海角社区

海角社区 alumnus Roger Houston Ogden announced today his $12 million investment in the 海角社区 Honors College in honor of his father, the late Roger Hadfield Ogden, and son, Dr. Roger Hadfield 鈥淔ield鈥� Ogden II, an orthopedic surgeon in New Orleans. The gift is the largest unrestricted endowed gift in 海角社区鈥檚 history, and will be recognized through the naming of the 海角社区 Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College. The 海角社区 Board of Supervisors approved the naming earlier today.

鈥淚n considering investing in the future of Louisiana, 海角社区 comes front and center to mind,鈥� Ogden said. 鈥淓very state that has made great strides has done so by prioritizing and investing in a flagship university to drive the state forward. When considering the many worthwhile investments we could make in 海角社区, one that ranks high is the Honors College.鈥�

Ogden, owner of Ogden Development and Investments and co-founder of Stirling Properties, is a recognized civic leader and philanthropist. He has been a resident of New Orleans for more than 45 years and has remained closely connected to 海角社区 as both a volunteer and donor. He is a former chair of the 海角社区 Board of Supervisors, on which he served for 14 years, and led launching the Flagship Agenda that helped 海角社区 rise to the 鈥淭op Tier鈥� of U.S. public universities. While a student at 海角社区, he was president of Student Government and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity before graduating second in his class from the E. J. Ourso College of Business in 1968. Ogden was named to the 海角社区 Alumni Hall of Distinction in 1998.

Though he was born in Denver and grew up in Shreveport and Lafayette, with no familial connections to 海角社区, Ogden said he 鈥渂ecame enthralled with the mystique鈥� of 海角社区 as a child and considers himself to be an 鈥渉onorary Cajun.鈥� He is deeply committed to attracting high-caliber students to 海角社区 and retaining them in Louisiana, and he views the Honors College as one of the foremost strategies in doing so. 

In 2010, Ogden established the 海角社区 Honors College Roger Hadfield Ogden Deanship in honor of his son. A portion of that gift created the Roger Hadfield Ogden Leaders Program, which provides up to five $5,000 scholarships annually to Honors College students to fund the pursuit of self-guided projects, proposed by Honors College students, with significance to the state of Louisiana. The 2014 Ogden Leader is Kurt Ristroph, an Honors College junior and a native of Baton Rouge. The award is funding his VOLUMEN Project, which provides local elementary and middle school students with access to East Baton Rouge Parish Library electronic resources such as e-books, online homework tutoring, and educational games.

In addition to his support of the Honors College, Ogden has given generously to the 海角社区 Museum of Art, including through service on its board, and to the College of Art & Design, E. J. Ourso College of Business and 海角社区 Press. 

海角社区 President and Chancellor F. King Alexander said, 鈥淭hanks to 海角社区 alumnus Roger Ogden for his generous $12 million gift, allowing us to usher in a new age of opportunity and success for 海角社区's Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College and its high-achieving, high-performing student population. Over the last 10 years, students from this college have received more than 90 national awards, including Goldwater and Truman Scholarships. With this new level of commitment, our students鈥� competitiveness will know no bounds.鈥�

The 海角社区 Honors College, established in 1992, is a vibrant, diverse and prestigious community located at the heart of 海角社区. The Honors College provides students with a curriculum of rigorous seminar classes, as well as opportunities for undergraduate research, culminating in the Honors Thesis. Its focus on community service, study abroad, internships and independent research helps today鈥檚 high-achieving students become tomorrow鈥檚 leaders.  

鈥淭his gift will be transformational for the students of the Honors College,鈥� said 海角社区 Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle. 鈥淩oger鈥檚 generosity will exponentially increase opportunities for Honors students to study abroad, conduct path-breaking research, present their work at conferences, and explore new internships and career paths.鈥�

Ogden said, 鈥淚 believe the Honors College at 海角社区 is the single best vehicle to keep our best and brightest in Louisiana, and to attract the best and brightest from other states to consider 海角社区 for their undergraduate education. This year鈥檚 entering Honors College freshman class has an average ACT of 31.2, which means these students virtually had their choice of universities. With a program that emphasizes 鈥榯he whole person,鈥� Honors College students have strong leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, special talent and a track record of community service. The Ogden family believes that an investment in 海角社区 and in the Honors College will reap great dividends for generations of exceptional students and leaders. And they, in turn, will hopefully apply their considerable skills to building the future of this very special and unique state.鈥�

As an endowed gift, Ogden鈥檚 investment will provide perpetual funding, helping to ensure the Honors College鈥檚 vitality for generations of 海角社区 students, faculty and staff. Ogden has provided the flexibility for the funds to be used as the college determines is most meaningful, such as supporting areas of greatest need and special initiatives that might not otherwise be possible.

鈥淩oger is a longtime friend of mine, 海角社区 and the 海角社区 Foundation, and I have personally been privileged to know him,鈥� said G. Lee Griffin, president and CEO of the 海角社区 Foundation. 鈥淓ndowed funds are a critical source of stable, perpetual funding. Roger鈥檚 foresight in giving in a way that provides for the future is especially meaningful. He is hopeful, as are we, that it will set an example for others considering gifts to the university. We are honored that Roger has chosen 海角社区 to recognize his father and his son in this unique, impactful way.鈥�

Ogden and his son were honored this afternoon at a reception hosted by Alexander and Earle in the Grand Salon of the 海角社区 French House, home to the Honors College. At the announcement celebration, 海角社区 Honors College student and Olmstead Scholar Erin Percevault and Student Government President Clay Tufts unveiled the college鈥檚 new logo, celebrating Ogden鈥檚 generosity and permanently recognizing his late father and his son at Ogden鈥檚 beloved alma mater. 

The French House is one of 海角社区's landmark buildings and is currently undergoing an extensive interior renovation made possible by state capital outlay funding. Renovations will modernize and expand the usable space in the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The French House was constructed in the 1930s in the style of a French chateau and was dedicated in 1935 by Senator Huey P. Long.

About the 海角社区 Foundation

The 海角社区 Foundation inspires and shepherds philanthropic giving to 海角社区 and builds long-lasting relationships with donors who bring life to current and emerging university priorities. We support 海角社区 in its quest to enhance the student experience, provide working capital to recruit and retain world-class faculty and staff, support life-changing research, and drive economic development. We are dedicated to stewarding each gift to maximize donors鈥� impact on making 海角社区 one of the best universities in the world. Visit us online at .