2017-2018 Louisiana NEXT

2017-2018 • $5 LaNEXT.com

a n a i s Losutiars ITH W P U G N I H C T CA

!

H S A C 0 ,0GE044 FOR DETAILS. 1 $ W I NTURN TO PA

180+ COLLEGES & SCHOOLS TO CHOOSE FROM IN LOUISIANA! 20+ WAYS TO SCORE SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID! 20+ 5-STAR JOBS WITH SALARIES OVER $60,000

Presented by: LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Create a LOSFA Student Hub Account and Follow Your Progress Towards Earning a TOPS Award • LOSFA has launched the new Student Hub to give you more options for tracking your award eligibility and status, and to provide you with easier account maintenance features and login recovery options.

• The “TOPS Tracker” within the LOSFA Student Hub allows you to follow your progress towards earning a TOPS award.

• View the ACT scores we have on file, if a score is missing, Email us at custserv@la.gov and we will let you know how to get it to us.

• After you have created your Student Hub account, you can grant permission within the Hub for your parents to create a Student Hub account with their own password and user name so that they may see the same information you see.

• After high school graduation, your TOPS eligibility notice, award letter and Rights and Responsibilities will be posted in your Student Hub account.

• To create your account, go to www.osfa.la.gov, click “Student Hub” in the menu across the top of the LOSFA homepage and follow the instructions.

• To register, click the “Register” link then click the “Student” button on the next page, where you can start the registration process with either your Louisiana Secure ID (LASECID) if you are a public school student, or your Louisiana State ID if you are a non-public student.

• When registering with your LASECID, you will also need your first and last name, your birthdate, and the high school you attended. If you do not know your Louisiana Secure ID, contact your school counselor.

• Ignore references to the LOSFA ID for now as this will be assigned to you after you have completed your FAFSA and we have matched it with your ACT records.

• Once in college, all information relating to your continuing eligibility for TOPS, your TOPS postsecondary GPA and all notices and announcements will be delivered via your Student Hub Account.

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance 602 North Fifth St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802

225.219.1012 • 1.800.259.5626 • OSFA.LA.GOV LOUISIANA’S FIRST CHOICE FOR COLLEGE ACCESS!

• Ad will run as is unless approval or final revisions are received by the close of business today.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2017. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

REGISTER TO VOTE

UDECIDE!

IT’S YOUR RIGHT LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

 Pre-Register! 16 years of age*  Vote! Eligible on 18th birthday

FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA

All at your fingertips...

 Download GeauxVote App Louisiana SECRETARY OF STATE

• Sample ballots • Precinct map/directions • Election results  Get Text Alerts 225.922.2880 8585 Archives Ave. • Baton Rouge, LA 70809 P.O. Box 94125 • Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 CONNECT WITH US

Louisiana SECRETARY OF STATE TOM SCHEDLER

LaNEXT.com

*In person or when applying for driver’s license

3

CONTENTS

Next is published annually

by Louisiana Business Inc. Chairman Rolfe H. McCollister, Jr. Publisher Julio A. Melara Editorial Director Penny Font Special Projects Editor Jerry Martin Research Sierra Crump

For fun, news and updates on the high school and college scenes follow us on Twitter! @LouisianaNEXT

LIFE & CULTURE

COLLEGE & TRAINING

JOBS & CAREERS

10

24

WHAT KIND OF COLLEGE DO I NEED? A guide to the many types of “college” you have to choose from in Louisiana.

46

14

27

PLUGGED IN FOR HIS FUTURE One West Felciana native found an alternative training track after high school that has “worked” out just fine.

51

MAPPING OUT THE WORLD OF WORK New ways to think about jobs, industries and career paths.

30

GROWTH FIELDS Health care and robotics are busting wide open for future careers.

PEOPLE Catching up with ...

Louisiana stars Kaylee Hartung, Hunter Hayes and Terrence Magee.

HONOR ROLL A shooting star, a scholar, a runway model and a perfect score.

15

HIGH-TECH SUMMER BASF Tech Academy introduces high school students to science and technology careers.

18

MONEY MATTERS Increasing your financial literacy is a giant step toward adulthood. Master these basics.

20 LaNEXT.com

4

WHEN TO DO WHAT Check out our senior (and junior) calendar to keep you on track for college. (And there’s lots of other tips in there too!)

COOL DEGREES From exercise science to cyber engineering, here are some of the extraordinary degrees Louisiana schools are offering.

38

FINANCIAL AID AND PIZZA They’re the same (sort of). Let your pizza ordering skills help you learn about financial aid.

YOUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE THIS, RIGHT? Confused about careers? Time to make a plan.

52

53

HOT JOBS These jobs will be in high demand in Louisiana while also offering terrific salaries.

54

40

REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOBS We asked three Louisianans to tell us about what they do and how they got there.

41

EDUCATION PROVIDERS

42

60

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE EVERYWHERE! Add a little creativity to your scholarship search and you are more likely to hit paydirt.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TOPS Know the rules so you can earn and keep this important state scholarship.

COLLEGE TOWNS REVEALED Every college town has a different vibe; find one that’s right for you!

MORE THAN 180 PLACES TO GO TO COLLEGE IN LOUISIANA!

Contributing Writers Erin Z. Bass Melissa Bienvenu Maggie Heyn Richardson Advertising Director Jill Stokeld Account Executives J.C. Applewhite Angie LaPorte Advertising Coordinator Kirsten Milano Audience Development Director Shannon Kahler Audience Development Coordinator Kenna Maranto Production Director Melanie Samaha Art Director Hoa Vu Graphic Designers Melinda Gonzalez Rachel Parker Emily Witt © Copyright 2017 by Louisiana Business Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Address: 9029 Jefferson Hwy., Suite 300, Baton Rouge, La. 70809.

Phone: (225) 928-1700. All information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed.

Viewpoints expressed herein do not reflect the views of Louisiana Business Inc.

RAGIN’

5 LaNEXT.com

louisiana.edu

A WORD FROM THE TOP Dear Students, Congratulations! This is indeed an exciting time, as you prepare to graduate from high school and continue your life’s journey.

My hope for you is that you will identify a university, technical college or training program right here in Louisiana that will mold you into a successful adult. Your contributions to our economy will make our state more successful, and I thank you in advance for the steps you are taking right now to prepare for your career.

Great things are happening in Louisiana.

This is truly a state of opportunity, and there is a place for each of you in our impressive workforce. Recently, Area Development magazine ranked Louisiana as one of the Top 5 States for Doing Business for the second year in a row.

We also received Top 5 rankings in five areas, including best workforce development programs and most cooperative and responsive state government.

Industries and businesses are making record investments in Louisiana. These investments are leading to exciting opportunities for careers in advanced manufacturing, in process industries such as chemicals and refining, in

Dear Louisiana Students, Have you met your match? LOSFA’s 5 Point Match that is. Do you know what you want to do after high school or are you unsure of what’s next for you? Whether you can answer a definite yes or an uncertain no, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) is here to help!

Everyone has something they do well. Start with your strengths; explore turning what you love to do into something you get paid to do.

LOSFA’s new college and career match and fit website, unlockmyfuture.org, will help you answer these five questions: • What am I good at?

• Where can I learn to get paid to do what I love to do?

LaNEXT.com

6

software and IT services, in water and coastal management, and in other leading jobs of the future. We are building a future for students in Louisiana to explore exciting new frontiers. We are even building the crew capsule and Space Launch System for NASA’s next missions to the moon and Mars.

Louisiana is becoming a national leader in promoting the Manufacturing Institute’s Dream It. Do It. campaign, because ours is a state where you can truly do both: dream of the work you would like to pursue and gain the great education that enables you to do it.

Whatever career path you decide to pursue, Louisiana has a wealth of resources and opportunities that will allow you to grow and develop. We look forward to supporting you in accomplishing your greatest dreams.

With best wishes for your future,

John Bel Edwards Governor of Louisiana

• Which school offers the most for my money?

• Which school gets me?

• Which school graduates more students like me?

Our team has an exciting slate of events and tools to help you discover your match. Odds are that we are coming to a school near you! Feel free to reach out by text, social media, phone, email or in person. We believe the key to your future is you, so turn the page to get started—and know that you can count on us to help!

Sujuan W. Boutté, Ed.D. Executive Director Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance

A WORD FROM THE TOP Dear Louisiana Students, High Schools open doors for young adults.

They spark interest and expand opportunity. This is why it is such a great joy to watch as our annual high school results come back each spring and summer. In each case, behind the number is a real chance at a prosperous life. Across the state, not only are more students graduating than ever before, but they are graduating with the college and career credentials needed to be successful in the next step of life. Forty-three percent of the Class of 2016 earned early college credit or a statewide industry-based credential, a 6 percent increase since 2013. The Class of 2017 also saw marked improvement in their readiness for college and a career with a record 25,704 students scoring an 18 or above on the ACT, and 15,406 students scoring a 21 or above. The number of students earning credit qualifying scores on Advanced Placement® (AP®) exams also surged to a record high of 6,519, an increase of 10 percent since 2016, and 137 percent since 2012.

At the same time, there are still challenges ahead. Nearly one in four high school students is not graduating on time. Of those that do graduate, one out of ten does not go on to enter the workforce or college. These statistics are problematic in today’s economy, and they call for solutions that will better prepare all students to be successful in college or a career.

Dear Students,

John White State Superintendent of Education

education is vital to ensuring that improvement.

As you embark upon the next phase of your personal journey, join us as we continue to Elevate Louisiana through education and innovation. We seek to ensure that all Louisiana students have access to high-quality postsecondary educational opportunities.

Louisiana higher education prides itself on maintaining incredible value for our students and their families. With more than 30 public colleges and universities spanning the state offering access to all students, our institutions are committed to producing an educated and skilled workforce with credentials at all levels of postsecondary education.

Start enhancing your future today by exploring our colleges and universities. Find more information on our website www.regents.la.gov or follow us on Twitter @LA_Regents.

Good luck and best wishes!

7 Joseph C. Rallo, Ph.D. Commissioner of Higher Education

LaNEXT.com

On behalf of our board members, institutions and current students, congratulations on your upcoming high school graduation! This is indeed an exciting time as you prepare for your future.

At the Board of Regents, we work tirelessly to move higher education forward in the state of Louisiana. We hope that you’ll find a home at one of our degree-granting institutions. Whether you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year college or university or an associate’s degree or certificate at one of our community colleges, postsecondary education provides immense benefits to you, the community where you live and work, and society in general. The benefits of a Louisiana higher education degree are endless!

We recognize these are challenging times in our state for higher education and continue to advocate for appropriate and stable funding on behalf of Louisiana’s students. While the values of postsecondary education are to improve lives, stimulate research, support innovation, and contribute to the State’s economic prosperity, the Board of Regents acknowledges that these goals will be realized only as Louisiana’s educational attainment levels continue to improve. Your active participation in Louisiana higher

The 2017-2018 school year is a year of action for Louisiana graduates. For this first time, high school seniors will be required to decide whether to complete the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) application, the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA), or a denial of financial aid. Additionally, students who complete a Jump Start Career Diploma Pathway will be required to attain an industry credential providing them with a bridge into college or the workplace. The Department is committed to working with families and school counselors to support every graduate with these new requirements.

Through challenging classes and real-world work experiences, we can make high school more interesting, exciting, and relevant to your future.

Equip yourself to lead the life you want and have a fantastic high school experience.

Remember to follow us on Facebook @LDOEfinancialaid and on Twitter @JumpStart4LA for new resources and information this school year.

You matter Learn more:

southeastern.edu/explore

Take a virtual tour: southeastern.edu/visit

Request information: southeastern.edu/info

Follow us:

facebook.com/southeastern

LIFE & CULTURE PEOPLE

Catching up with ...

Louisiana

stars

By Melissa Bienvenu

Kaylee Hartung CNN CORRESPONDENT KAYLEE Hartung has packed a lot into 31 years. Hartung grew up in Baton Rouge and graduated from Episcopal High School in 2003. After college in Virginia she worked at CBS in New York for Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation. Then Hartung spent five years as a reporter for ESPN. Recently, she made the jump to CNN as a national correspondent, and was part of the team reporting live on the ground as Hurricane Irma battered Florida. We talked with Hartung about how she does it.

Next: Did you always want to be a journalist?

KH: I actually did. My father was a pilot, and he died in a plane crash at an air show in Lafayette when I was 10. I remember watching CNN that night and being very confused. The most important man in my life was gone, but they were just reporting on it as an event. I understand that now, but then, I couldn’t.

But in that moment, I recognized that I wanted to tell people’s stories.

10

Next: What’s the most Louisiana thing about you?

KH: I have a penchant for spicy, well-seasoned food, and I bleed purple and gold! I look forward to getting back to LSU as a fan. Last year, I think I covered four LSU football games for ESPN, plus other sports.

Next: Besides friends and family, what’s something you miss about Baton Rouge?

KH: Mansurs, Gino’s, Ruffino’s and Phil’s Oyster Bar [local restaurants].

JEANNIE FREY RHODES

Next: What advice do you have for teenagers?

KH: Be ready when that opportunity comes along. You don’t know when that door will open in front of you. When it does, you have to run through it.

LaNEXT.com

“Be ready when that opportunity comes along.

You don’t know when that door will open in front of you.”

Next: You’ve met and interviewed so many people. What are some of your favorite memories or moments?

KH: I was Bob Schieffer’s researcher when he moderated the 2008 presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. I also remember the adrenaline rush I felt when I worked my first football game for ESPN. I have never been so cold in my life! Then there was the first time I went live for CNN—on a bus full of activists going to a climate change rally.

LIFE & CULTURE

Hunter Hayes COUNTRY MUSIC FANS know Hunter Hayes for hits like “Wanted,” “Storm Warning” and this year’s “Rescue.” Before the babyfaced singer was a star, he was a Louisiana whiz kid who literally started performing as a baby. The Breaux Bridge native got his first accordion when he was 2. By 4, he was playing Cajun music on national TV, and by 7 he had sung at the White House. At 16, Hayes moved to Nashville to write songs. He was just 20 when his first album went double platinum in 2011 (over 1.1 million copies sold).

He was named the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2012 and in 2013 he sat with Stevie Wonder at the Academy of Country Music Awards, where the two of them performed Hayes’s smash “I Want Crazy.”

Hayes, 26, is now a veteran. He’s done three albums and toured with Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. This summer, he released “Rescue” as a stand-alone single on social media instead of a cut from an album (the usual way). It got the industry talking.

We asked Hayes about his success.

Next: How did your new marketing strategy work out?

HH: In the first week, we had one of the most successful weeks we’ve ever had in terms of streaming. It was astonishing.

Next: Who were your role models growing up?

HH: I really looked up to Garth Brooks for the longest time because he was a rock star who made country music, and I wanted to be that, too.

Next: Are any of your songs inspired by people or things in Louisiana?

HH: Potentially, maybe, yes. [Laughs.] But I’ll just leave it at that and let the music speak.

COURTESY HUNTER HAYES

Next: Did you ever think about doing anything besides music?

HH: When I was a kid I came up with all kinds of crazy things, but once I got into middle school and high school, music was all I ever thought about.

Next: What do you like to do when you visit Louisiana?

HH: Honestly, just sit on the couch and visit my grandparents and go see friends. I always try to borrow someone’s really sporty car and just drive around, going back down memory lane. I have actually written so many songs about that very thing!

Next: What can young people learn from your success?

HH: Last year, my word of the year was “conviction.” A pastor once told me the best thing he ever taught his kids was to fail and fail early, so that they weren’t afraid of failure. I have learned not to let my fear of failure keep me from trying something.

“I have learned not to let my fear of failure keep me from trying something.”

11 LaNEXT.com

COURTESY CLEVELAND BROWNS

LIFE & CULTURE

Terrence Magee TERRENCE MAGEE, running back for the Cleveland Browns, has been taking care of business ever since his backyard football days in Louisiana. After quarterbacking Franklinton High’s first state championship team, he went on to become a “fiery leader” and a “tough and durable” running back for LSU. He also wore the special #18 jersey that is reserved for the LSU player with the most leadership. Next caught up with the football star in midSeptember.

LaNEXT.com

12

“Work like you will never get another opportunity to work, every time you get a chance.”

Next: Have you always loved football?

TM: Actually, baseball was my first love. I only started playing football because my neighbors always played football in the yard, and they told me I had to start playing football if I wanted to keep coming over. So I got my mom to sign me up.

Next: What was the coolest thing about playing in the 4A state championship?

TM: Seeing my teammate Reggie Wilson score the winning touchdown in the Superdome.

Next: Tell us about being honored with the #18 jersey for LSU. TM: It meant the most because it was voted on not just by coaches and teammates but by the equipment staff and the guys in the weight room and training room. Also because Brandon Taylor—who is from Franklinton and played in the NFL and is someone I look up to—wore the #18 before me.

Next: What is a favorite memory from LSU? TM: My freshman year when we played Alabama for the national championship in “The Game of the

Century.” I didn’t play that year, but just to be a part of it and see what it took to get to a national championship was amazing.

Next: Who are your role models?

TM: I get my discipline from my parents. They never miss work, and they’re always on time. I used to hate going places with them because we would always show up everywhere an hour early!

Next: Do you play fantasy football?

TM: No. I would probably be terrible at it! I would probably pick players just because I know them and like them.

Next: What do you do for fun?

TM: I love fishing and deer hunting. That’s all I’m doing when I go home!

