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Memorial Donations in Honor of Richard Wayne Clay

The Richard Wayne & Charlotte Ann Cole Clay Scholarship in Education was established in 2013 by Dr. Patrick Clay to honor his parents. 

Jennings native Wayne Clay graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (USL) with a business degree in 1963. Ann Cole Clay was a former basketball standout of Pine Prairie High School and the 10th of eleven, six of whom graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (USL). Ann earned an elementary education degree in 1964, a master's degree in elementary education in 1988, and a specialty certification in 1994.

Wayne and Ann met through their volunteer work at the Newman Catholic Student Ministry. During their 50-plus year marriage, these two alumni resided in New Iberia, Louisiana, where Wayne worked for and later became a small business owner, also serving on the Iberia Parish School Board. Ann taught for more than 25 years in New Iberia's elementary schools, including those located in predominantly minority and socioeconomically impoverished areas. In addition to school based fund-raising, Wayne and Ann supported their community through their relationships with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, St. Ann's Diner and the Rotary Club. Further, their passion for education resulted in all 10 of their children graduating from Iberia Parish public schools -three of whom subsequently chose education as a career. This scholarship is created in their honor to aid students who -like Wayne and Ann - seek to make Louisiana's future brighter through education.