LSUE Foundation holds Diner en Blanc Scholarship Gala

The Liberty Theater may be only a few miles down the road from the campus of LSU Eunice, but it recently served as the perfect venue for the college’s scholarship fundraiser.
The Art Deco-Vaudeville Liberty Theater, built in 1924, radiates with Cajun Prairie history. It is presently used for weekly performances that showcase the unique culture of the region. LSU Eunice will celebrate its Golden Anniversary in 2017. Since October 1967, it has served as southwest Louisiana’s only accredited junior college on the Cajun Prairie.
To mark this upcoming milestone, the LSUE Foundation created its Diner en Blanc, an annual fundraising event for “Golden Anniversary Scholarships” awarded each fall to qualified incoming students. On Friday evening, April 17, the second annual Diner en Blanc brought together LSUE faculty, staff and community supporters for a unique experience.
Until the doors opened, only the event planners knew the “mystery location”, in the tradition of Diner en Blanc “pop-up” picnics held worldwide for over 20 years. Over 140 guests entered the theater’s lobby, and whether whimsical, formal or casual, they were all decked out in white clothing, hats and accessories. For the next three hours, they enjoyed an impromptu, but elegant dining experience.
“I first heard of the tradition on NPR one morning as I drove into work,” said Madelaine Landry, LSUE Foundation Director. “I knew immediately that we should try to adapt its format to our small Foundation’s needs.”
Landry also noted that staging this year’s event at the Liberty turned out to be a perfect choice.
“Although the threat of rain forced us to move out of the courtyard, many of the guests expressed delight at having the theater’s vintage interior as a backdrop. After all, LSU Eunice truly belongs to, and is embraced by, the people of Acadiana.”
Attendees are invited by invitation from table captains, volunteers who take on the tasks of making sure their table of eight or more guests will be individually decorated prior to their arrival. Each table provides its own food, beverages and dining accoutrements; preparations made weeks or even hours before the doors open.
At 5:30, champagne corks begin popping, bottles of wine were opened and friends greeted friends during a magical evening. Musical accompaniments were provided by harp soloist Nancy Simon, Director of the Eunice Symphony Orchestra, and Rick Nesbitt, KEUN Radio.
2015 Table Captains were Felicia Wiggins, Lynn Lejeune, Pam Quirk, Jane Ardoin, Joan McManus, Sally Fruge, Kathleen Warner, Michele Barras Richard, Michele Fruge, Elizabeth Roberie, Kelly Pitre and Kelly Bertrand. LSUE student volunteers greeted and registered the guests. These included Sheleah Thibodeaux, Kyle Kaamil, Travontae Robinson, Laura Reed, Erilyn Adams, Stephanie Cooper, Catlyn Lauret, Kaliyah Edwards, Donna Leonards and Victoria Fontenot.
“The second, annual Diner en Blanc event was a festive and enjoyable way for community donors and friends to support LSU Eunice and its most important asset, its students,” noted Dr. Bill Nunez, LSUE chancellor, “because all of the money raised goes towards the funding of student scholarships!”
Nunez noted that the cuts to higher education over the past seven years will continue to affect students and their families. “Obviously, these increases in tuition and fees have affected a fiscal hardship on students and their families, even TOPS Awardees, to the point that many have had to delay or drop-out of college in order to work and save for a later entry and/or continuation, which, for several, may never again occur! Therefore, to all donors and participants this year, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for helping to make such an important LSUE Foundation event so successful!”
Financial and in-kind sponsors for this year’s gala included Acadian Medical Center, CLECO, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, The Florence Mauboules Charitable Trust, Basile State Bank, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Aucoin, The Committee to Re-elect Dale Sittig and Harry Smith’s True Value Hardware. Joe Richard supplied photographic services for the event.