The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and South Louisiana Community College have partnered to bring training opportunities to offenders in the LPSO’s Corrections Division. Seven new graduates were added to their growing roster at a graduation ceremony held on August 21 at 10 a.m. at the LPSO Public Safety Complex. Gabriel Breaux, Jeremy Boss, Beau Boudreaux, Anthony Comeaux, Christian Fuselier, Gregory Grant, and Patrick Mowery were honored for their accomplishments in successfully completing the Technical Welding Program.
"As we celebrate the graduation of these seven dedicated individuals from the Technical Welding Program, we witness the transformative power of education and second chances. This partnership between the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and South Louisiana Community College stands as a testament to our commitment to empower individuals and give them the chance to rewrite their stories,” said Dr. Vincent June, SoLAcc Chancellor .
The program, which started in August of 2017, was a collaboration aimed at reducing recidivism and bringing critical skills to inmates who, in turn, complete the required coursework and performance profiles.
“This partnership with SoLAcc has proven its worth time and again throughout the last seven years, and I’m proud our agency can play a part in contributing to the continued success of the graduates,” said Sheriff Mark Garber, “I am very proud of our graduates for taking advantage of this opportunity to shape a brighter future for themselves, and for their families.”
Several of the graduates maintained high marks throughout the program. Beau Boudreaux and Christian Fuselier graduated with a 4.0 GPA; Jeremy Boss graduated with a 3.9 GPA. Graduates of the program receive a technical diploma in Welding and the option to continue classes at SoLAcc and work toward obtaining an associate degree upon their release.
“The SoLAcc-LPSO Welding Program partnership is an important one for the Lafayette community, the Acadian region, and the state,” said Dr. Andre E. Perez, SoLAcc Interim Associate Vice-Chancellor of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives. “Many inmate students that enroll in and complete the program are not always residents of the Lafayette area, so the program has far-reaching effects in reducing recidivism rates and changing lives for the re-entry population and their families. The partnership is definitely a game-changer for Louisiana.”
In July of this year SoLAcc became the first higher education institution under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to be fully accredited as a Prison Education Program (PEP) provider.