Latest news with #SowelaTechnicalCommunityCollege
American Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- American Press
Sowela shatters its summer enrollment record
(Special to the American Press) Special to the American Press Sowela Technical Community College's enrollment reached record-breaking numbers during the 2025 summer term, which started this week, with a 28.45 percent year-over-year increase. The college's Aviation Maintenance program saw the highest growth in registrations at 200 percent, followed by Business Administration at 74.71 percent and Culinary Arts at 63.16 percent. 'The continued enrollment growth further substantiates the critical and key role the institution plays in workforce development,' said Chancellor Neil Aspinwall. 'Sowela is a key player in supplying a highly skilled and qualified workforce for the business and industry in the Southwest Louisiana region. Although originally established as a trade school 87 years ago, Sowela has grown into a comprehensive community college whose mission is not only workforce development but also transfer, which aids in enrollment growth.' Aspinwall said since the college is accredited by SACSCOC, students who have earned their two-year degree or numerous course credits can transfer that degree or those course credits to a four-year college and subsequently earn their bachelor's degree. Sowela consistently has more than 500 students each year who utilize the transfer option and continue onto a four-year college or university, he said. He also attributes the enrollment increase to a student-first focus, strong student support services and no increase in tuition or fees for the past nine years. Sowela summer enrollment will continue to grow as individuals register for short-term workforce training, such as Commercial Driver's License, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant training. The College is also experiencing growth in the number of summer credit hours taken, with a 26 percent increase from this same time last year. Registration is open for fall 2025, which starts Monday, Aug. 11. Visit for a complete list of available programs and to register. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify.
American Press
17-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Graduation times two: DeQuincy student earns high school, college degrees same year
DeQuincy High School student Alli Richard will grace two graduation stages this May. She is graduating from DeQuincy High School after her senior year with the rest of her peers. She has also earned an associate of general studies from Sowela Technical Community College. During her junior and senior years, Richard took college courses through Calcasieu Parish School Board's Virtual Instruction Program. VIP offers dual enrollment courses taught virtually from the Region 5 STEM Center. The classes stream to each of the district's 11 high schools. The program is a boon for smaller campuses like DeQuincy, which has a total enrollment of 376. Her junior year, she took criminal justice, inter-criminal law, statistics, and English composition I and II through VIP, in addition to college courses through McNeese State University. Her senior year she took trigonometry, calculus, fiction, mythology, introduction to environmental science, introduction to theater, introduction to acting and psychology. Including Sowela and McNeese courses, advanced placement classes and CLEP, Richard has earned 70 hours of college credit, and that wasn't all she did. She was the class president in her junior and senior years and student council vice president. Richard also participated in 'basically every extracurricular,' including the library club and National Beta Club. All of this was done while maintaining a 4.52 GPA. 'It was definitely a lot of work, but it was so worth it to be able to continue my high school experience,' she said. 'It was especially tough for finals week and everything when I have four or five finals a semester, and I'm also balancing normal high school things.' The trick to bearing the weight of the coursework is to start off slow, she said. 'I wouldn't take on too much to start with because you need to get used to the course load before you build on it. … My senior year I picked up a lot more courses because I knew I could handle it.' Aside from the obvious benefit of earning college credit in high school, she said the VIP program also helped her boost her GPA and granted her wider access to scholarships and resources that will help support her while she is completing college. Richard plans to earn a law degree from Louisiana State University. LSU Law's 3 + 3 program allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in three years. After their junior year, students apply for admission to LSU Law Center. If accepted, the students' final year at LSU is simultaneously the final year of their undergraduate degree and the first year of their law degree. 'If my schedule aligns perfectly, I will be able to graduate from law school in four years,' she explained. 'I am so excited that it will allow me to get so far ahead and that I will be able to go into my career so much sooner than I expected. 'I have always enjoyed debating and research and those kinds of topics, and I really think that law will be a good fit for me.' She intends to specialize in corporate law and business. Sowela's 61st Commencement ceremony is at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at the Lake Charles Event Center. There, Richard will graduate alongside 374 other students. Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex General Manager Scot Tyler will give the commencement address.
American Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- American Press
SW La. high school student graduating twice
Alli Richard Richard completed high school and Sowela Technical Community College courses through the Virtual Instruction Program, a dual enrollment option for Calcasieu Parish students. (Special to the American Press) Special to the American Press Alli Richard will walk across two graduation stages this spring as she earned both her diploma from DeQuincy High School and an associate of general studies from Sowela Technical Community College. 'It was a lot of hard work,' Richard said. 'With finals and final projects in the midst of other senior responsibilities.' Those responsibilities include senior class president, numerous clubs, tutoring and volunteer work. She will also graduate at the top of her class. Richard completed high school and Sowela courses through the Virtual Instruction Program, a dual enrollment option for Calcasieu Parish students. VIP provides live instruction from one central location to all 11 high schools in the district. Richard chose VIP because she didn't want to leave her high school to take college classes. 'I didn't want to miss out on the high school experience,' she said. 'VIP also boosted my GPA because the classes are on a 5-point scale, which enabled me to qualify for the highest level of TOPS.' She advises someone considering this opportunity: 'Don't take on too much from the start. My teachers were so helpful. VIP really does a great job of bridging the gap between high school and college and they help you manage it.' After graduation, Richard plans to pursue a law degree. Thanks to her dual enrollment courses, she will have completed two of six years of her program, fast-tracking her to the workforce. Richard and 374 of her fellow Sowela classmates are eligible to receive degrees. Sowela will host its 61st commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at the Lake Charles Event Center. Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex General Manager Scot Tyler will give the commencement address. Sowela's graduation ceremony is open to the public.
