Published April 13, 2023
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe is proud to announce the release of a hardback
version of There’s a Bridge on the Bayou, authored by Cindy Foust and illustrated by Srdjan Marjanovic. One hundred percent
of profits will benefit the ULM Centennial Scholars Program, which provides higher
education engagement and exposure opportunities for fourth graders as they grow up
and eventually enroll at ULM during the University’s 100th anniversary in 2031.
The public is invited to purchase their own hardback copy for $20 at ulm.edu/100.
The book's main character is ULM President Ronald Berry, who shares his personal story
about how education and ULM changed his life. The book is intended to inspire hope
in the belief that students can do and become whatever they set their minds to, as
long as they continue to dream.
During the week of its 90th anniversary and the investiture of its 9th president in
2021, ULM provided over $1 million in future scholarships to third graders in Ouachita
Parish. The scholarships were included in the students’ book copies to inspire them
to continue to read and learn. This age cohort was selected to improve literacy and
instill hope for higher education. Over the past two school years, the University
has continued to engage the students in a variety of ways, like giving them LEAP test
survival kits and inviting them to march in the homecoming parade.
Because of the success of the Centennial Scholars program, ULM is expanding opportunities
from just students in Ouachita Parish to all students in the same age cohort in Northeast
Louisiana. In the coming weeks, ULM will give copies of There’s a Bridge on the Bayou with scholarships to fourth graders in multiple parishes across the region.
"The Centennial Scholars Program will continue to steward these students from now
until they reach college age, giving hope to children who may have never known a college
degree was an option,” said Dr. Berry.
For more information about There’s a Bridge on the Bayou and the Centennial Scholars
Program, visit ulm.edu/100.