Next: What do you tell kids who ask you how to get to the NFL? TM: The first thing is you’ve got to take care of your business in the classroom. The second thing is work like you will never get another opportunity to work, every time you get a chance.

2601 Gentilly Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70122 1.800.216.6637 (toll-free) | admissions@dillard.edu

For nearly 150 years Dillard University has been developing renowned scholars and world leaders with inspired and involved faculty and an environment that builds both community and self-reliance. Start your journey to success by joining the Dillard family.

Ranked #2 producer of African Americans with bachelor’s degrees in physics -American Institue of Physics

Ranked #29 our of 199 Universities as the “Best Bang for the Buck for the South”; coming in #2 for HBCUs - Washington Monthly

Ranked #11 in HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) - US News and World Report

Ranked #49 our of 240 National Liberal Arts Universities; and #2 for HBCUs. - Washington Monthly

LaNEXT.com

Go online and Apply Now www.dillard.edu/apply

13

LIFE & CULTURE

Madelyn Smith

PEOPLE

HONOR ROLL SHOOTING STRAIGHT

PICTURE THIS

Connor Arthur, a 4-H’er and junior at Hornbeck High School in Vernon Parish, received the Youth Conservationist of the Year award from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in March.

Arthur was recognized at the Governor’s Conservation Awards banquet in Baton Rouge. It was his work with 4-H shooting sports, wildlife education and hunter safety that earned him the award. Arthur is a 4-H member-at-large in Sabine Parish. As a 4-H shooting sports ambassador, he helps organize shoots and educate youth about shooting safety.

Madelyn Smith, a sophomore from Lafayette studying natural resource ecology and management in the LSU College of Agriculture, spent 2016 photographing and collecting stories from Louisiana communities threatened by coastal erosion.

The book that resulted from her work, Louisiana Gone, is filled with black-and-white images and essays that detail life along Louisiana’s vulnerable coastline. Smith is a 2017 recipient of the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, which is awarded to only 50 college sophomores and juniors in the country and recognizes a student’s commitment to issues related to the environment. As a Udall scholar, Smith traveled to Tucson, Arizona, this summer for a conference with other Udall scholars.

Smith said her book is a call to action. “Our goal is to record a glimpse of what will be lost if we do not respond with haste to this crisis,” she said.

experience ever, and it was an incredible feeling,” she said.

Nickolson-Edie was torn between her two passions, basketball and modeling, until OBRFW wrapped. “Baton Rouge Fashion Week made me realize that my heart is in modeling. I did not realize how much I wanted to be a model until walking in these shows. I want to make a career out of this.” As the recipient of the Model of the Year Award, Nickolson-Edie receives a contract with Oneofakind Talent Inc., apparel from iME clothing, a cash stipend, and her own webpage on the OBRFW website (batonrougefashionweek.com) for one year.

WALKING TALL

LaNEXT.com

14

Arthur

Bossier City senior Jasmine Nickolson-Edie was named Model of the Year at the Oneofakind Baton Rouge Fashion Week in February.

“This was my first time to do OBRFW, my first fashion show

Nickolson-Edie

Narayanamoorthy

OH PERFECT! Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) senior Maanasa Narayanamoorthy was awarded a perfect score on both the ACT and SAT tests! A National Merit Finalist, Narayanamoorthy was also awarded an all-expensepaid study trip to Germany by the American Association of German Teachers. “This is an amazing accomplishment for any student, and we are so proud of Maanasa,” said Benjamin Franklin High School Head of School Dr. Patrick Widhalm. “Maanasa exemplifies the spirit of excellence here at Ben Franklin High School, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things she will accomplish in the future.”

LIFE & CULTURE

SUMMER FUN

HIGH-TECH

SUMMER fact, without special permission, it’s impossible.

But these students are part of a special group called the BASF Tech Academy—selected Ascension Parish teens who have shown an interest in pursuing a technical education.

As Petrosyan explains what happens here in the control room, the students listen attentively and scribble notes. Some ask questions about what goes on in the control room during hurricanes, and what chemical processes take place during production.

“This is a great opportunity for these students, and I’m always impressed with their level of engagement,” says Blythe Bellows Lamonica, BASF communications manager and Tech Academy coordinator. “We want to give them a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work in a technical field in Louisiana.”

By Maggie Heyn Richardson Photos Courtesy BASF

GETTING TECHNICAL A large percentage of good-paying jobs in Louisiana are achievable with a technical education. Manufacturing facilities throughout the state and region depend heavily on positions like process technicians, welders, electricians and operators, and the BASF Tech Academy, which took place in June this year, provides a window into these jobs in action. Co-sponsored by BASF and River Parishes Community College, the academy is open to juniors and seniors who attend one of the four public high schools in Ascension Parish (East Ascension High, Dutchtown High, St. Amant High and Donaldsonville High).

Graduates of the program are also eligible to apply for one of five $1,000 scholarships from BASF that can be used at RPCC and are good for three years.

“So much of the focus today is on fouryear colleges, but we forget there are tons

15 LaNEXT.com

OUTFITTED IN HARD hats, ear plugs and safety glasses, 29 high school students make their way into the control room of BASF’s acetylene plant in Geismar, Louisiana. They gather in front of a couple dozen computer monitors, each of which keeps track of the massive units outside that produce acetylene, a building block chemical used extensively throughout the facility and a key component in making household items. Three operators sit behind the monitors, keeping tabs on all sorts of data related to production, including temperature, air pressure and vapor flow. If something goes wrong in one of the units, they’re the first to detect it and get it corrected.

Clad in matching bright blue T-shits, the students file into the control room where they’re welcomed by BASF technology engineer Nikita Petrosyan.

It’s not every day members of the public are allowed behind the scenes like this. In

Taylor Heath, BASF instrument technician, demonstrates a level indicator used to transmit drum level signals to the operations personnel during the TECH Academy visit to BASF’s Geismar site.

LIFE & CULTURE

Kaylon Hebert, St. Amant High School student, explores the BASF Innovation Center at the Geismar site prior to taking a tour of the chemical manufacturing facilities.

LaNEXT.com

16

of opportunities out there for young people to earn a technical degree and get a job that offers great pay and benefits and mobility,” says Lamonica. “These are important jobs that require hard work and our students are getting to see exactly what they’re like.”

obtain those jobs,” says Lamonica. “Jobs like operators are the backbone of our facilities, and as people retire, we all want to see a new pipeline of talent enter those positions.”

MAKING THE CONNECTION

Day one of the Tech Academy was spent at RPCC, where the students learned about the college’s various curriculum programs. They toured classrooms and labs and learned about the importance of soft skills, including interpersonal communications. The students On Wednesday, June 7, BASF TECH Academy students toured the also got to know some of the school’s ExxonMobil Jet Fuel facility in Port Allen, Louisiana, where more instructors and student assistants, a than 50% of the world’s jet fuel is produced. handful of whom traveled with the group throughout the week.

Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, for On Tuesday, the academy ventured a tour of America’s premier rocket engine out for its first field trip—a stop at the Baton test complex, where engines for all manned Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co., which proApollo and space shuttle flights have been duces and distributes more than 750 differtested. ent beverages, including Coca-Cola, Fanta, “It was really a great tour,” says Matthew Dasani and Powerade.

Sianarta, 21, an RPCC student assistant who “It was great for them to see the seamlessmingled with the high school students all ness of the process,” says Lamonica, “and week. “It really allowed you to see what goes how many different jobs are required in a into testing engines.” facility like this.”

The Tech Academy students were reThat afternoon, the academy students minded that they don’t have to be aerospace stopped at Emerson Climate Technologies, engineers or astronauts to work for NASA. a major producer of heating and air prodTechnical jobs, like welders, electricians, ucts, where they learned about jobs available instrumentation personnel and others are throughout the HVAC field. essential to the operations of facilities like On Wednesday, the students saw weldStennis. ing in action at Smith Tank and Steel Inc., Finally, on Friday, the academy showa Gonzales-based company that builds cased different technical positions on staff high-quality steel tanks. Later that day, they at BASF’s expansive Geismar site, one of the ventured across the Mississippi River to Port global company’s largest facilities.

Allen to the ExxonMobil Aviation Lubricants “It’s really hard to decide what I would plant, which relies on several different techgo into because it’s all so interesting,” says nical jobs to make jet fuel.

Nguyen. “But I know it will be in a field like Thursday brought a popular outing. The this.” group headed to NASA’s Stennis Space

Over the course of five days, the academy takes students on a fast-moving tour of some of the region’s most significant manufacturers.

“It’s been so great, and I was interested in everything we learned,” says St. Amant High junior Raegan Nguyen, 16. “One of my favorite parts was trying welding.”

Smiling, Nguyen adds, “Apparently, I was pretty good at it.”

Nguyen participates in the Early College Option established between Ascension Parish Schools and RPCC. She takes courses at RPCC during the school year and has already earned multiple college credits.

It’s commonplace in Louisiana to know people who work for industry since this sector is one of the state’s biggest employers.

But until these students toured companies like ExxonMobil, BASF and Coca-Cola, they didn’t have a full understanding of what these jobs entailed.

“My dad works for a plant, and I was really curious what it was like,” says Dutchtown High School junior Zachary Wilson, 16. “I’ve learned a lot this week.”

Each stop on the tour allowed the students to learn more about how manufacturing works, from the safety measures taken to the distribution path of products. They also learned about the degrees required to obtain jobs in this sector.

“Our goal is to help the students make the connection between the jobs they’re interested in and the education they need to

INTO THE PLANTS

LIFE & CULTURE

It PAYS to be MONEYWISE MONEY MATTERS

Increasing your financial literacy is a giant step toward adulthood. Here are some basics.

Make them the starting point to being SMART about your money!

Credit Card Rules YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE! • Remember that credit cards are not “free money.”

They’re more like a loan that you must pay back.

• If you pay your full bill each month, you won’t have to pay interest. If you pay the minimum amount or only part of your bill, you’ll pay interest on your balance.

LaNEXT.com

18

• Credit cards aren’t “good” or “bad.” Spending habits, responsibility, ability to make payments, and other factors determine whether a credit card makes sense.

Common Money Management Mistakes AVOID THESE! 1 Getting a big tax refund each year. This is a sign that you may be having too much tax withheld from your paychecks. If this is the only way you’re able to save, it’s certainly better than nothing (assuming that you actually save that money or use it to pay down debt, of course). The problem is that it’s not exactly the most efficient way to save. Not only are you losing the ability to earn anything on that interest-free loan to Uncle Sam, but you also lose access to that money in the event of an emergency.

2 Paying a little extra on all your credit card debt. That’s certainly better than not making any extra payments or not even paying your bill in full. However, you can pay your debt off faster by putting all the extra money towards the debt with the highest interest rate and making just the minimum payments on the rest. As one balance is paid off, you’d then put those payments towards the remaining card with the highest rate until you’re debt free.

• Know yourself and your spending habits before getting a credit card.

3 Saving whatever is left at the end of the month. If you do that, don’t be surprised when there isn’t anything left to save. Instead, have your savings automatically set aside before you even have a chance to spend it. You can also have money automatically transferred from your checking account to savings accounts and an IRA.

SOURCE: Next Gen Personal Finance, ngpf.org

SOURCE: Forbes, “Common Money Management Mistakes That You’re Probably Making,” forbes.com

Life, Defined Annual Percentage Rate, or “APR” THE ANNUAL RATE that is charged for borrowing, expressed as a single percentage number that represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan. This is a key factor in any credit card or loan decision.

Are you

determined?

The University of New Orleans

is where your determination takes root and your future comes into focus. We offer an opportunity to learn from globally-recognized faculty and train in state-of-the-art facilities.

Don’t just take our word for it.

We have been named a top college by Forbes, The Princeton Review and Center for World University Rankings.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UNO among the national universities whose students graduate with the lightest debt loads.

Our students have the highest early career salaries of any university in Louisiana, according to payscale.com.

Tomorrow Begins Here.

The University of New Orleans is rooted in the culture of a city that won’t quit. New Orleans is a force in the global economy and a center of unique culture.

Our alumni shape the local professional landscape, play a significant role in the renaissance of New Orleans and set the new standard for reinvention.

Schedule a visit and see how it feels to walk our campus. Of course, if you’re ready to apply, we want to make that process as easy as possible. freshman.uno.edu

19 LaNEXT.com

Visit.uno.edu

Office of Enrollment Services Privateer Enrollment Center 105 Earl K. Long Library 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148

LIFE & CULTURE

PLANNING CHECKLIST

WHEN to do WHAT

By the NEXT staff

LaNEXT.com

THERE’S NO DOUBT about it: The process of planning for college and other types of postsecondary training can be CONFUSING! But it should be part of every junior’s and senior’s life—along with tacos, football, friends, concerts and English class, of course. It pays to start planning early and know the key steps to follow, whether you end up hunting financial aid 20 or applying for an apprenticeship. Here’s a great timeline to help guide you on your way. You can find and download a similar “to-do” list at lela.org.

2017-2018 TEST SCHEDULE

(public school and nonpublic school scholarship students)

DEC. 15

LEAP 2025/END-OF-COURSE (EOC) TESTING: Algebra I, English I, English II, Geometry, Biology, English III, U.S. History

MARCH 20

ACT - Grade 11 (paper-based test)

MARCH 20-29

ACT - Grade 11 (computer-based test)

APRIL 23-MAY 18

LEAP 2025/END-OF-COURSE (EOC) TESTING: Algebra I, English I, English II, Geometry, Biology, English III, U.S. History

MAY 7-18 AP tests

LIFE & CULTURE FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE YEARS Register for an appropriate Webbased student guidance system for career and college planning that incorporates all the components of the Individual Graduation Plan.

Your counselor will help you choose the diploma pathway that matches your goals and lay out a plan for completing the necessary core courses. You can choose between the TOPS University Pathway and the Jump Start TOPS Tech Pathway.

Talk to your counselor about Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP) courses or industrial/technical workplace training options— Louisiana has more ways to find the right courses for you than ever before!

JUNIOR YEAR

Use your summer to do things that will make your college application or résumé stronger.

Volunteer at a food pantry.

Participate in a summer college program for high school students.

Or, duh, work a summer job!

Be sure to study hard for your End-of-Course tests. You have to score Fair or above on English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, AND Biology or American History to graduate (public school students).

When selecting your senior courses, be sure you take courses you still need to complete your Individual Graduation Plan.

If you are on the TOPS University Pathway, ask your counselor about course choices that can strengthen your TOPS GPA. It’s what determines not only your eligibility for the TOPS award but also if you qualify to receive additional financial support during college.

SENIOR YEAR

JULY

• Summer is a great time to download applications from prospective colleges and start writing drafts for your admission and scholarship essays.

• Prepare or polish your high school résumé. You may need it for colleges, job applications, teachers from whom you request recommendations and even scholarship applications.

AUGUST

• If you haven’t taken the ACT and/ or SAT test yet, or if you need a retest, register for one of the fall testing dates. Visit collegeboard. org or actstudent.org for dates.

• Start applying for scholarships— some non-academic scholarship programs have deadlines in the fall for money for the following school year.

SEPTEMBER

• Buy a GIANT wall calendar where you can mark out all your application deadlines, financial aid deadlines, test dates, things to do from this list, and more.

• Ask your school counselor about college fairs in your area and add them to your calendar. College fairs allow you to get information about several schools at once and talk with representatives of the schools.

Very cool!

• Prepare for the FAFSA by creating your FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov. (The what?!! See page 39!)

OCTOBER

• Oct. 1 is the date the FAFSA for the 2018-2019 school year is released. Using their 2016 tax returns, work with your parents to complete it as soon as possible.

This is the key application form for all financial aid, including TOPS! Go to fafsa.gov to apply online.

• Have questions about FAFSA? Call askLela’s FAFSA HELPline at 844-GO-FAFSA or email info@lela. org. Lela is Louisiana’s nonprofit resource for FAFSA completion and college access.

• If you’re aiming at 4-year colleges, finalize your college list.

Many counselors recommend a final list of three schools that you will actually apply to.

• Make sure your ACT/SAT scores are being sent to your current college choices.

• Request a copy of your high school transcript from your school counselor or school registrar so you can review it for accuracy.

Then, make sure you know what procedures to follow to get it sent to your prospective schools.

• Find out the application deadlines for each of your colleges and start preparing your applications. Be sure to be totally OCD about DEADLINES! Mark them on your calendar with a red Sharpie!

NOVEMBER

• Find out the scholarship deadlines for all your colleges and add them to your calendar. (Some are as early as Nov. 15!)

• If colleges request Letters of Recommendation, compile a list of teachers and mentors you can ask to submit a letter for you. These may also be needed or scholarship applications.

• Attend a College Goal Sunday event in your area for assistance with your FAFSA on Nov. 5, 2017.

Details at osfa.la.gov.

21 LaNEXT.com

If you are on the Jump Start TOPS Tech Pathway, use your ACT PLAN® results and World-of-Work Map to indicate the potential for success in a Jump Start pathway and for earning an industry-based certification.

Visit March2Success.com for free ACT prep lessons.

ATHLETES: If you want to play NCAA college sports and receive a scholarship at the DI or DII level, you will need to register and be cleared by the NCAA. Go to athleticscholarships.net to register.

LIFE & CULTURE

DECEMBER

LaNEXT.com

22

• Review your FAFSA/Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy. If necessary, correct any inaccurate items on the SAR and return it to the FAFSA processor.

