NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES- Greg and Hope O’Quin of Alexandria have created a scholarship to benefit an Alexandria Senior High School graduating senior who plans to attend Northwestern State University. The scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $500 per semester for one year. This year’s recipient is Lindsey Pharris.
Pharris plans to major in elementary education with an emphasis in physical education at Northwestern. She plans to either teach in an elementary school or pursue a career in physical therapy. She hopes to play softball at Northwestern and become involved in Greek life. At ASH, Pharris played soccer and softball for four years, was on the track team one year and was involved with Y-Teens, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Prom Committee.
A 1973 graduate of NSU in accounting, O'Quin was freshman and sophomore class president and president of the Student Senate for two years. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and was chosen as Mr. NSU. O'Quin became a CPA in 1974 and earned a law degree at Loyola University of New Orleans in 1978.
O'Quin has been a registered representative with Lincoln Financial Advisors since 1978, ranking as the leading producer in Louisiana and in the top one percent with the company. He is a member of the NSU Foundation Board and Northwestern’s Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line. O'Quin has also served as chairman of the Rapides Regional Medical Center and chairman of the Rapides Foundation and the Orchard Foundation.
O’Quin’s children attended ASH and he asked the principal to select a good student with a financial need for the scholarship.
“I am a big believer in education, even as it extends to economic development,” said O’Quin, who teaches a class at Peabody Magnet and is involved in several public service organizations that support education. “I went to NSU on a scholarship. I am a big believer in education and I told my wife it is time to give back.”