The Louisiana Technical College (LTC) Region 1 celebrated its return to serving the Northshore community with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house reception last week for its new Instructional Service Center at 56707 Behrman St. in Slidell.

The approximately 5,000-square-foot facility allows LTC Region 1 to provide essential education and workforce training solutions to Northshore area students for the first time since the former LTC Slidell Campus was destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The new center will serve as a temporary location for LTC Region 1 in St. Tammany Parish in anticipation of the college’s eventual move to Lacombe, to join Delgado Community College, University of New Orleans, Southeastern Louisiana University and the St. Tammany School System at the proposed University Square shared campus.

LTC Region 1 opened the Instructional Service Center in time to welcome students for fall 2008 classes in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical, Culinary Arts, Certified Nurse Assistant, Diesel Mechanic, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy, Pipefitter and Welding, as well as to provide dual enrollment courses for a number of regional high school students.  The center includes two shop areas, six classrooms, a reception area, student services area and student lounge.

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“Though this FEMA-funded Instructional Service Center rental space is smaller than its LTC Region One Slidell Campus predecessor lost to Katrina, it will do a great deal to meet immediate training and workforce development needs for the region in cooperation with — and compliment to — Delgado Community College and St. Tammany Parish high school offerings,” said Kim Rugon, provost and dean of LTC Region 1, during her address to those attending the ribbon cutting.

Rugon was joined at the podium to officially open the center by Louisiana State Sen. A.G. Crowe, Louisiana State Rep. Greg Cromer, Jimmy Sawtelle, Louisiana Community and Technical College System’s vice president for Career and Technical Education, and Dr. Ron Wright, chancellor of Delgado Community College, with which LTC Region 1 became officially linked in spring 2006.

“This is truly a day of celebration,” said Wright. “It’s a day the people of this community have been awaiting for several years because it makes accessible the education and training necessary to help individuals find viable careers, and help business and industry fulfill their workforce needs.  It’s perhaps the greatest public policy mission there is. This center provides students with not just knowledge, but applicable skills sets needed to succeed in the new economy. When an employer asks, ‘What can you do?” these students will have the right answer to get the good jobs.”

Also taking a moment at the podium was Eric Terrell, a Slidell High School student who is also enrolled in the automotive program at the LTC Instructional Service Center. He echoed Wright’s comments regarding the importance of the center’s training in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals.

“Being a student here has been life-changing for me,” said Terrell.  “I never considered going to college until I had the opportunity to come here.  Now I’ve got a dream and a way to get there.”