NEWS

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) donated $294,131 to the Louisiana Tech University Construction Engineering Technology program.

The licensing board presented their donation to College of Engineering and Science (COES) Interim Dean Dr. Collin Wick. Along with Wick and members of the LSLBC, Louisiana Tech Construction Engineering Technology faculty, members of the Louisiana Associated General Contractors (AGC), Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA), and state legislators attended the luncheon and donation presentation.

“The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is very proud to annually provide a financial contribution to the construction management and engineering programs of Louisiana Tech,” Michael McDuff, Executive Director of the LSLBC, said. “As a funding vehicle for the construction industry, we are helping higher education deliver the best graduates for the future.”

“A major part of our success in providing a high-quality education to Louisiana Tech’s engineering and science students is the commitment of professionals and organizations throughout the state supporting hands-on learning opportunities,” said Interim Dean of the COES Dr. Collin Wick. “The Contractor’s Licensing Board, the Contractor’s Education Trust Fund, and the professionals who volunteer these fees each year help provide the next generation of construction engineering technologists, construction managers, building inspectors, cost estimators, distribution managers, project managers, and quality control managers with important job training.”

The licensing board donations, collected from voluntary contributions of the state’s contractors, and divided among construction engineering programs throughout the state, signify Louisiana contractors’ commitment to educating the next generation of construction professionals.

“The Construction Engineering Technology program is grateful to the contractors around the state for this sacrifice,” Mr. Reginald Jeter, Construction Engineering Technology program chair, said. “We use these funds to upgrade our equipment and lab, support student activities, and send students to conferences where they make and attend presentations, earn awards, and network with construction professionals from around the country.”

In addition to helping Louisiana Tech provide students with access to the latest construction engineering technology tools, past donations have funded student trips to national conferences like the North American Society for Trenchless Technology No-Dig Show, Utility Construction Technology Conference, the Associated General Contractors of America Conference and the International Trenchless Technology Conference and Exhibition.

Louisiana Tech’s Construction Engineering Technology program provides students with the skills to not only succeed, but to become leaders in their careers. Students who graduate from the program get a background in math, science, engineering, construction, and business. These skills along with the hands-on experience that they get as Louisiana Tech COES students prepare them for careers in a large swath of fields, including construction, distribution, project, and quality control management, construction and building inspection, cost estimation, entrepreneurship, and surveying.

McDuff, Brad Hassert (LSLBC), Andy Dupuy (Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC and LSLBC), William Clouatre (Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC and LSLBC), Kristen Brown (Brown Builders, Inc. and LSLBC), Curtis Joseph (Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission and LSLBC), Garland Meredith (Twin City Electric and LSLBC), Henry Heier (MCA), Ken Naquin (AGC), Shane Kirkpatrick (AGC), Andre Kelly (AGC), Danny Graham (Lincoln Builders ), Clint Graham (Lincoln Builders), Senator Glen Womack (Louisiana Senate District 32), Rep. Foy Gadberry (Louisiana House of Representatives District 15), and Rep. Chris Turner (Louisiana House of Representatives District 12) celebrated the donation with Louisiana Tech. Wick, Jeter, Dr. John Matthews (Director of the Trenchless Technology Center), Dr. Heath Tims (Associate Dean of the COES Undergraduate Studies Office), Dr. Leland Weiss (Director of Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering), and Devin Ferguson (Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement) represented Tech at the event.