Highlighting the Alumni Summer Social on Aug. 24 were the scholarship presentations to the Lafayette Junior Leadership and Leadership Lafayette Programs. Annually, the Alumni Program donates $2,000 in scholarships and countless hours of programming assistance for the Leadership Lafayette and Lafayette Junior Leadership programs. For more than a decade, eligible program participants have been awarded scholarships to offset the cost of program tuition.

On behalf of the alumni, Carlee Alm-LaBar, chairperson of the LIA, presented the 2011 donation checks to program representatives.

The donations were accepted by Melanie Martin, coordinator of the Lafayette Junior Leadership Program, and Anne Falgout and Anne Laughlin, co-chairs of the Leadership Lafayette Program.

"The alumni members recognize the importance of investing in the development of future and emerging leaders,” said Rob Robison, chairman of the Alumni Program. "It is an honor to provide scholarships again this year.”

Alumni are invited to serve in many programming roles throughout the year. With more than 1,000 graduates, the programs have proven to build lasting relationships through such alumni activities.

Lafayette Junior Leadership and Leadership Lafayette are programs of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana and are sponsored by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce . Both are designed to empower participants in leadership development through intense community awareness curricula in order to approach complex community issues through in-depth analysis and consideration of variables.

Applications for the 2012 Leadership Lafayette Class XXV are now available. If you would like to participate in the year-long program, contact Cydra Wingerter at 337-408-3652 or cydra@lafchamber.org. Applications are due by Oct. 28.