• A good goal is to submit all of your completed admission and college academic scholarship applications by the end of the year. (But always check with your colleges—some have earlier deadlines.) Remember, many schools have scholarship funds that are given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Search and apply for nonacademic scholarships. These are scholarships from organizations other than colleges that have admitted you. See page 40 for ideas.

JANUARY

• If you are applying for nonacademic scholarships, January is crunch time for deadlines. Try to

get all applications in the mail (or posted online) by the last week of January.

• Follow @LouisianaNEXT on Twitter for career ideas, financial aid tips and fun news about other Louisiana seniors!

FEBRUARY

• Contact financial aid offices at schools you’ve applied to and find out their processes. Research any other financial aid options you may need: TOPS, loans, grants. See pages 38-39 for tips.

• If you still need help filing the FAFSA, watch the videos in the “FAFSA: Apply for Aid” playlist at YouTube.com/ FederalStudentAid or go to osfa.la.gov to find out about inperson assistance.

MARCH

• March 1 is the recommended FAFSA submission deadline at many schools.

• Schools begin to notify students of admission and financial aid awards!

• Don’t quit looking for scholarships. Lots of non-academic scholarship competitions don’t close until late spring. See page 40 for ideas.

APRIL

• Notify your schools’ financial aid offices of any outside scholarships or grants you’ve won.

• If you’re still deciding between two (or more) colleges, spring break is a great time for one last campus visit.

• This is the month for acceptance letters, rejection letters ... and, if you got accepted at multiple schools, one of the biggest decisions of your life!

MAY

• May 1 is your deadline for making a final decision. Many schools require you to accept financial

aid offers by this date, and some require an enrollment commitment deposit.

• Notify other schools that accepted you that you will NOT be enrolling.

• Write thank-you notes to teachers who wrote letters of recommendation.

• If you plan on living on campus, you may need to submit a separate application for housing. Check with your college’s admissions department.

• Enjoy senior week and your commencement!!!!! Class of ’18! Woop! woop!

JUNE

• Attend the freshman orientation program at your college.

• Find out when payment of your fall semester charges is due.

• If you made a last-minute decision to apply for college or other training program, remember you still have until June 30 to submit your FAFSA for financial aid.

Find training.

Go to work.

Earn a degree.

Transfer to a university.

START YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS WITH

ONE SEARCH

Thirteen community and technical colleges with locations in 54 parishes.

Over 1,700 career opportunity pathways. Financial aid available.

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES AT

WWW.LCTCS.EDU @GOLCTCS

23 LaNEXT.com

COLLEGE & TRAINING apprenticeships are more viable than ever. Some of the most in-demand occupations today, especially in plant work and construction, require industry certification or a 2-year degree rather than a 4-year degree.

Sometimes this training is offered by employers, and sometimes by industry groups, like Associated Builders and Contractors. ABC has campuses in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles where students prepare for jobs like pipefitter, welder and millwright. See our profile on page 27 and visit abcpelican.org to learn more.

Louisiana’s community colleges have open admissions and offer an incredibly wide variety of programs that can set you up for a job and a paycheck you love—everything from computer drafting and design to culinary arts to veterinary technology. They typically offer the 2-year associate degree, technical certificates and training for industry certifications. More than half of the state’s total Pell Grants are issued to community college students. To learn more

COLLEGE CHOICES

What KIND of

...continued on page 26

COLLEGE do I need?

LaNEXT.com

24

“COLLEGE” MAY NOT be what you think it is.

When your teachers, counselors and, yes, this magazine, tell you how important it is to go to college, we’re not just talking about moving into a dorm room and starting on-campus life at a four-year university.

That’s an old definition of “college” that just doesn’t contain all the pathways there are for you after high school in Louisiana today. The fact is, “college” can be any education you complete after high school.

Today, “college” can be 12 weeks of craft training that leads to $15-an-hour starting pay for a future master craftsman.

It can mean a two-year degree in process technology from one of our community or technical colleges and a career in the chemical industry with an eventual salary of $80,000 a year. And of course, “college”

still means 4-year degrees that pave the way for success in business and careers like lawyer, teacher or engineer, too.

Since “college” today includes so many different options, we’ve put together the chart on the next page and the information below to help you make the best choice for you.

The 4-year degree There are big advantages to a 4-year education from one of Louisiana’s fine private colleges or large public universities, which offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, including areas such as literature, history, languages, mathematics and the sciences, plus degree progams in broad career areas like engineering, agriculture, animal sciences and pharmacy.

Although these colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study,

a bachelor’s degree will also expand your perspective on life and the world and teach you thinking and learning skills that will benefit you for a lifetime.

Most people consider that a great investment!

While a four-year degree is a laudable goal—and a necessity for many professional careers— it’s not reasonable or necessary for everyone. Seventy percent of students enroll in a 2- or 4-year college within two years of high school graduation, but many drop out along the way, often thousands of dollars in debt and with no clear pathway to a wellpaying occupation.

Two years or less With Louisiana’s economy in the midst of an industrial construction boom, alternate pathways such as technical and short-term training, certifications, community colleges and

DID YOU KNOW? • 28,853 students graduated from a community or technical college in Louisiana in 2015.

• 15,805 students transferred from community colleges to 4-year universities.

• Community and technical college graduates earned credentials in programs such as computer science, process technology, construction crafts, engineering technology, industrial production, allied health, manufacturing and accounting.

• Nationwide, 49% of 2015-16 bachelor’s (4-year) degree earners previously enrolled at public 2-year colleges.

• A majority of Louisianans who complete a Registered Apprenticeship become employed with an average starting salary above $50,000.

COLLEGE & TRAINING COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Typically offer a wide range of majors and degree programs leading to the four-year bachelor’s degree. Most have graduate programs as well, leading to master’s degrees and Ph.Ds.

Smaller private colleges are sometimes classified as “liberal arts” colleges because they focus on a general education in the humanities, math, and social and physical sciences, leading to a four-year bachelor’s degree. But there are also private universities that are quite large and offer the complete range of majors, with very specialized bachelor’s degrees.

The best fit for many collegebound high school grads, community colleges offer a two-year degree called an associate degree, plus a variety of diplomas and certifications.

You can get job-ready for many of the most available jobs in Louisiana today—or you can take your associate degree and transfer to a four-year school.

These smaller schools offer technical degrees, diplomas and certifications for specific jobs, like HVAC technician or medical records. Programs range from a few weeks to one year, or even a full two-year associate degree.

Pursuing a degree online is a great option for students who need to attend classes on their own time, want to work full time, or are simply uninterested in traditional campus life.

Online degree programs allow you to get the same degrees you can get in the classroom (certification, associate, bachelor’s).

Some public universities have big campuses and large enrollments, and some general classes can be “mega-classes,” with a hundred students or more. Large classes and a feeling of anonymity can be a turn-off for some students, but with them come larger libraries, more class offerings and more counselors, too.

Many private schools are smaller than state universities, and that means smaller classes. Most promise more attention from professors and more classes with professors, instead of classes handled by graduate students.

Offer an assortment of jobspecific programs (nursing, computer programming, automotive technology), but also classes in more general disciplines to develop your basic skills (writing, math, science).

Their open admissions mean you don’t have to meet the rigorous requirements of Louisiana’s four-year colleges to get started.

Concentration is on very specific career skills (welding, process technology, LPN, culinary arts), though with associate degree programs at some schools you will still get a dose of broader classes like physics, math and English.

The possibilities are growing with each passing semester.

Louisiana community colleges now offer multiple degree programs with instruction delivered 100% over the Internet. Louisiana universities offer dozens of online courses, and there are even national accredited online universities.

They’re called “state” schools because the state government helps fund them, so tuition and fees are lower than at private schools.

Higher tuition and fees than public schools. But you can still use your TOPS award at most Louisiana private schools, and most have superb scholarship and aid programs based on both merit and need.

Qualifying students can take advantage of TOPS to pay tuition, which is already a bargain at a community college—in some cases less than half the cost of a state university.

The cost of online programs is usually comparable to or less expensive than traditional programs.

TUITION EXAMPLE*

TUITION EXAMPLE*

TUITION EXAMPLE*

The tuition and fees for a private, for-profit school often run higher than a public university, while Louisiana’s public technical colleges have the lowest tuitions of any postsecondary option. Financial aid is often available, and the TOPS Tech award can be used at public technical colleges.

Louisiana Tech $8,853

Xavier U. of New Orleans $23,300

South Louisiana Community College $3,944

DEGREES ACADEMICS COST CAMPUS LIFE

TUITION EXAMPLE* Medical Training College $11,200

ONLINE LEARNING

TUITION EXAMPLE* Varies by type of school

Larger schools offer plenty of on-campus housing, and dorm life is practically a rite of passage for many young adults.

Sports, clubs and extracurricular activities abound, along with social options like student government, fraternities and sororities. Another perk is frequent cultural activities like concerts, theater and lectures.

Students looking for a smaller environment or a particular religious affiliation often find it by going private. The number of clubs, sports events and cultural offerings depend on the school’s size, but they are no less enriching. If nightlife isn’t really your thing anyway, you can probably find a small private college that fits your style!

They enroll lots of nontraditional, commuter and working students, so on-campus housing is a rarity. Still, most have active clubs and student organizations, and some spice it up with cultural events, such as theater and lectures, and some even have collegiate athletics.

You won’t find a marching band or intramural sports. But there are dozens of these schools located in smaller cities around the state, so convenience is a plus, as are flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and handson experience.

None! But with online class discussion boards, you may still have opportunities for meeting other students, idea sharing and class camaraderie.

For websites, tuition estimates and other information about public universities in Louisiana, see page 58.

For websites, tuition estimates and other information about private schools in Louisiana, see page 59.

For a list of Louisiana’s community and technical colleges and contact information, visit lctcs.edu or see page 60.

Proprietary schools are listed beginning on page 61.

Inquire with your school of choice about online courses and degree programs. Or simply use Louisiana Online at louisianaonline.org to find an online program at a Louisiana college that is right for you. You can also search thousands of options using Electronic Campus, a Web resource offered by SREB.

*2016-17 full-time tuition & fees. SOURCE: Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

25 LaNEXT.com

MORE INFO

TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

COLLEGE & TRAINING about Louisiana’s community colleges, see page 60 or visit lctcs.edu.

Technical schools teach specific, highdemand skills for particular jobs. There are 40 state technical college campuses across Louisiana, each with a focus to provide skilled employees for businesses and industries. Diplomas and certificates you can earn from a technical college include Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Technical Diploma (TD), Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) and Technical Competency Area (TCA). To learn more, see the directory of schools on page 60.

Technical schools offer short-term training programs, which can be less than a year or up to two years. A certificate is earned upon completion and is in preparation for a national certification exam, a record of work-related credentials that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession. Certifications are voluntary but may be required for some employers or jobs, such as nursing assistant or HVAC technician.

Apprenticeships

LaNEXT.com

26

An apprenticeship is on-the-job training with related classroom instruction where you learn the practical and theoretical aspects of highly skilled occupations. In most cases, the apprentice agrees to continue working for the employer for an agreed period of time after training. Available fields include manufacturing, culinary, electrician and health care.

At graduation, an apprentice has work experience and a solid résumé. With this foundation, apprentices can pursue highpaying full-time employment with their apprenticeship company or with another company in their industry, or even continue their education at 2- and 4-year institutions.

Apprenticeships can run anywhere from one to six years, but the average is about four.

Last year, the Louisiana Workforce Commission won a $1.55 million grant from the U.S Department of Labor for the Expanding Opportunities Today to Meet Tomorrow’s Needs project, which is aimed at increasing the number of registered apprentices throughout Louisiana. The LWC is partnering with high schools and the Ochsner Health System, the commission’s primary health care partner in the initiative. While aimed at developing Registered Apprenticeship programs in the surgical technician and licensed practical nurse fields, the LWC hopes to increase the number of all registered apprentices in the state of Louisiana by 100% from 2016 to 2019.

To explore apprenticeship programs in our state, visit laworks.net and select “Career Solutions.” You’ll see that both local labor unions and major Louisiana employers in industry, such as ExxonMobil and General Motors, run apprenticeship programs. Let them put you to work!

COLLEGE & TRAINING

PLUGGED in for his COLLEGE CHOICES

FUTURE

Wesley Norwood found an alternative training track after high school that has ‘worked’ out just fine.

By Melissa Bienvenu • Photos Courtesy Wesley Norwood ity at that point was to stay away from it.”

Eventually, Norwood ended up as an electrician’s helper at Triad Electric and Controls in Port Allen. Triad is a Louisiana contractor that does electrical work in big plants and helps build new industrial projects. That was a lucky move, because Triad offered to pay for Norwood to go to school for further training.

For the next two years, while continuing to work at Triad during the day, Norwood took night classes at the Pelican Chapter

27 LaNEXT.com

LIKE MANY SENIORS, Wesley Norwood had no clue what he wanted to do after high school. So the West Feliciana graduate attended the school of life for a while.

At first, the Tunica native worked at nearby Angola, the state penitentiary. That wasn’t his thing. So he became an electrician’s helper.

“Electrician’s helpers work with journeyman electricians, carrying tools and watching and paying attention so they can learn,” Norwood explains. “All I knew about electric-

of Associated Builders and Contractors in Baton Rouge (abcpelican.org). ABC trains students to be skilled craftsman in electrical, carpentry, heavy equipment and crane operator, millwright, pipefitting, plumbing and instrumentation.

“I went from knowing a little about a lot to knowing a lot about a lot,” Norwood says. He has continued to take courses and moved up from being an electrician’s helper to being an A-class journeyman electrician, the most advanced skill level. He is now working toward his certification in instrumentation.

“I love my job,” Norwood says. “I like the hands-on. I like to be moving around and seeing how things work. I like knowing that I made those lights came on or those computers work or those pumps work.”

And the pay doesn’t stink—it’s about $29 an hour.

“I am able to live comfortably,” he says, “And that is saying a lot for someone who is 25 and married with one kid and a baby on the way.”

He encourages anyone with an interest in skilled or industrial crafts to get formal training.

“School just fills in the blanks that you don’t learn in the field.”

COURTESY MCNEESE

COLLEGE & TRAINING

COOL DEGREES

McNeese State University health and human performance student David Suarez demonstrates the proper use of the hammer strength pull over machine under the direction of Dr. Michael Soileau, head of the McNeese Department of Health and Human Performance.

EXERCISE? SCIENCE? YES!

LaNEXT.com

30

THE MCNEESE State University Department of Health and Human Performance is prepared for changes as construction is underway for the new Health and Human Performance Education Complex.

Dr. Michael Soileau, the head of the department, is thrilled to see the addition of this new complex on the Lake Charles campus, which will contain six classrooms, 12 faculty offices and a lab, as well as a sports training center. It is currently scheduled for completion in June 2018.

Although Soileau’s department falls under the Burton College of Education, many of its programs prepare students for careers beyond those of coaching or teaching. He says this new facility will help the department reach its goals in preparing students for growing careers in exercise science, sport and wellness management, and sports medicine.

The sport and wellness program is designed for those students interested in the business side of athletics and the wellness

industry, while the sports medicine program is designed for those students interested in seeking a career as an athletic trainer, which now requires a master’s degree in athletic training.

“A bachelor’s degree used to be the only requirement of our sports medicine graduates to get a job. But by 2020, all certifications will require a master’s degree,” Soileau explained. “In addition to athletic trainers, students earning this degree will go on to find careers as nutritionists and as injury evaluators in athletic programs across the country.”

Exercise science, the most rigorous degree program offered by the department, prepares students for additional education in the field of physical therapy. “While in recent years physical therapists usually held a master’s degree, the certification now requires a full doctorate. This makes entry into PT graduate programs extremely competitive,” Soileau said.

Training for exciting and lucrative careers continues to expand in Louisiana—just check out these examples!

A tasty new degree at Loyola Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Arts and Sciences announced a new, interdisciplinary food studies program that began this semester. Loyola students can now pursue a major in food studies designed around food policy, commerce and culture. Food studies programs have been on the rise for the last two decades at American colleges and universities. Loyola’s program, located in one of the world’s premier food capitals, is the first undergraduate food studies major in Louisiana.

The major combines interdisciplinary food studies courses with classes from history, sociology, the natural sciences, environmental studies and other fields. The program aims to teach students about the complex web of relationships that bring food to the plate.

“So many different aspects of the world around us come together in a single dish: taste, culture, friendship, the global econoContinued on page 35

How to Avoid

TOPS Eligibility Processing Delays Next Summer... your name exactly the SAME on ALL documents. If  Write your name is John Alan Smith, Jr., do not use John A. Smith, Jr., on one, J.A. Smith, Jr. on another, and John Alan Smith on the third. Spelling and punctuation matter. Your date of birth and address must also be the same on all documents, applications, etc. the ACT TOPS code of 1595 or the SAT TOPS  Include code of 9019 on all ACT/SAT test registrations. Make sure that the Email address you put on your ACT registration and test matches the Email address you use on the FAFSA. School students: make certain that your school has  Public a parent-signed Consent Form granting LOSFA access to grade data. sure you are taking the 19 units that comprise the  Make TOPS Core Curriculum. aware that TOPS awards are based on TOPS Core  Be GPA…not overall GPA…and GPA’s cannot be rounded up or down. the parent and the student must apply for and receive  Both an FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA. You and your parent can apply for an FSA ID now at www.fafsa.gov. Click on the FSA ID icon at the top of the homepage. is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and  FAFSA is the primary TOPS application. The 2018-2019 FAFSA will be available beginning October 1, 2017, at www.fafsa.gov and will use 2016 Federal Income Tax information. The earlier the FAFSA is filed, the earlier we can begin matching needed information for TOPS eligibility determination. for Fall 2018 admission to the postsecondary  Apply institution of your choice during October 2017.

