Cenac Donates Golf Carts To Nicholls State University

Cenac Marine Services recently donated two golf carts to Nicholls State University and the school’s Bridge to Independence Program. The donation was announced before Kirby Corporation announced it was acquiring Cenac’s marine fleet.

The Bridge to Independence Program affords students with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder the chance to enjoy the full college experience while also gaining leadership and social skills to promote future employment and independent living.

Nicholls State offers a two-year program to students with intellectual disabilities and a traditional university degree program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Bridge to Independence Program is the only U.S. Department of Education-certified program in Louisiana.

With the golf carts, students will enjoy faster and easier transportation throughout the Nicholls State campus.

“We here at the Arlen B. Cenac Jr. family of companies are proud to be able to supply the Bridge to Independence Program and Alumni Federation with the resources to make their lives a little easier,” said Arlen “Benny” Cenac, CEO of Cenac Marine Services. “If this makes things faster to accomplish their remarkable goals, we’re happy to help.”

Students in the Bridge to Independence Program attend weekly seminars and participate in campus activities and organizations. Students also often attend classes with a trained peer mentor, who assists them in completing modified class assignments. The program also affords students academic coaches and peer mentors.

Cenac donated a six-passenger golf cart to the Bridge to Independence Program, which will be used to transport students across campus to their jobs. The second golf cart will be used by the school’s alumni office to assist in tailgating and other events.

“It is especially important during inclement weather and for our students who have some health issues and for whom walking long distances in the heat is very difficult,” said Mary Breaud, an advisor with the Bridge to Independence Program. “We feel very fortunate to have wonderful donors to the Bridge to Independence Program like Mr. Benny Cenac. His generosity is greatly appreciated.”

Likewise, Katherine Gianelloni, director of alumni affairs at Nicholls State, expressed thanks for the donation of the second golf cart.

“This will allow myself and my staff to spend more time connecting with our alumni and our students in order to generate much-needed support for the Alumni Federation and Nicholls as a whole,” Gianelloni said. “We are truly fortunate to have donors like Mr. Benny, who love our alma mater and the Nicholls Alumni Federation as much as we do.”

Cenac Marine Services specializes in the transportation of petrochemicals and petroleum products. The company operates a fleet of 31 vessels and close to 70 barges.