According to the Department of Education, “two Louisiana educators were surprised with the 2017-2018 Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national recognition that comes with an unrestricted check for $25,000.”
Those teachers come from Edgar Martin Middle School in Lafayette and Alice M. Harte Charter School in New Orleans.
What an amazing accomplishment give to two of our own! Congratulations to these people are changing the lives of our youth.
For more information on each of the recipients and to see a live recorded video of them receiving their awards, click here.
A recent article was composed in the latest edition of ‘Best of New Orleans’ featuring seven local New Orleans literary events all around town. These events range from individual authors discussing their new books to an entire New Orleans book festival which is suitable for the whole family.
These educational events and fundraisers are a great way to engage non book lovers as well as a change of pace for those who can’t keep their noses out of a book.
You can find the list of events by clicking here as well as more information on the upcoming book festival by clicking here.
Benny Cenac, Houma Philanthropist and CEO of Cenac Marine Services, was honored for his donation of $250,000 for an endowed Scholarship towards the Swimming and Diving programs at LSU. The scholarship is named The Cenac Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.
At the LSU VS. Auburn game on October 14th, many Tiger Athletic Foundation(TAF) donors were honored for their generous gifts made to support the LSU Athletic programs. In a videothe TAF posted on Facebook, you can watch the ceremony.
The ceremony was a special presentation to honor a group of incredible individuals who are committed to the TAF and the athletic foundation. These honorees will be remembered forever for their incredible passion and effort to educate student athletes at LSU. Along with the honorees on the field were legacy students, athletes and coaches who have also committed to giving LSU their all on and off the field. Also on the field to present awards was President and CEO of the TAF, Rick Perry and Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, Joe Alleva. Mr. Benny Cenac, Houma Philanthropist and owner of Cenac Marine Services, was honored to be amongst those in attendance.
The donation will go into a fund with LSU and is accrued from the investment fund used to provide scholarships. Mr. Cenac’s donation will help the Swimming and Diving program as long as LSU is in existence.
LSU’s Swimming and Diving program is one of the best in the country, thanks to donations and support like that given so generously by prominent businessman, Mr. Benny Cenac. Opened in the summer 1985, the LSU Natatorium has served as the exclusive home of the swimming and diving teams for the past 26 seasons.
The complex features a 50-meter pool, which can be converted into two 25-meter or 25-yard pools with the use of bulkheads. Furthermore, the facility houses a championship diving well, which was completely renovated in the summer 2003 with one- and three-meter springboards and five-, seven- and 10-meter platforms.
With donations from supportive philanthropists and business like Cenac of Houma, programs added new graphics and signage throughout the venue in the fall 2011 and upgraded the scoring system in the fall 2008, unveiling a pair of state-of-the-art videoboards. Refurbished locker rooms were also completed in September 1998. The spacious locker rooms feature separate varsity lockers, both for men and women, and include public showers and locker areas.
The facility has played host to several national competitions, including the 1985 National Sports Festival, the 1986 Men’s Southeastern Conference Championships, the 1987 NCAA Diving Regional and the U.S. Diving National Championships in the spring 1987. The Natatorium was also the host facility during the 1999 NCAA Regional Diving Championships.
Last season both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads posted fifth place finishes at the SEC Championships. The second consecutive top-five finishes for both teams bodes well for the future of the program.
LSU has returned six women and two men who qualified for the NCAA Championships, including NCAA All-American Honorable Mention divers Alex Bettridge and Daniel Helm and distance swimmer Craig Hamilton. In addition to a strong recruiting class, four athletes named to the All-SEC Freshman team return to solidify the team’s core.
The landmark is located immediately north of the LSU Field House and can comfortably accommodate 2,200 spectators. Admission to all LSU swimming and diving meets is free.
Thank you, Mr. Cenac, and all other donors that understand the importance and impact they have on these talented students.
For more information on the endowment Scholarship, you can click here. And you can find more information on the Tiger Athletic Foundation, here. For more on Benny Cenac’s Houma Philanthropy please click here.
This past August, Nicholls State University was nationally recognized for their Geomatics program. Geomatics is the study of the branch of science that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth’s surface. The award recognizes programs advancing licensure for surveyors to preserve public health, safety and welfare.
This is the second year in a row Nicholls has been presented with this honor along with being one of only five programs to have been honored both years. According to Nicholls State University, schools are chosen based on their student outcomes, student involvement, outreach and recruitment.
Congratulations to Nicholls State University on this wonderful and prestige achievement! You can find more information on this wonderful accomplishment, as well as the different programs that Nicholls State University offers, here.
