(03/13/17) BATON ROUGE, La. – K.C. Toups was only 28 years old when he died in a car crash in 2011. Toups, a veterinarian, was transporting animals from the Lafourche Animal Hospital in Thibodaux where he worked to the hospital’s clinic in Cut Off when he was hit by a driver under the influence of illegal drugs.

Toups’ family has created the K.C. Toups DVM College of Agriculture Endowed Scholarship in his honor in the LSU College of Agriculture, where he was an alumnus.

“I just feel like he didn’t get to practice veterinary medicine for very long, and I want people to remember him after we’re gone,” said his mother Debbie Toups.

His parents and College of Agriculture faculty members describe him as an exemplary student who was involved in clubs and organizations while maintaining a good academic record. While at LSU, he studied animal sciences. He was president of the Block and Bridle Club, a member of the LSU Senate and an active member of the college’s Les Voyageurs, Collegiate FFA and Pre-Vet Club. In addition, he completed two summer internships with U.S. Department of Agriculture after he was accepted into the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.

K.C. Toups was recognized in 2004 as the college’s Outstanding Male Graduate. He was also named to LSU’s Tiger Twelve, which honors 12 students in the LSU senior class for contributing something positive to campus and the community.

“One of his close friends and classmates, Stephen Dufrene, called K.C. the poster child for time management. We don’t know how he did it all,” said Toups’ father, Randy Toups.

Toups’ family has been holding a memorial run in his honor each year since his death. His parents say the money raised over the years has helped fund an endowed scholarship that honors him at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. This new scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in animal sciences or agricultural and extension education, with a preference given to students from Lafourche Parish or Assumption Parish.

“We hope this will lessen the load of student debt for some students,” Deborah Toups said.

K.C. Toups’ sister, Randi Toups, is currently a student in the LSU College of Agriculture studying agricultural and extension education. She said the scholarship is a great way to honor her brother.

“K.C. and I share a strong passion for agriculture. This scholarship ensures that he will always be remembered. It will impact students and encourage them to study agriculture,” Randi Toups said.

The College of Agriculture also gives the K.C. Toups Memorial Les Voyageurs Award to a graduating member of the Les Voyageurs, which is a group of student ambassadors for the college. The award is based on a willingness to serve and help others, a friendly and warm disposition, pride in the College of Agriculture and LSU, and professionalism and passion in the Les Voyageurs’ work – all things Toups was known for.

Randi Toups; Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture; Debbie Toups; and Randy Toups stand behind a photo of K.C. Toups, a veterinarian who died in a car accident in 2011. The Toups family has endowed a scholarship in K.C. Toups’ honor. Photo by Tobie Blanchard/LSU AgCenter