SOWELA Students Earn Second Place at Regional Business Pitch Competition

SOWELA Business Administration students Ambria Simmons (left) and Mishael (Shae) Washington (right) brought home second place in the NACCE business pitch competition.

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA — Two students from SOWELA Technical Community College recently earned second place and a $2,500 award at the regional business pitch competition hosted by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).

Business Administration students Ambria Simmons and Mishael (Shae) Washington competed as a team with their business concept, QuietCare, an on-demand childcare app designed to connect families with reliable childcare when they need it most.

The competition featured seven teams from community colleges across Louisiana. By placing second, Simmons and Washington qualified to advance to the state competition, where the top three teams from each regional competition will compete during the Louisiana SkillsUSA event in March.

The students were coached by SOWELA business faculty Wendy Sonnier and Patricia Barrow.

The two-year Business Administration program at SOWELA provides students with a well-rounded business education that equips them for entry-level administrative or supervisory positions. It covers marketing, management, ethics, personal finance and accounting with concentrations available in general business, hospitality management, office administration and paralegal studies.

To learn more about the Business Administration program or how to apply, visit www.sowela.edu/apply or contact onestop@sowela.edu. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify. Registration opens for Summer and Fall 2026 on March 30.