Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo leaders presented South Louisiana Community College's Young Memorial Campus with a check for $13,500 Tuesday to be used for scholarships. Shown from left are Earl Bouton of SLCC, Jo Anne Bergeron of the MCOFR leadership, SLCC Campus Director Tammie Moore, Sammy Cannata of the MCOFR leadership, Sheila Hue and Cassie Adams of SLCC, and Jonathan Scully of Pelican Companies, the rodeo's title sponsor.
The Review/Bill Decker
Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo leaders presented the Boy Scouts of America with a $1,200 check Tuesday. Shown from left are Michael Gorman and Jeffrey Price representing the Scouts; Jo Anne Bergeron of the MCOFR, Jory Champagne of the Scouts, Sammy Cannata of the MCOFR, and Ethan Blanco and Jase Blanc of the Scouts.
Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo leaders presented the ARC of St. Mary with a $500 check Tuesday. Shown from left are Jo Anne Bergeron of the MCOFR, Director Kristal Hebert and Rachelle Womack of ARC of St. Mary, Sammy Cannata of the MCOFR, and Jonathan Scully of the Pelican Companies, the title sponsor of the rodeo.
Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo leaders presented the St. Mary Chamber with a check for $500 Tuesday. The money will go into a fund in memory of longtime Chamber President Donna Meyer. Shown from left are Kristal Hebert of the ARC of St. Mary, Tammie Moore and Jo Anne Bergeron of the Chamber board and representing the MCOFR, Chamber President Beth Chiasson, Sammy Cannata of the MCOFR, Sheila Hue of the Chamber and Jonathan Scully of the Pelican Companies, the title sponsor of the rodeo.
Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo leaders presented local police officers with a $1,000 check for the Morgan City Police Benevolent Fund. Shown from left are Earl Bouton of SLCC; Capt. Chad Adams; Jo Anne Bergeron of the MCOFR; Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr.; Sammy Cannata of the MCOFR; Capt. Betty Augman; Jonathan Scully of the Pelican Companies, the title sponsor of the rodeo; and Sheila Hue and Cassie Adams of SLCC.
Fishing rodeo proceeds go to SLCC, Scouts, Police Benevolent Fund and more
Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo contestants landed their fish in June. On Tuesday, local and regional institutions and nonprofits landed $31,500 in donations from rodeo proceeds.
Checks were presented Tuesday at the South Louisiana Community College’s Young Memorial Campus.
The breakdown:
—$13,500 went to SLCC for scholarships
—$13,500 went to Nicholls State’s Petroleum Engineering and Safety Technology program for scholarships
—$1,500 went to the Atchafalaya Golf Association
—$1,200 went to the Boy Scouts of America
—$1,000 went to the Morgan City Police Benevolent Fund
—$500 went to ARC of St. Mary
—$500 went to a St. Mary Chamber fund
—$500 went to the Nicklaus Bolner Foundation
Campus Director Tammie L. Moore said the money headed for SLCC will go for scholarships, divided equally among applicants seeking academic degrees and those in noncredit work-related training pursuits. The size of the scholarships will depend on how many students apply.
Both part-time and full-time students are eligible to apply, and they must have a 2.5 GPA or greater.
Past recipients have majored in general studies, practical nursing, business and more.
MCOFR has given more than $40,000 in scholarships to SLCC students in Morgan City since 2017.
“MCOFR has been an incredible partner to SLCC and our Morgan City campus for years,” said Lana Fontenot, vice chancellor for institutional advancement. “Scholarships are often the determining factor for students who are in need of financial resources to attend college. MCOFR is changing the lives of our students, and we cannot be more grateful for their support.”
“The students are usually super-excited,” Moore said Tuesday. “It helps with transportation, books, just the costs that they have.”
“That’s by far the largest donation we’ve been able to give to the school,” said Sammy Cannata of the fishing rodeo organization.
According to material from the Boy Scouts, “Scouts of BSA emphasizes outdoor experience and community service. It provides opportunities for leadership development.
“We have an appreciation for our environment. Scouting promotes a life exemplifying the Scout Oath and Law. Troop 49 instills these values to our youth.”
The MCOFR donation will go to awards and advancement to Scouts, the troop said. “It will also help to update our equipment used for camping and volunteering needs.”
ARC of St. Mary is putting the money toward recreational equipment for its clients, said Director Kristal Hebert.
ARC of St. Mary in Centerville trains and employs people with physical and developmental disabilities. Among the facility’s services is Day Habilitation, designed to help clients become “independent in day-to-day, non-vocational, personal skills. …
“They go in the community, and they DANCE to celebrate the day!” according to information from ARC.
ARC of St. Mary continues to try to raise money for a van to take clients to and from janitorial jobs.
The Chamber check will go into a fund in honor of Donna Meyer, the long-time Chamber president who died in October.
The Morgan City Police Benevolent Fund “helps our law enforcement officers in any kind of need,” said Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr.