The LSMSA Foundation’s Annual Pi Day Giving Day Raises $76,617 Benefiting LSMSA

The LSMSA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to develop and manage resources that enhance the work of Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, raised a total of $76,617 through 267 donations during its annual Pi Day Giving Day fundraiser held on Friday, March 14, 2025. The day included numerous mathematics- and pie-themed special events as well as a senatorial proclamation, announced by Senator Alan Seabaugh, which declared March 14, 2025 to be “Pi Day” at LSMSA.

   

Michele Robinson, Executive Director of the LSMSA Foundation, said that she was especially proud of “the growing culture of philanthropy at LSMSA.” In 2024, forty-three LSMSA students made Pi Day Giving Day donations. In 2025, that number skyrocketed to 104—a figure that represents nearly forty percent of the student body. Student fundraising efforts paid off during a campuswide gathering that gave three lucky student philanthropists the opportunity to “pie” LSMSA officials Dr. Steve Horton, Executive Director and CEO, and Dr. Jason Anderson, Director of Academic Affairs. Senator Seabaugh was also “pied” by a student philanthropist. Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen contributed several of their popular Cane River Cream Pies to the effort.           

 

 

“Pi Day 2025 was infinitely sweet,” Robinson said. “Our students inspired the entire LSMSA community as they sliced through their fundraising goals—and yes, a few pies were definitely in the mix. Faculty and staff found deliciously clever ways to integrate pi into academic experiences, making the day both filling and fulfilling. And, just like pi, we were shown once again that the generosity of our LSMSA alumni and friends is endless. We're so grateful to each student, faculty, staff, and donor who made this year's Pi Day a success.” 

 

Professor Chris King, Principal Lecturer of Art, and Mr. Marcus Journey, Associate Lecturer of Visual Arts, prepared pizzas as a treat for students. Dr. Brad Burkman, Department Chair and Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science, Coach Jacob Spielbauer, Department Chair and Principal Lecturer of Health & Physical Education, and Ms. Cle'lie Aubin, Adjunct Instructor of Yoga, incorporated the mathematical concept of pi into their lesson plans for the day. Professor Randy Key, Lecturer of Mathematics, organized LSMSA’s first-ever Pi Night Math Extravaganza, a gameshow-style program that featured three competitive math events. Awards for the Pi Night Math Extravaganza were provided by the LSMSA Foundation.  

 

“All of the competitors did a great job, and multiple students recited more than one hundred digits (of pi) from memory,” Professor Key said. “With a whopping 233 digits, sophomore Gracie Champagne took home the win!”

 

Funds raised on Pi Day Giving Day 2025 will support students and faculty in pursuing educational and intellectual endeavors that go above and beyond a typical classroom experience. Typical uses of LSMSA Foundation funds include: assistance paying for college campus visits and transportation; registration fees, travel, and lodging expenses associated with conferences and academic competitions; and general assistance with paying for things that students often need, but cannot afford.

 

ABOUT PI DAY
Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π, or “pi,” which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Because pi is approximately equal to 3.14159, Pi Day has increasingly been celebrated across the U.S. on March 14 (or 3.14) since it was first observed in 1988. 

 

ABOUT LSMSA
LSMSA is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families so that no eligible student is denied the school’s legacy of a college-level living/learning experience. For more information about LSMSA, or to apply for the upcoming academic school year, visit www.LSMSA.edu.