Changing the Signal: How the Pugh Family Foundation is Using Their Disruptive Spirit to Transform Public Education

Nick Pugh III has a simple way of explaining why his family gives. "To whom much is given, much is expected," he says. "We understand that we stood on the shoulders of many, and we believe it's our responsibility to give back."

When Nick and JoAnn founded the Pugh Family Foundation in 2000, that conviction became the Foundation's guiding principle. It has also helped shape their relationship with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the Foundation’s broader commitment to transforming public education in Acadiana. 

They have long believed that public education is the most powerful lever for improving communities. They’ve invested considerably in Lafayette’s public education system, supporting programs aimed at solving its most pressing and longstanding challenges; including low education rankings and performance, recruitment and retention of teachers, and providing necessary resources to ensure learning is engaging, equitable and future-focused. Their philanthropy has also included substantial support for several initiatives at UL Lafayette, including scholarships, the CAPE Satellite Program, Project Innovate, and the College of Education & Human Development Learning Lab. 

Nick’s personal connection to UL Lafayette goes back to 1968, when he earned his degree in electrical engineering from what was then the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Two years after graduating, he established the first microwave telecommunications loop in the Gulf of Mexico; a milestone that would lead to the formation of his and JoAnn’s companies, Rig Telephone and BlackHawk Datacom in 1975.

Over 25 years, they grew their companies to 180 employees across four states, disrupting conventional methods and rewriting what was possible along the way. When they retired and sold the companies, they channeled that same disruptive energy into something they believed mattered even more: giving back to and supporting their community.

JoAnn was central to this work from the beginning, first in business, then in philanthropy. A Northwestern State University graduate with deep roots in community leadership, she has volunteered as a Master Gardener, coached T-ball, led Girl Scout troops, served as president of the Lafayette Garden Club, and held a seat on the Habitat for Humanity board alongside Nick for a decade. "All of these experiences helped shape the way I think about community leadership and how philanthropy can be a catalyst for impactful change," she reflects. "We've always felt that the wealth generated in this region should come back to the people who live here.” 

It’s why their most recent and substantial gifts to UL Lafayette have gone to support the Learning Lab; an initiative designed to transform K-12 education in Louisiana by reimagining learning spaces, revitalizing the teaching profession, and recruiting the next generation of educators. With the support of the Pugh Family Foundation, it’s one of only a handful of programs in the state using the unique lab school model to address low education rankings, teacher shortages, and promote the prestige of teaching.

“As one of Louisiana's top producers of teachers, UL Lafayette is uniquely positioned to lead the transformation of teacher preparation in the state," says Dr. Peter Sheppard, Interim Dean of the College of Education & Human Development. “The new Learning Lab is central to this innovative work, which wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of the Pugh Family Foundation.” 

With the Learning Lab's opening on the horizon, a clearer picture is emerging of the possibilities it will unlock. As a living model of innovative teaching and learning, it will produce better-prepared teachers, stronger classrooms, and a generation of students whose education looks nothing like the status quo, right here in Acadiana. And, it would not be possible without the philanthropic spirit of supporters like the Pugh Family Foundation.