Wendy Sonnier wins “Post-Secondary Business Teacher of the Year” and Dr. Marie Coleman wins “Distinguished Service by an Administrator or Supervisor of Business Education”
(Lake Charles, Louisiana – October 27, 2021)
Two faculty members from SOWELA have been honored with prestigious awards from the Southern Business Education Association (SBEA). Dr. Marie Coleman was awarded the “Distinguished Service by an Administrator or Supervisor of Business Education” and Wendy Sonnier is the recipient of the “Post-Secondary Business Teacher of the Year” awards for Louisiana and all of the South. The awards were announced at SBEA’s annual conference which took place in Memphis.
Coleman, who joined SOWELA full-time in 2018, is an assistant professor, and is currently serving as dean of SOWELA’s School of Business and Applied Technology. Coleman was nominated and chosen to receive her “Distinguished Service by an Administrator or Supervisor of Business Education” award due to her service in supporting life-long learning for her students and colleagues, her work with students in campus organizations and for her outstanding work ethic. The award is handed out annually.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized in this capacity by my peers and colleagues,” said Coleman. “The Southern Business Education Association has been good to me and has provided multiple opportunities for my professional growth. I am proud to be a part of this organization.”
Sonnier is part of the faculty at SOWELA’s School of Business and Applied Technology and began as an adjunct instructor with SOWELA in 2017 and became a full-time instructor in 2019. Sonnier teaches a variety of classes including Introduction to Spreadsheets, Office Procedures, Personal Finance, Basic Word Processing, and Business Ethics. She was awarded the “Post-Secondary Business Teacher of the Year” and chosen for her dedication to encourage students to reach their potential and providing them with opportunities to excel in their fields of study.
“To be nominated by my peers for this award and to be chosen as the Louisiana Association of Business Educators Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year means so much to me,” Sonnier said. “I love teaching business and I work hard to do the best job I can for my students.”
The Southern Business Education Association (SBEA) is a professional organization of business educators and a regional affiliate of the National Business Education Association. SBEA provides leadership training, conferences, and publications to its members in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOWELA offers seven programs in its School of Business and Applied Technology including Accounting Technology, Business Administration (available online and on-campus), Culinary Arts (available online an on-campus), Drafting and Design Technology, Digital Arts and Communication, Information Systems Technology and Office Systems Technology. All classes are currently enrolling for Spring 2022.
For more information about any of SOWELA’s programs or to apply online, visit this page. Anyone needing additional assistance can contact onestop@sowela.edu for more information.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 80 years.