More than 200 students attended ‘College Night on the Bluff” sponsored by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Representatives from University colleges and departments, financial aid, student life, and student activities were on hand to meet with prospective students and parents. More than 40 eligible students received scholarship awards at the event.

More than 200 high school seniors attend; 40 scholarships offered

SU Ag Center’s USDA liaison Curtis Chisley speaks with students at ‘College Night on the Bluff’ in P.B.S. Pinchback Hall at Southern University, Baton Rouge..

Southern University, Baton Rouge awarded some 40 scholarships in early April at its first ‘College Night on the Bluff’ event attended by more than 200 high school seniors and some parents.

“This was simply amazing,” said Tracie Abraham, director of the Office of Admissions and Recruiting. “We had hoped around 100 to 150 students would come. I was overwhelmed by this turnout.”

The big attraction for the event was the chance to receive a scholarship offer at the event held in the atrium of the P.B.S. Pinchback Engineering Building. The 40 scholarships awarded during the program totaled more than $300,000, Abraham said.

High school seniors from East and West Baton Rouge, Ascension, St. Landry, St. Helena, and other parishes attended the event. Some of the schools represented included Baton Rouge Magnet High, McKinley Magnet High, Catholic High, Southern University Laboratory, Christian Life Academy, Opelousas High, and St. Helena Central.

Students were offered scholarships in varying amounts from the Dolores M. Richard Spikes Honor’s College, engineering, business, and other curriculums.

Interim chancellor Margaret Ambrose kicked off the night by welcoming the students and their parents. “We want you to choose Southern University,” she told the audience. She received a large applause when she said, “This evening we are prepared to offer you scholarships on the spot.”

Beverly Wade, dean of the Spikes Honor’s College, said she was overjoyed by the turnout and “especially pleased” with the large number of high academic achievers. She awarded at least 10 scholarships to the Spikes Honor’s College.

“It says a lot that so many students came out, and it says even more that so many students from local schools like Baton Rouge High, McKinley High, Scotlandville and Southern University Lab want to be a part of Southern University,” Wade said.

Dozens of students and their parents came merely to find out more about the university and to prepare for the registration process in the fall, Abraham said. “We wanted this to be a learning experience for students and their parents who may not be familiar with all of the educational and financial aid services we provide at Southern.”