Three organizations that founded the Spring Street Museum in Shreveport have been named 2020 Pilots of the Year by the LSUS Foundation.
The National Society of Colonial Dames of America Shreveport and Red River Parishes; the Helen Mann Memorial Fund Committee; and the Friends of the Spring Street Museum were honored during the foundation’s RiverBend Revue gala Thursday night in Shreveport.
In October, those three groups donated the museum to the LSUS Foundation, which is now operating the museum on behalf of LSU Shreveport. Located in Shreveport’s oldest building, the museum is a cultural crown jewel. The Shreveport and Red River Parishes Colonial Dames chapter opened the museum in 1976 to preserve and showcase the city’s history.
Accepting the awards were Ellen Alley, representing the Colonia Dames of Louisiana Shreveport and Red River Parishes Chapter; Janie Richardson, representing the Helen Mann Memorial Fund Committee; and Lissa Grounsell, president of the Friends of the Spring Street Museum.
Also Thursday, the LSUS Foundation announced the creation of the Yancey Strain Endowed Professorship for the Spring Street Museum. Shreveport attorney Steve Yancey, president of the foundation board of directors, spent countless pro bono hours drafting the donation agreements. His mother was a member of the Colonial Dames and helped found the Spring Street Museum.
Yancey and his wife, Lynn, created the endowed professorship to support the academic coordinator for the museum.
“We are so thankful for this gift to the museum by the three organizations, and Steve Yancey’s expertise was essential in the process,” said Laura Perdue, LSUS Foundation executive director. “We thank both Steve and Lynn who made sacrifices of time for this cause, and the gift of the endowment speaks to their dedication to the museum, LSUS and the community.”
LSUS is creating new academic programs linked to the museum and expanding the museum’s community outreach.
During the gala, LSU Shreveport unveiled its Cultural Trail, a collection of resources and repositories for the region’s history and culture. The Cultural Trail consists of the Spring Street Museum, the Pioneer Heritage Center, the James S. Noel Collection, Red River Radio and the LSUS Northwest Louisiana Archives.
The university will work with other museums and cultural organizations in Shreveport-Bossier City to offer learning opportunities to students of all ages, according to LSUS Chancellor Larry Clark.
“We see the addition of the Spring Street Museum as a way to further of our mission of being a community leader,” said Clark. “But through these partnerships we need to do more to recognize the history of this region through all of its diverse voices and points of view. We want our offerings to be representative of the rich demographic and cultural makeup of the region.”
A new endowed scholarship at LSU Shreveport will honor fallen Shreveport police officers.
Shreveport police Cpl. Jason Frazier started raising money for the scholarship after Sgt. Tim Prunty was killed in the line of duty in 2010. Sgt. Prunty was fatally shot while responding to a call for help at a convenience store in southwest Shreveport.
Since then, two other Shreveport police officers – Officer Thomas LaValley and Officer Chatéri Payne – have died tragically. Officer LaValley was fatally shot while responding to call for help in 2015. Officer Payne was fatally shot outside her home earlier this year.
A detailed account of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson’s involvement in the civil rights movement has won the LSU Shreveport Masters in Liberal Arts Thesis Award.
“Moving on up a Little Higher: Mahalia Jackson, Champion of Freedom through Song”, by Sherman Houston Jr., is the first volume in The Noel Masters Series published by LSUS.
SHREVEPORT, La. -- The LSUS Foundation is now operating of the Spring Street Historical Museum on behalf of LSU Shreveport.
The Spring Street Museum will complement other LSUS resources that support arts and culture. This includes the LSUS Northwest Louisiana Archives; the Noel Collection, the largest private collection of antiquarian books in the United States; the Pioneer Heritage Center; and LSUS Red River Radio.
This fall, the university will begin operating new academic programs through the Spring Street Museum, including internships for history students and a digital arts class using the museum’s collection. Plans also include creation of a certificate program in museum studies. Faculty and community advisory boards will help develop these programs.
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Ten LSU Shreveport students have been approved for Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Scholarships offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).
LSU Shreveport assistant professor Dr. Sam Cannon is more Clark Kent than Superman, but he’s a superhero to comic artists in Chile.
Dr. Alex Mikaberidze, LSU Shreveport's internationally known expert on Napoleon Bonaparte, shares some of the Noel Collection's rare materials in conjunction with an exhibit tied to the 250th anniversary of Napoleon's birth.
A scholarship established to honor the legacy of an avid balloonist will help two LSU Shreveport students pursue undergraduate science degrees as they prepare for careers in dentistry and medicine.
A grant from the Community Foundation will help the LSU Shreveport LaPREP program nurture a new generation of scientists and technology trendsetters next summer.
The International Lincoln Center for American Studies at LSU Shreveport will bring distinguished speakers to campus this fall. Dr. Bill Pederson, who holds the American Studies Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts, started the center 36 years ago. Washington Semester, the center's signature program, offers LSUS students a front-row seat to history during a trip to the nation's capitol each year.
A Shreveport family's generous gift will help LSU Shreveport students learn the communications skills they need to succeed.
Dr. Alex Mikaberidze takes Shreveport Times writer Tiana Kennell and photographer Henrietta Wildsmith on a time travel adventure through the LSU Shreveport Noel Memorial Library's rare books collection.
The LSUS Foundation 2019 Winter Newsletter is out covering stories such as the LARGEST graduating class ever and the LSUS Foundation earns a prestigious new honor!
