NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

1/20/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- An endowment to the Northwestern State University Foundation from Mr. and Mrs. John A. Manno Jr. of Bossier City has created the Michael Peter Manno Memorial Scholarship in journalism. The endowment was created with an initial gift of $10,000. The ideal candidate for the scholarship is a college junior or senior, preferably from Caddo or Bossier Parish, who has strong interest in community involvement.

"It's intended for a person who not only excels academically, but also someone who is outgoing and participates in school activities, whether they are involved in a fraternity or sorority, athletics or other campus organizations and activities," Manno said.

The recipient "would be an upperclassman who has excelled not only in his or her chosen career path but also excelled in extracurricular ventures outside the professional degree program. In other words a person who is very well-rounded," said Dr. Steve Horton, chair of the Department of Journalism.

"When I graduated from college, one thing I wanted to do was give back to the community. This is something I can do," Manno said. "I would like to continue contribution to the scholarship over the next couple of years so that the endowment would pay a full scholarship to the student for a full year."

"This scholarship illustrates that a quality education is about more than academics. It's about getting involved, staying socially conscious and becoming a productive member of society," said Dr. Chris Maggio, director of Alumni and Development.

Manno is vice president and co-owner of Southland Printing in Shreveport, a family-owned business that produces parking lot/parking garage tickets used by most every major private parking operator and public parking authority in the United States, including major airports in the United States and abroad.

Manno graduated from Northwestern in 1978 and was among the last students to earn an associate degree in printing technology before the program was discontinued. He also earned an associate degree in business administration. As a student, Manno was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and lettered for being a student trainer for the football team, earning him a spot in the Graduate "N" Club. His service to NSU has continued through his affiliation with the NSU Alumni Association, the NSU President's Council, the NSU Athletic Association and the NSU Foundation Board.

Manno holds many professional organization memberships and has been active in the Krewe of Gemini, Volunteers of America, the Strand Theatre Board, the American Red Cross, his church and many charitable and business organizations.

Manno is married to the former Carol Lynne Averre, who also attended NSU, and the couple has two children, John Anthony "Jay" Manno III, a freshman at Northwestern, and Bianca Marie "Mary" Manno. The scholarship is named for the couple's first child.

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