The Lion's Roundtable (Guest: Bridget Laborde)
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Damon Sunde:The views and opinions expressed in the following program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of of KSLU, the SLU Department of Athletics, Southeastern Louisiana University, or any other entities represented.
Todd Delaney:Discussing topics of interest to the university, Hammond, and the surrounding communities. Is the Lion's Roundtable. Now here's your host, doctor Amber Narro.
Amber Narro:Good day. Good day. This is Amber Nero on KSLU's ninety point nine FM, The Lion. We're at the Lion's Roundtable today with my friend Bridget Laborde, and we talking hair this morning.
Bridget Laborde:We are talking hair this morning because you have come on the short hair side of things.
Amber Narro:Yes. I'm back to it. I cut it all off again. Bridget is with North Shore Technical Community College, and we'll get to that in just second. But, man, the humidity outside gives you an opportunity to talk about this hair.
Bridget Laborde:Oh, man. It is hot. To our struggles. Right?
Amber Narro:It does. It does. And that's okay. We're all with you. And Bridget's brought our water this morning.
Amber Narro:She is ready to hydrate and tell us all thing things that are happening at North Shore Technical Community College. Always excited. She is.
Bridget Laborde:It is. And, you know, as we were fixing to get on air, I'm like, let me go look for that email that doctor Carlson sent to our faculty and staff yesterday. So if you don't mind, I wanna read it because it is packed with some exciting news for and for this area. Let's go. So this was sent yesterday from doctor Carlson, our chancellor, right after the Louisiana's Community and Technical College's board of supervisors meeting.
Bridget Laborde:And, of course, a week after a little bit over a week after the legislative session ended. So this is a message from doctor Carlson. I am excited to share some tremendous news regarding the future of North Shore Technical Community College and two transformational projects.
Amber Narro:I feel like I know what's coming. Come on. Come on.
Bridget Laborde:That will impact our students and communities for generations to come. Earlier today, at the LCTC board of supervisors meeting, they approved the final phase one request under act 35, which allows the new Hammond area campus project to move forward. Yay. This approval represents a major milestone toward the development of a planned $54,000,000 campus that will significantly expand NTCC's capacity to serve students and employers throughout our region.
Amber Narro:Amazing.
Bridget Laborde:This achievement would not have been possible without the generous donation of 15 acres of land by North Oaks Health System for which you serve on the board. I do.
Amber Narro:We're so proud of that though, Bridget. I appreciate y'all giving us so much, of a nod here, but this is truly a win win for North Oaks as well because we need I mean, workforce is a huge deal for us, and we are gonna be creating opportunities in this community, not only for the people, but for health care in general. This is amazing.
Bridget Laborde:It is. Truly is amazing. And we are so grateful. Doctor Carlson goes on to say we're also so grateful for the leadership of senator Bill Wheat and representative Kim Coates who successfully championed an amendment to senate bill one forty nine that provided a waiver of the required 12.5% local match for act 35 bond funding. Their efforts help remove a significant barrier and position this project to move forward for the benefit of our students and communities.
Bridget Laborde:And a side note from this email, I was at the legislative breakfast for Tanger Bahoe Chamber morning before last and spoke directly to doctor Wheat and learned that in the eleventh fifty nine hour.
Amber Narro:Of course. Of course. Because you gotta get all the things and the agreements and the and the negotiations.
Bridget Laborde:The whole thing. So right there, he got this bill in unanimously signed off, approved, you know, all the all the things.
Amber Narro:Praise the lord.
Bridget Laborde:So yes. So in addition, this is doctor back to doctor Carlson's email. In addition, I am pleased to report that the Louisiana legislature approved an additional $11,000,000 through house bill two during this legislative session for our new Diesel Technology building at our Sullivan campus in Bogalusa. This has been talked about for a long time too. This funding brings us one step closer to constructing the first new building on the Sullivan campus in nearly four decades.
Bridget Laborde:Amazing. Yes. The Diesel Technology Building Project is now officially out for bid.
Amber Narro:Go on.
Bridget Laborde:A pre bid meeting scheduled for July 7 with bids due on July 23. The this summer, next month. Construction people. Once they got once a contractor has been selected, we will be we begin planning an official groundbreaking ceremony, and we'll share details with the college community and our surrounding communities. And, of course, here we go.
