SW Training Center Update

The ABC Pelican Southwest Training Center is looking forward to a great 2022. Training is back in session on campus and across our satellite locations. The start of the year will bring quite a few opportunities to strengthen our high school outreach. The Southwest Training Center has kicked off the new year and our spring 2022 Semester with training beginning on January 10th. Our accelerated training program currently offers AWS welding and NCCER Electrical classes with the students receiving twenty hours of training each week. Our evening craft classes consist of Core, Electrical, Heavy Equipment, Instrumentation, Millwright, Pipefitting and Welding. Students receive six hours of training each week for our evening craft classes. We anticipate students earning more than four hundred credits during the spring 2022 semester for our on-campus training. The Southwest Training Center offers dual-enrollment classes throughout Southwest Louisiana. We are currently training at nine different locations in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, and Calcasieu Parish. Among the nine locations we have north of one hundred thirty high school students actively training in AWS welding. The students are working towards earning an Industry Based Credential for their high school transcript. An AWS Basic credential is earned by passing an overhead t-joint weld. An AWS Advanced credential is earned by passing an overhead open v-groove weld. Over twenty-five credentials were awarded during the 2020-2021 school year and we are hoping to exceed that number this academic year. In the coming months, the Southwest Training Center will host a few events that will allow us to engage with the next generation of skilled craft professionals. High school students will travel to the Southwest Training Center to participate in the FFA District Nine Mechanics Competition. Students will be competing in Electrical, Small Engines, and Welding. The FFA Area Three Small Engines and Welding Competition will also take place at the ABC SWTC. These competitions will bring over one hundred students from twelve Parishes directly to our campus. Our yearly Build Your Future event will take place towards the end of March. BYF welcomes over four hundred high school students from across SWLA to experience an interactive career fair. With the support of our members creating interactive demonstrations, the BYF event provides a chance for high school students to engage with industry and learn about the various opportunities the industrial construction industry has to offer. 2022 will be a great year for the SWTC and our industry. More and more individuals are seeking training to become a craft professionals. With our high school outreach and quality hands on training, The Southwest Training Center will continue to produce skilled craftsmen and craftswomen to grow and support our industry needs.