THIBODAUX, La. — A Gift to the Nicholls Foundation will help Thibodaux volunteer firefighters and their children with college.
The Estate of Earline LeBlanc donated $173,186.25 to the Nicholls Foundation. The donation will go into an additional Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship Fund and provide additional funds for Thibodaux volunteer firefighters and their children.
LeBlanc and her husband, Roy, were both active in the community. Organizations they were involved with include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Community Food Bank and the Thibodaux Playhouse. They had a lifelong respect for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department and its firefighters.
“They were very kind and caring individuals who were truly involved in the church and community,” said Nicholls Foundation Board President Christopher Riviere, who is also a volunteer firefighter. “The gift to the foundation for the Thibodaux Volunteer Firefighter scholarship comes at a great time because nationally, the recruitment of volunteers is a difficult issue for a lot of volunteer organizations, especially those that expose their members to danger like we do.
“And we have seen with both the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship Fund instituted by Maurice Adams, a long time Thibodaux fireman, and now with this one, that has allowed us to have another avenue to entice people to get involved in being first responders.”
Riviere went on to mention that with this latest gift, endowed funds under management providing Thibodaux firefighter scholarships now totals $746,806.21.
Eligible applicants must be a Nicholls student or a 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 an active 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 https://www.nicholls.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/.
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