SOUTHWEST TRAINING CENTER UPDATE
BACK TO BUSINESS AT THE SOUTHWEST TRAINING CENTER
By: Blaise Theard, Workforce Development Specialist
Nearly one year after hurricanes Laura and Delta, Southwest Louisiana is still on the road to recovery. The ABC Pelican Southwest Training Center is still pushing forward through the many obstacles we have experienced over the past year. While we were not able to offer the full slate of classes throughout the academic year, the SWTC team remained committed to training quality craftsmen and craftswomen.
Merit Shop Message | Summer 2021
The Southwest Training Center welcomed students back into the training facility in June of 2020 after the COVID-19 restrictions were reduced. Shortly after the start of the Fall 2020 semester, Hurricane Laura made landfall August 27th, 2020 and ripped through SWLA causing an estimated $12 billion in damages to Louisiana. The SWTC was shut down as the damage was being assessed. Six weeks later Hurricane Delta followed a very similar path through an already battered SWLA. The SWTC was forced to cancel the remainder of the Fall 2020 semester except for a few high school welding classes located in outlying areas.
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With the Spring 2021 semester around the corner, repairs were being made to create a safe learning environment for our students. The Southwest Training Center was able to start the Spring 2021 semester in January. We were able to conduct classes during the day with our accelerated training, our evening training, and our dual enrollment classes at our high school satellite locations. A total of 496 credits were earned in the semester. Our dual enrollment classes wrapped up with 121 students completing the course. Of those students, 29 passed a weld test performed by thirdparty testing facility. These students earned either an AWS Basic credential for passing an Overhead T-Joint weld test or passing an Overhead Open V-Groove weld test to receive an AWS Advanced credential. With limited classroom space and minor delays of COVID, freezing weather, and major flooding, the Spring 2021 was still a success.
While the past year has been tough and trying, Southwest Louisiana will bounce back stronger than ever. The Spring 2021 Semester is in the books and the Fall 2021 Semester recently started in early August. The Southwest Training Center is dedicated to training the best craft professionals that our members need and deserve. Our trained craftsmen and craftswomen will be here to support our industry and SWLA for years to come.
