FOUNDATION TIES Steven Mikeal Vige • Recipient • McNeese Foundation Scholarship
THE FAMILY BOND Steven Mikeal Vige has a bond investment that returns dividends greater than any interest rate can pay . . . The Family Bond. Steven and his younger brother, Jon, grew up in Longville, a community north of Lake Charles. A tragic motorcycle accident 11 years ago took the life of Steven’s stepfather and severely injured his mother, Marile. At only 8 years old, Steven witnessed Marile’s suffering as she underwent multiple surgeries in New Orleans followed by years of rehabilitation. Told by doctors that she would never walk again, Marile beat the odds. Although disabled, she now walks on her own. With two young boys to raise and Marile unable to work, Grandpa Herman and Grandma Suzan Vige stepped in. Herman took early retirement to stay home and take care of the family. Grandma Suzan became the family breadwinner as an administrative assistant in distribution with Entergy Corp. Steven graduated from South Beauregard High School where he played varsity baseball, was a member of the Governor’s Program on Abstinence, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Senior Beta Club. He received a Horatio Alger Scholarship upon graduation, a national award given to students demonstrating hard work, courage and determination to overcome obstacles. From an early age, Steven was fascinated with electricity. He spent hours disassembling and reassembling remote control trucks to make them run faster and stronger. He taught himself how to rewire devices when the batteries wore out. In choosing a college, Steven selected McNeese State University. He said McNeese provided an ideal location within a commutable distance and with an accredited engineering and engineering technology program to fulfill his career goals. Having good role models can make the difference between success and failure in life. Steven has been fortunate to have had many. “My Grandpa Herman has had a big influence on my life, on how I grew up and on how I was raised. My Grandma Suzan has been the backbone of the family. I can’t begin to explain in words everything that my family means to me,” said Steven. Pat and Paul Shirley, youth pastors at Beauregard Memorial Baptist Church, have also been positive role models. Steven said, “Even though they are older than my generation, they adapt to people my age.” Steven sings in the church choir, serves as camp counselor and is learning to play the guitar. Steven recently met his biological father, Amos Comeaux, for the first time. “Meeting my dad was a big turning point in my life and I now feel complete,” he said. A Pell Grant and a McNeese Foundation Scholarship assist Steven in his pursuit of higher education. Between semesters, Steven works odd jobs to pay for gas and other expenses and is proud of his money management skills. “This is my story,” stated Steven. “Everything that my family has been through is part of God’s plan. This is the road that He has led me down.” Steven looks forward to graduating and finding employment that will afford him the opportunity to support his family in return for the support and encouragement that they have given him. 6
Steven Mikeal Vige