Noting the organization’s exceptional leadership in working to improve higher education in the state, Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) presented the LaSalle Economic Development District (LEDD) the Walker G. Bumphus Excellence in Leadership Award Monday night, October 2, during the LCTCS Foundation Impact Awards ceremony at the LCTCS Annual Conference in New Orleans.
“We are very honored to receive this prestigious award,” said LEDD President Walter Dorroh Jr. “LEDD’s mission is striving to create a greater LaSalle as we work to foster sustainable economic and community development throughout LaSalle Parish. We understand building on and enhancing the educational opportunities available to LaSalle Parish residents is a key to successful and sustainable economic development. That is why we are so pleased to work with educational partners like Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC). The educational opportunities and job skills training CLTCC provides in the community are critical to the growth and development of LaSalle Parish and all of Central Louisiana.”
LEDD has been a key supporter of CLTCC for many years with both financial contributions and grants. Most recently, LEDD donated 10 acres of land that will serve as the future home of CLTCC’s Rod Brady Campus in Jena.
“We are so fortunate to have the support of LEDD,” said Rod Brady Campus Dean Michelle Morea. “Their board and staff, along with Executive Director Cynthia Cockerham, work tirelessly to bring key partners, including local mayors, together to support our efforts and other economic development initiatives. LEDD partnered with us to create a second practical nursing cohort in response to the nursing shortage, and now they have donated land for us to build a new, state-of-the-art campus to better serve the educational needs of the community for generations to come. They are a tremendous partner, and I am thrilled to see them get this recognition.”
The Walker G. Bumphus Excellence in Leadership Award, named in honor of LCTCS’ second System President, recognizes recipients who have demonstrated exceptional leadership that has improved higher education through innovation.
“It was truly a magical moment when we heard our partner’s name called as the award recipient,” said CLTCC Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle. “LEDD has been such a strong supporter of growth and development in LaSalle Parish and their support of CLTCC has been crucial to our success in bringing new educational and training opportunities to the area. Quite simply, CLTCC’s growth in LaSalle Parish and the new Rod Brady Campus project would not have happened without their strong support.”
Dorroh continued to note the honor of having the state’s technical college foundation recognize LEDD with the award.
“We are thrilled and honored at LEDD to receive this prestigious award,” he said. “We are equally thrilled that the Rod Brady Campus will remain in LaSalle Parish and will continue to be a source of education and creator of employment opportunities for people in LaSalle Parish and surrounding areas. CLTCC has been a great partner in economic development with our organization for many years. Having the ability to work with CLTCC to keep the campus here, to improve the facility with a new headquarters and to provide the hard-working people of this parish with an additional and very viable option for education and job opportunities is exactly the purpose for which LEDD was created.”
“I want to thank CLTCC for the opportunity to work with them, and I want to give special thanks to all of our team in LEDD, particularly Cynthia Cockerham, for helping us come through for LaSalle Parish,” Dorroh concluded. “We are truly grateful to receive this award.”
