Through a $50,000 grant from the Drax Foundation, Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC) is expanding educational access and strengthening STEM and advanced manufacturing pathways by providing 25 scholarships for students in high-demand programs and introducing middle and high school students to hands-on STEM and manufacturing experiences through summer enrichment opportunities.
“Through the Drax Foundation, we invest in programs that help communities grow and create pathways to opportunity,” said Deidra Jackson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Drax. “Partnering with Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges allows us to support students pursuing in-demand skills while strengthening the future workforce and fueling innovation across the regions where we operate.”
The Drax Foundation supports programs that advance education and skills development in STEM, as well as those that improve access to nature and community green spaces. In its latest round of giving, the foundation awarded $331,700 to seven U.S. nonprofits, including LCTC.
Participating colleges include Delgado Community College, Fletcher Technical Community College, Northshore Technical Community College, South Louisiana Community College and SOWELA Technical Community College.
“This partnership has created real opportunity. It helps students afford programs that lead to great careers while also introducing younger learners to hands-on STEM and manufacturing experiences that can spark what comes next,” said LCTC President Richard Nelson. “We’re excited to work with the Drax Foundation as our colleges continue opening doors and connecting more Louisianans to meaningful careers.”
The grant includes $25,000 in scholarships and $25,000 for enrichment activities designed to build awareness of STEM and manufacturing careers.
Each participating college received $5,000 to award five $1,000 scholarships to students enrolled in programs such as advanced manufacturing, process technology, engineering technology and other STEM-related fields. The remaining funds will support upcoming summer camps, dual enrollment enhancements and other high-impact activities designed to introduce younger students to industry-aligned training pathways.
Approximately 150 to 200 students are expected to participate in hands-on STEM enrichment activities through the program, and at least 10 local industry partners are expected to engage through guest lectures, site visits and collaboration on enrichment programming, helping students connect classroom learning to real-world careers.
“This work supports both access and opportunity,” said Dr. Chandler LeBoeuf, Executive Director of the LCTC Foundation and LCTC Executive Vice President. “By investing in students today while expanding early exposure to STEM and manufacturing, we continue to strengthen the pipeline that connects education to Louisiana’s workforce needs. We’re grateful to the Drax Foundation for partnering with us to create meaningful impact across our colleges and communities.”
Featured image caption: Drax Foundation presents LCTC Foundation with $50,000.
Contact Information:
Michelli Martin
Communications Manager, US
318-372-3988
[email protected]
About Drax
Drax Group’s ambition is to reach net zero across its value chain by the end of 2040, including steps aimed at decarbonising its supply chains. Drax’s approximately 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information, visit www.drax.com.
About LCTC
Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC) serves more students annually than any other higher education system in the state, delivering credit instruction, workforce training and adult education to more than 130,000 individuals each year. LCTC is comprised of 12 comprehensive colleges, with over 60 instructional sites across Louisiana, providing accessible, affordable education and delivering a skilled workforce that powers the state’s economy. The LCTC System is nationally recognized for its alignment with industry, focus on student success, and impact on communities across the state.