LOSFA on Facebook and/or “Follow” LOSFA on  “Like” Twitter for important TOPS information throughout the year.



Create a LOSFA Student Hub account to follow your progress toward earning a TOPS award and then to track your TOPS continuation eligibility throughout postsecondary studies. Public school students will initially log in to create their account with their Louisiana State Secure ID, non-public students with their Louisiana State ID number

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance 602 North Fifth St. | Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | 225.219.1012 | 1.800.259.5626 | www.osfa.la.gov Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access!

Let LOSFA help with your game plan to

FAFSA/FSA ID WORKSHOPS Starting in August and September, LOSFA staff visits high schools across the state of Louisiana to host FSA ID workshops to assist students and parents with the creation of their FSA IDs. Once the FAFSA opens in October, LOSFA staff then assists students and parents with completion of the FAFSA during FAFSA completion workshops.

In addition to facilitating FSA ID and FAFSA workshops, LOSFA staff is available year-round to provide one-on-one FAFSA completion assistance to students and parents.

LOUISIANA COLLEGE APPLICATION AND ACCESS MONTH (LCAAM) / FAFSA COMPLETION ASSISTANCE CONTINUES Each October, LOSFA collaborates with key education partners in the state of Louisiana to host the Louisiana College Application and Access Month (LCAAM.) During LCAAM, LOSFA and its partners will focus on helping students navigate their postsecondary plans and guiding them through the application processes at those institutions or organizations. Students will be encouraged to submit at least one application, whether it be to an education institution, employer, or military organization.

Families are also encouraged to attend LCAAM events as selected participating sites will also provide resources to assist with FSA ID creation, FAFSA completion, college applications, military applications, and employment searched and applications. Check the LOSFA website, www.osfa.la.gov, for a list of locations, dates, times, and services offered.

Before completing applications during Louisiana College Application and Access Month, LOSFA staff host College Match and Fit workshops to connect students with the right institutions, which include educational institutions, the military, and the workforce. The workshops incorporate LOSFA’s 5-Point Match Tool, which allows students to explore career interests and learn about the institutions that offer those programs.

Visit www.unlockmyfuture.org to discover potential dream careers and start unlocking your future today.

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance

|

602 North Fifth St.

|

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY/ FAFSA COMPLETION ASSISTANCE CONTINUES

College Goal Sunday is an event that focuses on assisting Louisiana college-bound students and their families with FAFSA completion. Financial aid professionals from host post-secondary institutions will be available to assist students and parents with completion of the primary application for Federal, State (including TOPS), and many private and institutional scholarships and grants. A special emphasis is placed on assisting students who are economically disadvantaged or first-generation college students.

The 2018 College Goal Sunday event will take place on November 5, 2017 from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM at various post-secondary locations across the state of Louisiana. Complete locations, “what to bring,” and pre-registration forms will be available on the LOSFA website, www.osfa.la.gov, by mid-October.

FLY / FAFSA COMPLETION ASSISTANCE CONTINUES LOSFA’s 8th annual FLY (Financial Literacy for You) Tour is a theatrical presentation designed to provide high school seniors with information and resources related to financial awareness, academic performance, and college preparation. Topics such as money management and credit-building are brought to life as LOSFA staff members perform entertaining skits and scenes using poetry, music, and drama.

The live performance, which is written and performed by staff members, will be hosted on the campuses of select postsecondary institutions across the state of Louisiana during the month of February. While there, the host universities will also provide students with information about support services available to them as well as scholarships and other forms of aid.

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE DAY The intent of Louisiana College Acceptance Day is to recognize and celebrate high school seniors for successfully being accepted into college. During the event, students are formally recognized at their school’s award ceremonies, in which families and fellow students will be in attendance. The event also serves as encouragement to younger students who may feel inspired to begin college planning early.

Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access

|

225.219.1012

|

1.800.259.5626

|

www.osfa.la.gov

Introducing LOSFA’s College and Career

• UNLOCK MY FUTURE is the perfect way to kick-off your college (any education after high school) and career prep planning • Start by finding potential dream jobs based on what you already love to do • Find the schools that offer the training you’ll need and which are most affordable • Link to the Louisiana Workforce Commission Star Jobs Website to learn about the demand and salary range in Louisiana for your career interests • Watch informative videos about the careers that interest you • You’ll also find many other valuable resources to aid in your transitions from high school to higher education to workforce

Put LOSFA’s 5-Point Match to work for you today at

unlockmyfuture.org Animal Lover TODAY

Inventor TODAY

Science TODAY

STEP

1

Figure out dream career.

STEP

2

Go to college! make it possible.

S U C C E SS

STEP

3

Veterinarian

Engineer

Physician

TOMORROW

TOMORROW

TOMORROW

Live an awesome life!

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance 602 North Fifth St. | Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | 225.219.1012 | 1.800.259.5626 | www.osfa.la.gov Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access!

COLLEGE & TRAINING

my, the labor that brings ingredients from the field to the table,” said Dr. Daniel Mintz, director of the new program. “Food is an incredible teaching tool, and there is no better place to study it than New Orleans.”

Students in Loyola’s new program will examine the systems that govern food production, distribution and consumption.

They will also explore the culture of food through a variety of cultural approaches to food studies. Through coursework in food policy, students will question how society should make decisions about the food system and will learn about how such decisions are made in practice. Food studies at Loyola will prepare students for careers in fields such as policymaking, food policy advocacy, food supply chain and distribution, food marketing and food research, food journalism, food criticism, food entrepreneurship, and consulting.

“Students in the program will delve into the rich culinary heritage of New Orleans and will engage critically with the challenges faced by the city’s food system,” the school said in a statement. “Through coursework and experiential learning, the new Food Studies program at Loyola will produce graduates attentive to the practical realities of food production, consumption and policy-making, and committed to producing a more just and equitable food system.”

Living with cyber—on campus!

New programs coming for northeast Louisiana In August Gov. John Bel Edwards and Dr. Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, announced the construction of a new Workforce Training Center in Tallulah and substantial expansion of the Advanced Technology Center in Monroe for the Louisiana Delta Community College. The new facility in Tallulah and expansion in Monroe represent a public-private investment of $10 million.

The new Workforce Training Center in Tallulah will upgrade and increase technical program offerings in demand by local business and industry. Programs you can now find there include accounting, nursing, welding, diesel powered equipment technology and general education.

LIFE, DEFINED

Cyber engineering The fusion of computer science, electrical engineering and mathematics, with the integration of the humanities, in order to research and develop systems solutions across cyberspace.

MORE COOL DEGREES Louisiana colleges and universities offer unique undergraduate programs that go way beyond the “obvious” college majors. Did you know you could go to college to study...

PROGRAM SCHOOLS Animation Automotive technology Digital media design Emergency medical service (paramedic) Entertainment technology/animation (film and video games) Hospitality/tourism administration

Entrepreneurship Music industry studies Pharmacy

Southeastern Louisiana University, AIE Louisiana Community and Technical College System South Louisiana Community College National EMS Academy (Acadian Ambulance) Delgado Community College Baton Rouge Community College Southeastern Louisiana University University of New Orleans University of Louisiana at Lafayette Nunez Community College Northwestern State University LSU Loyola University New Orleans University of Louisiana at Monroe, Xavier University

35 LaNEXT.com

Freshman computer science and cyber engineering students at Louisiana Tech in Ruston are “Living with Cyber.” Modeled after the school’s “Living with the Lab” engineering courses, the freshman computing curriculum utilizes a unique hardware platform the size of a credit card to provide students hand-on projects in learning the intricacies of computing that results in an immersive learning environment.

At its core, Living with Cyber is about cultivating problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Students look at problems (typically in the cyberspace domain), design algorithms and propose them as solutions, and analyze them.

The solutions are then implemented using the unique hardware platform. Ultimately, the curriculum provides students with an overview of computing, forms the

foundation of their academic degree, and helps prepare them for career opportunities in a variety of computing fields.

La Tech also recently launched the nation’s first four-year bachelor’s degree program in cyber engineering, a program developed in partnership with the Cyber Innovation Center in ShreveportBossier City and Air Force Research Labs. In an interview with Business Facilities magazine, CIC Executive Director Craig Spohn said the cyber engineering discipline is part of an “integrated approach” between the national security apparatus and higher education to train cyber engineers.

“It’s computer science and electrical engineering with a national security underpinning,” Spohn said. “The CIC partners with Louisiana Tech University in advancing research by connecting federal agencies with investigators who are conducting a variety of relevant cyber research [projects]. Louisiana Tech University is a Center of Academic Excellence for the National Security Agency.”

Skills critical to cybersecurity range from an understanding of software and hardware to networking and programming, and an understanding of the problem in the context of policy, law and ethics.

With this degree, you could become a technical leader in cyber security, one of the hottest job fields in the country!

Student Checklist

for 2018 High School Graduation Are you ready for graduation?

Use this checklist with your guidance counselor to record your progress towards graduation!

• Selection of diploma pathway (ideally selected no later than end of 10th grade)

m

• Jump Start Career Diploma (TOPS Tech) • TOPS University

start here

Scan this code WITH your smart DEVICE to access the interactive checklist

• Selection of a Jump Start graduation pathway offered at your high school, when pursuing the Jump Start Career Diploma (No later than end of 10th grade) – graduation pathways by region and high school

What financial aid opportunities are available?

• FEDERAL GRANTS • STUDENT LOANS • WORK STUDY PROGRAMS

• LOUISIANA’S TAYLOR OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OR TOPS • INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

What is the FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a form prepared annually by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. As of the 2017-2018 school year, all high school seniors in Louisiana will be required to complete the FAFSA or apply for a waiver in order to graduate.

When is the FAFSA available?

The FAFSA application is available each year on October 1. Students should complete the application in their senior year of high school and each year in college or a university to continue qualifying for aid. Early completion is encouraged, since students may qualify for additional state or institutional aid.

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and select “Start a New FAFSA”

• Selection of an Industry Based Credential (only required for Career Diploma) offered in your selected Jump Start graduation pathway (No later than end of 10th grade) – Jump Start Fact Sheets

• Completion of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduation

• Completion of Louisiana college applications and/or seeking employment aligned to your Jump Start Industry Based Credentials (No later than beginning of 11th grade)

Stay in touch with the LDOE for the LATEST JUMP START and Financial aid Resources @ldoefinancialaid

@JumpStart4LA

www.louisianabelieves.com/courses/financialaid

COLLEGE & TRAINING FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid

& PIZZA They're the same (sort of).

By Rebecca Daughtry, College and Career Coach, Program Specialist, and Self-Professed Financial Aid Nerd for Career Compass

O

NE OF THE THINGS I hear most in my work as a college & career coach is the frustration that students and families experience when they contemplate how to pay for college. For the sake of simplicity—something you rarely encounter in this topic—I want to first “simply” explain financial aid as a concept. Then, I’ll discuss different types of financial aid and how to access them.

Please bear with my analogy.

Paying for college or any

postsecondary training is like making or ordering a pizza. Did I just blow your mind? Both involve a bunch of options (Do I want pepperoni today? Should I go out-of-state?), and both require decisions to be made. Pizza and college go hand-in-hand, am I right?

The pizza crust is the foundation of the pizza, and here, represents cost (also known as COA: Cost of Attendance). The thickness of that crust indicates the level of affordability.

THIN CRUST= Local community college or Louisiana technical colleges.

TRADITIONAL CRUST= State universities that offer affordable housing and meal plans and are located in town/city where cost of living is moderate to low.

THICK CRUST= Private colleges in towns/ cities with a moderate to high cost of living.

DEEP DISH “CHICAGOSTYLE” CRUST= Out-of-state public and private schools with out-of-state tuition and located in towns/cities with moderate to high cost of living.

LaNEXT.com

38

Still with me? Next, we need to cover up that delicious crust. No one wants a toppingless pizza. Covering the crust of your choice can be represented by the toppings available.

Every family has different capabilities for covering costs, so the toppings will look different for everyone.

THE PIZZA SAUCE= Eligibility (also known as EFC: Eligible Family Contribution) for covering costs. When you complete the FAFSA, you figure out your EFC. This will indicate whether or not your family is eligible for need-based aid, which consists of Pell Grants, federal student loans, and any need-based state aid available. Every pizza needs sauce.

Even if you think you don’t need it, you do—just like everyone needs to complete the FAFSA.

THE CHEESE, MEAT & VEGGIES=

Scholarships, otherwise known as merit-based aid. These are earned by students and accessed by completing applications. In Louisiana, the one everyone thinks of most is TOPS. TOPS is accessed by completing your FAFSA and having your ACT scores sent to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.

COLLEGE & TRAINING Let’s talk about the different types of scholarships available to you. There are basically three types of scholarship funding.

The first and your largest pool of funding comes from the college of your choice.

They each have different rules for applying and deadlines. Those are typically listed individually on each college’s website. This requires even more patience and a bit of research. Still, totally worth it!

A second source of scholarship funding is your local scholarship offerings. The amounts of each scholarship may look smaller in comparison, but these organizations and/or businesses want to congratulate your hard work by helping you succeed. They have a vested interest in the success of their community’s students.

Your school counselor usually has a list of local scholarship opportunities, and your Career Compass college & career coach does, too.

Lastly, you can also find scholarships available from various national organizations. You can access those through national scholarship search sites. Career

Compass both sponsors specific scholarships and curates scholarship offerings from such sites and lists them on our website to ease your stress. Also, make sure you “like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter to get updates.

FINAL THOUGHTS If you don’t remember anything else, please remember these two things: (1) A Career Compass college & career coach is trained on this and other topics. PLEASE use your coach as a resource. (2) NEVER pay money to a company or person claiming to be a FAFSA or scholarship application expert. There are plenty of free, reputable resources out there to help you.

About Career Compass of Louisiana Career Compass is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving schools in more than half of Louisiana school districts. Its goal is to increase the number of students in Louisiana who attend a postsecondary institution upon high school graduation (technical, community and 4-year universities). Learn more at careercompassla.org.

DO THE FAFSA! It all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. With this one application, you can apply for financial aid at all colleges and from multiple funding sources (federal, state, institutional and private providers of assistance), including TOPS. You and a parent or guardian can go to fafsa.gov to fill out the form online beginning Oct. 1. EVERYONE should submit a FAFSA, no matter what their financial means or what kind of school they plan on attending!

TIP SHEET

Source: NASFAA

FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college. Just provide some basic information and this online tool will estimate your eligibility for federal student aid. Your estimate will be shown in a “College Cost Worksheet” where you can also provide estimated amounts of other student aid and savings that can go toward your college education. fafsa.gov

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID Federal Pell Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) Federal Work-Study (FWS) Federal Perkins Loan Direct Loan Direct PLUS Loan (for parents) Direct Grad Plus Loan (for students)

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) TOPS Corporate Private Scholarships Scholarships from Your College or its Foundation Athletic Scholarships Departmental Awards

Should you take out a

LOAN? Many students do, but be careful!

MANY STUDENTS (or their parents) need to borrow some money to complete their financial aid packages.

The fact is, the basic TOPS award only covers tuition and some fees. Most colleges and universities have additional fees not covered by TOPS that could exceed your TOPS award by more than $500 per semester. Plus, the actual “Cost of Attendance” for college is unique for each school. It includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, class supplies, computer costs, transportation and ... wait for it ... personal expenses.

(Or did you not want to drink any lattes or go to any movies next year?)

Expenses, fees, books ... loans can be used to cover the costs that go beyond your TOPS award and any other grants and scholarships. Your college’s financial aid office may calculate an estimated Cost of Attendance for you and put together a financial aid package just for you that considers your TOPS status and adds any academic scholarships or grants for which you qualify. This package may include a recommended loan amount to get you up to the total cost of attending.

Pay attention to the different types of loans and the terms. Federal student loans come with crucial consumer protections like income-based repayment plans, while private loans offer little or no relief if you hit a rough patch.

Above all, remember the No. 1 piece of advice experts give about student debt: Only borrow what you need! Excessive student debt has become a crisis nationwide, and with loans you DO have to pay the money back!

Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov/types/ loans.

39 LaNEXT.com

Don’t immediately rule out a particular school because the tuition is high. Apply for financial aid from each school that interests you and to which you have applied. Once you receive each school’s offer of financial aid, you can compare the awards to figure out which option is best for you.

COOL LINKS

FINANCIAL AID

COLLEGE & TRAINING FINANCIAL AID

SCHOLARSHIPS

are everywhere

Here are a few ideas and websites to fuel your scholarship search.

WHEN HUNTING FOR scholarships, colleges are your best source for financial assistance, awarding merit- and needbased aid. Never exclude a college from your list of choices just because of its sticker price.

Financial aid officers are dedicated to helping you pay for college, and they put together “aid packages,” including institutional scholarships, grants and loans.

BUT ... aid from your school and from TOPS may not cover your full costs of attending college, so it pays to be creative and resourceful in looking for scholarships from the business, nonprofit and professional worlds as well. Winning more aid could even change which colleges you are able to choose from.

There are literally hundreds of organizations, from clubs to churches to corporations, that offer scholarships.

