By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Thursday was a busy day at the Louisiana Technical Colleges River Parishes Campus.

In the morning, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Student Government Association held an Octoberfest.

As early as 9 a.m. may seem early for a festival associated with drinking German beer, but at this Octoberfest raising money for the SGA was the top priority.

Students involved in various courses of study from nursing to process technology offered games and other activities such as a dunking booth

A number of traditional food booths along with dunking booths and other games provided entertainment for the morning, but the real meat of the morning might have been the tours given to high school students potentially looking at dual enrollment classes. Students from Hahnville, East St. John, St. James Parish, St. Charles Catholic and Destrehan high schools got a chance to see what is on offer to them as part of the ever-expanding dual enrollment program.

They were also given a special sneak preview of a new direction that might become quite prevalent at the school in years to come.

The school will soon begin offering classes in solar energy as it relates to air conditioning and refrigeration. It is a step that will not only keep the school’s instruction up to date but also will be useful in changing the way the school handles its own refrigeration and air conditioning needs.

According to instructor Jerry Carmoche, who is spearheading the effort, the first students to enroll in the track will help shape the program and figure out how the school can use solar energy to reduce its reliance on the grid.

This look at the future was, of course, supplemented with insights into some of the school’s already established programs, such as process technology, a course of study that has landed many graduates at high-paying jobs at local industrial complexes.

“Marathon has been stealing the cream of the crop,” said instructor Kenneth Fields.

The campus’ process technology track is one of the largest and most well established programs in the state.

What’s more, local industries along with a smattering of other area businesses got a chance to see their potential employees courtesy of a job fair held the same afternoon.

Major local employers including Entergy, Motiva and Oxychem along with other public entities such as the Louisiana Federal Credit Union set up informational booths for potential job candidates.

Students at Louisiana Technical College River Parishes Campus as well as anyone else seeking employment were welcome at the job fair for those seeking employment in the River Parishes.

In all, the events of the day pointed to a bright future for those interested in pursuing a career with local refineries and industrial manufacturers.