(TOP) JAMES “DENNY” SHELTON, JANE SHELTON and the President’s Millennial Scholars at the program’s end-of-year celebration on April 17
STUDENT LEADERS :
THE GREAT EQUALIZER
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enny and Jane Shelton provided seed funding for the President’s Millennial Scholars Program through what Denny describes as “a real appreciation for education, the need for unrepresented students to gain an advantage that many never had, and a university president who is committed to making a difference.” Their gift followed conversations with LSU President F. King Alexander regarding the opportunities that establishing such a program would afford to many deserving students. The program, a new initiative by the LSU Office of Diversity, attracts and retains high-achieving freshmen students from underrepresented and under-served populations by fostering a high-quality learning environment and providing academic support, professional and leadership development, and mentorship from faculty and staff. Denny believes that the Millennial Scholars will be ambassadors for change on LSU’s campus and beyond. “I see where we were. I see the progress that we’ve made. We’re still not nearly where we need to be. Education is the great equalizer – opportunity. The more we support education, the better our society will be … This program will help kids narrow that gap.” The President’s Millennial Scholars, the inaugural class of which includes 17 freshmen across campus, are also expected to be ambassadors of diversity at LSU. Millennial Scholar Lauren Jackson is interested in researching sickle cell disease through a career in hematology and writing science fiction novels. She compares diversity to a melting pot. “As the first cohort of this program, we should be the best, the brightest and the most caring,” Jackson asserted. “We can pave
a way for a bright future, not only for ourselves, but also for the future cohorts of this program.” Fellow Scholar Patrick Tapalla shared, “I define ‘diversity’ as ‘similarity.’ Socially speaking, diversity is not about looking at what’s different. It is about finding analogous attributes that everyone can relate to, thus forming a strong community of individuals willing to accept one another.” Tapalla, a mechanical engineering major who moved to Walker, La., from the Philippines in 2009, was unable to receive TOPS because he and his family are not yet permanent residents. The funds provided by the program lifted a significant weight off of his parents’ shoulders. “Being an LSU Tiger means a lot to me. Ever since I came to America, I’ve seen people young and old candidly represent their alma mater. It sends a message that LSU consistently impacts alumni’s lives,” Tapalla said. Denny hopes that the program, aside from launching scholars’ successful academic and professional careers, will create a legacy of giving and progress. “Don’t ever forget where you came from, and always remember that somebody helped you,” Shelton advised the scholars. “When you have that opportunity, step up and help. That’s what we ought to do as a society.” The President’s Millennial Scholars Program is a part of the Office of Diversity’s mission to launch a vision of diversity, equity and inclusion on an institutional, regional, national and global platform. Each year, the program aims to increase its number of scholars until reaching a goal capacity of 60 students per year.
“The more we support education, the better our society will be … This program will help kids narrow that gap.” Denny Shelton
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C O R N E R S T O N E / Summer & Fall 2016
lsu.edu/diversity
(BOTTOM) JANE AND DENNY SHELTON with PATRICK TAPALLA and LAUREN JACKSON