CMT Empowering Education Tour and Country Star Courtney Cole Coming to SOWELA Technical Community College’s Morgan Smith Instructional Site in Jennings
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – February 15, 2018
SOWELA Technical Community College will host the CMT Empowering Education Tour at its Morgan Smith Campus in Jennings, Louisiana, on Thursday, March 8, 2018. CMT Empowering Education is a comprehensive educational campaign that provides education support and resources to aid prospective students in overcoming the most commonly perceived obstacles to furthering education. SOWELA is one of eight community and technical college campuses throughout Louisiana that will serve as host sites.
According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana has unprecedented demand for skilled workers throughout the state, and these positions often require training or education beyond a high school diploma. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and Louisiana Calling are partnering with CMT for the tour as part of a larger initiative that seeks to bring awareness to educational opportunities and increase the number of work-ready residents across Louisiana.
Having a partner such as CMT to help promote the value and importance of community colleges and technical skills education greatly enhances our ability to reach a larger population of prospective students who can directly benefit from the program and services that SOWELA offers. We are very excited this unique opportunity,” said Dr. Neil Aspinwall, Chancellor of SOWELA.
Students from area high schools surrounding the Morgan Smith Campus will be invited to participate in the event and will receive information about educational and training opportunities available at SOWELA. The event will include a performance by CMT country star, Courtney Cole, a Louisiana native and singer/songwriter who is a vocal supporter of education. Courtney has opened for some of the biggest names in country music such as Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney and Thomas Rhett. Local artist Kegan Navarre and Louisiana Traditions will provide entertainment preceding Cole’s performance.
Additional details about the CMT Empowering Education Tour may be found at www.CMTEmpoweringEducation.com.
CMT Empowering Education is a comprehensive educational campaign that provides both an online resource, www.CMTEmpoweringEducation.com, and on-the-ground support to aid prospective students in overcoming the most commonly perceived obstacles to furthering education. The initiative is founded on education research and insights through a partnership between Viacom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Inaugural advising partners for the CMT Empowering Education campaign included Achieving the Dream, the Association of Career and Technical Education, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Center for Workforce and Economic Development at the American Association of Community Colleges, the National Skills Coalition and Skills for America’s Future (the Aspen Institute).
Louisiana Calling is a nonprofit organization supported by a coalition of passionate people and committed organizations from all corners of the Louisiana and beyond. Louisiana Calling’s mission is to develop and conduct a multiyear public messaging campaign that includes traditional media, new media, and on-the-ground resources and strategic partnerships – all designed to help Louisianans discover and appreciate the many educational pathways that lead to high-value jobs and sustainable careers available in Louisiana today.
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates that empower students in transfer, career and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for more than 75 years.