Girls interested in engineering, find scholarships engineered for you: societyofwomenengineers.swe.org If you love math, financial aid just may add up: m3challenge.siam.org The artistically inclined can draw or paint their way to scholarships with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts original art contest: georgerodriguefoundation. org

LaNEXT.com

40

If you’re headed for a community or technical college, you may just prefer nuts, bolts and thingamajigs: nutsandboltsfoundation. org/scholarship.cfm Are you or your parents involved in local clubs or religious organizations?

• Rotary: mandevillerotary.org (check with the Rotary club in your area) • Knights of Columbus: kofc. org/un/en/scholarships • United Methodist Church: gbhem.org/loans-andscholarships • Elks Most Valuable Student: elks.org/enf/scholars/mvs. cfm Corporations also love to recognize hard-working students: • Discover: discover.com/ company/corporate-responsibility • Kohl’s: kohlscorporation. com/CommunityRelations/ scholarship • Marriott (for Hispanic and African-American students pursuing degrees in the hospitality management, hotel management, culinary, and food and beverage fields): uncf.org/scholarships or hispanicfund.org • Coca-Cola (achievementbased): coca-colascholarsfoundation.org Don’t overlook LOCAL or regional scholarships: • An example is the Bayou Industrial Group’s scholarship for graduating seniors from Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary and Assumption parishes: bayouindustrialgroup. com • For students in the greater Baton Rouge area with financial need, a great one is the Boo Grigsby Foundation Scholarship Contest:

careercompassla.org/boogrigsby-scholarship/

• United Negro College Fund: uncf.org

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer: ulmanfund.org/scholarships

• Gates Millennium Scholarship (awarded to 1,000 deserving minority seniors each year): gmsp.org

If you have a disability and are attending an HBCU: uncf.org/scholarships QuestBridge provides awards to outstanding low-income high school students: questbridge.org Check out heritage scholarships: • The Hispanic Scholarship Fund: hsf.net • National Italian American Foundation: niaf.org/scholarships

Sports could be your ticket too: • State Farm Insurance, Fox Sports New Orleans, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Louisiana High School Coaches Association all award scholarships to deserving Louisiana high school athletes: lhsaa.org/schools/ students-and-parents/ scholarships-and-awards Career Compass keeps a fresh list of good scholarship ideas, curated by a Career Compass coach: careercompassla.org/scholarships

COLLEGE & TRAINING FINANCIAL AID

What to know about

TOPS WHAT IS TOPS?

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents. It is one of the most innovative and progressive state student assistance programs in the nation.

WHAT IF I GET OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL? CAN I STILL GET TOPS? A student can be awarded scholarships, other financial aid and TOPS up to the cost of attendance for the college or university attended. Cost of attendance can include tuition and fees, on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus residents) and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, child care, costs related to a disability and miscellaneous expenses.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR TOPS? Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the academic year that follows the year you graduate from high school. For 2018 graduates, the application for the 2018-19 college academic year will be available for free online at fafsa. ed.gov and must be filed between Oct. 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, to receive TOPS funding for the fall semester following high school graduation. The 2018-19 FAFSA will require data from the student’s and parent’s 2016 federal income tax returns.

WHAT IF I DO WELL ON MY ACT BUT MY TOPS CORE GPA IN HIGH SCHOOL IS BELOW A 2.5?

You will not be eligible for TOPS.

No. TOPS can only be used at an “eligible institution,” defined as Louisiana’s public postsecondary schools—both two-year and

four-year schools, including all campuses of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System—and regionally accredited independent (private) colleges and universities that are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU schools are listed on page 59 of this magazine).

Students attending an approved independent college or university will receive a TOPS award equal to the prior year’s average amount paid at public four-year institutions. A student may also receive TOPS to attend eligible proprietary and cosmetology schools in Louisiana.

TOPS award. You should always check with the financial aid office at your school before dropping classes!

DOES IT COVER ALL OF MY TUITION?

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DROP BELOW MY ASSIGNED GPA? HAVE I LOST TOPS FOR GOOD?

While TOPS is fully funded for the 2018-19 academic year, award amounts are no longer tied to tuition and/or tuition increases. The amount of funding available for TOPS is contingent upon annual appropriations by the state Legislature. If appropriations are insufficient to fully fund the program, available funds will be distributed on a pro-rata basis to qualified new and continuing recipients.

TOPS Honors award recipients receive an additional $400 stipend per semester that can be applied to other qualified higher education expenses. TOPS Performance award recipients receive an additional $200 stipend per semester. Stipends for Performance and Honors recipients are also subject to appropriation, and will be pro-rated if appropriations are insufficient to fully fund all TOPS Awards.

DO I HAVE TO BE FULLTIME TO KEEP TOPS? Yes! Enrolling for less than the hours required to be full-time each term, or earning less than 24 hours in an academic year, or withdrawing from school during any semester or term, will cause you to lose your

WHAT GRADES DO I HAVE TO GET TO MAINTAIN TOPS? To renew your Opportunity award, maintain a cumulative 2.3 GPA after you have earned 24 hours and a cumulative 2.5 after you have earned 48 hours. Performance and Honors awards recipients must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the end of each academic year.

A TOPS Tech recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA at the end of every academic year.

If your cumulative GPA drops below the minimum requirement for renewal of your TOPS Opportunity award, your award will be suspended and you will have two years (one year for TOPS Tech) to bring your cumulative GPA up to the required level and regain your TOPS. If your cumulative GPA drops below the required 3.0 level for renewal of your TOPS Performance or Honors award but you have met the requirement for renewal at the Opportunity award level, your award will not be suspended, but your award will drop to the Opportunity level. Once you drop to the Opportunity award, your Performance or Honors award cannot be reinstated. If your cumulative GPA drops below the minimum requirement for renewal of your TOPS Tech award, your award will be suspended, and you will have one year to bring it up to the required level and regain your TOPS Tech award.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TOPS? TOPS is administered by the

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents.

For more detailed information about how to qualify for TOPS and how to keep it once you get it, visit LOSFA’s website at osfa.la.gov or send an email to LOSFA at custserv@la.gov.

RULES AND GUIDELINES • Must meet citizenship and Louisiana residency requirements.

• Must enroll as a first-time, full-time student at an eligible Louisiana school by the fall semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation.

• Must file the FAFSA form annually.

• Must meet all academic and nonacademic requirements, including minimum ACT composite score of 20 (or 17 for a TOPS Tech award) and a GPA of at least 2.5 on TOPS core high school subjects.

ACT QUALIFYING SCORES FOR 2018 TOPS Tech: 17 TOPS Opportunity Award: 20 TOPS Performance Award: 23 TOPS Honors Award: 27 NOTE! Beginning with high school graduates of 2021, the TOPS core grade point average required to qualify for a TOPS Performance Award will increase from 3.00 to 3.25 and from 3.00 to 3.50 for a TOPS Honors Award.

TIP Be sure to include the ACT TOPS code 1595 or the TOPS SAT code 9019 on all test registrations. You must send your test results to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance as well as to schools where you apply!

41 LaNEXT.com

CAN A STUDENT USE TOPS FOR ANY POSTSECONDARY SCHOOL?

Louisiana has college cash for its top students!

COLLEGE & TRAINING CAMPUS LIFE

Louisiana

COLLEGE TOWNS REVEALED

One key to choosing the college that’s right for you is exploring the new city you’ll be living in. Every college town has a different vibe, and let’s face it, Louisiana thrives on variety! Here’s a selection.

ALEXANDRIA

The Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center museum in Thibodaux is a great learning experience.

THIBODAUX

LaNEXT.com

42

HOME TO: Nicholls State University, South Central Louisiana Technical College Lafourche Campus, Fletcher Technical Community College Considering the Colonel life?

Nicholls State University—home of the Colonels—is located in Thibodaux. It’s a town of about 14,500 people on the banks of Bayou Lafourche between Baton Rouge and Houma. Nicholls has a 210-acre campus with about 5,600 undergrads. Freshmen can live on campus, but it’s not mandatory. The cozy set-up makes it easy to find your way around, get to class on time and network like crazy.

“Da bayou” is a big part of the Nicholls experience: Two cool traditions are Crawfish Day (can you say free mudbugs?) and the annual Pirogue Races. Besides choosing from more than 100 campus organizations to join, students like to attend sporting events and Greek parties or hang out at Jazzman’s coffee-

house, the student rec center, the Student Union or “the wood” in front of the Student Union.

Chilling in hammocks under a shady tree between classes is definitely a thing.

Off-campus, downtown Thibodaux is known for fun events like Big Boy’s Main Street Cookoff, Thibodeauxville Fall Festival, Boogie on the Bayou, Arts Walk and more. One of the popular restaurants, bars and businesses is the Purple Penguin Art Company, a fun place to make or buy glass, pottery or paintings. Another local attraction is the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. It’s all about the history of the Acadians (Cajuns) and includes a museum and store, national park, theater and a weekly Cajun Music Jam. Many students make the 20-minute drive to Houma for more shopping, bowling or movies.

Thibodaux is also great if you’re interested in historical plantations, homes, churches and cemeteries. And the swamp tours rock!

ALEXANDRIA/PINEVILLE AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK & PRESERVE

By Melissa Bienvenu

HOME TO: LSU at Alexandria, Louisiana College, Central Louisiana Technical Community College Right in the middle of Louisiana, Alexandria is a decentsized (population 60,000) small town where there’s a lot going on.

For starters, choose a festival!

The Alex River Fete features the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races.

Downtown Rocks is a free outdoor concert series at the Riverfront Amphitheater. And the Mardi Gras parade on Fat Tuesday attracts up to 50,000 people.

You can get your culture on at a symphony, plays or concerts, or a museum. You can also check out the white tigers at the Alexandria Zoological Park, tour historical attractions or get away to one of several state park/recreation areas near Alexandria. For regular old fun, Alexandria has shopping, bowling and a 16-screen movie theater.

College students in Alexandria can find plenty to do close

to home. LSUA has about 3,400 students, and freshman live on campus. The Oaks Apartments, the ‘dorms’ on campus, welcome everyone to events ranging from pool parties to bingo, poker or movie nights. It seems like there is always a club hosting a get-together or activity.

There’s flag football, ping pong, and the gym has a DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) machine.

There’s even a midnight breakfast during exam week where everyone can eat and study together all night.

Louisiana College, just across the river from Alexandria in Pineville, is a private, Baptist, four-year college with about 1,900 students. More than half the students live on campus.

Drinking is not allowed, but they still have a good time thanks to campus clubs and events. Student love the coffee shop, bonfires and traditions like the annual “rolling” of the trees in front of the girls’ dorm.

Males compete for the title of Homecoming Honey by showing off their talents and personalities. (Fun fact: Rubbing the head of the Moses statue is supposed to bring good luck!)

Funktoberfest is just one of the opportunities for good times in Alexandria.

NATCHITOCHES AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

COLLEGE & TRAINING

Natchitoches is a small but beautiful college town in northwestern Louisiana.

HOME TO: Northwestern State University, Northwest Louisiana Technical College Northwestern State University in Natchitoches (population 18,300) makes it easy to meet people by requiring pretty much everyone to live on campus for their first six semesters. But get this: Students live in residential communities called villages that are like apartment complexes, with on-site dining, gathering places and plenty of planned activities like cookouts and pool parties. There are study lounges, special programming, fitness facilities and classes, and other cool perks.

NSU students are also big into clubs and organizations (there are more than 115 on campus).

There’s also sorority & fraternity life, student government and student activity board events like a haunted house at Halloween, movies on the football field and paint wars during Welcome Week. “The Rec” and the Student Union are always packed. NSU students love their intramural sports, as well as supporting their school teams by wearing purple on Thursdays and white on Tuesdays. The ginomormous, 400-member Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band gets to feel the love too!

NSU also has a close relationship with Natchitoches, a pretty little town that began as a French colony. The main attraction is Front Street, a brick street lined with historic buildings full of shops and restaurants. Its annual Christmas Festival and Festival of Lights is practically world-famous and attracts tons of local college students. You

New Orleans offers students a little bit of everything, from nightlife to international culture. can also visit The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and NW LA History Museum in historic downtown Natchitoches. The sports museum honors more than 300 Louisiana sports figures, including superstars like Shaquille O’Neal and Archie Manning.

NEW ORLEANS HOME TO: Tulane University, Southern University-NO, University of New Orleans, Dillard University, Loyola University, Xavier University, Delgado Community College, University of Holy Cross, and other two –year colleges and vocational schools You probably don’t think “college town” when you think of New Orleans, but why not?

NOLA college students enjoy a lot of perks. The most obvious: a gazillion things to do. Starting with the French Quarter, Riverwalk, Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas, Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, art galleries, sports and concerts, riverboats and museums—the list goes on forever.

Plus, parades roll year-round, with at least 80 during Mardi Gras alone.

NOLA schools are known for gorgeous campuses with

fascinating architecture and stately live oaks. Both Loyola and Tulane students like to spill over into nearby Audubon Park. Another cool thing is the diversity of cultures and people.

You see this in campus events like UNO’s International Night, a celebration of approximately 25 countries represented by the student body. Thanks to NOLA’s business and industry sector, college students have excellent access to internships, work experience and research. And public transportation is good.

Some schools, like Tulane, even have their own shuttle systems.

As in many large cities, crime can be a concern in NOLA, but many schools take special measures to ensure student safety.

Many colleges have installed “Blue Light” phones around campus where students can call for security if they feel threatened. Others, such as Dillard University, may also provide armed, licensed security officers patrolling the main entrance and all buildings.

But perhaps the most common danger of college life in New Orleans is having too much fun. Seriously. With so many temptations to distract you, you really have to keep your eyes on the prize so your studies don’t suffer!

43 LaNEXT.com

HOME TO: University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana Delta Community College Some college students are really serious about “getting out of their shell” and meeting new people—especially at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

A bayou flows right through the campus of ULM, and students love to hang out and feed the turtles that live there. They also rent kayaks and paddle through campus.

Other must-dos at ULM are football tailgating in The Grove, chowing down on homecooked “dollar lunches” on the Quad, and “Oozeball” (volleyball played in knee-deep mud) during Spring Fever Week. Running through the Quad fountain is a student rite of passage. Attending performances by the famous ULM waterski team is too.

There is always something happening at the Rec Center and folks hanging out at the student union building.

ULM, along with Louisiana Delta Community College and a few technical schools, give Monroe its college town feel.

Not many towns with 50,000 people have opera and ballet, but Monroe does. It also has north Louisiana’s largest shopping mall and an aviation and military museum. Of course, Monroe is also home to Duck Commander, the duck call company made famous in the reality TV series, Duck Dynasty.

You gotta visit the Duck Commander headquarters and gift shop at least once. If you hang out on the banks of a bayou every day, a duck call could come in handy.

NATCHITOCHES

ISTOCK

MONROE

We’re Giving Away

$1,000

CASH

to One Lucky Winner at LaNEXT.com Receive FREE information regarding your future!

Go to LaNEXT.com to register. Drawing to be held January 15, 2018.

*Only current Louisiana 11th & 12th grade students eligible to win. Limit one entry per student.

AIE– Academy of Interactive Entertainment Delgado Community College Dillard University Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

ITI Technical College (ITI) Louisiana Calling Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS) Louisiana Department of Education

H S !

A C 0 0 , 0 1 $ N I W

ive wants to g T X E N a n .

Louisia 1,000 cash $ in w o t nce o you a cha r to win. (N e t n e o t e av n to But you h In additio .) y r a s s e c ne r the purchase register fo o t y s a e making it it easy to s e k a m m EXT.co y prize, LaN n from an io t a m r o f EE in in request FR dvertisers a d n a s e eg logo of the coll click on a ly p im S . ine the magaz m any of o r f n io t a st inform and reque ervices or s , ls o o h c sities, s the univer ormation. f in e r o m s for companie

ENTER TO

WIN!

* No purchase necessary.

Deadline to enter: December 31, 2017

Louisiana Lottery Corporation Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office Southeastern Louisiana University

Southern University System University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of New Orleans

JOBS & CAREERS CAREER CHOICES

YOUR FUTURE

LOOKS like this, right?

Things that I want to do with my life

Things that I’m good at

Things that my parents want me to do

WHEN IT’S TIME to choose and plan a career path, a lot of people feel like the Venn diagram above. That’s totally normal! Hardly anyone knows exactly what they want to do with their lives when they graduate from high school, and most people change careers

Things that are considered “realistic” careers

several times during their time in the workforce anyway. It makes more sense to think of career planning as an ongoing process of skill building, networking and self-evaluation. Here are some great tools to get you started.

THE PROCESS OF PLANNING A CAREER INVOLVES MANY STEPS: Identifying your strengths and talents Understanding how to match your skills and interests to careers that you would enjoy Choosing educational pathways that support your career goals

LaNEXT.com

46

Researching career profiles and salaries (after all, money matters!)

COOL LINKS whatcareerisrightforme.com

Building suitable experiences by finding internships that allow you to “take the industry for a test drive” while gaining skills you can use in any job

take the Career Aptitude Test

Making good decisions for yourself

O*NET (onetonline.org)

Skills Profiler (careerinfonet.org/skills/) create a list of your skills and match them to job types

provides comprehensive information on key attributes and characteristics of different occupations and the workers who do them

Search

How to How to find my calling How to steer my life How to find a career i actually like

louisianacalling.org

Who is Clifton Smith?

Search

The odds were against him. But he overcame them and won three times over — he found his passion, his purpose and his wife. Now he’s living a life he could only dream of before. Find out how at louisianacalling.org

Who is Allen Nguyen?