Bridget Laborde:Last paragraph in his email. These accomplishments reflect years of planning, advocacy, and partnership building by many individuals both inside and outside of NTCC. They also demonstrate the confidence that our state leaders, industry partners, and community stake holders have in the work we do every day. Doctor Carlson says, I would be remiss if I did not thank former NTCC chancellor, doctor William Wainwright, for laying the groundwork for both these significant names.
Amber Narro:That sounds very familiar to me.
Bridget Laborde:Maybe he's like president of Southeastern Louisiana University these days. But he did. He did the groundwork for both of these projects. You know, he during legislative session, when he was our chancellor, you would find him in Baton Rouge because he was advocating for the needs of our community here. Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:And because of his work, steadfast work, because it didn't happen, you know, until this legislative session, until this year. But it it it's because these legislators understood the history of both of these projects.
Amber Narro:We are all so lucky to have him.
Bridget Laborde:You know? And I'm
Amber Narro:he comes and he talks on on our show once a quarter or so, and we are scheduling for the summer right now. But he he is just such a jewel. I don't know and I'm not saying this just because I work for him, even though, you know, it's good to I guess it's good to butter up your boss. That's a good thing. Right?
Amber Narro:But but I truly mean it when I say that he is we as a community should be so thankful for he and Misty Yes. And their the heart that they bring. Yes. Misty was just honored as an Annie award winner.
Bridget Laborde:Yes.
Amber Narro:I missed the luncheon. I had bought a ticket, couldn't go. I was very upset. Was very upset. Yeah.
Amber Narro:I had to give my ticket away at the last second. But I will say that these two are so deserving of any accolades even though they don't want them. They I I think they just wake up in the mornings. Honestly, I think the two of them just wake up in the mornings and go, I'm here to serve the people of Saint Pope Parish, and what am I gonna do today because of it? Yeah.
Amber Narro:So that is their purpose.
Bridget Laborde:Yeah.
Amber Narro:A heartfelt purpose that they carry no burden for. Like, they absolutely just wake up and that's just in them
Bridget Laborde:And to do and but if you talk to doctor Wainwright enough and you have, you've probably heard him say it's a calling. I know. I know. He, you know, he is a man of faith. Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:And he has been driven his entire life by faith when he led our our college. Now he's leading Southeastern, and it's because of his deep faith.
Amber Narro:And you can see it. You can see that spirit just dwell within him Yeah. And walk with him.
Bridget Laborde:Yes.
Amber Narro:And the way that he conducts himself, that he treats people, that he that he just absolutely cares for and and just celebrates the people around him. It's amazing.
Bridget Laborde:And what she's and I'm a I'm a be honest. You know, I've I've known him for a long time since 2007 when I started at North Shore Technical Community College. And what you see is what you get. Mhmm. I I mean, it's not a pretend.
Bridget Laborde:I mean, because you can't pretend that long. Right? Right. It and it's a genuine heartfelt way about about him and Misty both. It's a way.
Bridget Laborde:And, you know, it it's there's not a whole lot of more words that we can say to even describe it. You know? But I'll tell you this. You know? I've before coming to North Shore, of course, you know, from the time I began working, you know, I saw supervisors and managers, you know, and and I'm like, oh, you know, they didn't hit the mark, you know, as a manager, as a supervisor.
Bridget Laborde:I'd and I you know, but I always purpose, you know, from a young age, you know, my my parents instilled in me saying, you know, look around you. You know, pick out the things that you that you like and that you wanna model after. Right? So, I mean, there were supervisors like, oh, yeah. I wanna do that, like that supervisor or that manager, and there were things that were absolute no's.
Bridget Laborde:But I can say this about doctor Wainwright. I learned so much from him that I have have tried to carry and and and, you know, aspire, you know, to carry some of those over. You know, when I began at full time, you know, at the college, and I was in student affairs and then became the campus dean of our Hammond campus and reported directly to doctor Wainwright at the time. And my kids were young. Right?
Bridget Laborde:They were in school. They were in sports and all the things. And he always one of the things he always said is, you know, Bridget, you have family first. You have God, family, and then your career. Right?
