Nicholas Cefalu Scholarship awarded to Southeastern student

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies recently announced that history graduate student Ricky J. Lips, Jr. of Loranger has been awarded the 2025 Nicholas Cefalu Graduate Research Assistantship. Sponsored by the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern and funded by a grant from Dr. Ann Kay Logarbo, Cefalu’s daughter, the competitive award honors the life and memory of the long time Louisiana legislator and businessman.

“The Cefalu Award is one of the most important resources we have to support regional research on Southeastern’s home territory,” said Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies Director Samuel Hyde. “Ricky Lips is working on an important study that highlights the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the civilian population of the Florida Parishes. We are delighted that he has received this means to continue his research.”

The renewable award includes a package of benefits totaling nearly $21,000 and is awarded each summer by the center. The award competition is open to students conducting research in all fields with a special emphasis on Cefalu’s personal interests, including regional politics, agriculture and business. Interested students are encouraged to contact the center for more information at [email protected] or 985-549-2151.