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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
4/11/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - The Simpson High School Alumni Association is developing a scholarship to benefit a Simpson High graduate attending Northwestern State University. The Alumni Assocation has previously offered a $500 scholarship to a college-bound student, but is seeking to create an award specifically for an NSU student.
"Last year, we decided to endow $100,000 and asked members to makes pledges toward the scholarship through the NSU Foundation. We have $20,000 pledged so far," said Robert Turner, Association president. Turner is a 1957 graduate of Simpson High and earned bachelor's and master's degrees at NSU in 1961 and 1964.
The scholarship recipient will be selected by a committee based on academic achievement, financial need and extracurricular involvement. The committee's goal is to offer the student $2,000 per year for four years as long as grade point average requirements are met.
A rural school in Vernon Parish, the average graduating class at Simpson High School is 25-30 students. Last year, 20 of 30 graduating seniors enrolled in institutions of higher education, most of them with financial assistance.
"Simpson has many well-known successful graduates who are doctors, military personnel, educators and lawyers," Turner said. "We want to help the kids who are our future leaders."
Jessica Bolton, a 2006 Simpson graduate, was the recipient of last year's scholarship and chose to attend NSU. She is a nursing major and has a student job at NSU's Fort Polk campus.
"This scholarship has been very helpful. I didn't have
to worry about getting a full-time job to help pay for college,"
said Bolton, who in the future hopes to become involved with Simpson
Alumni to support scholarships for graduates. "I think it
is a great thing and I'd like to do what I can to keep it going."