The Story Behind the Scholarship:
Claude and Edith Kirkpatrick were pillars of the community by being active members of their church, civic, the arts, and charitable organizations. They met at Louisiana College and were married for 58 years. Edith graduated as Valedictorian from Louisiana College with a degree in music, then went on to study at Juilliard School of Music in New York. She received a master’s degree in music from LSU in 1965. Over the years, she was a private voice teacher, a Baptist choir director, a music instructor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles and an assistant professor at LSU. She was named to the state Board of Trustees for Higher Education and, in 1977, to the newly created Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Claude Kirkpatrick also graduated from Louisiana College with a degree in history and was a successful businessman. Claude Kirkpatrick served two terms in the House of Representatives in Louisiana as well as the Director of Public Works. After he left the political arena, he served in leadership positions at the Baton Rouge General Hospital. He was a past chairman and member of the Louisiana College Board of Directors, and served on the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Board.
Scholarship Requirements & Information:
*This scholarship has been set up to recognize an outstanding high school senior in Desoto County who has an affinity for the arts, is active in their church, and has demonstrated a high quality of academic excellence.
*Scholarship Award amount total is $500.
*Applications must be postmarked or uploaded by April 1st.