Chavis scholarship established

[Guest abovetherim]

9/8/2008 A new scholarship has been established at Lamar University by Tamerla Chavis, the only female neurosurgeon in the Golden Triangle and the first graduate named a Lamar University Distinguished Young Alumna.  The scholarship was established to provide scholarship assistance for engineering students at Lamar University.

The Beaumont native is a graduate of Hebert High School and received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Lamar in 1983.  Before committing to Lamar, Chavis considered attending Rice University, but after meeting Richard Price, former director of minority recruitment and retention for the College of Engineering at Lamar, she felt that Lamar was the best fit for her because of its nurturing atmosphere. 

Very active on the campus as a cheerleader and student supreme-court justice, Chavis was granted a full scholarship for four years, allowing her to study more and have time for extracurricular activities.  

“It would have been very difficult for my family to fund my college education back then,†Chavis said.  With this in mind, Chavis knows first-hand how vital an academic scholarship is to student success.

She went on to attend medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where she completed her internship and residency.

Before opening her medical practice in Beaumont in 2001, Chavis completed a two-year fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at the State University of New York at Buffalo in affiliation with the Millard Fillmore Hospital.  She also practiced with the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch Medical Group, S.C. for four years in Chicago.

Chavis is active in the medical community as a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the Association of Neurological Surgeons.  She is also a former member of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board, serving as board president for the 2004-2005 academic year.  Currently, Chavis serves as a trustee on the board of the Lamar University Foundation.

Chavis emphasizes that her success would not have been possible without the financial assistance that she received.  “I understand the importance of education,†Chavis said.  “I understand what having a scholarship meant to me.â€

She believes that giving back to her alma mater is the right thing to do.  “It has given so much to so many,†she said.  “We need to support the institutions that have allowed us to achieve.â€

For information about establishing an endowed scholarship, contact the Lamar University Foundation at (409) 880-2117.

http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/news/207_6918.htm

[Guest coachacola]

And the Embs Scholarship has been established.  These are probably part of Lamar's $100 million campaign.

Anonymous donors have established the Elmer E. and Patricia Muldoon Embs Scholarship in Chemical Engineering at Lamar University in honor of Elmer and Patricia Embs of Beaumont.

Link: http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/news/207_6929.htm

[Guest abovetherim]

Dr. Richard L. Price Auditorium to honor professor, mentor

Lamar University honored a long-time beloved professor Tuesday by dedicating the 250-seat auditorium at the John Gray Center as the Dr. Richard L. Price Auditorium.

http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/articles/221_6931.htm

[Guest coachacola]

Add the David Molina scholarship the list:

David, Darlie and Dana Molina of Fannett have established a scholarship to honor the memory of their son and brother, David Foreman Molina. The David Foreman Molina Scholarship will benefit students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Lamar University.

Link: http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/news/207_6934.htm