Moves Magazine - Louisiana Community and Technical College ...

a’s Newest Community CollegeNorthshore has attracted considerably more studentsas the region’s population has grown. In 2011, itbecame a technical community college, which allowsit to continue its workforce training mission while alsopreparing many students for four-year universities.The gift to establish the child care center followedother donations from the Smith family. Ray Smith’swife, George Ann, and the couple’s four adult sonshave provided Northshore with several studentscholarships over the last decade. George Ann Smithsays she enjoys attending graduations and watchingstudents gain the skills they need to secure stable work.The family’s commitment stems from Ray Smith’spersonal connection to the campus. A Greensburgnative, Smith graduated from the school’s weldingprogram in the sixties, which prepared him for hisfirst job at Avondale Shipyards. He discovered laterthat he had a passion for sales, and in 1969 foundedSmitty Supply, Inc. From its humble beginnings inthe couple’s home, the company became a worldwideleader in the manufacture and sale of oils, lubricantsand chemicals. Today, it employs 400 and is run bythe Smith’s sons.The family founded the Ray Smith MemorialFoundation after Ray’s death in 2002 tosupport projects that benefit the economicallydisadvantaged, physically challenged and children.“Ray was a very generous man. He loved childrenand he loved helping people,” says George Ann.“With the scholarships and now with the childcarecenter, we wanted to do something in his memory tolet folks know that by going back to school they canchange their lives. I’m honored that we can do this.”A generous gift for a new generation – a new program fora new college - a new future for citizens on theNorthshore – this is the mission of community andtechnical colleges! §According to the Board ofRegents 2011 Fall 14 daycensus enrollment data, theaverage age of NorthshoreTechnical Community Collegestudents is 27.7. This statistic isindicative of a nontraditionalstudent population attendingcommunity colleges toadvance or change careers.Many nontraditional studentsstruggle with barriers such astransportation and childcareservices. The NTCC Care andDevelopment of Young ChildrenAssociate of Applied ScienceDegree is one of the newestdegree offerings at NTCC andrepresents one of the highestenrolled programsin the college.Moves Magazine | 21