Nicholls honors late scholarship benefactor

Left to right: Chris Riviere, Nicholls Foundation president; Dr. Jay Clune, Nicholls president; and Jeremy Becker, executive director of the Nicholls Foundation. (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University)

THIBODAUX, La. — Today, Nicholls State University and the Nicholls Foundation revealed a longtime anonymous benefactor of a scholarship that has helped Thibodaux firefighters and their children attend college for the past 20 years.

Maurice Adams first established the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship to help his fellow firefighters or their children pay for college. Adams, who spent more than two decades as a Thibodaux firefighter, passed away in 2016, but he left a substantial sum to the scholarship, allowing Nicholls to give that opportunity to more Thibodaux firefighters.

“He was the guy who, from top to bottom, garnered the respect of everybody,” said Chris Riviere, Nicholls Foundation president. “My friend had the foresight to say thank you to the guys and gals in the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, who dedicate their life for no pay to service our city. This scholarship is a wonderful thing and it’s a wonderful tribute.”

Riviere served on the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department with Adams and acted as his attorney. He described his friend as a quiet man, an avid hunter, fisher and someone who was dedicated to being a firefighter. Adams was named an honorary permanent fire chief.

“Because I have been there with Maurice since day one, I have not only been able to see the good this scholarship has accomplished, but I’ve also been able to see the final product when a young student follows his or her path to a degree and succeeds in life,” Riviere said. “He wanted to be anonymous in his lifetime, but we believe the community needs to know the good he’s done so his light will shine forever.”

Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA who will enroll at Nicholls. They must also be an active member in good standing with the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department or a dependent child of a member meeting the same criteria. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, and recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

For more information, visit www.https://www.nicholls.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 14, 2018

CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@www.nicholls.edu

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