Heroes Like You
Who makes our mission possible?
Heroes like you.
Being a hero doesn’t require rushing into a burning building to save lives. The definition is a bit broader than that and requires only the selfless attempt (and intent) to benefit others through some amount of personal sacrifice. When you give your assets to support our mission, you become a hero—at least to the students whose lives are transformed during their time at the University.
What does a hero look like? Here are just a few of the supporters who have helped us change lives.
Duhon Family/BORSF Endowed Chair in Librarianship
The Duhon family’s connection to UL Lafayette runs deep, spanning nearly a century and four generations. It began with family matriarch Grace O’Bryan, who earned her degree in education from Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning (now UL Lafayette). Since then, ten members of the Duhon family have proudly carried on the tradition.
Grace and her husband Andrew C. Duhon, Sr. went on to become self-made entrepreneurs, passing on their businesses to their children and grandchildren, while instilling the value of a solid education. For Grace, a schoolteacher of 40 years, books were essential, so it’s fitting the family chose to honor their family by creating the Duhon Family/Board of Regents Endowed Chair in Librarianship.
Their gift was bestowed upon the University in part through savings bonds, one of the many ways individuals can leave a planned gift to benefit students, faculty and staff well into the future. Make a lasting impact at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette through a planned gift. Contact us today to include UL Lafayette in your planned gifts and ensure future generations of students have the resources to continue our legacy of excellence.
Linda Wharton & Roger Lehman Planned Giving Story
Lehman Legacy Endowed Scholarship in Nursing
Yvonne and Bertram Lehman Jr. taught their children the value of education, leaving a lasting impact that continues to this day. The siblings, Linda Lehman Wharton ’70, Robert Lehman ’71, Richard Lehman ’76 and Roger Lehman ’81, were first-generation college students and all attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL).
Thanks in part to receiving an inheritance from their great uncle, each had the opportunity to attain the life-changing gift of an excellent education. The family of four wanted to do the same for students in similar circumstances. They chose to honor their parents and give back to the University by establishing the Lehman Legacy Endowed Scholarship in Nursing for first-generation students. “We wanted to make it possible for someone to finish their degree, whether through tuition assistance or buying books,” Wharton said.
Today, they fondly remember their time at UL Lafayette, and this gift — a portion of which comes from an IRA distribution — provides a unique way for the family to see their generosity in action for years to come. Make a lasting impact at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette through a planned gift. Contact us today to include UL Lafayette in your planned gifts and ensure future generations of students have the resources to continue our legacy of excellence.
Theresa Travasos’s Planned Gift Impact
The site of Evangeline Hall, where Coronna Hall stands today, holds a special place in the heart of Dr. Harold Travasos. It’s where he met Theresa Russo, who would become his wife. The couple began their journey together at UL Lafayette formerly known as Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI). They both graduated from the University in 1948 and were soon married, a union that started on campus and lasted 75 years.
After graduation, the pair moved to Alabama where Dr. Travasos continued his studies in veterinary medicine, but eventually returned to Abbeville, LA, to begin his practice with Theresa by his side. Together, they built a vast estate prompting a strong desire to give back to where it all started—at UL Lafayette.
Theresa had fond memories of her time here and wanted others to share in that joy. “We had a wonderful life. College meant so much to us both,” Travasos said. “That’s why she wanted to leave something to the University. I think that’s one of the biggest accomplishments of our lives.”
A love for her alma mater led Theresa to leave a planned gift to the University, which has now been fully realized. Make a lasting impact at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette through a planned gift. Contact us today to include UL Lafayette in your planned gifts and ensure future generations of students have the resources to continue our legacy of excellence.
The Edith Garland Dupre’ Library Impact Story
The Edith Garland Dupre’ Library is fortunate to have some of the most talented library scientists, researchers and archivists on staff. These experts in their field work diligently to fulfill the library’s mission of ensuring students, faculty and the public have access to information through the teaching, acquisition, organization and preservation of information resources.
The library staff is a team of dedicated professionals who strive to maintain the library’s elevated standing among its peer institutions. Each year faculty and staff attend conferences, publish articles, conduct research and more in order to sustain and grow their professional development and the library’s prominence.
This wouldn’t be possible without the support of generous donors like the Estate of Andrew Duhon, Dr. James Griffin, Jr. and Tiffany Griffin Pontiff. The family established The Duhon Family/BORSF Endowed Chair in Librarianship to honor the legacy of their grandparents Andrew and Grace Duhon. “This endowment helps create opportunities for professional development and travel for our faculty librarians”, said Dr. Brian Doherty, Dean of University Libraries.
Through their planned giving, a journey that began several years ago, the library is able to remain a resource for study, research and teaching.
Make a lasting impact at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette through a planned gift. Contact us today to include UL Lafayette in your planned gifts and ensure future generations of students have the resources to continue our legacy of excellence.