Scholarship First Inaugural Tour

LSU President William F. Tate IV traveled a 1,000-mile winding route around Louisiana in March, learning more about some of the state’s key industries, listening to stakeholders, and visiting with alumni and elected officials to ensure alignment of LSU’s statewide priority in serving Louisiana.

During the tour, LSU made two momentous announcements. At the site of LSU’s original campus in Pineville, La., the University announced that LSU supported $6.1 billion in Louisiana economic output, over $2.4 billion in statewide earnings, and an estimated 45,700 direct and indirect annualized jobs in fiscal year 2021-2022. To cap off the tour at the Port of New Orleans, a partnership with Louisiana’s largest ports to advance cyber talent and protect critical infrastructure was announced. The tour also stopped in Convent to learn more about how Shell, one of LSU’s partners, is preparing for the future of energy to maintain Louisiana’s position as the nation’s energy powerhouse.

These are only a few of the exciting moments Tate shared along the tour. Visit lsu.edu/blog to learn more about how Scholarship First is working to elevate the lives of Louisianans in every parish.

MONDAY, MARCH 13

President Tate and the Scholarship First tour bus departed from LSU’s Memorial Tower bright and early, with a special send-off from Coach Kim Mulkey. After a stop for boudin, the bus headed to LSU’s original campus in Pineville for an important economic impact announcement, then rolled through Natchitoches – the Meat Pie Capital of

– stopping in Shreveport for the evening.

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Tuesday took President Tate on a picture-perfect road trip through North Louisiana with stops in the Minden –the Friendliest City in the South – and other sites in Sportsman’s Paradise, giving way to glimpses of the state’s agricultural past and its future. After a lunchtime social in Monroe, the bus made its way back to Central Louisiana for a reception hosted by LSU alumnus Roy O. Martin in Alexandria.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

After breakfast at Lea’s Lunchroom, the bus departed from Lecompte, making its way through New Iberia to the “Sugar City,” Jeanerette, to learn more about the importance of sugarcane to the Louisiana economy. Next up, a mad dash to Cajun Country to harvest crawfish in Crowley, before ending the day in Lake Charles.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

On the final day of the tour, the bus hustled down to Convent to visit with Shell, then over to the Big Easy for lunch at Drago's and a discussion of oyster farming in Louisiana. From there, the group visited the Port of New Orleans to make an exciting partnership announcement, then ended the day celebrating on the Northshore with LSU family and friends.