AT&T donation to help CLTCC fund scholarships for fall semester fiber optics course

Preparing the workforce of tomorrow starts today and with the help of $12,000 donated by AT&T, Central Louisiana Technical Community College can do just that.

The money will go towards scholarships for a fiber optic training course set for this fall at the Ward H. Nash-Avoyelles Campus in Cottonport that will lead to fiber optic certification, said CLTCC Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle at a check presentation held Wednesday.

“It's a seven-day course, very intense, but it punches folks' tickets to go into industry and work specifically in the fiber trade,” he said.

Misty Slater, Vice Chancellor of Workforce Solutions, was instrumental in writing the grant and working with AT&T so CLTCC could provide “seed money” for these scholarships, added Sawtelle.

AT&T has been around Louisiana for over 150 years though it may have been under different names but their mission has always been to be the number one communications provider across the state, said AT&T President for Louisiana David Aubrey who was appointed to the Louisiana Board of Regents in January.

As AT&T begins to do more with broadband connectivity, they will need employees to help design, install, service, and repair it, he said.

"It varies, but around the state of Louisiana in a given week could be 50 jobs to 100 jobs as we continue to grow our footprint. And that's just AT&T alone. We're one of more than 100 providers across the state of Louisiana offering some kind of broadband products,” he said.

Aubrey was town on a “listening tour,” listening to business and industry and finding out what the needs were and how AT&T could meet them, said Sawtelle. He mentioned that Aubrey had said that “broadband is new running water” and is something that is needed in our homes today.

Minimum wage is $7.25 so for young people to be successful, they need to have a skill or trade, said District 26 State Rep. Ed Larvadain.

“For those who do not want to go to a four-year college, I’m encouraging them go to Community College. Get a quick skill or trade,” he said.

Larvadain said he and District 27 State Rep. Mike Johnson both make a push for education because educated people help their communities grow.

“This is what we have to do. We have to create options for young folks. If we don't have opportunities, young folks not going be here and they have to have a skill or a trade,” he said.

This donation gives people an opportunity to go to another level of education, said Councilman Reddex Washington, adding that helping Avoyelles Parish citizens is helping all of Central Louisiana.

“The support from the business community is critical to our work, and there is no question that our students are better prepared to be on a path to success and more promising futures because of the support from AT&T and others in the business community,” said Sawtelle in an AT&T press release.

With AT&T’s support, CLTCC will be able to bridge the gap between innovation and education in the workforce, said Heather Poole, Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs.

In addition to the check presentation, AT&T also added a cell new site along Coliseum Boulevard that will enhance area coverage and capacity, according to an AT&T press release. AT&T also worked Human-I-T to donate 20 refurbished laptops to the United Way of Central Louisiana that were distributed by AT&T employees along with backpacks filled with school supplies.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: AT&T donation to help CLTCC fund scholarships for fiber optics course