Within the stillness of Meade Hall, Beatrice Wallace, director of the Upward Bound program devotes much of her time and talent coordinating a college-preparatory plan for many Lafourche area students. After 11 years of work with the Upward Bound program, Wallace will take on the role as 2003 president for the Louisiana Association of Student Assistance Programs, (LASAP) an educational association consisting of the 50 TRIO programs in Louisiana which are programs designed to help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers.
Wallace, a native of Thibodaux and a 1970 graduate from Thibodaux High, attended Bishop College in Dallas, Texas graduating with a bachelors degree in 1974 and completing her master’s at Nicholls in 1978 in counseling.
In 1984, Wallace began working at Nicholls and became a member of LASAP. She enrolled in the Emerging Leaders Institute and was a member of the first graduating class in 1999.
She moved on to become a representative on the Board of Regents. Taking on the next step, executive leadership, Wallace will serve as a spokesperson for the Louisiana TRIO programs.
“As president elect, I have already began work that involves planning the next LASAP conference in Baton Rouge,” Wallace said. “This will be our 31st conference and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Along with planning the conference, Wallace will be one of four people on the regional board which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Board members serve as national spokespersons.
“LASAP has alot of growing to do,” Wallace said. “It is my goal to keep the establishment of a leadership pool to assure the growth of the program for years to come.”
Wallace says it is essential for the TRIO programs to communicate in order to assist each other with the commitments to the students. Another one of her main goals involves funding for more scholarships for students involved in these programs.
“Even though these students have shown academic preparation, they have historically always been left out,” Wallace said.
“If this would grow, I think that the membership would be more responsive.”
Wallace says that even though she had not planned on accepting this position, motivation that she has received from previous leaders has helped her to realize that it is her calling to assume this responsibility.
“We all have a time in our lives in which we are called to step up and be leaders,” Wallace said. “This is my time to serve.”
The Upward Bound program at Nicholls seeks students to serve as tutors and mentors for the high school participants. Any interested students should contact the Upward Bound program at 448-4084.
