UL honors Erath couple, others for their support of UL

Erath’s Ed and Rickey Domingues were two people out of a handful who were recognized by UL Lafayette for contributions that totaled more than $4.6 million
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation honored the Domingues’ and other distinguished donors at a reception Thursday evening at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette.
The annual event recognizes donors making gifts of $10,000 or more to the University. The foundation commemorated 30 endowed gifts and 11 additional gifts of $50,000 or more to the University this year for academic and athletic programs.
“Despite challenging economic times, the University is benefitting from unprecedented private support from generous donors,” Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, said at the reception.
This year’s 30 endowments, which have a combined value of more than $4.6 million, include chairs, a lectureship, general endowments, and scholarships. Each endowment is represented by a plaque in the Hall of Honor in Martin Hall. The additions bring the total number of plaques in the Hall to 368.
“This support is making a huge difference in the University. Our freshman class this fall had the highest average GPA and the highest average ACT score in the history of the University. The freshman class had 105 valedictorians, a record number for entering freshmen. Research expenditures this past year set a new record of nearly $70 million dollars,” Savoie said.
In total, three new endowed chairs, a lectureship, five general endowments, 21 new endowed scholarships and 11 non-endowed gifts for academics and athletics were recognized at the reception.
Julie Bolton Falgout, chief executive officer of the UL Lafayette Foundation, said the non-endowed gifts “provide funds available for immediate use and offer timely operational support for a variety of different programs.”
Savoie also recognized a significant contribution to the University made by Lafayette businessman Donald Mosing on the day of the reception. Mosing, of Frank’s Casing Crew & Tool Rentals, Inc., last year donated $2.83 million to the College of Engineering.
“Last year we celebrated a $2.8 million dollar gift to the College of Engineering from Mr. Don Mosing. This gift created a $1 million dollar endowed chair, a new-computer aided design laboratory for students, a student career development program and a student leadership program. Two or three hours ago, I learned that he has committed to give the University another $1 million dollars,” Savoie said at the reception.
Endowed funds are invested, which means the capital is not spent. Only a portion of the interest earned is tapped. So, endowments are perpetual sources of funding.
To create an Endowed Chair, an institution must first raise at least $600,000 from private contributions, which is then matched by $400,000 from the Board of Regents. The total value of an Endowed Chair is $1 million. The same formula applies to the Endowed Professorship program; $60,000 comes from private donations, leading to a Board of Regents match of $40,000.
The interest is distributed for student scholarships, professor salaries, research supplements or other designated programs. The Foundation’s assets are valued at more than $144 million.
Endowments to be added to the Hall of Honor are listed below:
Acadiana Symphony Women’s League Endowed Scholarship
Annual Fund Athletic Scholarship Endowment
Atmos Energy First Generation Endowed Scholarship
William A. Brady Endowed Scholarship for Business Administration
Anne M. and Dwight T. Coles Endowed Honors Scholarship (Duo)
Corrosion Center Endowed Scholarship in Chemical Engineering
Jim & Charlotte Doyle Endowed Scholarship in Business Administration
Bill & Heather Finley Geosciences Scholarship Fund
George “Ged” Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Business
Dr. Robert G. Fontenot Memorial Endowed Graduate School Scholarship in Education
Beldon E. Fox, Sr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Ivan L. “Joey” Garzotto II Memorial Endowed Scholarship
John Hoffpauir Endowed Scholarship in Nursing
IBERIABANK Endowed Scholarship
Rotary Club of Lafayette South Endowed First Generation Scholarship in Business
Mr. & Mrs. Ovide Servat Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Nelson Stokley Endowed Football Scholarship
Spencer G. Todd Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Tennis
Mike & Jovette Mosing First Generation Scholarships in: Economics and Finance; Management; and Interior Design
Mike & Jovette Mosing Men’s Tennis Endowment and Women’s Tennis Endowment
Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc. Petroleum Engineering Faculty Development Fund
Louisiana’s Victory Run Endowment
James William Rivers Endowed Prize Fund
John Bartholomew Bienvenu Endowed Lectureship for the Hilliard University Art Museum
E. G. “T-Boy” & Martha Hebert Endowed Chair in Marketing
Mr. & Mrs. E. P. “Pat” Nalley Endowed Chair in Business Administration
Alex & Loretta Durand Theriot, Jr. Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering
The following individuals and corporations were recognized for their generous contributions to UL Lafayette’s academic and athletic programs:
Glenn Armentor
Ed & Rickey Domingues
Dupré Logistics
Bryan & Michelle Hanks
IBERIABANK
Charlie Moncla
James Moncus
The Moody Family
Tommie Rogers; Rogers Development Group, LLC
Chris & Mamie Russo; Russo Exploration, LLC
Rodney Savoy