincoln Parish coach and educator, after his daughter, Janet Duncan Barnes, a member of the Grambling University Foundation Board of Directors, donated $25,000 to the endowment last year.

“Grambling is grateful for the Ruston Chapter’s consistent support of GSU students and programs,” GSU Interim President Cynthia Warrick said. “Their unselfish gifts and hard work are responsible for our success in recruitment, retention and graduation.”

The chapter also presented two $500 book scholarships to incoming freshmen who are both Ruston natives. The first scholarship winner is Psnefra Wills, the daughter of Yvette Moss and Paul Wills of Ruston. She is a 2015 graduate of Grambling High School with a 3.6 GPA who is an active member of Mr. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Ruston. After graduation, she plans to become a physical therapist and track and field coach.

“I want to come to Grambling because I feel like I would get more opportunities here and get a chance to meet people. I felt privileged and honored to get a scholarship, because I really needed it in order to afford my books,” Wills said.

The second scholarship recipient is Trace Payne, the son of Renwick and Sandra Payne of Ruston. He is a 2015 graduate of Grambling High School with a 3.7 GPA and a member of Gumspring Missionary Baptist Church in Farmerville. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and become a doctor of internal medicine.

“I went to Grambling lab schools, and I just want to continue my education at Grambling. I had a $500 book scholarship, and it was an experience, because it helped me to better prepare myself for my future,” Payne said.

The chapter also presented a $500 donation to the Grambling University Athletic Foundation in honor of Head Football Coach Broderick Fobbs, who served as the night’s keynote speaker.

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