NEWS

The Lagniappe Ladies, the women’s philanthropic network of the Louisiana Tech Foundation, will make the holiday season a little brighter for 14 units across the University by awarding them grants to help with strategic projects.  

More than $50,000 will be distributed to academic and administrative units at Tech in the coming year. The Lagniappe Ladies’ grant process began earlier in 2019, when students, faculty, and staff submitted a total of 39 proposals to the organization.

“The 14 projects the Lagniappe Ladies chose to fund are incredibly diverse,” said Dr. Johnette Magner, Executive Director for External Relations for the Tech Foundation. “We saw proposals designed to increase collaboration and promote outreach, help with student success initiatives and create more pleasant learning spaces on campus. The evaluation committee was so pleased with the caliber of submissions this year.”

Each year, the Lagniappe Ladies review grant proposals from members of the campus community. Grants are limited to $5,000 each, and the number of awards is based on both proposal quality and available funding for the year. Since its inception in 2009, Lagniappe Ladies has awarded 142 grants totaling over $560,000.

“As a supporter of Lagniappe Ladies from the early years of its founding, it has been incredibly gratifying to be a part of this network, awarding grants to such worthy organizations that are doing great work to advance the university’s mission and student experience,” said member Melanie Hudson. “I look forward to continuing  this positive journey with the Lagniappe Ladies.”

As the Lagniappe Ladies celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary, Emily Becker Kabbes, Director of Development, said she’s pleased with the impact the group has had the opportunity to make.

“About 50 active members who are both local and across the country invest annually to have a voice in funding exciting projects that impact every corner of campus,” Kabbes said. “These grants will positively affect Louisiana Tech in areas where we have smaller needs that are still tied to the University’s strategic goals. In this year’s case, Lagniappe Ladies members are able to see a return 50 times greater than each original investment because of the power of pooled resources.”

This year’s grant recipients are:

• Student Admissions Recruiters – Purchase a large portable speaker that can be used to communicate with large groups of parents and students on Preview days
• Lady Techster Soccer Team – Provide for field enhancements including banners on fences
• Lady Techster Softball Team – Purchase a new softball pitching machine
• Early Childhood Education Center – Update and remodel outdoor learning space
• Nutrition & Dietetics Program – Update nutrition education tools
• Division of Nursing – Purchase a customized mobile booth to use for wellness outreach program across campus
• School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry – Replace roofs on the original Tech Farm Salesroom and the Garden Shed
• A.E. Phillips Laboratory School – Purchase science lab supplies
• Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) – Purchase a VP SPOTDOT embosser that produces print and braille simultaneously
• College of Education – Provide funding for Call Me Mister program
• Clinical Residency & Recruitment Center – Secure study materials for Praxis tests and provide scholarships
• Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Department – Train 160 teachers in mental health first aid
• Chemistry Program – Provide for beautification of Carson-Taylor Hall
• University Communications – Purchase a subscription to GatherContent, a software tool created to allow collaborative work across the University for content in both web and print marketing pieces

The Lagniappe Ladies and their philanthropy will be honored and 2019 recipients will be recognized at a Dec. 2 event on the Tech campus.