David Elks is leaving a legacy and helping future generations of McNeese State University students through the Syliva McGuire and David C. Elks Scholarship he established through the McNeese Foundation.
A 1969 McNeese graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, David created the scholarship to honor his late wife, Sylvia’s, memory. David and Sylvia first met when they were a freshman and sophomore, respectively, at Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe).
At the end of her sophomore year, Sylvia decided to move back home to Westlake, Louisiana, and had told David about McNeese. Very much in love, he followed her to Southwest Louisiana and enrolled at McNeese. “She captured my heart,” he recalled.
While at McNeese, he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. An ROTC scholarship provided financial assistance during his junior and senior years.
“I have very fond memories of McNeese,” said David. “The small class sizes allowed me to get to know my professors. Two teachers that left a lasting impression were Dr. Joe Gray Taylor and Dr. Donald Millet. I also joined Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and developed strong friendships.”
Other favorite memories of his included watching Cowboy Football games from the student section and the homecoming bonfires.
One of the most important events during his time at McNeese came during his senior year when he and Sylvia married. The couple made their first home in an apartment only a few blocks from campus.
After graduation, David attended LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center but grew tired after one semester. In 1970 he went on active duty for the United States Army. From 1970 to 1975, he was stationed in Germany, Vietnam and Fort Devens in Massachusetts. Once his Army service ended in 1975, the couple had to decide whether to stay in Stonington, Connecticut, or move back to Louisiana. They ultimately decided to make Stonington home and visit Louisiana once a year to see Sylvia’s family.
David began working at General Dynamics in the Electric Boat Division building nuclear submarines for the United States Navy. His career also included nearly 30 years in human resources with 15 of those years in the labor relations department.
He created the scholarship at McNeese after seeing a friend do the same in memory of his wife who passed away from cancer. Sylvia passed away in 1996 at age 49 from breast cancer.
“Around the same time my friend established a scholarship in his wife’s name, I read about the McNeese Foundation offering a matching gift to donors creating an endowed scholarship,” he said. “It made me think that I could make the same type of gift at McNeese. Making the gift was an easy process, and receiving a match made the decision even easier.”
David added, “it is my belief that a person’s legacy must be more than a name etched on a piece of stone where they are laid to rest.”
The Syliva McGuire and David C. Elks Scholarship is designated for history and liberal arts majors. To date, five students have benefitted from the award, and a sixth recipient will be selected during the fall 2024 semester. If you are interested in changing students’ lives through scholarships, contact the McNeese Foundation at 337-475-5588.
