LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA — Gary Soileau, Oakdale Practical Nursing Program coordinator at SOWELA Technical Community College, has received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award, a national honor recognizing outstanding community college faculty, staff and administrators for excellence in teaching and student success.
The NISOD Excellence Awards are presented annually to educators at member colleges who demonstrate exceptional contributions to student learning and institutional improvement. The award recognizes individuals whose work strengthens academic programs and advances student achievement across community and technical colleges.
Soileau was nominated for his leadership of SOWELA Oakdale’s Practical Nursing program. Under his guidance, the program achieved its highest student retention rate on record. He also led the most recent cohort to a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) and strengthened mentoring and clinical preparation for students entering the healthcare workforce.
Soileau has served SOWELA for nearly six years in the School of Nursing and Allied Health, focusing on improving student outcomes and strengthening workforce readiness in the region’s healthcare sector.
For more information about SOWELA, visit www.sowela.edu or contact the One Stop Enrollment Office at (337) 421-6550.