Kwanis Club awards scholarships to Erath High’s Everett Etie, North Vermilion’s Abbie Bourque

Hundreds of students in Vermilion Parish are set to graduate high school in the coming days.
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville, a couple of those students will not have to spend as much money as they continue their education. On Tuesday, the club awarded Erath High School’s Everett Etie with the Lloyd Doré Scholarship and North Vermilion High School’s Abbie Bourque with the new South Louisiana Community College scholarship.
“This is a scholarship that we have awarded for nearly 50 years,” said Kiwanian Ross Comeaux, who serves as the scholarship chair, said of the Llyod Dore Scholarship. “We increased the total, so it’s now $8,000 for four years. This the first year offering the SLCC scholarship that’s going to total $2,000 for the two years.
“These are two deserving winners.”
Bourque said she plans to pursue a focus on business and marketing. She said this next step to SLCC is a one of perseverance.
“My journey hasn’t always been perfect, but it has taught me the value of hard work,” Bourque said, “and not giving up, even when things get tough. Over the years, I’ve learned that success isn’t about being the best at everything—it’s about showing up, trying my best, and continuing to move forward.
“I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s ahead.”
Etie can look back on a particular point his is life that served as a catalyst. Years ago, Everette Etie stood in line with his family at Disney World, and what he saw fascinated him.
However, it wasn’t the theme park’s sights, sounds or iconic characters that caused the wheels in the young Etie’s head to turn.
“While most kids at Disney World were running to the next ride,” said Etie, a soon-to-be Erath High graduate, “ I was watching the smallest details. I noticed how lines moved, how people reacted to design, and how the entire organization made thousands of people feel like everything was effortless.
“I did not have the words then, but I was watching a system built on movement, behavior and strategy.”
Etie will have an opportunity to further build on that sense that he developed as a youngster when he officially enrolls in the prestigious Canfield Business Program at the University of Texas in Austin. Etie is the first person from Louisiana in the past 20 years to be admitted into this program, something he said he doesn’t take lightly.
“The University of Texas alone only accepts 5% out of state,” Etie said, “and the program is even less. When I saw the acceptance, I was happy, but I was worried, too. How could I afford the out-of-state tuition at one of the most expensive universities in the south.”
Etie’s résumé in school, including a 34 on his ACT, are evidence. Outside of the classroom, Etie is a member of numerous clubs and organizations. He has served as the National Beta Secretary, representing more than 500,000 members across that nation. Etie is also the communications officer for the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
“In that group,” Etie said, “I work alongside future lawyers, doctors, engineers, educators, and in my case, a future businessman. My role has been to help connect those different perspectives and bring what I call a ‘business of people’ approach to legislative work.”
Etie has focused on that “business of people:” approach for many years. At 13, he said he studied companies, market behavior and branding decisions with the same energy his friends brought to video games. He invested in the stock market, and convinced his dad to open a Roth IRA.
“I got the keys to the investment world before I event had the keys to the car,” Etie said.
However, Etie didn’t use that knowledge to drive his own personal gain. At 15, he founded The KIDesign Nonprofit, an organization that allows young artists, ages five and up, a platform to showcase and sell their art. Etie has worked with the Vermilion Arts Council, an organization for which received election as the youngest board member, on the project. Since is inception nearly two years ago, KiDesigns has become a federally recognized nonprofit, and has spread across Louisiana. It has raised more than $7,000, giving more than $5,000 back to the young artists, as well as awarding a pair of $1,000 scholarships.
“All of these experiences have given me purpose,” Etie said. “They have also shown me how much more there is to learn. I have built platforms, led students, connected communities and served my home, but I do not want my impact to stop where I am comfortable.
“I want to grow into the kind of leader who can build not just programs, but systems that reach people on a larger scale.”
Tuesday’s award helps him along that journey, one that began many years ago.
“The support of the Kwianis Club means so much,” Etie said. “This scholarship gives me the opportunity to enter this next chapter with more freedom to learn, lead and make the most of the doors that have opened. I get to take curiosity that started in a Disney World line, the leadership I have built thorough KiDesign, Beta and LYAC, and the dream of becoming a businessman who builds something meaningful, and carry all of that with the me to the University of Texas.
“I promise, I will not waste it.”
Bourque offered a similar message to the Kiwanis Club.
“I hope to learn, grow and build a successful future for myself,” Bourque said of her future at SLCC. “Thank you Abbeville Kiwians Club for selecting me for this scholarship and thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I wouldn’t be here without you.”