Grillin' for Grads BBQ Cook-Off

In 2013, the Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors, Inc. started a Grillin' for grads BBQ-Cook Off fundraiser. This fundraiser is intended to perpetuate a spirit of pride and enthusiasm for our region into the next generation. Teams enter their BBQ dishes and win cash or prizes for the best dishes. Proceeds raised from the BBQ Cook-Off are used to fund scholarships for college bound high school seniors in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. To date, we have awarded $70,000 to winners of our essay contest "What does it mean to be an ambassador? How can you be an ambassador of the Ark-La-Tex when you go to college? What are some things that make you proud of our region and what should we, as a community, promote?"

Testimonials

Here is a copy of one of the letters we received from one of last year's recipient:
To all the Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors,

I am Zach Harper, one of the recipients of the scholarship award you give away. Since senior year of high school, I have not been able to catch up and remind you how much your gift helped.
Your generosity helped me SO much when it came to my first-year expenses and made the cost of living on campus bearable. I am one year closer to being a Mechanical Engineer at Louisiana Tech, I am involved in Eco-Car club, BCM, Temple Baptist Church, SGA, and as of spring, I competed to become "Mr. Tech!" My friends and I also competed in the Freshman Design Expo, the final group project for all freshman engineers to "invent something," and won first place with our plumbing product.

I learned a lot through the past year, and even though I'm sharing the high points, I went through some low points too, and I want you to know how relieving it was to look on my bill and see that I did not have to pay such a ridiculous amount at the beginning of each quarter. You have helped me with perhaps the most crucial developmental year I've had, and I am grateful. What a difference you make with your generosity.

THANK YOU Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors!!!

P.S. If you get free time, check out our freshman design project! Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpzSK8ubZ8