We can probably all agree that expansion comes in many sizes and forms. We probably always associate expansion with a positive note or outcome.

Well that is how we at South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus, are viewing several expansions that we are involved.

West St. John High School has not been able to offer welding courses to its students for several years.

Since January of this year, we have expanded our welding training opportunities by revitalizing the welding facility at West St. John High School.

This is the result of a collaborative partnership with St. John the Baptist Parish School system and the utilization of the W.I.S.E. grant awarded to South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus.

St. John the Baptist School System has been instrumental in bringing the facility to a status for safe and quality operations.

The grant has offered the opportunity for an instructor of SCLTC, Reserve Campus to provide welding training to students of West St. John High School during their scheduled school day.

The facility is then utilized to offer evening classes to the general public.

This expansion of welding training affords the opportunity for high school students to begin their postsecondary technical education prior to graduation from high school.

There is no cost to the high school students to begin this education. The citizens of the West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish now have the convenience of receiving this highly sought training in their area of the parish.

The expansion of welding training in this manner is no small quest, especially when you are aware of the high demand for this skill from the businesses and industries served in the River Region.

We are appreciative for St. John the Baptist Parish School Board and Superintendent Kevin George for partnering with us to bring this needed training to West St. John High School.

If you would like more information on this training, you may contact Carol Chauffe at 985-536-4418.

An expansion on a somewhat greater scale will have its ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. for the South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus, on 181 Regala Park Road.

This is an $8.4 million project to increase the footprint of the current campus by 50 percent.

The expansion will afford the opportunity for the college to increase offerings in programs, thus increase the number of highly qualified and highly skilled individuals to meet the workforce demands of our area businesses and industry.

The ground-breaking ceremony is a celebration of an expansion a long time in the making. We hope you can take some time out of your schedule and join us in this celebration. We always extend the offer to you for personal tours and consultations about our campus and its offerings.  If you are interested in learning more about South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus, contact us at 985-536-4418.

Cindy Poskey is Campus Administrator for South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus. Email her at cindyposkey@scl.edu.