Brought To You By NSU; Written by Leah Jackson
A Bossier City businesswoman has created an endowed scholarship in memory of her mother to benefit a female student attending Northwestern State University. Britney Burton Spivey created the Lisa Conklin Burton Scholarship through a donation to the NSU Foundation. Preference will be given to women who are members of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.
Spivey, a 2007 graduate of NSU, is owner of Simply Chic Boutique with locations in Bossier City, Shreveport, Natchitoches and Mandeville. She has been an active supporter of her alma mater and of Tri Sigma over the years. She said giving back is a way to acknowledge the love she received from others after the loss of her mother, who died in a car accident in 1994 at age 32 when Spivey and her brother Josh were 9 and 12 years old.
“She was such an amazing mom and person. She never got to finish her college degree and dreamed that her children would,” Spivey said. “It was an honor to finish our degrees in honor of our mom. Our hometown of Bossier City completely covered us in love and support as we grew up without our mom.”
That love and support continued at NSU, Spivey said. Josh Burton was a linebacker on the NSU Demon football team. In addition to serving in office for Tri Sigma, Spivey was involved with the Student Activities Board, Freshman Connection, NSU Ambassadors and the Homecoming Honor Court.
She cited Reatha Cox, NSU’s vice president for the Student Experience and Dean of Students, as a special mentor.
“Reatha initiated me into Sigma Sigma Sigma, grew me as a leader on campus and inspired me to be the woman I am today. When my mom wasn’t there on the day I got married, Reatha was. She was there to meet my children when they were born. Her support and so many of the faculty and staff have continued to instill in my life and my brother’s long after we graduated from NSU.”
As a businesswoman, Spivey has been recognized by Greater Shreveport Chamber Business Development Connection and the Bossier Chamber of Commerce. She is also a mother of four.
“In Sigma we say, ‘to receive much you just give much,’” Spivey said. “My family has been so blessed by the support and love from the people in our lives at NSU and the community of Natchitoches. It truly is an honor to give to the university that gave so much to us. We are forever proud to be Demons. And we are so touched to honor our mother by helping others get the degree she never got to finish.”
Friends who wish to contribute to the scholarship can do so at: https://northwesternstatealumni.com/burton-scholarship/.
For information on creating a scholarship at NSU, visit www.northwesternstatealumni.com.