Public Invited to Attend Kick-Off for LSU's Second Annual Scholarship First Bus Tour in Start, Louisiana
Special Guests include Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Rising Country Artist and LSU Student, Timothy Wayne
BATON ROUGE – LSU President William F. Tate IV will travel the state Oct. 15-18 in the second installment of the Scholarship First Bus Tour. His goal is to ensure that LSU's priorities align with the needs of the state and to find even more ways to support the state’s people and economy.
The four-day tour kicks off with an official send-off event at Start Elementary, highlighted by speeches from President Tate and Congresswoman Julia Letlow. Attendees will also enjoy a performance by rising Capitol Records Nashville recording artist and LSU student Timothy Wayne, who happens to be the nephew of legendary country artist Tim McGraw, a proud native of Start, La.
Next, the tour will head to a Rural Health Roundtable at the Richland Parish Library in Rayville, La. The panel discussion will center on the pressing issues facing rural healthcare in Louisiana, bringing together healthcare leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss challenges, ongoing initiatives, and potential solutions. Panelists include President Tate, Congresswoman Letlow, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, and more.
The tour will then head to Chase, La., to visit the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station. The 300-acre station in Franklin Parish is the only facility of its kind devoted solely to sweet potato research. The new varieties developed there are among the most popular in the world. At this stop, President Tate will present a plaque commemorating the facility’s 75th anniversary.
The remainder of the tour will feature many other stops, including Rayville, Monroe, Winnfield, Fort Johnson, Arnaudville, New Iberia, Avery Island, Houma, Morgan City, Plaquemine and Port Allen. Details are subject to change. Follow LSU’s social media accounts or check www.lsu.edu/president/tour for updates, highlights and behind-the-scenes activities.
Tuesday, October 15 – Start, LA
9 a.m. – Bus tour kick-off event, open to the public (883 Charleston Dr, Start, LA 71279)
11:30 a.m. – Rural Healthcare Roundtable
1:30 p.m. – Sweet Potato Research Facility Tour 75th Anniversary Celebration
More details about the tour including media availability and assets will be available soon.
LSU Scholarship First Agenda: https://www.lsu.edu/scholarship-first/index.php
About Timothy Wayne
With a guitar in one hand and a history book in the other, this young country artist and LSU TIGER is hitting all the right chords in academia and the music industry. With a record deal from UMG Nashville and Capitol Records Nashville, he's balancing his passion for music with his dedication to earning a history degree. Guided by faith, family, and hard work, Timothy is an inspiration to his peers and fans, proving that with a little grit and a whole lot of heart, you can chase your dreams without giving up on your education.
Latest LSU News
- LSU Invited to Join Prestigious Military AssociationLSU has been unanimously invited to join the prestigious Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States, or AMCSUS. The invitation was issued because of the university's long-standing military tradition, active ROTC programs, and its current efforts to support the U.S. military through cybersecurity research and education.
- Harnessing a Tweet Storm: Using Fairness-aware Artificial Intelligence and Social Media to Improve Hurricane Resilience, and MoreHow we can use artificial intelligence for social good? Artificial intelligence, or AI, can help us make decisions, but one of the biggest concerns is the bias problem.
- New LSU Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building Aims to Elevate Louisiana’s EconomyLSU marked the final day of President William F. Tate IV’s statewide bus tour by announcing the vision for a new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building and a $15 million leadership gift from Art Favre, founder of Performance Contractors and a graduate of the first LSU construction management class in 1972.
- LSU Student Team’s FarmSmart App Helps Farmers Manage Crops, Weeds With AILSU students and alumni have created a new, AI-powered tool called FarmSmart that allows farmers and gardeners to quickly access actionable intelligence on how to best manage their crops and get rid of weeds.
- LSU Libraries Dean Elected to Board of Association of Research LibrariesStanley Wilder, the Kathleen and Joel Ory Dean of LSU Libraries, has been elected to serve on the board of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) from 2025-2027.
- LSU recognized for commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes for first-generation college studentsFirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success, recently announced LSU as one of eighty new members of the FirstGen Forward Network for 2024-25.