Alexis Rook, one of our two LSU Atlanta Scholarship Endowment recipients for 2009, sent us a letter recently to share her experiences and gratitude for the scholarship support.  If you wonder why almost everything we do is focused on scholarship fundraising this letter should provide illumination and inspiration.  Some excerpts:

"My first semester here at LSU has been filled with new experiences, new friends, exciting events and ultimately the best college experience I could have imagined...I quickly got into a routine of going to class, hitting the Highland Dining Hall, walking the lakes, hanging out with friends and - oh yea- occasionally studying. A close friend from my high school is on the soccer team so I made a point to go to most of her games. 

"At my first night game in the student section if Tiger Stadium...WOW...it didn't take long to realize nothing can beat a Saturday night here. I started to count down the days between games and dread the bye week and away games. I made my first trip home for fall break a trip to Athens with high school friends and watched LSU pull out an exciting win over UGA.  I am anxiously awaiting the next season to be with the other students and the band in Tiger Stadium.  I am hoping to make it home for the first game of the season in Atlanta against North Carolina.

"(This spring) I attended some basketball games but I am devoting the majority of my time to school work as I learned that studying in college is a little different than high school."

"I would like to thank all of you so much for selecting me for a 2009 scholarship. You gave me the opportunity to be at LSU and I can say I made the perfect decision and I'm enjoying it more than I imagined.  The scholarship was a huge help to my family and I will forever be grateful."

"Please tell the 2010 recipient that I would be more than willing to help them or give advice of any kind as they prepare to come to LSU.  Geaux Tigers!"

Alexis Rook