Bridget Laborde:And he's and, you know, he was always so gracious and said, look. If you have a, you know, if you have a softball game or if you have a track meet or if you need to go to a robotics competition, you know, take that time and just flex it later. You know? Make that a piece of because you're gonna miss those days. Though day those days are gonna come that they're not gonna always be there.
Bridget Laborde:And he was excuse me. He was so gracious about that. And that's one of the few things that I've modeled, you know, as a supervisor, as a leader now at our college. You know, like, okay. It's family first, you know, because this was given to me.
Bridget Laborde:I wanna make sure that I can give that to others as well. So that just right there shows the type of person he is and the love he has for God, the love he has for family, and, you know, the priority priorities. Right?
Amber Narro:Absolutely. And we're looking at what he's left behind at NCC and especially in kind of developing this this framework for what's to come. And but I also want someone with his talent and his genuineness. Yeah. That's That's a word we haven't used yet.
Bridget Laborde:Absolutely. That's what it
Amber Narro:is. Passion Yes. For people as well as education. And it's all wrapped up into, like, this perfect career choice for him. Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:You know?
Amber Narro:It it it bleeds and it it leaves a legacy in an organization because it left shoes for doctor Carlson
Bridget Laborde:to fill
Amber Narro:that he is very well fitting into. Yes. And doctor Carlson, I've been able to have a couple of conversations with him. He has that same vibe. Uh-huh.
Amber Narro:You know, that same just stroke of genius to work with people and to bring people together and really celebrate people and lift them up and make them believe that I can do things that are just amazing, and I was put on this planet to do awesome things. And that is what you are able to leave behind
Bridget Laborde:Yeah.
Amber Narro:When you have that presence that is so genuine and magical.
Bridget Laborde:Well, and what that does, it also establishes a confidence Yeah. In those In the whole organization. The whole organization. There there is a confidence. Are they perfect?
Bridget Laborde:By no means. And they will be the first to tell you they are not perfect, but they lead striving for that perfection.
Amber Narro:Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:And they lead with loving people. Being I mean, kindness. Yeah. I mean, that that's that's a rarity sometimes. Right?
Bridget Laborde:But especially, you know, with leaders sometimes.
Amber Narro:Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:You know? That is is not the way doctor Carlson is. You know? Kindness is it's the genuineness. You know?
Bridget Laborde:Same thing with doctor Wainwright and and and Misty. So yeah. I mean, we truly have the best. Right? Yes.
Bridget Laborde:And and, of course, you know, me being, you know, an alum of Southeastern, you know, I've said this before whenever I knew that doctor Crane was retiring. You know, my very and, of course, I was serving on the alumni board at Southeastern at the time that it was announced. And, you know, I sent a quick text to doctor Wainwright and said, hey. I know that you heard doctor Crane is retiring. Are you thinking about throwing your name in the hat?
Bridget Laborde:And he and I can't remember his exact response, but it was something like, well, you know, I don't I don't know yet or something something of that nature. He had not made up his mind. And then when he did, I'm like, this is a no brainer. I mean Yeah. But there there were people, you know, that that were like, can a two year community college chancellor really lead a four year university?
Bridget Laborde:I got an answer for you. Yes. He can. Yes. Overwhelmingly, yes.
Amber Narro:Yes.
Bridget Laborde:He can. Me being on the board at the time, it was a really weird time because here I am serving, you know, on the alumni board here at Southeastern, and then I'm an employee that reports directly to doctor Wainwright. And, you know, so I I mean, I was pelted with questions.
Amber Narro:Sure. You know,
Bridget Laborde:it was just a continual, but it it my heart was so happy that I was able to tell the story from from the inside. Right? Like, I had all I had all the dibs. I had all the scoop. Right?
Bridget Laborde:So people would come to me and and and have questions and, you know, some of the the information they had received was maybe not so accurate. So I was able to, like, you know, redirect them, provide the accuracy of a story or situation or just some just wrong information. And some of those individuals who caught me during that time and questioned me, gave you the gave me the fifth degree and all of that came back to me and said, you were right. Yeah. He, you know, he is the best for for this university.
Bridget Laborde:So I said, I told you so. Yes. Indeed.
