As the national economy works to rebound, students increasingly are taking advantage of workforce training solutions available at technical and community colleges close to home. The truth of that is evidenced by steadily rising enrollment.

Many of Louisiana’s technical and community colleges have experienced unprecedented growth, and that includes nearby schools. Not only has Louisiana Technical College Region 9 Greater Northshore, which includes campuses in Bogalusa, St. Tammany Parish, Hammond, Greensburg and Sorrento, experienced an overall jump of 28.2 percent, Sullivan alone has grown by 31.8 percent.

Enrollment in the Bogalusa school is up from 1,445 last year to 1,905 this year, said Will Wainwright, Sullivan dean and regional director.

LTC Sullivan student Niki Kennedy (left) says she feels she is learning a lot in Arlendra Zenon’s Care and Development of Young Children class. Enrollment at the Bogalusa school, like at those throughout the state, has increased dramatically this year. DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Marcelle Hanemann Advertisement

“I’m really excited about this record enrollment,” he said. “I think it is directly attributed to meeting the needs of our work force.”

The college continues to analyze the needs of its students and area business, said Wainwright.

The school is also working to get the word out about what it offers and what that could mean. Representatives attended Career Days at both Bogalusa and Franklinton high schools last week.

“Students showed great interest in attending Sullivan, an opportunity in their own back yard,” said Wainwright. “I feel we are finally penetrating our parish and reaching out to our citizenry. People are aware of what we offer and of how it leads to a skill that will prepare them for the changing economy.”

Niki Kennedy, of Bogalusa, a first-year student in the Care and Development of Young Children, Sullivan’s newest associate degree program, said she feels she made a good choice.

“This is my home town, I’m from here,” she said. “I’ve always heard a lot of good things about the school. And when I came down here it was such a welcoming, friendly environment. The staff and teachers make you feel important and wanted here. It’s a really positive climate. I would definitely recommend this as a first choice other than a university.”

Kennedy, whose goal is to teach elementary school,  started at Sullivan last month.

“It’s going really good,” she said. “My teacher, Arlendra Zenon, is really hands-on. I feel I’m learning a lot.”

She is also working towards a career with a future, and so are more than 1,900 others.

Wainwright said the top five programs by enrollment are: health care, business, welding, automotive technology and drafting and design technology. He credits expanded programming and the troubled economy with increasing the student body.

Expanded dual enrollment opportunities resulting from the development of career pathways for high school students, broadened apprenticeship training, new program development and additional evening course sections have helped prompt the enrollment increases, he said.

“We are also noticing growth in enrollment of the non-traditional student population as a direct result of students seeking advanced training, training as a result of job loss, and changing careers completely to re-tool for the future economy.,” said Wainwright

For additional information about Sullivan, call the Office of Admissions at 732-6649, Ext. 112 or check out the College Community Video at http://region9.ltc.edu/.