RESERVE — Deja Hawkins came to South Central Louisiana Technical College in the fall, having successfully completed two semesters and two summer sessions in Industrial Maintenance Technology.

In just seven months of her studies, Hawkins was offered an internship with Air Products. She worked as an instrument and equipment maintenance tech in the afternoons from March 9 to May 7.

Hawkins recently received notice she had been hired at Stericycle Company as an entry-level mechanic. She started June 29.

Department Head James S. Oubre Jr., who was Hawkins’ instructor, said her story is one of many of the valuable public-private partnerships of local business and industry and SCLTC students.

“It’s just another example of our students earning in this zip code and benefitting this region as a whole,” he said.