Edward Douglass White Catholic High School recently began construction on its new Academic Enhancement Center thanks to Benny Cenac Jr, Houma Businessman and Philanthropist. The production on this new facility, which began in June, is currently set for completion by December 2017. Allowing students and teachers to be able to move in when they return to school in January, 2018.
Although the current program, which serves grades 8 through 12 in a 1500 square foot setting has a successful history of college preparatory curriculum as well as a popular general curriculum, the new 3,000 square foot facility will catapult them to the next level. The new facility’s plans include lighting, interactive areas and non-structured learning to help those students in the program find a learning approach that best fits each of them. It will have a multi-classroom conference area, testing areas and offices. The school said the new enhancement center will be able to accommodate 170 students, and Robichaux said the school plans to expand enrollment in the program once the facility is completed.
“Mr. Benny Cenac Jr’s donation will provide a solid foundation in order for the program to meet its goal to open this updated and newly renovated facility,” stated President, Tim Robichaux. With this new facility the school will develop non-traditional, mobile classroom components to help meet the needs of E.D. White students with academic differences. The objective is to better assist students with learning differences such as ADHD, Dyslexia, other reading disorders, math disorders and any other learning differences that may hinder a student. The overall goal is to give students the skills necessary to succeed in their academic studies. As an avid supporter of education at all levels Mr. Benny Cenac Jr knew this donation would be beneficial to the community and the students.
Cenac initially jumped at the chance to assist with the program in August of 2016. The original donation was to be a total of 150,000.00 given over three yearly installments. When E.D. White contacted him in the hopes of fast tracking the project, there was no hesitation to also fast track the donation. “Education is important for everyone, and students who have learning disabilities should have the opportunity to also receive the skills needed for a brighter future no matter their circumstances. If we can assist in that, then I’m all for it,” said Cenac.
Donations go a long way to help students and the learning process at ED White. Their website states, “We think it is important to partner with our parents, alumni and friends to provide the best education possible for our students. Donations are made in the form of cash and matching gifts to be used to purchase needed educational equipment and supplies. These gifts assure that EDW stays on the cutting edge of education today. This year’s annual fund dollars can be directed by donors to debt reduction, technology, refurnishing the band room, and enhancing athletic dressing facilities.”
There are several different funds you or your business can donate to. They are detailed below.
Annual Fund
The E. D. White Catholic Advisory Council in partnership with the school administration has recommended that the Annual Fund Drive focus on the Guidance Department relocation. By donating funds to be used for this purpose, you will help build a bright future for E. D. White Catholic.
In the fall of 2010,Bishop Sam Jacobswanted to create an avenue that would allow donors of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to give to the many different Catholic entities of the diocese in the best manner possible. Furthermore, this avenue needed to be an organization that is separate of that diocese. After over a year in planning and meeting with a group of lay leaders from across the diocese, the decision to form the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana(CFSL) was agreed upon. The CFSL was officially recognized as an independent 501 (c) 3 organization with the IRS in March 2012 and in September of the same year the CFSL staff and board began to communicate to parishioners the importance of planned gifts and establishing endowments for their parishes, schools and diocesan entities.
By working closely with parishes, schools, and individual donors like Mr. Benny Cenac Jr, the CFSL makes giving simple and meaningful. The Foundation can administer a donor’s philanthropic giving, both now and after their death. We provide a flexible array of services that help donors shape a meaningful charitable legacy.
The athletic department is in the process of upgrading dressing facilities for student athletes. Locker rooms have been created for boys / girls basketball and the football locker room has been completely refurbished. An office for female coaches has been created on the 2ndfloor of the main gymnasium. Annual fund donations have paid for a large portion of this project, but additional funds are needed to cover the $250,000 price tag.
A ceremony was held in November 2013 for the dedication of the E. D. White music hall to St. Theresa of Lisieaux. The ceremony was filled with stories of tradition and love for St. Theresa and the EDW music program. Annual fund donations to the music program have been designated to assist in the completion of renovations to the St. Theresa Music Hall. New flooring, a new ceiling, new lighting, and upgrades to the a/c system are currently underway.
Technology is shown to be an essential component of a 21st century education because it helps develop fundamental learning skills by giving students access to large amounts of information which they can transform into useful knowledge. Through donations to the annual fund, E. D. White Catholic implemented a one-to-one iPad program for teachers and students for the 2012-2013 school year. It has been a resounding success and the school thanks all who helped with this project. Additional funding is needed to continue training related to this new technology. In coming years, the iPad will allow for adoption of interactive textbooks as well as media-rich supplemental material.
E.D. White Catholic High School is dedicated to keeping tuition affordable for students from all economic backgrounds through need-based tuition assistance. The school does not offer any type of scholarship based on proficiency in academics or any co-curricular area. Annual fund donations to tuition assistance allow the school to assist a greater number of families in need.
