RUSTON, La. — The Garrett Foundation announced last week that Ruston High School’s Bearcat Buddies program will be the recipient of its yearly grant funding for 2025, citing the tremendous success of the last couple of years since the program’s inception.
The proposal was submitted by Stephanie Treadway, the faculty co-sponsor for the organization.
“When I read Mrs. Treadway’s proposal,” it went straight to the top of the Garrett Foundation list,” Loyce Miller said. “What a wonderful plan — get the Special Education students involved in the regular activities at RHS. The student council, football team, Bearcat clubs working with their “sidekicks” will make everyone feel a part of the spirit of Ruston High. We are all Bearcats.”
“Bearcat Buddies is a labor of love,” Treadway said in a previous story. “It’s brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. I’ve witnessed non-verbal students who have not really had an opportunity to connect with other students at our school form meaning friendships. I’ve just never seen anything like that. It’s such a great experience for special education students — and for the Bearcat Buddies — that we learn and grow from each other.”
The Garrett Foundation was formed in honor of Hoss and Mary Alice Garrett. The foundation wants everyone to know that mother and daddy (Mrs. and Coach Garrett) would be very happy to know that this grant is going toward helping the Bearcat Buddies program because helping Bearcats is what they did.