Search

Allen comes from a strong family — from Vietnam to Hurricane Katrina, no hardship could keep him down.

Which is how he beat the odds and became a small business owner in New Orleans. Learn more about his story at louisianacalling.org

What should I do next?

Search

If you’re ready to take charge of your future, visit louisianacalling.org today and see what opportunities are right for you.

JOBS & CAREERS CAREER CHOICES

What cluster are you in?

Mapping out the WORLD of WORK HERE ARE TWO powerful tools to help you explore potential careers. The World-of-Work Map breaks down the job world according to four basic interests: working with things, working with data, working with ideas and working with people. It’s a handy way to think about potential careers in

Once you’ve got your bearings on the map below, go to act.org and click on “Education and Career Planning” to use an interactive version. It will help you learn about jobs in each category, average salaries and typical training requirements.

terms of your own personality and inclinations. Do you like working with numbers? Are you a people person? Seeing career areas this way can point you in the right direction. (You may already have a customized version of this map from the EXPLORE test report you got in the ninth grade.)

Financial Transactions

Management

2

6

Community Services Education Health Care Medical Technologies

Applied Arts (Written & Spoken) Creative & Performing Arts

LE OP PE

&

11 ID EA S

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION Typical jobs: Business manager, accountant, purchasing agent

Regulation & Protection

Personal Services

12

Distribution & Dispatching

Transport Ag/Forestry Operation & Related & Related Computer/Info Specialties Construction Mechanical & Maintenance & Electrical Specialties Crafts & Related Manufacturing & Processing 7 Engineering & Technologies

Social Science

10

8

Medical Diagnosis & Treatment

9

AS IDE

&

© 2012 by ACT

WORKIN G WITH IDEAS

FINANCE Typical jobs: Banker, loan officer, financial adviser GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Typical jobs: Elected official, military officer, emergency planner

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is the best source for additional information about career clusters and the world of work in Louisiana.

Just go to laworks.net and click on “Career Solutions,” where you can: read the Career Planning Guide, take self-assessments, get detailed job profiles and wage information, and build an effective résumé.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM Typical jobs: Chef, restaurant developer/ owner, hotel executive HUMAN SERVICES Typical jobs: Hair stylist, social worker, nonprofit director INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Typical jobs: Computer programmer, computer security specialist, web designer, network systems engineer LAW, PUBLIC SAFETY, CORRECTIONS & SECURITY Typical jobs: Crime scene investigator, firefighter, police officer, lawyer, paralegal

51 LaNEXT.com

COOL LINKS

EDUCATION & TRAINING Typical jobs: Teacher, school counselor, speech pathologist

HEALTH SCIENCE Typical jobs: Nurse, dentist, pharmacist, EMT

Natural Science & Technologies

Applied Arts (Visual)

WITH THING WORKING S

ING WITH PEOPLE WORK

Employment-Related Services

ARTS, A/V TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS Typical jobs: Graphic designer, journalist, animator, musician

&

5 Communications & Records

Marketing & Sales

1

DA TA

TH IN GS

PE OP LE

4

GS IN TH

&

3

AGRICULTURE, FOOD & NATURAL RESOURCES Typical jobs: Forestry worker, farmer, veterinarian ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION Typical jobs: Contractor, carpenter, welder, architect

G WITH DATA WORKIN TA DA

In addition to the general types of work shown on the World-of-Work Map, people have specific interests like biology or construction. Interests like these have been grouped into what are called “career clusters.” The term describes education, skills and interests that connect with industries, jobs and career pathways. Louisiana groups careers into these 16 career clusters:

JOBS & CAREERS GROWTH FIELDS

Where

THE

JOBS are

THE SOUTHWEST Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has announced a new workforce initiative called HealthWORx, a collaborative effort between five health care facilities in southwest Louisiana and the alliance’s Workforce Development Committee. The goal is to increase awareness of, and interest in, the wide range of career opportunities in the health care industry in southwest Louisiana. Participating hospitals are Beauregard Memorial Hospital, DeQuincy Memorial Hospital, Jennings American Legion Hospital, Lake Area Medical Center and Lake Charles Memorial Health System.

Health care professionals are among the workers most in demand across the country,

and Louisiana is no exception.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses, for example, is projected to grow 19%—faster than the average of any other occupation. The Louisiana Center for Nursing reports that could mean a major shortage of nurses.

“Nursing is just one of many, many career paths in the health care field where opportunity exists for someone in search of a well-paying, secure career path,” says R.B. Smith, vice president of workforce development for the alliance. “Not all health care careers require a 4-year degree, and not all of the thousands of people working in our local health care facilities wear lab coats or scrubs. People tend to think just of patient

Health care and robotics are both career fields with big potential.

care jobs when they think of health care careers, but there are many, many different types of jobs available in health care, from business managers and marketing to information technology and engineers. With the tremendous economic growth southwest Louisiana is experiencing—and will continue to see for over the next decade—our regional health care providers are facing the same challenges as other industry when it comes to finding qualified employees. That’s what HealthWORx is all about—to ensure that we have a qualified workforce to meet the current and future demand of the health care industry in our region.

Louisiana health care employment makes up 9.7% of jobs in the state, ranking 15th

nationally. Smith says jobs in health care typically come with excellent benefits packages, opportunity for training and advancement, job security, and many other advantages that should appeal to someone in search of a good career.

The new HealthWORX web page at healthworxswla.org provides information on health care careers, training programs and links to job openings at participating health care facilities. An awareness campaign is underway on social media to provide education about the wide variety of employment opportunity in the health care field.

—Southwest La. Economic Development Alliance

WANT TO GET INTO ROBOTICS? Study math, physics and computer programming!

LaNEXT.com

52

“OVER THE PAST seven years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that companies added 136,748 robots to factory floors. But while the conclusion of many is to assume that jobs are disappearing due to automation, the opposite is proving true,” writes New Equipment Digest. “The BLS also determined that while robots were being added to factories, 894,000 new manufacturing jobs were also created as a result of automation. According to the book What to Do When Machines Do Everything by Malcom Frank, Paul Roehrig, and Ben Pring, 19 million jobs will be lost due to automation over the next 10 to 15 years—but 19 million new jobs will be created due to automation.”

The robotic engineer job market will grow between now and 2024. The BLS reports that robotics engineers, as part of the mechanical engineering field, will increase by 5% by 2024. The median annual wage for robotic engineers

was $83,590 in 2015. If the rate of machines being added to factories remains consistent, then the number of skilled technicians needed to program, operate, and maintain those robots will also increase.

NED explains that “the core subjects for those at the high school level are mathematics and physics. These core areas of study make up the foundation of many robotics courses. If the student has the opportunity at the high school level, they should also take courses in computing, programming, design, and extracurricular engineering electives like machine shop and manufacturing classes.”

“At the university level, many educa-

tional institutions offer a robotics major as its own independent field of study,” NED adds. “However, since the field of robotics is one under constant change, many professionals reach the robotic industry through different avenues,” such as majors in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science.

Visit the websites of Louisiana colleges and universities to find out their offerings in these areas!

JOBS & CAREERS HOT JOBS

It’s nice to be in

HIGH DEMAND! YOU’RE PROBABLY dreaming of a career that offers a good job market and a nice standard of living. That’s the idea behind the STAR ratings from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The stars represent a combination of occupational outlook and wages. 5-star occupations are expected to have lots of openings and pay the highest wages.

Here are some of the highest paid 5-star jobs from the LWC’s occupational projections through 2024, along with typical annual salary and the level of education you need to do them. Keep in mind that half of all top-demand jobs require education beyond high school.

Go to laworks.net to do your own customized search!

ASSOCIATE DEGREE

MASTER’S DEGREE

Administrative Services Manager............................. $81,345 Chemical Plant and System Operator....................... $66,108 Registered Nurse...................................................... $63,370 Chemical Technician................................................ $60,221 Occupational Therapy Assistant............................... $58,037

Nurse Anesthetist................................................ $140,979 Nurse Practitioner................................................. $98,468 Physician Assistant............................................... $92,569 Education Administrator, Postsecondary............... $88,069 Occupational Therapist......................................... $81,508

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

PHD/PROFESSIONAL DEGREE

Architectural and Engineering Manager................. $144,764 Chemical Engineer................................................. $111,671 General and Operations Manager........................... $111,119 Financial Manager................................................. $101,086 Computer and Information Systems Manager.......... $99,458 Environmental Engineer........................................... $97,684 Civil Engineer........................................................... $94,286 Captain, Mate, or Pilot of Water Vessels................... $92,827

Family and General Practitioner (Physician).....>$187,199 Pharmacist......................................................... $112,713 Lawyer................................................................. $105,744 Psychiatrist......................................................... $135,638 Dentist, General.................................................. $126,026

Delgado is the right choice.

Delgado Community College offers more than 100 programs leading to good jobs in high-demand fields.

Education that works!

Earn a college degree. Gain job skills.

Delgado helps you achieve your goals.

A Delgado education is fully accredited, yet costs less. Outstanding instructors and state-of-the-art facilities are here for you.

APPLY NOW! Financial aid is available.

LaNEXT.com

www.dcc.edu/right-choice

53

JOBS & CAREERS

Real PEOPLE, real JOBS

ON THE JOB

Louisiana college graduates tell us about the work they do and how they got there.

By Erin Z. Bass

NURSE RESEARCHER Name: Staja “Star” Booker Hometown: Jonesboro, Louisiana High school: Jonesboro High College: Grambling State University/ Penn State/University of Iowa Degree/major: Nursing, also has earned Ph.D. Employers: University of Florida, Northwestern State University and University of Iowa Age: 29

WHAT SHE DOES:

“I am a nurse researcher. Right now I am trying to put together my next research project. Last year I was out in the community doing research, talking to people for my dissertation and trying to understand what African American older adults do to self-manage osteoarthritis pain. I was doing a lot of traveling to Shreveport and around the north Louisiana area talking to different people and doing interviews. Now that I’ve moved to Florida, I am getting my research started here [as a postdoctoral fellow at University of Florida]. I am also doing some adjunct teaching for Northwestern and University of Iowa.”

ON EDUCATION:

LaNEXT.com

54

“It was one of the best decisions I could have made. My intention was to go to ULM (University of Louisiana at Monroe), but I also applied to Grambling. I visited and started talking to some people, and the financial aid was a better deal. I don’t think I would be where I am in my career if I hadn’t gone to Grambling.

Participating in some of their programs,

like an internship at Penn State, really pivoted my career path. Had I not been given the opportunity to do that internship, there’s no way I would be a nurse researcher today. I liked the overall atmosphere of being in an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and could connect with so

many different people because we share some of the same cultural values and traditions. It was just the best experience of my life.”

ON WORK:

“I like the flexibility and the ability to ask questions and go out and find different

answers. The opportunity to use my degree in so many different ways— nurses can almost kind of do anything, which is awesome. Having a degree and a Ph.D. gives me the immense opportunity to craft my own career and try to find answers about how to help older adults with pain.”

JOBS & CAREERS WHAT SHE DOES:

“My title at Root2Rise is owner/dietitian, but that does little to describe what I do. My business partner and I are 50:50, in both ownership and work; we work together to manage our employees, finances, social media and all other tasks required to do business as a yoga studio and juice bar. A typical day for me is never the same, but it may include teaching a yoga class, then doing the bank deposit, paying bills, taking inventory and making orders. I may also help in the kitchen or juice bar, create an Instagram and Facebook post, and check emails. I do my best to find time to read, research and write (usually about food and nutrition), and maybe even take a yoga class myself!”

ON EDUCATION:

“I obtained my undergraduate degree at Nicholls State, and I do remember it being difficult at the time, but I definitely thrived on the challenge.

My favorite classes were food science and meal management. I then completed an internship at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge. This portion of my education was even more challenging, but mostly because I commuted from Houma five days a week for 10 months! My favorite rotations were WIC and food service; however, I did develop an unexpected enjoyment for clinical dietetics.”

ON WORK:

“I chose this career because I have always loved food and was intrigued by the impact diet can have on health and wellness. What I like about dietetics is that it is grounded in science, but is always evolving based on new studies and discoveries. The best feeling for me is creating a bridge between the science of nutrition and the simplicity of food.”

DIETITIAN AND BUSINESS OWNER Name: Leah Porche Hometown: Somers, Connecticut High school: GED College: Nicholls State University Degree/major: Bachelor of science in dietetics Business: Root2Rise, Houma, Louisiana Age: 35

LEAD METALLIC AND WELD ENGINEER, Space Launch System Name: K Renee Horton Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana High school: McKinley High School College: LSU/University of Alabama Degree/major: Electrical engineering/material science with a concentration in physics Employer: NASA Age: 45

WHAT SHE DOES:

“Currently, I serve as the lead metallic and weld engineer for the Space Launch System in the residential office located at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. A typical day consists of four to six meetings and working with space hardware dealing with nonconformances related to the metals or welding of the rocket we are currently building. Recent duties added consist of monitoring and facilitating priority materials laboratory testing through the facility lab.”

ON EDUCATION:

ON WORK:

“I started dreaming about outer space and other dimensions as a child. To get there, I felt I needed to be an astronaut.

A hearing disability sidelined me from being an astronaut. Going back to school helped me realize that if I couldn’t go to space, I could send others to space.

I chose my career of working at NASA because I want to be a part of a team conquering the beyond. I like that every day we move forward, I am a part of space history.”

55 LaNEXT.com

“My college experience was split in two.

The first time around I started at 16 and dropped out at 18. My second time around, I was older with three kids. I was more focused and determined to get my

degree. I loved being back on track and pursuing my original goals of a degree.

I also liked having the kids, because it exposed them to something that was completely different than what they had already experienced.”

EDUCATION PROVIDERS

LOUISIANA’S

colleges & universities RUSTON 4 17 76

18

9 28

65

5 64

31

22

68

70

67

1

MONROE

69

SHREVEPORT

60

66

71 63

8 61

56

HOW TO USE THIS MAP

62

This map will help you find Louisiana colleges and education centers near you. The numbers correspond to the map key on the next page. Red circles are public universities, green circles are community colleges, aqua circles are technical college campuses, and orange circles are private colleges and universities. Details and contact information for these schools can be found on the following pages.

73 58

78

3 30

86

ALEXANDRIA 42

59

82

57 55 39 49

16

75

29

43 53

LAKE 6 21 CHARLES

44

54

14 27

BATON ROUGE

11 2 40 23 41

LAFAYETTE 48

38

52

HAMMOND 26 45

83 33

47 35

51

50

THIBODAUX 74

7

20

19

Follow Louisiana NEXT on Twitter @LouisianaNEXT for updates!

72 37

24 12 13 15

NEW ORLEANS 25

46

56 LaNEXT.com

32

36 10

77 79 80 81 84

34

85

EDUCATION PROVIDERS

Map Key PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Grambling State University Louisiana State University and A&M College Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University in Shreveport Louisiana Tech University McNeese State University Nicholls State University Northwestern State University University of Louisiana at Monroe Southeastern Louisiana University Southern University Baton Rouge Southern University New Orleans University of New Orleans University of Louisiana at Lafayette LSU Health Sciences CenterNew Orleans LSU Eunice Southern University Shreveport LSU Health Shreveport

COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGES 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Fletcher Technical Community College South Central Louisiana Technical College SOWELA Technical Community College Bossier Parish Community College Baton Rouge Community College Delgado Community College Nunez Community College River Parishes Community College South Louisiana Community College Louisiana Delta Community College Northshore Technical Community College Central Louisiana Technical Community College Northwest Louisiana Technical College

OTHER COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

Charity School of Nursing Delgado Northshore – Covington West Bank Campus Jefferson Campus Hammond Area Campus Delgado Northshore – Slidell Florida Parishes Campus New Roads Campus Port Allen Campus Westside Campus Frazier Site Campus Jackson Campus Hooper Road Campus Ascension Campus Lafourche Campus River Parishes Campus Lafayette Campus T.H. Harris Campus Teche Area Campus Gulf Area Campus Evangeline Campus Charles B. Coreil Campus Acadian Campus Oakdale Campus Huey P. Long Campus Avoyelles Campus Ferriday Campus Lamar Salter Campus Shreveport-Bossier Campus Natchitoches Campus Sabine Valley Campus Mansfield Campus Ruston Campus West Monroe Campus Winnsboro Campus Farmerville Campus Lake Providence Campus Tallulah Campus Bastrop Campus Jonesboro Campus Sidney Collier Campus Rod Brady Campus Franklin Campus Morgan Smith Campus

PRIVATE COLLEGES 76 77 78 79 80 81 82

Centenary College Dillard University Louisiana College Loyola University New Orleans Xavier University University of Holy Cross Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University 83 Saint Joseph Seminary College 84 Tulane University 85 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

LEARNING CENTERS 86 The Learning Center for Rapides Parish*

Information: www.thelcrp.net

57 LaNEXT.com

*TLCRP is a consortium of universities offering evening and online courses.

EDUCATION PROVIDERS

PUBLIC COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ABOUT THE LIST

Sources: University websites, Louisiana Board of Regents and the National Center for Education Statistics; data are for the 2016-2017 school year. Enrollment statistics include total Fall 2016 enrollment.

