NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

10/16/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-More than 250 students at Northwestern State University will benefit from scholarships made available through the NSU Foundation this year.

The NSU Foundation is the umbrella organization for the NSU Alumni Association, NSU Athletic Association and the Foundation itself. Total Foundation assets are $5.5 million with a total endowment of more than $3 million.

"Because of the NSU Foundation, Northwestern can do things it would not be able to do otherwise," said Director of Institutional Advancement Tony Gustwick. "The Foundation helps provide scholarships for students, additional funding for faculty and support for departments and groups at the university."

The NSU Foundation is a non-profit organization that invests and manages private assets that have been donated to the University. The NSU Foundation is responsible for coordinating all fund raising to benefit the University. Its purpose is to
identify, cultivate and solicit major gifts. Donors can make gifts to the University through the Foundation in a number of ways including joining the NSU President's Council, planned giving or establishing endowed scholarships, professorships and chairs.

The NSU President's Council is a one way to donate unrestricted tax-deductible contributions of $1,000 per year to fund the numerous requests of the Foundation to fund academic projects and special items.

"Another way, individuals or companies can help Northwestern is through major gifts," said Gustwick. "These major gifts provide the University with a way to increase the size of its endowment, acquire additional equipment and resources and increase student and faculty support through endowed scholarships, endowed professorships and chairs."

Raising additional funds for scholarships assists Northwestern in attracting and retaining top students who help the university grow and prosper.

"Attracting top students is critical for Northwestern," said Gustwick. "The staff in the Division of Student Affairs as well as all of the faculty and staff at NSU work diligently to get good students here. Sometimes, even with financial aid and other university scholarships, the availability of privately funded scholarships can make a big difference."

Gustwick said endowed scholarships could be started with as little as $10,000. These scholarships will be permanent. Donors can name the scholarship and set up the criteria under which it is awarded.

Another way for donors to assist Northwestern is through planned giving which enables a donor to make a legacy gift through such methods as bequests, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance, appreciated property and other means.

Those wishing to help Northwestern continue to grow can also make donations to establish an endowed professorship or an endowed chair at the University. Endowed professorships are set up with a $60,000 donation which is matched with $40,000 from the Board of Regents' Support Fund. A gift of $600,000 can set up an endowed chair which is matched with $400,000 from the Board of Regents Support Fund to create a $1 million endowment.

"The establishment of endowed chairs and professorships is an important step in continuing to enhance Northwestern's academic reputation," said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Thomas A. Burns. "Endowed chairs allow the University to attract scholars with national and international reputations. The establishment of endowed professorships gives our faculty the opportunity to conduct valuable professional research. These enhancements benefit our students who are learning from scholars who are on the cutting edge in their respective field."

Northwestern has three endowed chairs, one each in the College of Business and Department of Journalism and a pledged chair in the College of Education. The University also has 22 endowed professorships worth $2.2 million.

For more information on the NSU Foundation, contact Gustwick or Sharon Sampite' at (318) 357-4414.

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