Steven Cossé, a Southeastern alumnus, is undoubtedly leaving a lasting impact on his alma mater. His generosity has allowed for the creation of four First Generation Scholarships.
Cossé graduated from Southeastern in 1969, earning a bachelor of arts degree. He later graduated from Loyola University in 1974, earning a juris doctorate.
In 2012, Cosse’ was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award. The Alumni Association Awards Program recognizes Southeastern alumni who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers have honored the legacy of excellence at the university. Recipients of the Alumnus of the Year Award have reflected outstanding qualities as a Southeastern student, have excelled in their field after graduation, and have continued to be supportive and active in Southeastern’s future. Cossé has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate each of these qualities.
At the time of his recognition, Cossé served as president and CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation. The company hoped to create a scholarship in his honor, which inspired the first of the four First Generation Scholarships. The Steve Cossé/Murphy Oil First Generation Scholarship was established shortly after his recognition in 2012. It was matched by the Louisiana State Board of Regents in 2013.
Cossé continues his support of Southeastern through the establishment of three successive endowments. The first was the Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship, which was matched in 2022. The Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship No. 2 was established a year later, and it was matched in 2023. The Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship No. 3 was most recently established, and it was submitted for matching in 2024.
Several recipients of the First Generation Scholarships have thanked Cossé for his generosity that has ultimately allowed them to attend the university.
One recipient of the Steve Cossé/Murphy Oil First Generation Scholarship, Marissa Pareti, thanked Cossé saying, “What you did was so thoughtful, and so appreciated.” She went on to say how his generosity meant the world, as this support allowed her to continue her education at Southeastern and to continue chasing her dreams. Upon graduation in 2003, Pareti enrolled in Southeastern’s RN-BSN nursing program and is now on her way to becoming a labor and delivery nurse, a career which will in turn allow her to also help countless others.
Teresa Huerta, another recipient and current health sciences major, said that “If it wasn’t for this scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have been able to fully afford to come to Southeastern. . . . I am really glad and thankful for it.”
The university is and will forever be thankful for Steven Cossé. He continues to leave a lasting impact on the university through his support to students receiving an education at Southeastern.
Endowed scholarships, such as those established by Cossé, allow students to focus more on their studies, to boost their academic success, and to help them graduate within four or five years.
If you are interested in establishing a scholarship, please contact the Office of Development by calling (985) 549-2239 or emailing [email protected]. For more information on applying for a scholarship, contact [email protected].
