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Sept. 30, 2005

Area Students Named Recipients of John Colvin Scholarship

Four area students attending the University of Louisiana at Monroe have been selected as the 2005-2006 recipients of John Andrew Colvin Memorial Scholarships. John Logan Morris, sophomore agribusiness student, Rayville, $1000; Jamie Leigh Robbins, daughter of Jerry and the late Donna Robbins, a freshman nursing student, Fort Necessity, $2000; Matthew A. Padgett, son of Dr. Boyd and Marilyn Padgett, a freshman nursing student, Winnsboro, $1000; and Jill Denise Givens, daughter of Douglas and Kimberly Givens and Sadie and Donnie Lopez, a junior agribusiness student, Jigger, $1000.

The John Andrew Colvin Memorial Scholarship was established by the Colvin family and friends in 1987 in honor and memory of John Andrew Colvin, who, while an NLU agriculture student majoring in agronomy, lost his life in a farming accident on the NLU-Johnson farm in November of that year.

"John was instrumental in expanding the row crop programs at NLU and always volunteered for special projects sponsored by the NLU Agriculture Department," said Mary Sue Colvin in reference to her son. "Those who knew him at NLU described him as 'more than just a student, he was a respected leader both in the classroom and in the field.'"

In July of 2005, the Colvin Family, under the direction of the ULM Scholarship Office and the ULM Office of Development, changed the criteria of the John Andrew Memorial Scholarship to also honor the memory of Donna Martin Robbins, a life-long friend of the Colvin Family.

On April 17, 2005, Donna Martin Robbins lost her life in a tragic accident at her home. Donna was a 1985 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University School of Nursing. She and her husband, Jerry, are the parents of three children, Jamie, Kristen and John (named for their good friend, John Colvin).

"Those patients under Donna's care, her fellow nurses and doctors and the ULM nursing students assigned to her floor remember her as a highly skilled and compassionate nurse whose laugh brightened the halls of St. Francis Hospital each day of the 15 years she worked there," said Colvin.

The John A. Colvin Scholarship is managed by the ULM Foundation and provides a minimum of two to four scholarships annually in the amount of $1000 to $2000 per student per school year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years if a 2.5 GPA is maintained.

According to the scholarship requirements, recipients must be a resident of Franklin Parish. If no one qualifies from Franklin Parish, the scholarship will be given to students who are residents of any other parish in north Louisiana. Recipients must major in agriculture or nursing, with at least one recipient pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Recipients must have a B average in high school and must demonstrate Christian character, a love and appreciation for all the blessings of nature and a compassion for others.

"John Colvin and Donna Robbins shared a close friendship, an up-beat, joyful view of life, a love of children and nature, and an underlying principle of helping others," said Colvin. "John and Donna will continue to help others reach their goals through the John Andrew Colvin Memorial Scholarship."

The ULM Foundation is committed to a policy of sound financial management of this endowment fund. From the time of its establishment in 1987 until the present date, the John Colvin Memorial Scholarship has grown to almost $100,000. As this is an endowed fund, only the interest is used for scholarships. Contributions may be added at any time. Those wishing to make donations in honor or memory of loved ones may make checks payable to the John Colvin Scholarship Fund. Send to ULM Foundation, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209-3205.

 

Mary Sue Colvin contributed to this story.

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