BATON ROUGE, La - Today, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), Louisiana Construction Education Foundation (LCEF), Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter (ABC) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Jump Start Construction Connect Scholars program, the state's first and only scholarship dedicated exclusively to Jump Start graduates who earn a Jump Start credential and a Louisiana high school diploma.

This $1,000 scholarship will assist graduates in gaining the necessary training to earn industry employment in construction crafts and STEM-related fields aligned to high-demand and high-income jobs. The scholarship was announced at the LDOE Jump Start Convention on January 28, 2020.

LCEF Board Chairman Milton Graugnard, of Cajun Industries said, "Louisiana needs more welders, carpenters, pipefitters, electricians, heavy equipment operators, and all of the other professional trades. We are pleased to partner with the Louisiana Department of Education, the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation, LCTCS, and the Louisiana Construction Education Trust Fund to provide scholarships to these deserving young people. We look forward to mentoring all of the recipients as they continue their education and work toward rewarding and high paying careers in Louisiana's construction industry."

"Congratulations to the 2020 recipients of the Construction Connect Scholarship. LCTCS is proud to partner with LCEF, ABC and the Louisiana Department of Education to provide this opportunity to Jumpstart students," said Monty Sullivan, LCTCS President.  "Today's community college is the engine of the economy. The advancements that our colleges are making in workforce development is the driving force behind Louisiana's business and industry growth. This scholarship will provide these students with an opportunity to earn a high wage in a construction pathway career that is in-demand and a skill that they can take anywhere in the world."

"Louisiana must strive to connect students to careers in the most advanced fields our economy has to offer them, including those in construction crafts and STEM fields," said LDOE Assistant Superintendent Ken Bradford. "We are proud to partner with education and business leaders across the state to offer a clear next step to these deserving scholarship recipients."

Listed alphabetically are the recipients of the 2020 Construction Connect Scholarship:

Eddie Arellano - Bossier High School, Bossier City, LA

Dustin Armentor - South Beauregard High School, Longville, LA

Jalen Bergeron - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Mason Blount - Holden High School, Holden, LA

Jacob Bryant - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Clemente (CJ) Chavarin - Barbe High School, Lake Charles, LA

Jacob Durr - Red River High School, Coushatta, LA

Colten Evens - Harrisonburg High School, Harrisonburg, LA

Garret Firmin - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA - 

Brayden Guillory - Grand Lake High School, Lake Charles, LA

Slate Lemieux - Jennings High School, Jennings, LA

Triston Mayeux - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Reed Meyers - Grand Lake High School, Lake Charles, LA

Cameron Nicholas - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Anthony Oby - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Brennan Penalber - St. Amant High School, St. Amant, LA

Timothy Pine III - Atlanta High School, Atlanta, LA

Garrett Reinhardt - Church Point High School, Church Point, LA

Cameron Riviere - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Draven Rogers - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

Trace Scott - Choudrant High School, Choudrant, LA

Hayden Seilhand - Hathaway High School, Jennings, LA

Charles Tucker - Ellender Memorial High School, Houma, LA

Caleb Voorhies - Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences, Bunkie, LA

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