Louisiana Tech University’s Construction Engineering Technology program in the College of Engineering and Science has received a $250,000 gift from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Contractor’s Educational Trust Fund (CETF).

Pictured are (front, from left) Art Farve, Performance Contractors; Vic Weston, Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors; John Kernion, Cycle Construction; Dr. Les Guice; (back, from left) Reggie Jeter; Danny Graham, Lincoln Builders; Dr. Hisham Hegab; Garland Meredith, Twin City Electric; and Mark Graham, MOG.

Representatives from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors, the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board, and local contractors presented the check to Louisiana Tech President Dr. Les Guice at a luncheon Sept. 24. Dr. Hisham Hegab, dean of the College of Engineering and Science, and Reginald Jeter, chair and professional-in-residence for the Construction Engineering Technology program, were also in attendance.

The $206,000 Louisiana State Licensing Board and $44,000 CETF gifts are part of an annual commitment from the state’s professional contractors and the licensing board. Each year, the board donates voluntary fees it collects from professional contractors to help support programs within Louisiana that educate future construction professionals. Over the past two years, contractors within Louisiana have voluntarily donated more than $2 million to invest in construction programs across the state.

“Louisiana Tech produces students that we, in the construction industry, want and need. This is a partnership that we really enjoy,” said Vic Weston from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. “This voluntary program has really taken off, and shows our state’s contractors truly put their money where their mouth is.”

This funding helps Tech’s Construction Engineering Technology program provide cutting-edge equipment and research facilities for students and deliver opportunities for students to network with professionals in their fields. A portion of the funds donated this year will be spent on upgrading equipment and renovating the program’s Soils and Materials Laboratories.

“We appreciate the state’s construction industry’s continued support of higher education in Louisiana,” said Hegab. “We are extremely grateful to the licensing board and individual contractors for these funds. Their yearly contributions provide scholarships, equipment, and project-based learning and networking opportunities for our construction engineering technology students.”

“Once again Louisiana’s construction industry has stepped up to help and improve Construction Management programs,” said Ken Naquin, chief executive officer of the Louisiana Associated General Contractors. “This $250,000 from the State Contractors Licensing Board is an example of the industry investing in the finished product our universities are graduating. These students are our future.”

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors was created in 1956 to protect the general public from contractor incompetence and fraud while promoting the integrity of the construction industry. The State Licensing Board for Contractors consists of 19 Commercial members appointed by the Governor representing all segments of the contracting industry and five Residential Subcommittee members.

Louisiana Tech’s Construction Engineering Technology program provides students with a background in math, science, engineering, construction, and business to prepare graduates for leadership positions in the construction industry. Program graduates enter the workforce with the skills to manage and supervise activities related to converting the plans and specifications prepared by engineers and architects into finished facilities.