July 30, 2025

NATCHITOCHES – The Cane River Waterway Commission presented a donation of $200,000 to the Northwestern State University Foundation earmarked for scholarships to help Natchitoches Parish students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology, life sciences and related programs.

The donation creates the CRWC Endowed Scholarship for Undergraduates and the CRWC Endowed Graduate Assistantship. The proposals were unanimously approved by the Commission Board during a July 15 meeting. Cane River Waterway Commission Chair James Rhodes worked with Dr. Chris Lyles, director of NSU’s School of STEM, and administrators in NSU’s College of Arts and Sciences to formalize the agreement. Rhodes said he hopes the Commission will be able to fund a third scholarship next year.

The undergraduate scholarship is a need-based award that will go to students majoring in biology with a concentration in wildlife and conservation or agribusiness and have a demonstrated interest in Cane River.

“The targeted concentrations are deeply relevant to the agricultural, ecological and economic landscape of the Cane River region,” according to the scholarship proposal.  Students supported by the fund will participate in field-based coursework and projects related to wildlife, conservation and agriculture.  Students will also engage in a wildlife management practicum as well as a capstone course that will focus on the interests of the CRWC.

The CRWC Graduate Assistantship will benefit a student pursuing a Master of Science in STEM with a concentration in environmental science or integrative biology.  The competitive fellowship will provide tuition and research funding support for a graduate student who will contribute directly to applied research and project development that will be of interest to the CRWC.

In exchange for financial support, the Commission will gain valuable, data-driven research tailored to its priorities. Project deliverables will support CRWC’s public engagement and initiatives.  The partnership will also foster a pipeline of skilled professionals prepared to serve regional environmental and conservation efforts, administrators said.

“I’d like to see this as a catalyst, through our partnership, to get other businesses involved,” Rhodes said. “We need other members of the community to step up.”

NSU President James Genovese said the partnership with the Cane River Waterway Commission is an example of how groups work together to identify and develop opportunities that support students.

“They set up a scholarship through the School of STEM, the College of Arts and Sciences and the biology department where they can get students involved with what we do that involves the water, Cane River.  It’s very impressive.  They pushed the needle and there’s the success and we’re forever grateful,” Genovese said.

“The Cane River Waterway Commission plays a key role in preserving one of Louisiana’s most important cultural and ecological resources,” Lyles said. “This scholarship will help support students who are learning how to conserve this valuable resource and cultivate a future workforce invested in the health and sustainability of the region.”

Information on the Cane River Waterway Commission is available at https://crwcla.com/.

Information on the NSU Foundation is available at www.northwesternstatealumni.com.