Perseverance is a great way to describe a group of friends, colleagues and fellow musicians who are honoring the memory Dr. Tommy Comeaux. The Lafayette pathology doctor and musician for BeauSoleil died in 1997. That same year, a group of friends began raising money in his honor.
On Tuesday, during the 小蝌蚪APP Foundation小蝌蚪APP檚 annual Distinguished Donor Reception, the group reached a milestone with the creation of a tenth endowed professorship at UL Lafayette. This endowment allows for the creation of the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Eminent Scholar Chair in Traditional Music at UL Lafayette.
小蝌蚪APP I think we小蝌蚪APP檝e been surprised at how many people have had the same experience with Tommy as we did,小蝌蚪APP said Todd Mouton, member of the Tommy Comeaux Fund Campaign committee. 小蝌蚪APP淗e was an unsung hero. And, this will be a constant reminder that humility is the key.小蝌蚪APP The committee hopes the endowment will attract visiting artists who will help teach courses and offer performances to the university and Acadiana community.
It takes a total of 10 professorships or $1 million to create an endowed chair. The group created the chair by raising money through concerts and other events, one professorship at a time.
小蝌蚪APP This group should be an inspiration to us all,小蝌蚪APP said UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. 小蝌蚪APP淭heir commitment to Dr. Tommy Comeaux and his memory is commendable and so is their commitment to higher education and traditional music.小蝌蚪APP
Each year, the Foundation honors its donors and its new endowments. In addition to the Comeaux professorship, nine other endowments including professorships, scholarships and athletic endowments were created.
These private donations generate funds in perpetuity. The principal from the endowment remains in a perpetual fund that continues to increase while earned income is distributed as dedicated for scholarships, professorships, faculty development or athletic funds.
Through the Board of Regents Support Fund, the state matches funds raised by the university for endowed chairs and professorships. For every $600,000 UL Lafayette receives for an endowed chair, the state matches with $400,000, bringing the total chair to $1 million. Likewise for every $60,000 the university raises for a professorship, the state matches with $40,000 to create a $100,000 endowed professorship.
小蝌蚪APP It is our pleasure to honor and recognize these generous donors who keep the university小蝌蚪APP檚 tradition of top-notched faculty and excellence in education alive,小蝌蚪APP said Julie Bolton Falgout, director of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Foundation.
Those endowments recognized Tuesday include:
小蝌蚪APP Frankie Cagle Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Sociology
小蝌蚪APP Harold and Adele Comeaux Endowed Professorship in Biology
小蝌蚪APP Dr. Tommy Comeaux Endowed Professorship in Traditional Music X (this completes the pledge of 10 endowed professorships to create the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Traditional Music
小蝌蚪APP Jay C. Gremillion Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Honors and Accounting
小蝌蚪APP Home Bank Endowed Professorships in Finance and Management
小蝌蚪APP Home Bank Athletic Endowment
小蝌蚪APP Debra H. Kite Memorial Endowed Professorship in Dietetics
小蝌蚪APP Dr. Joe Kite Endowed Professorship in Governmental Ethics
小蝌蚪APP Philip and Jean Piccione Endowed Professorship in Statistics V
小蝌蚪APP Robert E. Trahan Memorial Athletic Endowment.