Tuition represents annual tuition for full-time, first-time and in-state undergraduate students. Tuition and fees change frequently; check with each school’s admissions office for updates.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY

403 Main St. Grambling, La. 71245 (318) 247-3811/(800) 569-4714 gram.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $7,371 Student-to-faculty ratio: 20 to 1 Enrollment: 4,891 Popular programs: Criminal justice, business administration, psychology, biology, mass communications, informational sciences, registered nursing, and physical education teaching and coaching

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE 156 Thomas Boyd Hall Baton Rouge, La. 70803 (225) 578-3202 lsu.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $10,758 Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1 Enrollment: 32,031 Popular programs: Agriculture, architecture, biology, business, liberal arts and sciences, general teacher education, business, engineering, psychology and mass communication

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AT ALEXANDRIA

LaNEXT.com

58

8100 Highway 71 South Alexandria, La. 71302 (318) 445-3672 lsua.edu Highest offering: Bachelor’s degree Tuition: $6,668 Student-to-faculty ratio: 19 to 1 Enrollment: 3,234 Popular programs: Registered nursing, business administration, psychology, liberal arts and sciences, criminal justice and elementary education

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AT EUNICE 2048 Johnson Hwy. Eunice, La. 70535 (337) 457-7311 lsue.edu Highest offering: Associate’s degree Tuition: $4,258 Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1 Enrollment: 2,909 Popular programs: Business administration, firefighting and registered nursing

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IN SHREVEPORT One University Place Shreveport, La. 71115 (318) 797-5000 lsus.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $7,147 Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1 Enrollment: 4,742 Popular programs: Biology, business administration, communication, accounting, general studies and psychology

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

305 Wisteria Ave. Ruston, La. 71272 (318) 257-2000 latech.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $9,087 Student-to-faculty ratio: 24 to 1 Enrollment: 12,660 Popular programs: Psychology, kinesiology and exercise science, biological sciences, business administration, accounting, engineering, elementary and secondary education, animal sciences, and architecture

LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER—NEW ORLEANS

433 Bolivar St. New Orleans, La. 70112 (504) 568-4808 lsuhsc.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $9,032 Student-to-faculty ratio: 5 to 1

Enrollment: 2,758 Popular programs: Allied health professions, medicine, dentistry, nursing, public health and graduate studies

LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT

1501 Kings Hwy. Shreveport, La. 71103 (318) 675-8769 lsuhscshreveport.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $8,356 Student-to-faculty ratio: 5 to 1 Enrollment: 874 Popular programs: Health professions and related programs, biological and biomedical sciences

MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY

4205 Ryan St. Lake Charles, La. 70605 (337) 475-5000 mcneese.edu Highest offering: Post-master’s certificate Tuition: $7,225 Student-to-faculty ratio: 21 to 1 Enrollment: 7,635 Popular programs: General studies, registered nursing, engineering, business administration and management, and kinesiology and exercise science

NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY University Station, La. 1 Thibodaux, La. 70310 (877) 642-4655 or (504) 448-4510 (877) NICHOLLS (toll free) nicholls.edu Highest offering: Post-master’s certificate Tuition: $7,641

Student-to-faculty ratio: 20 to 1 Enrollment: 6,295 Popular programs: Accounting, business administration, education, engineering, biology and culinary arts

NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

University Parkway Natchitoches, La. 71497 (318) 358-6011 nsula.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $8,286 Student-to-faculty ratio: 20 to 1 Enrollment: 9,904 Popular programs: Business administration, biology, speech communication and rhetoric, registered nursing, family and consumer sciences, psychology, history, theatre arts, and criminal justice

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

700 University Ave. Monroe, La. 71209 (318) 342-1000 ulm.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $8,282 Student-to-faculty ratio: 21 to 1 Enrollment: 9,220 Popular programs: Biology, Toxicology, psychology, business administration, mass communication, registered nursing, general studies, and elementary education and teaching

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY

548 Ned McGehee Ave. Hammond, La. 70402 (985) 549-2000 selu.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $7,772 Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1 Enrollment: 14,575 Popular programs: Business administration, registered nursing, education, family and consumer sciences, general studies, and psychology

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE

801 Harding Blvd.

Baton Rouge, La. 70807 (225) 771-4500 subr.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $8,080 Student-to-faculty ratio: 24 to 1 Enrollment: 6,357 Popular programs: Biology, agriculture, mass communication, business administration, registered nursing and criminal justice

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS

6400 Press Drive New Orleans, La. 70126 (504) 286-5000 suno.edu Highest offering: Master’s degree Tuition: $6,571 Student-to-faculty ratio: 18 to 1 Enrollment: 2,430 Popular programs: Biology, business administration, criminal justice, psychology and social work

PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ABOUT THE LIST

Sources: University websites and the National Center for Education Statistics; data are for the 2016-2017 school year. Enrollment statistics include Fall 2016 total enrollment. Tuition data are for full-time, firsttime and in-state undergraduate students. Tuition and fees change frequently; check with each school’s admission office for updates.

CENTENARY COLLEGE

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SHREVEPORT

3050 Martin Luther King Drive Shreveport, La. 71107 (318) 670-6000 susla.edu Highest offering: Associate’s degree Tuition: $3,996 Student-to-faculty ratio: 21 to 1 Enrollment: 3,309 Popular programs: Business, criminal justice, registered nursing and general studies

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE

104 University Circle Lafayette, La. 70503 (337) 482-1000 louisiana.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $9,450 Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1 Enrollment: 17,763 Popular programs: Biology, finance, communication, business administration, physical education, psychology, engineering and registered nursing

2911 Centenary Blvd.

Shreveport, La. 71134 (318) 869-5131/(800) 234-4448 centenary.edu Highest offering: Master’s degree Enrollment: 549 Tuition and fees: $35,430 Application deadline: Early action, Dec. 15; Regular decision, Feb. 15 Student/faculty ratio: 8:1 Popular programs: Biology, business, communication and media studies, psychology, and music

DILLARD UNIVERSITY

2601 Gentilly Blvd.

New Orleans, La. 70122 (504) 816-4640 dillard.edu Highest offering: Bachelor’s degree Enrollment: 1,261 Tuition and fees: $17,086 Application deadline: Rolling Student/faculty ratio: 14:1 Popular programs: Nursing, biology, business, mass communication, public health, psychology and sociology

LOUISIANA COLLEGE

1140 College Drive Pineville, La. 71359 (318) 487-7011 lacollege.edu Highest offering: Master’s degree Enrollment: 1,093 Tuition and fees: $15,978 Application deadline: Rolling; Top 30 Scholars program deadline, Dec. 7 Student/faculty ratio: 11:1 Popular programs: Registered nursing, health and physical education, social work, and biology

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS

6363 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, La. 70118 loyno.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 3,679 Tuition and fees: $38,754 Application deadline: Early action, Nov. 15; Priority decision, Feb. 15; Regular decision, April 15 Student/faculty ratio: 12:1 Popular programs: Psychology, marketing, business, speech communication and rhetoric, music management, creative writing, and criminology

EDUCATION PROVIDERS NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

TULANE UNIVERSITY

3939 Gentilly Blvd.

New Orleans, La. 70126 (504) 282-4455/(800) 662-8701 nobts.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 2,824 Tuition and fees: $7,380 Application deadline: Rolling, 30 days prior to date of enrollment Student/faculty ratio: 13:1 Popular programs: Christian ministry, biblical ministry and music with an emphasis in worship

6823 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, La. 70118 (504) 865-5000 tulane.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 12,581 Tuition and fees: $51,010 Application deadline: Early action, Nov. 15; regular decision, Jan. 15 Student/faculty ratio: 8:1 Popular programs: Business, finance, marketing, social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology, and health professions

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF HOLY CROSS

5414 Brittany Drive Baton Rouge, La. 70808 (225) 768-1700 franu.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 1,409 Tuition and fees: $12,046 Application deadline: Program specific Student/faculty ratio: 9:1 Popular programs: Biology, registered nursing, radiologic technology, health service administration and other health professions

SAINT JOSEPH SEMINARY COLLEGE

75376 River Road St. Benedict, La. 70457 (985) 867-2232 sjasc.edu Highest offering: Bachelor’s degree Enrollment: 140 Tuition and fees: $16,913 Application deadline: Aug.1 Student/faculty ratio: 7:1 Popular programs: Liberal arts and sciences, liberal studies and theological studies

4123 Woodland Drive New Orleans, La. 70131 (504) 394-7744/(800) 259-7744 olhcc.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 1,040 Tuition and fees: $11,632 Application deadline: July 1 for fall semester, Dec. 1 for spring, April 1 for summer Student/faculty ratio: 10:1 Popular programs: Business, psychology and health professions

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

One Drexel Drive New Orleans, La. 70125 (504) 486-7411 xula.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Enrollment: 2,997 Tuition and fees: $23,046 Application deadline: Rolling, fall semester, Dec. 1 for spring semester Student/faculty ratio: 14:1 Popular programs: Biology, business, chemistry, health professions, communication and media studies, social sciences, and psychology

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS

59 LaNEXT.com

2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, La. 70148 (888) 514-4275 uno.edu Highest offering: Ph.D. Tuition: $8,644 Student-to-faculty ratio: 19 to 1 Enrollment: 8,037 Popular programs: Biology, business administration, accounting, theatre arts and psychology

EDUCATION PROVIDERS

COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGES ABOUT THE LIST

Schools listed are part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Programs offered vary by campus. Not all instructional sites or campuses are listed; some schools offer classes or instruction at additional sites. Visit lctcs.edu or one of the campus websites listed below for additional information about your region. You may also find the data compiled at College Scorecard, collegescorecard.ed.gov, useful in evaluating some schools.

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ALEXANDRIA CAMPUS 4311 South MacArthur Drive Alexandria, La. 71302 (318) 487-5439 cltcc.edu

BUSINESS TRAINING CENTER 350 North Donmoor Baton Rouge, La. 70806

AVOYELLES CAMPUS 508 Choupique St. Cottonport, La. 71327

ACADIAN CAMPUS 3250 N. Acadian Thruway E. Baton Rouge, La. 70805

FERRIDAY CAMPUS 2100 E.E. Wallace Blvd.

Ferriday, La. 71334

HOOPER ROAD CAMPUS 10700 Hooper Road Central, La. 70818

HUEY P. LONG CAMPUS 304 South Jones St. Winnfield, La. 71483

JACKSON CAMPUS 3337 La. 10 Jackson, La. 70748

ROD BRADY CAMPUS 521 East Bradford St. Jena, La. 71483

NEW ROADS CAMPUS 605 Hospital Road New Roads, La. 70760

LAMAR SALTER CAMPUS 15014 Lake Charles Highway Leesville, La. 71446

PORT ALLEN CAMPUS 3233 Rosedale Road Port Allen, La. 70767

OAKDALE CAMPUS 117 La. 1152 Oakdale, La. 71463

FRAZIER SITE CAMPUS 555 Julia St. Baton Rouge, La. 70801

BOSSIER PARISH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LaNEXT.com

60

6220 East Texas St. Bossier City, La. 71111 (318) 678-6000 bpcc.edu

SIDNEY COLLIER CAMPUS 3727 Louisa St. New Orleans, La. 70126 MARITIME, FIRE AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FACILITY 13200 Old Gentilly Road New Orleans, La. 70129

FLETCHER TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1407 La. 311 Schriever, La. 70395 (985) 448-7900 fletcher.edu

CENTRAL LOUISIANA TECHNICAL LOUISIANA DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 7500 Millhaven Road

MID CITY CAMPUS 201 Community College Drive Baton Rouge, La. 70806 (866) 217-9823 mybrcc.edu

WESTSIDE CAMPUS 2520 Tenant Road Plaquemine, La. 70764

JEFFERSON CAMPUS 5200 Blair Drive Metairie, La. 70001

DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 615 City Park Ave. New Orleans, La. 70119 (504) 671-5000 dcc.edu

WEST BANK CAMPUS 2600 General Meyer Ave. New Orleans, La. 70114 CHARITY SCHOOL OF NURSING 450 S. Claiborne Ave. New Orleans, La. 70112 NORTHSHORE - SLIDELL CAMPUS 320 E. Howze Beach Road I-10 Service Road Slidell, La. 70461

Monroe, La. 71203 (866) 500-LDCC (318) 345-9000 ladelta.edu

BASTROP CAMPUS 729 Kammell St. Bastrop, La. 71221 FARMERVILLE CAMPUS 605 West Boundary Farmerville, La. 71241 JONESBORO CAMPUS 236 Industrial Drive Jonesboro, La. 71251 LAKE PROVIDENCE CAMPUS 156 Highway 883-1 Lake Providence, La. 71254 RUSTON CAMPUS 1010 James St. Ruston, La. 71273 TALLULAH CAMPUS 132 Old Hwy. 65 South Tallulah, La. 71284 WEST MONROE CAMPUS 609 Vocational Parkway West Monroe, La. 71292 WINNSBORO CAMPUS 1710 Warren St. Winnsboro, La. 71295

NORTHSHORE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1710 Sullivan Drive Bogalusa, La. 70427 (985)732-6640 northshorecollege.edu

FLORIDA PARISHES CAMPUS 948 La. 1042 Greensburg, La. 70441 HAMMOND CAMPUS 111 Pride Drive Hammond, La. 70401

NORTHWEST LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE MINDEN CAMPUS 9500 Industrial Drive Minden, La. 71055 (318) 371-3035 nwltc.edu MANSFIELD CAMPUS 943 Oxford Road Mansfield, La. 71052 NATCHITOCHES CAMPUS 6587 Hwy. 1 Bypass Natchitoches, La. 71457 SABINE VALLEY CAMPUS 1255 Fisher Road Many, La. 71449 SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CAMPUS 2010 N. Market St. Shreveport, La. 71137

NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3710 Paris Road Chalmette, La. 70043 (504) 278-6200 nunez.edu

RIVER PARISHES COMMUNITY COLLEGE

925 West Edenborne Parkway Gonzales, La. 70737 (225) 743-8500 rpcc.edu ASCENSION CAMPUS 9697 Airline Highway Sorrento, La. 70778

SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE 900 Youngs Road Morgan City, La. 70380 (985) 380-2440 scl.edu

LAFOURCHE CAMPUS 1425 Tiger Drive Thibodaux, La. 70301 GALLIANO CAMPUS 318 East 90th St. Cut Off, La. 70345 RESERVE CAMPUS 181 Regala Park Road Reserve, La. 70084 YOUNG MEMORIAL CAMPUS 900 Youngs Road Morgan City, La. 70380

SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1101 Bertrand Drive Lafayette, La. 70506 (337) 521-9000 solacc.edu

ACADIAN CAMPUS 1933 West Hutchinson Ave. Crowley, La. 70526 CHARLES B. COREIL CAMPUS 1124 Vocational Drive Ville Platte, La. 70586 EVANGELINE CAMPUS 600 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive St. Martinville, La. 70582 FRANKLIN CAMPUS 1013 Perret St. Franklin, La. 70538 GULF AREA CAMPUS 1301 Clover St. Abbeville, La. 70511 T.H. HARRIS CAMPUS 332 East South St. Opelousas, La. 70570 TECHE AREA CAMPUS 908 Ember Drive New Iberia, La. 70562

SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

3820 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave. Lake Charles, La. 70615 (800) 256-0483 sowela.edu MORGAN SMITH CAMPUS 1230 North Main St. Jennings, La. 70546

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT LCTCS CAMPUSES INCLUDE:

Computer science, finance and accounting, personal and culinary services, construction crafts, health care, protective services, electrical, industrial production, welding, engineering technology, mechanic and repair tech, general science, graphic arts, biological sciences and more. Go to lctcs. edu to do a customized search of programs that interest you and which campuses offer them.

PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS ABOUT THE LIST

These are private vocational schools with facilities in Louisiana. A private vocational school, sometimes called a proprietary school, is a privately owned and operated postsecondary school that teaches vocational or occupational skills. Most are for-profit businesses. Costs, programs and accreditations vary widely. Call the individual schools for additional information. Source: Louisiana Board of Regents. Admin = school administrator.

