THIBODAUX – Bayou Region students attending Nicholls State University have a new scholarship opportunity following a $50,000 contribution from the Bayou Industrial Group through the South Central Industrial Association.
The funding creates an endowed scholarship fund managed through the Nicholls Foundation, offering awards to incoming freshmen who reside in Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption or St. Mary parishes.
Recipients of the Bayou Industrial Group Legacy Endowed Scholarship will receive $500 per semester for the fall and spring, totaling $1,000 annually. Students can maintain the award for up to eight consecutive semesters provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
“Thanks to the generosity of our members, SCIA and BIG have collectively awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships over the past three decades to hundreds of local students who are pursuing careers that will strengthen our region’s workforce and industries. In continuing with both organizations’ mission to invest in the next generation of workforce, this investment directly supports local students pursuing higher education right here at home,” said Hillary Charpentier, SCIA executive director. “By easing the financial burden for our incoming freshmen, we are keeping our region’s best talent working and learning in the Bayou Region.”
To qualify, applicants must be full-time freshmen at Nicholls with at least a 3.0 GPA enrolled in any major. Eligible candidates must be residents and graduates of a high school or approved home-school program within the four-parish region.
The scholarship is also open to nontraditional adult students residing in those parishes who have registered for classes or gained acceptance into a program at Nicholls.
Because the contribution establishes an endowment, award amounts may increase in future years as the principal grows through investment and additional contributions to the Nicholls Foundation. Learn more at nichollsfoundation.org.
Students interested in reviewing full requirements and applying can submit applications through SCIA’s website at ciaonline.net/scholarship-programs.
Learn more about scholarships at Nicholls State University at www.nicholls.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.
About BIG
Bayou Industrial Group, a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, administers the BIG Scholarship for students pursuing education in business and industrial careers in the Bayou Region. The group hosts events, fundraisers and educational programs to support the scholarship and promote local career pathways.
About SCIA
The South Central Industrial Association, a 501(c)(6) organization, advocates for and creates opportunities for industry in the Bayou Region. Representing more than 250 member companies and 200,000 workers worldwide, SCIA serves as the economic engine for Louisiana’s offshore energy and marine services hub by advocating for infrastructure, coastal preservation, levee protection, workforce development and regulatory issues.