NATCHITOCHES – David and Sherry Fargerson Morgan were recognized during Northwestern State University Homecoming Festivities for their contribution to the NSU Foundation that will create 10 new scholarships for first-generation students who are members of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at NSU. The Morgans are NSU alumni who have a long history of supporting student scholarships and initiatives and were honored with a reception at the Tri Sigma House with Tri Sigma and Pi Kappa Phi members, alumni, parents and university guests present.
The donation, with matching dollars from the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund and the State of Louisiana, totals $1 million, and is the largest individual one-time gift to the NSU Foundation in its history. Each scholarship comes with a $100,000 endowment. The scholarships will be distributed annually to multiple recipients who are the first in their immediate family to pursue a college degree.
“My time at NSU set me on a course that changed my life forever, and Sherry and I are now in a position to help today’s students get the same support that was so critical for us,” said Morgan, who founded the insurance agency United Teacher Associates, Inc., and co-founded the Association Member Benefits Advisors.
“Without scholarship money and the leadership and people skills I acquired at NSU, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did,” Morgan said. “Now we want to help as many students as possible by providing opportunities for outstanding educational experiences at NSU. Sherry and I attribute much of our success to our years at NSU and hope that other alumni and supporters will join us in creating opportunities for future generations of students in a time when private dollars mean more than ever.”
David Morgan, a 1973 NSU graduate and alumnus of NSU’s Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, previously established the Extra Mile Scholarship in 2008 to recognize members of Pi Kappa Phi who distinguish themselves through academic success, chapter leadership, campus involvement and part-time employment. A similar Tri Sigma scholarship was established earlier this year to honor NSU and Alpha Zeta Chapter Alumna Sherry Fargerson Morgan and to recognize Tri Sigma members who best exemplify the ideals of scholarship, service and character.
The new 10 first-generation scholarships are part of 19 first-generation scholarships funded during the first half of 2016 and 27 new $100,000 endowments submitted to the University of Louisiana System and State Board of Regents for approval.
The record fundraising levels come in tandem with an enrollment increase to 10,572 students this fall, the highest in NSU’s history.
The gifts, and other like them, offset the decline in state funding to higher education over the past decade and often make the difference in whether a student can stay in school and complete their degree,” said NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio.
“All of us at Northwestern genuinely appreciate these contributions and will work diligently to assure that they expand the excellence and prestige of the university,” Maggio said.
For information on supporting student scholarships and other endeavors at Northwestern State University, visit northwesternstatealumni.com or call the NSU Foundation office at (318) 357-4414.