ACADEMY OF ACADIANA 131 W Main St. New Iberia, La. 70560 Admin: Ginger Barras (337) 365-1550 Additional location in Lake Charles

AIE – ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT

537 Cajundome Blvd., Ste. 211 Lafayette, La. 70506 Admin: Kristie Chamberlain (337) 456-1848

ACADIANA AREA CAREER COLLEGE, A DIVISION OF BLUE CLIFF COLLEGE 505 Loire Ave. Lafayette, La. 70507 Admin: Michael A. Maise (337) 896-9776

ACCELERATED DENTAL ASSISTING ACADEMY

130 Hummell St. Denham Springs, La. 70726 Admin: David Roux (844) 727-3755 Additional locations in New Orleans, Houma, Monroe, Slidell, Lafayette, Mandeville and Metairie

ACCESS CAREER DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE 3501 Holiday Drive, Ste. 110 New Orleans, La. 70114 Admin: Angelique Alexander (504) 309-2594

ADVANCE HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE

4580 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. B Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Gustavia Growe (225) 335-4705

ADVANCE INNOVATION EDUCATION P.O. Box 82072 Baton Rouge, La. 70884 Admin: Michael Eskridge (225) 572-7353

ADVANCE NURSING TRAINING 1480 General Degaulle Ave., Ste. 202 New Orleans, La. 70131 Admin: Melanie McCrary (504) 994-0280

AESTHETIC LASER INSTITUTE 3213 17th St., Ste. B Metairie, La. 70002 Admin: Sherril Monson (504) 309-7048

ALEXANDRIA DENTAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL 3820 Masonic Drive Alexandria, La. 71301 Admin: Pete Gilkey (512) 986-8702

ALLIED PREP TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

2439 Manhattan Blvd., Ste. 306 Harvey, La. 70058 Admin: Terrence Walker (504) 228-3493

ANDREA’S CAREER INSTITUTE 2010 Woodmere Blvd., Ste. P Harvey, La. 70058 Admin: Andrea Murdock (504) 265-8206

EDUCATION PROVIDERS ARK-LA-TEX DENTAL ASSISTING ACADEMY

910 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Shreveport, La. 71118 Admin: Dr. John “Cody” Cowen (318) 686-7470

ASSIST TO SUCCEED

140 Veterans Blvd.

Denham Springs, La. 70726 Admin: Andrew Hood (225) 667-0037

AYERS CAREER COLLEGE 8820 Jewella Ave. Shreveport, La. 71108 Admin: Bruce Busada (318) 868-3000

BAR/BRI OF LOUISIANA 1 East Campus Drive Baton Rouge, La. 70803 Admin: Michael Haynes (214) 935-1017 Additional locations in New Orleans

BATON ROUGE DENTAL ASSISTANT ACADEMY

4450 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. C Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Pete Gilkey (512) 259-2100

BATON ROUGE DENTAL ASSISTANT INSTITUTE

8894 Airline Hwy., Ste. M Baton Rouge, La. 70815 Admin: Pete Gilkey (512) 259-2100

BATON ROUGE SCHOOL OF COMPUTERS 9352 Interline Ave. Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Betty Truxillo (225) 923-2524

BATON ROUGE SCHOOL OF COURT REPORTING 15915 Hogenville Ave. Baton Rouge, La. 70817 Admin: Karen Vornkahl (225) 218-4919

BECKER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION – NEW ORLEANS UNO, Rm. KH 222, 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, La. 70148 Admin: Marcy Tadla (630) 353-3840 Additional location in Ruston

BESO BEAUTY

3925 Barron St. Metairie, La. 70002 Admin: Michelle Martinez (504) 518-4461

BLUE CLIFF COLLEGE METAIRIE

3200 Cleary Ave. Metairie, La. 70002 Admin: Doug Robertson (504) 456-3141 Additional locations in Alexandria, Houma, Lafayette and Shreveport

CAMELOT COLLEGE

2618 Wooddale Blvd., Ste A. Baton Rouge, La. 70805 Admin: Rev. Ronnie Williams (225) 928-3005

CAMERON COLLEGE

2740 Canal St. New Orleans, La. 70119 Admin: Heather Guidry (504) 821-5881

CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY TRAINING 64040 Hwy. 434, Ste. 200 Lacombe, La. 70445 Admin: Richard Brown (985) 801-0088

COASTAL COLLEGE

2064 N. Flannery Rd. Baton Rouge, La. 70815 Admin: Randi Reboul (225) 272-2213 Additional locations in Alexandria, Hammond, Lafayette and Monroe

COASTAL TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL OF NEW ORLEANS 1182 First Ave. Harvey, La. 70058 Admin: Randi Reboul (504) 468-3639

COMPASS CAREER COLLEGE 42353 Deluxe Plaza, Ste. 16 Hammond, La. 70403 Admin: Phillip Moore (985) 419-2050

61 LaNEXT.com

EDUCATION PROVIDERS CRESCENT CITY SCHOOL OF GAMING AND BARTENDING 209 N. Broad St. New Orleans, La. 70119 Admin: Ronald Richard (504) 822-3362

CROSBY COURT REPORTING CENTER 1728 Riviere Ave. Metairie, La. 70003 Admin: Patricia Crosby (504) 888-1322

DELTA COLLEGE

19231 N. 6th St. Covington, La. 70433 Admin: Billy Clark (985) 892-6651 Additional location in Slidell

DELTA COLLEGE OF ARTS & TECHNOLOGY

7380 Exchange Place Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Admin: Billy Clark (225) 928-7770 Additional location in Lafayette

DELTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY 517 E. Broad St. Lake Charles, La. 70601 Admin: Jeff Edwards (337) 439-5765

DENTAL ASSISTING ACADEMY OF LOUISIANA

DIGITAL MEDIA INSTITUTE AT INTER TECH

GRACE AND FAVOR TRAINING ACADEMY

ITI TECHNICAL COLLEGE

DRYADES YMCA SCHOOL OF COMMERCE

GRADE A HEALTH SOLUTIONS

JULIAN CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING SCHOOL

2031 Kings Hwy. Shreveport, La. 71103 Admin: John Miraelles (318) 213-0789

2220 Oretha C. Haley Blvd.

New Orleans, La. 70113 Admin: Jay Banks (504) 568-5299

EASTERN COLLEGE OF HEALTH VOCATIONS

13702 Coursey Blvd., Ste. 10-C Baton Rouge, La. 70817 Admin: Jennifer R. Fortie (225) 753-0123

201 Evans Road, Ste. 400 New Orleans, La. 70123 Admin: Don Enroth (504) 736-0654 Additional location in Shreveport

DIESEL DRIVING ACADEMY

ECO TRAINING CENTER

8067 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, La. 70815 Admin: Bruce Busada (225) 929-9990 Additional location in Shreveport

16201 E. Main St. Cut Off, La. 39505 Admin: Gary Chouest (985) 601-4444

FALCK SAFETY SERVICES

201 Clendenning Road Houma, La. 70363 Admin: Richard “Dicky” Jackson (985) 868-1860 Additional location in Maurice

FALCK MARITIME SERVICES

2506 Williams Blvd.

Kenner, La. 70062 Admin: Richard “Dicky” Jackson (504) 468-4444

FELICIANA MEDICAL TRAINING ACADEMY

3155 Market Street Jackson, La. 70747 Admin: Rhonda Givens (225) 310-4041

FORTIS COLLEGE

9255 Interline Ave. Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Vaughn Hartunian (225) 248-1015

GLOBAL TRUCKING ACADEMY 1269 St. Jean St. Mansura, La. 71350 Admin: Andrea Destin (318) 264-9927

GONZALES MEDICAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL

1943 S. Burnside Ave. Gonzales, La. 70737 Admin: Christina Dohring (512) 259-2100

LaNEXT.com

62

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 3400 Tulane Ave. New Orleans, La. 70119 Admin: Kim Rugon (504) 456-2622

1001 NW Central Ave. Amite, La. 70422 Admin: Shirley Hendricks (985) 748-7005

124 E. Main St., Ste. 204 New Iberia, La. 70560 Admin: Brandy Molbert (337) 380-4046

GRIFF’S MARINE TRAINING 4290 La. 1, Ste. 2 Raceland, La. 70394 Admin: Elizabeth Bertholot (985) 537-1222

HANDS-ON LEARNING & TRAINING COLLEGE 8367 Paris Ave. Baton Rouge, La. 70814 Admin: Vernay Sanders (225) 960-2420

HEALTHCARE & MORE 106 Courthouse Square Rayville, La. 71269 Admin: Vonda Turner (318) 728-8989

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS 4760 Major Drive New Orleans, La. 70128 Admin: Cowana Neco (504) 905-0324

HEALTHCARE TRAINING INSTITUTE

322 Williams Blvd.

Kenner, La. 70062 Admin: Shevonda R. Thomas (504) 467-2155

HERITAGE DENTAL ASSISTING ACADEMY 122 Heritage Pkwy., Ste. A Broussard, La. 70518 Admin: Charles Manuel (337) 451-4346

HERZING UNIVERSITY

2500 Williams Blvd.

Kenner, La. 70062 Admin: Thomas Lonergan (504) 733-0074

HONORÉ SCHOOL FOR DENTAL ASSISTING 1562 N. Board St. New Orleans, La. 70119 Admin: Cathy Honoré (504) 945-1278

INFINITY COLLEGE

117 W. Pinhook Road Lafayette, La. 70501 Admin: Sherica R. Davis (337) 261-9009

13944 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, La. 70817 Admin: Earl J. Martin III (225) 752-4233

24035 Railroad Ave. Plaquemine, La. Admin: Nette Alexander (225) 636-8294

J.W. TRAINING CENTER

3542 La. 1 Donaldsonville, La. 70346 Admin: Nette Alexander (225) 473-1760

LEARNING BRIDGE CAREER INSTITUTE

1340 W. Tunnel Blvd., Ste. 100 Houma, La. 70360 Admin: Gloria M. Williams (985) 262-4685

LENORA SCHOOL OF PHLEBOTOMY

60529 N Ridgewood Drive Slidell, La. 70460 Admin: Lenora Darmas (985) 641-5490

LIFE CARE

5100 Westbank Expressway, Ste. 4 Marrero, La. 70072 Admin: Irene Magee (504) 604-1221

LOUISIANA CULINARY INSTITUTE

10550 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, La. 70816 Admin: Charlie Ruffolo (877) 533-3198

LOUISIANA DENTAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL

1338 Church St. Zachary, La. 70791 Admin: Lance E. Fallin (225) 658-8098

LOUISIANA HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE 6220 Florida Blvd., Ste. B Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Admin: Sherie Phillips (225) 362-0433

LOUISIANA INSTITUTE OF MASSAGE THERAPY 3750 Nelson Road Lake Charles, La. 70605 Admin: Alex Chaumont (337) 474-3737

EDUCATION PROVIDERS LOUISIANA MEDICAL CERTIFICATIONS 3442 Mary Drive New Roads, La. 70760 Admin: Lisa Gunnelis (225) 240-2980

LOUISIANA RESOURCE CENTER FOR EDUCATORS 5550 Florida Blvd.

Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Admin: Nancy Roberts (225) 924-7600

MARITIME SERVICES GROUP OF LOUISIANA 2760 Sgt. Alfred Slidell, La. 70458 Admin: Donna Fishback (985) 646-2323

MARTIN INTERNATIONAL 133 Woodland Drive LaPlace, La. 70068 Admin: Gail Bergeron (985) 652-3087

MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

2319 Louisville Ave. Monroe, La. 71201 Admin: Cheryl Lokey (318) 323-2889 Additional location in Shreveport

MED-ADVANCE TRAINING 8335 Summa Ave., Ste. B-1 Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Tonya Johnson (225) 916-0887

MEDICAL CAREERS COLLEGE 7505 Pines Road, Ste. 1100 Shreveport, La. 71129 Admin: Dorris Mitchell (318) 459-1600

MEDICAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

4480 Carnival Degalle, Ste. 112 New Orleans, La. 70114 Admin: Karen Gilmore (504) 304-5393

MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE 10525 Plaza Americana Drive Baton Rouge, La. 70816 Admin: Lola Summers (225) 926-5820

MIA’S MEDICAL ACADEMY

MOORE CAREER COLLEGE

14141 Airline Hwy., Ste. VWX Baton Rouge, La. 70817 Admin: Edward “Speedy” Moore (225) 757-3770

N.O.D.C. SCHOOL FOR DENTAL ASSISTING 1901 Manhattan Blvd., Ste. F-201 Harvey, La. 70058 Admin: Gina Sutton (504) 341-0003

NATIONAL DRIVING ACADEMY 31 Wicker Lane Greensburg, La. 70441 Admin: Thomas Wicker (504) 222-6711

NEW HORIZONS COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS

2800 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 330 Metairie, La. 70002 Admin: Amber Zerger (504) 849-6600 Additional location in Shreveport

NEW ORLEANS CULINARY & HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE 725 Howard Ave. New Orleans, La. 70130 Admin: Carol Markowitz (504) 891-4060

NEW ORLEANS DENTAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL 816 Behrman Hwy. Terrytown, La. 70056 Admin: Peter Gilkey (512) 259-2100

NURSING ASSISTANT NETWORK ASSOCIATION

4509 Freret St. New Orleans, La. 70115 Admin: Jacqueline Marshall (504) 891-8088

OAK PARK SCHOOL OF DENTAL ASSISTING 1616 West McNeese St. Lake Charles, La. 70605 Admin: Brandy Durbin (337) 478-3232

OPELOUSAS ACADEMY OF NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING

7525 Florida Blvd.

Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Admin: Steven Prejean (225) 346-1999

2342 Larkspur Lane Opelousas, La. 70570 Admin: Derrick Mato (337) 678-1805

MID CITY COLLEGE

OPERATION SPARK

748 Camp St. New Orleans, La. 70130 Admin: Max Gaudin (504) 534-8277

ROSEMOND SCHOOL OF PHLEBOTOMY

SOUTHWEST DENTAL ACADEMY

PEACH TREE SCHOOL OF DENTAL ASSISTING

ROSEPINE LOUISIANA MEDICAL TRAINING

STICK IT PHLEBOTOMY

PELICAN CHAPTER ABC

SAINT AGATHA CAREER SCHOOL

341 La. 2 Sterlington, La. 71280 Admin: Bobby G. Hobson (318) 726-5412

702 N. Trenton St. Ruston, La. 71270 Admin: Harold Potter (318) 237-8417

19251 Highland Road Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Robert Clouatre (225) 752-1415 Additional location in Westlake

PET GROOMING ACADEMY OF LOUISIANA 43300 E. Pleasant Ridge Road Hammond, La. 70403 Admin: Rosamond M. Posey (985) 634-9339

PETRA COLLEGE

1814 North Morrison Blvd., Ste. D Hammond, La. 70401 Admin: Regina Gordon (985) 419-2430

1425 S. Purpera Ave. Gonzales, La. 70737 Admin: Ora Jones (225) 644-2422

18638 Johnny B. Hall Road Rosepine, La. 70659 Admin: Robin Spence (337) 221-3003

7078 Read Blvd.

New Orleans, La. 70127 Admin: Aleshia L. Butler (504) 245-7227

SAINT CHRISTOPHER COLLEGE

166 Oak Tree Park Drive, Ste. F Sunset, La. 70584 Admin: Steven Castille (337) 896-0085

SHREVEPORT DENTAL ASSISTANT SCHOOL 2900 La. 80 East Haughton, La. 71037 Admin: Peter Gilkey (512) 259-2100

221 Southpark Road, Ste. D-2 Lafayette, La. 70508 Admin: Karen Robin (337) 330-8949

208 Hudson Ave. Jonesboro, La. 71251 Admin: Sherry Hiton (318) 259-0144

THE CAPTAIN SCHOOL

2273 Barataria Blvd.

Marrero, La. 70072 Admin: Capt. Patrick L. Casey (877) 435-3187

THOMAS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER 247 Dixie Road Bakertown, La. 70538 Admin: Sidney Thomas Jr. (337) 578-3602

TNTP ACADEMY

1555 Poydras St., 7th Floor New Orleans, La. 70112 Admin: Celena Siprajim (504) 274-3656

UNITECH TRAINING ACADEMY 2827 4th Ave. Lake Charles, La. 70601 Admin: Deanna Head (337) 988-4042 Additional locations in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Houma, Metairie, West Monroe and Lafayette

PREMIER HEALTHCARE TRAINING SOLUTIONS

SIHAF CAREER INSTITUTE

RAYMOND CAREER COLLEGE

SOUTHEAST SCHOOL OF DENTAL ASSISTING

VIRGINIA COLLEGE

SOUTHERN MEDICAL CORPORATION SCHOOL OF ULTRASOUND

VISTA COLLEGE

133 S. Main St. Opelousas, La. 70570 Admin: Shawanna Guillory (337) 384-9219

3501 Holiday Drive, Ste. 311 New Orleans, La. 70114 Admin: Danita Raymond (504) 309-2594

REMINGTON COLLEGE

303 Rue Louis XIV Lafayette, La. 70508 Admin: Mary Rhodes (800) 208-1950 Additional location in Shreveport and Baton Rouge

RIVER CITIES SCHOOL OF DENTAL ASSISTING 1945 E 70th St., Ste. F Shreveport, La. 71105 Admin: Dr. Jason Dupree (318) 797-1187

ROCK BRIDGE TRAINING INSTITUTE

200 N. Thomas Drive, Ste. 14 Shreveport, La. 71107 Admin: Felicia Posey (318) 219-5779

350 Hearne Ave. Shreveport, La. 71103 Admin: JoAnne Walker (318) 734-3480

1607 Martens Drive Hammond, La. 70401 Admin: Dr. Neil Oza (985) 345-6094

12232 Industriplex Blvd., Ste. 2 Baton Rouge, La. 70809 Admin: Paul Berry (225) 756-5239

SOUTHERN OAKS CARE

3221 Behrman Place, Ste. 202-B New Orleans, La. 70114 Admin: Ariel Statum (504) 363-0232

SOUTHERN SECURITY SCHOOL

2518 Tulane Ave. New Orleans, La. 70119 Admin: Jewel Carney (504) 821-5334

9501 Cortana Place Baton Rouge, La. 70815 Admin: Brandon Fee (225) 236-3900 Additional location in Shreveport

3131 Gerstner Memorial Drive Lake Charles, La. 70601 Admin: Renee Gaddis (972) 733-3431

WORKFORCE CAREER & TECHNICAL COLLEGE

3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Ste. 3110 New Orleans, La. 70114 Admin: LaWanda Smith (504) 510-4260

WORLD’S ONLY TATTOO SCHOOL

403-417 Lake St. Shreveport, La. 71101 Admin: Dr. Leonard Pogue (318) 222-8282

63 LaNEXT.com

5700 Florida Blvd., Ste. 100 Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Admin: Ann Simmers (225) 292-1950

OUACHITA TRUCK DRIVING ACADEMY

Louisiana NEXT back cover advert FINAL.indd 1

25/08/2017 9:57:01 AM