With the recent devastating flooding the area has suffered, now more than ever, our annual Scholarship Luncheon will have the most impact.

Several students currently attending South Central Louisiana Technical College (SCLTC) were impacted. Managing to overcome the devastation to their lives and remain in school is not an easy choice.

Several students, serving in the Louisiana National Guard, were deployed to assist in rescue operations. These students were able to come back and, with the assistance of faculty, were able to resume their studies at a high level.

For those not impacted by the flooding, the scholarships help to defray the costs of school for the many single parents and hardworking students who do not qualify for other financial assistance options.

De ’Jeuner (The Lunch) is the only annual fundraiser at the Reserve Campus. Its mission is to raise funds for those students struggling to complete their education. Many of our students are single parents and working couples who work full or part time and attend classes in order to complete their degree program.

This year’s event will be held on campus in an effort to further cut costs and see that more of the proceeds go directly to the students.

New Orleans’ very own Mike Detillier, sports analyst for WWL, will be the guest speaker and is donating his time to the cause. The luncheon will be held Oct. 19 in the Media Center of the Reserve Campus.  Festivities begin at 11 a.m., with lunch being served at 11:30 a.m.

The application process will kick off Monday (Oct. 3). Students can begin to apply for the Scholarships that will be awarded on Nov. 1, just before registration for the Spring Semester opens.

The scholarships are open to all current students meeting the criteria in any of the ten programs currently being taught at Reserve. Funds may be used for tuition and/or any school charges associated with admission.

In the past two years, over $22,400 has been raised by this annual event. The scholarship goal for this year is $30,000 for our SCLTC Reserve Campus students.

The majority of our students go to work right here in our community. They shop here and raise their families here.

They help to provide a broader tax base for the municipal improvements we all enjoy. These scholarships bring recipients one step closer to a secure and promising future.

Reserve your chair at our table to show your support of our Reserve students.

For luncheon reservations, please email carinfernandez@scl.edu.

Penelope Freeman is Campus Dean for South Central Louisiana Technical College. She is at the Reserve Campus. Email her at penelopefreeman@scl.edu.