Published Ocotber 17, 2024
CAPTION:Members of the Soignier family presented the donation to the ULM Foundation. (L-R) Dianne Soignier Beaird, Bruce Soignier, Mark Soignier, Dr. Heath Soignier, Dale Soignier,
Johnny Soignier, Jimmie Stapleton, Michael Soignier, Steve Soignier, ULM President Dr. Ron Berry
MONROE, LA – The ULM Foundation held a reception at the Laird Weems Center on October 5, 2024,
to celebrate a donation of $104,000 from the Soignier family to establish the Chester
and Nell Soignier Endowed Scholarship in Agribusiness.
Chester and Nell Soignier devoted over 60 years of their lives as a married couple
to God, raising a family, and agribusiness. In 1954, Chester and Nell took the risk
of purchasing a small family farm in Bosco, La. While the days were long and the
work was hard, it was their unwavering faith in God and dedication to family that
allowed them to persevere, especially through the tough years. In the early days,
almost everything was done manually. As machinery and technology developed, crops
could be planted and harvested much more efficiently.
Going to church as a family on Sunday and education were of utmost importance to Chester
and Nell. Even though it was expensive, and they had to make sacrifices, Chester
and Nell sent all eleven of their children to St. Frederick High School and helped
send eight to ULM. Chester and Nell continued to read, study, and keep abreast of
farming and gardening as they pursued their passion throughout life. The Soignier
Family is honoring their legacy with this endowment.
“Agribusiness is so vital to our economy, it’s so vital to our lives and we wanted
to make sure that those students have an opportunity to continue their education,”
said Dianne Soignier Beaird, daughter of Chester and Nell Soignier.
The scholarship will be awarded each semester to a student pursuing a degree in Agribusiness,
who maintains a minimum 2.5 GPA. Recipients will be recommended by the College of
Business and Social Sciences Scholarship Committee.
The first recipient of the Chester and Nell Sognier Endowed Scholarship in Agribusiness
is Katelynn Faulk, a sophomore Agribusiness major from Winnsboro, La. Faulk received
$2,000 for the Fall 2024 semester and will receive another $2,000 for the Spring 2025
semester.
In a note to the Soignier family, Faulk thanked them for their generosity. “This year
has been tough on my family and we were all worried that I would not have the money
for this semester, but I was blessed by families like yours. Your family has been
the biggest blessing to mine, and we are all so appreciative,” said Faulk.
For more information about Chester and Nell Soignier, click here.
CAPTION: Generations of the Soignier Family gathered at the Laird Weems Center on October
5, 2024, to honor the legacy of Chester and Nell Soignier.
