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Building a Scholarship Legacy: LeClerc paves the way for future Engineering students

Bernie LeClerc '82, is making it possible for other students to receive an education in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Engineering — in part through a planned charitable gift.

While working toward his degree in chemical engineering, LeClerc's professor shared some advice that stayed with him through the years.

"I received a [four-year] academic scholarship and remember Dr. Rickels indicating that you took on a moral obligation to repay that scholarship," he said. "My education has helped me to do well over the years, so I am happy to donate back to the university."

LeClerc resides in Fulshear, Texas, with his wife, Debra, a fellow UL Lafayette graduate with a degree in education. He is currently retired and enjoying life after a 34-year career in engineering for BP Amono. The couple has two daughters and four grandchildren.

As a faithful donor to the University for many years, LeClerc previously established an endowment to help provide scholarships. He plans to grow it into a fund that can support an annual four-year scholarship for deserving students.

While updating his will, LeClerc decided to expand his philanthropic efforts to include a planned gift. It was a meaningful fit to leave a portion of his estate to the place that provided him with the education to launch his career.

Planned gifts make it possible for UL Lafayette alumni and friends to make a difference for future generations of students while putting their financial assets to work through tax-efficient charitable strategies. Gifts of stocks, bonds, real estate, unused retirement assets, cash and life insurance can profoundly impact the University's future.

Planned gifts have been established to benefit many colleges and departments across campus, including scholarships and endowed professorships, chairs and graduate student fellowships.

Through his own annual and planned gifts, LeClerc can share his UL Lafayette experience with others.

"I hope that an endowed scholarship will help a deserving student earn an engineering degree who might otherwise have trouble paying for their education," he said.