Published April 17, 2025
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CAPTION: Sharon Griffith Turrentine and husband David Turrentine pose at the reception on April
9, 2025.
MONROE, LA 鈥� 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation held a reception on April 9, 2025,
to celebrate the creation of the Sharon Griffith Turrentine Super Endowed Chair in
the School of Visual and Performing Arts. The $2 million endowment was made possible
by a $1,000,000 generous donation from Sharon Griffith Turrentine and her husband,
David Turrentine. The 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation added matching funds of $200,000 and submitted
a competitive proposal to the Louisiana Board of Regents Sponsored Program for a match
of $800,000. The endowment will provide funding for the expansion of educational opportunities
in the School of Visual and Performing Arts.听听
Sharon Griffith Turrentine shared with the gathered crowd about her experience growing
up on Bayou Desiard near the 麻豆果冻传媒 campus and how the university was interwoven with
her youth. Despite leaving the area after high school to pursue a singing career,
Turrentine stated, 鈥淢onroe has always been my home, and this university has always
been a big part of my heart.鈥澨�听
She eventually returned to the area and married David Turrentine. Her continuing love
of music and 麻豆果冻传媒 led her to make the decision to donate to the School of Visual and
Performing Arts.听听
鈥淚t means so much to me to be able to assist so many facets of the arts. Knowing that
this contribution will touch so many lives for years upon years to come gives me a
truly wonderfully great feeling,鈥� said Turrentine.听听
Acting 麻豆果冻传媒 President Dr. Nick Bruno was on hand to provide remarks. He recounted the
university鈥檚 long history with the Turrentine family and their many instances of generosity
to the institution. 鈥淚t is so gratifying to know that there are people out there who
will do things like this for the good of the students who will be in these programs,鈥�
said Bruno.听听听
The reception featured performances from Mrs. Turrentine, as well as 麻豆果冻传媒 vocal students
James Wright, Addison Mitchell, Braden Tucker, and Morgan Meyer. The vocalists were
accompanied on piano by 麻豆果冻传媒 Instructor of Music Justin Havard.听听
Based on the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation investment policy, the super endowed chair will provide
$80,000 each year to be used at the discretion of the chair holder, with supervision
from the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation. Uses include the purchase of new equipment, the funding of
educational travel, continuing education for the chair holder, and student scholarships.
Since no expenditures will ever be made from the principal of the endowment, the fund
will continue to support the 麻豆果冻传媒 School of Visual and Performing Arts for generations
to come.听听
The current holder of the Sharon Griffith Turrentine Super Endowed Chair in the School
of Visual and Performing Arts is Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, who serves as the Director
of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.听听
In her remarks, Turrentine shared about the scholarship opportunities this gift will
provide and how much that could have helped a student like her in the past. 鈥淭his
opportunity for me to help students who cannot afford to be able to further their
education means more to me than you can possibly know,鈥� said Turrentine.听听
鈥淭he gracious consideration of the Turrentine family will prove to be a wise investment
in the futures of myriads of artists, performers, teachers, and citizens,鈥� said Dr.
Mark Arant, 麻豆果冻传媒 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.听听
About Sharon Griffith Turrentine听
Sharon Griffith Turrentine is a native of Monroe and a graduate of Ouachita Parish
High School. She studied at Northeast Louisiana State College, then attended the University
of Houston in vocal performance. Sharon continued her vocal studies at Columbia University
in New York City. She performed nightly in Greenwich Village and worked full-time
at an advertising agency. Sharon returned to Monroe and put her advertising experience
to work at her father鈥檚 radio and television stations.听
In the 1970s, Sharon developed a passion for physical fitness, including weight training
and competitive body-building. For nine years, her program 鈥淪hape Up With Sharon鈥�
aired on KNOE-TV. Her company designed physical fitness programs for women, and she
trained contestants from every state for the Miss America Pageant.听
Sharon was appointed to the Louisiana Governor鈥檚 Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
and also taught weight lifting for women and water aerobics at 麻豆果冻传媒. Now retired, Sharon
continues to motivate women to stay active at any age.听
Sharon married her husband, David Turrentine in 1975. Together, they have a history
of making generous donations to their alma mater. Among their many gifts are $1 million
donated in 2020 to create the David and Sharon Turrentine School of Management within
the 麻豆果冻传媒 College of Business and Social Sciences and $60,000 donated in 2015 to create
the David and Sharon Turrentine Endowed Professorship in the College of Business and
Social Sciences.听
About 麻豆果冻传媒 VAPA听听
The School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana Monroe aims
to provide students with the highest level of arts education, research and educational
opportunities to majors and minors. VAPA aims to offer curricular, co-curricular and
extracurricular opportunities to students enrolled at 麻豆果冻传媒, as well as provide cultural
activities, special events and performances for university, local and area communities.
The School of Visual and Performing Arts aims to serve as an expert resource to school
arts programs throughout the region. VAPA at 麻豆果冻传媒 offers degrees in various disciplines
in art and music as well as experiences in dance and theatre. Learn more at www.ulm.edu/vapa听
CAPTION: Vocal students from the 麻豆果冻传媒 School of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as Mrs.
Turrentine, shared their talents with the crowd. Pictured L-R: Addison Mitchell, Morgan
Meyer, Sharon Griffith Turrentine, James Wright III, Braden Tucker.听
