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The year in review – 2019 at Louisiana Tech
This year was one of challenge and triumph at Louisiana Tech University. We’ve listed here just a few of Louisiana Tech’s top stories for this past year.
Tech earns Military Friendly award for sixth straight year
Louisiana Tech University has always provided strong support and connection for veterans, active service members, and their families. In 2019, Louisiana Tech marked its sixth consecutive year for recognition as a Military Friendly School.
In November 2018, the University’s Academic Success Center in Bossier City earned instructional site status and opened the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) in coordination with Bossier Parish Community College. The VRC is designed to facilitate enrollment of veterans, those currently serving in the military, and their families with expertise and support for their unique needs.
Tech Family shows Loyal Blue spirit after April 25 tornado
An EF-3 tornado plowed through Ruston April 25, damaging housing and recreational facilities, as well as businesses and homes. Louisiana Tech’s athletics facilities suffered the most severe damage on campus, with damage to five separate sports facilities.
The Tech Family responded with the biggest Big Event ever to clean up campus and the surrounding area and by distributing funds to those students, faculty, and staff most in need of immediate assistance.
Learn more about the Big Event and assistance provided to students, faculty, and staff through our online coverage.
Inaugural Giving Day exceeds expectations for Louisiana Tech
The Tech Family and Friends raised more than $1.28 million to benefit Louisiana Tech University in its inaugural Giving Day, held May 1.
Almost 2,000 donors contributed to the total – the largest number of donors giving during one day in Tech fundraising history. The University Foundation established a Disaster Recovery Fund shortly after the April 25 storm, and almost $300,000 was raised during Giving Day for disaster relief funds alone.
Cyber Storm marks 10-year anniversary
May 24, nearly 100 students composing 12 teams built and protected cyber networks from intrusion while solving puzzles and trying to hack into other teams’ networks, during the 10th annual Cyber Storm competition.
Cyber Storm provides Louisiana Tech students enrolled in upper-level computer science and cyber engineering with an opportunity to show industry and government attendees what they’ve learned in their courses. Teams compete against each other and a black ops team of intruders from academia, industry, and government institutions. Teams earn points using networks that they have built, completing challenges on cyber security, wireless network and steganography and cyber scavenger hunts.
Bradshaw delivers commencement address to largest class in Tech history
Four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw told Louisiana Tech University graduates to find their passion in life during his commencement address to the Spring 2019 class, the largest in Tech history with 1,100 graduates.
Read more about Bradshaw’s speech online.
University marks 125th anniversary
Louisiana Tech kicked off its 125th year with The Happening, the annual gathering for alumni and friends that celebrates the University’s achievements and looks forward. The weekend of April 24-26 will focus on celebrating Louisiana Tech and creating an opportunity to reflect and share fond memories and to envision the future of our great University.
Louisiana Tech named Top Tier in USNWR rankings
In a year where Louisiana Tech University was honored with rankings focused on research, sustainability, and individual programs, the Tech Family was again chosen as one of Louisiana’s top universities by U.S. News and World Report.
Revisit all our latest rankings online.
Construction plans continue
In October, Louisiana Tech announced plans to develop Tech Pointe II, a new $15 million commercial office building that will fuel private-sector job growth on the university’s Enterprise Campus. Over the next decade, Tech officials project the Tech Pointe II building will generate 750 new jobs on the campus. At more than 60,000 square feet, the Tech Pointe II facility will join the existing, 42,000-square-foot Tech Pointe I building that has helped generate over 200 private-sector jobs and 150 student jobs since opening in 2012.
In addition to the Tech Pointe II announcement, the University announced it will open a Louisiana Tech Research Institute hub at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, which will bolster Barksdale Air Force Base’s Global Strike Command.
University reaches Forever Loyal campaign goal
Louisiana Tech University reached its Forever Loyal campaign goal, raising more than $125 million to support University initiatives. The campaign continues through the year of celebrations for the University’s 125th anniversary.
More than 20,000 donors made 68,531 individual gifts to mark Louisiana Tech’s anniversary year. These investments – a grand total of $125,652,852 thus far – are focused on scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships for students; recruitment of faculty; research and teaching grants; and building the next phase of campus improvements.
Learn more about Louisiana Tech’s generous supporters.
LA Tech Athletics reveals plans for facilities
In November, University officials presented renderings and plans for the complete rebuild of three facilities that were completely destroyed almost seven months ago. University President Dr. Les Guice and Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland addressed a room full of Tech supporters, University and athletic officials, student athletes, and local media with their vision for the future of baseball, softball and soccer.
IESB opens for winter quarter
Tech’s Integrated Engineering and Science Building opened to rave reviews in November 2019. Thanks to more than $8 million in donations from friends of the College and a $30 million commitment from the State of Louisiana, the IESB opened for classes this winter, providing students, faculty, and staff with access to 12 new classrooms, 24 labs, dedicated study and collaboration spaces, and updated equipment.
Watch the first day video on the Louisiana Tech YouTube channel.
LA Tech football records shutout in I-Bowl
In the 2019 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Tech’s Football Bulldogs beat Miami of the ACC, 14-0, the first shutout in I-Bowl history. Tech (10-3) recorded its first shutout since defeating New Mexico State 44-0 in 2011 and the first shutout by a non-Power 5 program over a Power 5 program in a bowl game in the BCS/CFP era (since 1998).
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