LSU President William F. Tate IV will again travel across Louisiana as part of the second phase of the Scholarship First Bus Tour, a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening the connection between the university’s priorities and the needs of the state.
During the four-day tour, from Oct. 15-18, Tate will meet with local leaders, discuss key issues facing Louisiana and explore new opportunities to boost the state’s economy and well-being, an official statement from LSU said.
The tour kicks off in Start, Louisiana, where Tate will be joined by U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican representing Louisiana’s fifth congressional district, for a send-off event at Start Elementary. The event will also feature a performance by LSU student and rising country star Timothy Wayne, nephew of legendary artist Tim McGraw and native of Start.
A major focus of the tour will be rural healthcare. In Rayville, President Tate will join healthcare leaders and policymakers at a Rural Health Roundtable at the Richland Parish Library. The discussion will address the challenges rural areas face in delivering healthcare services and explore potential solutions.
One of the highlights of the tour will be a visit to the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, Louisiana, where President Tate will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 300-acre facility, renowned for developing some of the world’s most popular sweet potato varieties.
The Scholarship First Bus Tour will include stops in communities across the state, including Monroe, Winnfield, Fort Johnson, Houma and more. 
The Scholarship First agenda prioritizes the areas of study and research in agriculture, biomedical, the coast, defense and energy.
In early 2023, Tate and the tour bus similarly traveled around the state to introduce and promote the ‘Scholarship First’ vision which emphasizes state and university research interests.