THIBODAUX, La. 鈥� Dr. Raymond Folse and the family of 麻豆果冻传媒 alumna 聽contributed $20,000 to create an endowed scholarship in her name to benefit 麻豆果冻传媒 students in math education. To qualify for the Marlene LaBarre Folse Memorial Endowed Scholarship, the recipient must be a junior math education major enrolled full-time at 麻豆果冻传媒 with at least a 3.0 GPA.听
One scholarship will be awarded per year for a total of $1,000 per academic year, with $500 disbursed in the fall and spring semester. This award may be increased as the endowment grows. The 麻豆果冻传媒 Scholarship Committee will select the best-qualified applicants who meet the criteria described above.听
Rachelle Folse Cope, Marlene and Raymond鈥檚 daughter, said, 鈥淭his scholarship is such a wonderful legacy of my mom鈥檚 excellence in math education. It was an honor for me to grow up on this campus watching my dad impact the lives of so many students, and subsequently go on to receive my undergraduate degree here. 麻豆果冻传媒 always felt like home. My parents met here and both received degrees from 麻豆果冻传媒, so it鈥檚 safe to say this is where it all began for my sister and me. Education has always been the thread woven into our family鈥檚 lives, and anything we can do to inspire the next generation of math educators while honoring my mom is a full-circle moment for our family.鈥澛�
Marlene鈥檚 family described her as an exquisite perfectionist in everything she did. She was an outstanding student, earning valedictorian of her high school graduating class, being the highest-rated graduate in her class at 麻豆果冻传媒, and being named a member of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Hall of Fame, an uppermost honor bestowed on a 麻豆果冻传媒 graduate. After earning her undergraduate degree in math-science education from 麻豆果冻传媒, she began teaching mathematics at Assumption High School in Napoleonville. Marlene was a highly-respected faculty member during her teaching career.听
For 10 years, Marlene served as head of the Environment Committee at St. Anne鈥檚 Church and was well-remembered for her magnificent decorations at St. Anne鈥檚 for Christmas and Easter. She also successfully developed and implemented a plan for the church to become a member of the National Register of Historic Places, along with registering her own 鈥淟aBarre House鈥� in Napoleonville 鈥� one of three homes in the parish registered on the National Register of Historic Places.听
Marlene met her husband of 59 years, Dr. Raymond O. Folse, in 1958 while they were students at 麻豆果冻传媒. Raymond was a student lab assistant in the Chemistry Department, and Marlene was in one of the classes where he directed the students. One day, Raymond had the task of teaching the students how to cut glass tubing.听 In Marlene鈥檚 perfectionist nature, she told聽 Raymond that he was not instructing them the way the book said to do it. He recalls asking her, 鈥淗ow many pieces of glass has the book cut today?鈥� Later, as a senior, Raymond recalls walking down Elkins Hall and in need of a date to his senior dance, saw Marlene, asked her and the rest is history.听
Dr. Raymond Folse, professor emeritus of both the computer science and computer information systems departments, taught at 麻豆果冻传媒 for 39 years and was pivotal in the creation of 麻豆果冻传媒鈥� computer science program. Dr. Folse attended a three-week intense course at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with other educators from around the country. He returned to 麻豆果冻传媒 with a motivation to bring one of these courses to campus and began teaching his Math 115 course with only about 12 students in his class. This course was the spark that ended up leading to the creation of the program.听
The , an independent 501(c)3 corporation, supports the mission of 麻豆果冻传媒 by seeking gifts and grants and manages those funds along with other assets to support 麻豆果冻传媒 through endowed chairs, professorships, scholarships and other enhancement efforts. To learn more, visit .听
To apply for scholarships at 麻豆果冻传媒, visit www.nicholls.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/.听
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 27, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Payton Suire
Media Relations & Publications Coordinator,聽
985.448.4141 or payton.suire@nicholls.edu