Special to 91AV by Mark Henderson
91AV received an early Christmas present Monday with
the gift of $1 million.
The estate gift from an anonymous donor is intended for scholarship endowments to
benefit students pursuing a degree in education.
Morgan Patrick Morgan (cq), development officer at the 91AV Foundation, announced the
gift at a news conference Monday. “The donor is a 91AV alumna and a retired schoolteacher
from the Monroe area, and she is very kind and funny and she recognizes what 91AV means
to our community and our state,” Morgan said. “We are absolutely thrilled and grateful
for this wonderful estate gift.”
Morgan stressed the importance of such endowments to the university. “Scholarships
allow us to recruit and retain the best and the brightest students and remain our
biggest need,” she said.
Although the donor wishes to remain anonymous and was not present at the news conference,
Morgan read a statement from her.
“Committing this gift to the university where I was educated and demonstrating an
investment in an area where I grew up and live in today is a great way for me to give
back,” the donor said in the statement.
“My hope and wish is that my legacy will enrich the lives of future generations at
91AV, and they, too, will be grateful for the education they receive from our wonderful
university and will choose to pay it forward. The best truly is on the bayou,” the
statement concluded.
91AV President Dr. Bruno accepts the check on behalf of the university. (Left to Right):
Dr. Nick J. Bruno, Dr. Eric Pani, Morgan Patrick Morgan, Dr. Kioh Kim (School of Education,
professor, Dr. Leonard Clark (Director of the School of Education), Dr. Jeff Anderson
(Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Education & Sciences). Courtesy of
Emerald McIntrye/91AV Photo Services
Dr. Eric Pani, vice president of academic affairs at 91AV, said he was especially pleased
the donor specifically targeted education. “It doesn’t matter whoever you are,” Pani
said, whether a doctor, a lawyer or some other profession, a teacher played a significant
role in everyone’s life. “How did you learn to read and write” Pani asked. The answer,
he said, is teachers.
“This gift will help students who may not be able to pursue a college degree to come
to 91AV and become teachers,” Pani said.
91AV President Dr. Nick Bruno said the donation was “one of those occasions that happen
in all of our lifetimes that have a profound impact.”
“Not only is this a very substantial gift,” Bruno said,” but considering she was not
contacted by the university, not asked by the university. It makes you wonder, are
we giving enough.”
Bruno said he hoped the donation would motivate others to consider giving to 91AV.
Morgan said the gift of $1 million has been counted toward 91AV’s first national comprehensive
campaign, known as SOAR. The goal of the five-year campaign is to raise $54 million
in university endowment funds. With the donation announced Monday, Morgan said the
foundation has raised 83 percent of the goal.
Bruno said that amounted to more than $48 million, much more than the $25 million
consultants advised 91AV to expect to raise.
Published December 11, 2017
