Scholarship memorial for LSUE educator Couvillion

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A scholarship is planned for the longtime LSUE professor and administrator Dr. John L. Couvillion, who died March 15 at the age of 75.
Couvillion’s obituary in The Eunice News stated, “Dr. Couvillion devoted his life to God, family and LSUE.”
Couvillion worked for nearly 33 years at Louisiana State University Eunice. During that time he taught many students who became medical doctors, Cary Lawson, director of University Advancement at LSUE, said.
The Dr. John L. Couvillion Scholarship would become the 45th scholarship fund at LSUE through the LSUE Foundation. The scholarship endowments total more than $500,000, Lawson said.
A minimum of $10,000 is needed to endow a scholarship, she said.
The Couvillion family issued the following statement.
“It would mean everything to Dr. Couvillion and his family to have a scholarship in his name. To be able to provide a student with the potential to get a great education from LSUE would continue his passion for education and his legacy for a long, long time to come and would make him proud. He took great pride in his role of promoting education and LSUE. He was a catalyst to his students to fulfill their career goals. He truly felt LSUE laid a great foundation for these kids to move on and be successful. He saw the potential in every student and encouraged them to study hard, trust in God, and always do their very best. He was dedicated to the youth who attended LSUE and selflessly did everything he could to better the lives of his students in and out of the classroom. May this scholarship be his legacy, and through it may he continue to do what he loved, and may he receive the appreciation that he deserves.”
Couvillion retired as vice chancellor for students affairs and professor of chemistry.
Courvillion earned his bachelor’s degree from LSU New Orleans in 1963 and his master’s and doctorate degrees from LSU in 1965 and 1967.
Prior to coming to LSUE, he worked from 1972 to 1974 as a research chemist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
At LSUE, he served 32 years as a chemistry professor; four years as Division of Science head; five years and director of resource development; and 22 years as dean of student and institutional services and vice chancellor of student affairs.
In 1996, he served six months as acting chancellor.
For nearly 25 years he served as faculty advisor for the LSUE Student Government Association.
In information published at his retirement, it stated, “...Dr. Couvillion has had a dramatic impact on: the numbers and success rates of LSUE students who have been admitted into medical school; and, on the numbers who have ultimately received their MD and are now practicing in the greater Acadiana region.”
It continued, “...Dr. Couvillion’s efforts have clearly gone far beyond the boundaries of the campus. It is obvious that Dr. Couvillion has had, and will continue to have, notable impact for years to come, on the health and welfare of the rural communities in our service region, because of the positive influence which he has had in preparing pre-medical students for our region of Acadiana.”
Memorial donations are accepted through the LSUE Foundation, P.O. Box 1551, Eunice, LA 70535.
Or, donations may be made online at
lsufoundation.org/givetolsue
For more information, call 337-550-1257 or 888-FOR-LSUE extension 257.