Amber Narro:Yes. Indeed. And I think that that's that's I think that's the mark, you know, is that it's a it's a spirit and it's just it's it's something that you can just feel Mhmm. You know, across your and it's, like I said, it's left behind in the expectations of your leadership now. And what doctor Carlson is bringing to that table is amazing for the legacy that doctor Wainwright left behind Yeah.
Amber Narro:At NTCC. Well, and and And I just see y'all just I mean, at these projects.
Bridget Laborde:Well, and and not just the projects, but our enrollment. Yeah. Every semester just increases. Mhmm.
Amber Narro:We People wanna be around that.
Bridget Laborde:They do. You know?
Amber Narro:You wanna be around that spirit. You wanna be around that encouraging Yep. That that beautiful, wonderful spirit. You and I were talking about just a second ago when we came in. We had orientation here at Southeastern yesterday and, you know, to to bring another leader into this, our dean, Claire Procopio, doctor Procopio, she's amazing.
Bridget Laborde:Love her.
Amber Narro:Amazing. She I'm so blessed to work for her and just wrote she I just wrote a letter about her this morning and last night and was able to just say how much I appreciate her. But yesterday, during orientation, our deans, all of our deans, sat in front of all the parents yesterday and gave
Bridget Laborde:yes. Them
Amber Narro:And answered questions from the audience. And doctor Procopio led that conversation, asking questions of the the five the other five deans, she was answering some as well as the dean of the College of Honors and Excellence and sharing just some some advice for parents as they're moving their kids from kids to the university setting. Right. Right? And some of the things that we need to give them some reminders, you know, to, like, go to class and
Bridget Laborde:Right.
Amber Narro:You know, act right. Alarm. Yeah. Things like that. But at the same time, to let them find their own voice.
Amber Narro:Yeah. You know? And I watched these deans really respect the parents that are in the room and their need to be involved in their kids' lives Mhmm. But also give them some good Guidance. Guidance Yep.
Amber Narro:In this place. We're talking to a room full of people who some of their kids are first generation college students. Right. Right? Some of them, their parents have been through all through college.
Amber Narro:So we're all walks of life are in this room. You know, they ask them questions such as how do you set yourselves up up for success this summer and the answers varied and they weren't afraid to vary those answers from read a book this summer and just kinda keep exercising your brain all the way to one of our deans said, have a great fun time this summer. Another dean said, And
Bridget Laborde:it's tell me so real, right? It's not a facade, it's not scripted, it wasn't scripted. But you
Amber Narro:can read a book, have fun, and also take a risk like Dean Lopez said as well. You know, like, there's so many different ways that you can attack this summer leading up to the leading up to the fall semester. But they all took an opportunity to really lead in that moment
Bridget Laborde:I love that.
Amber Narro:From the chair. It it looked like Oprah's set. You know, they were all
Bridget Laborde:sitting
Amber Narro:down and and relaxed and having these conversations, leaning in with their answers. Yeah. It was so genuine. I mean, that's just our word of the day today, Bridget. It's genuine, you know, and it felt like I even I leaned over to doctor K.
Amber Narro:Moran, and she leads up the charge here on enrollment, And I said, you're gonna get great feedback for this. Yeah. Like, this would it was such a magical, just kind of
Bridget Laborde:It and and moment for our university. Talking about genuine you can't fake it. Mm-mm. I mean, there is one there there are a lot of things that you can fake it. Like, we always talk about fake it till you make it.
Bridget Laborde:Mm-mm. Genuineness, you cannot fake it till you make it. You may try to be genuine if if you're not genuine about some things, you may try. Somebody's gonna read your mail quick like in a hurry. Yeah.
Bridget Laborde:You know? And they may not address you and say, nope. You're missing the mark. You're you're bluffing me. You know, you're you're just trying to make me feel good.
Bridget Laborde:You know, you're not really telling the full truth or being totally honest or what have you. They may not they may not confront you on that, but they're gonna walk away with a much lack of confidence in who you are. Yes. Right? They're gonna walk away with, I'm not gonna really trust this person to lead me or to to really
Amber Narro:That ain't good.
Bridget Laborde:No. You know, so there's so much attached with the fake it till you make it type thing Right. Related to genuineness. But you saw those deans. They were genuine.
Bridget Laborde:They were they they were vulnerable
Amber Narro:Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:In front of these parents, and they were genuine. Yeah.
Amber Narro:It was packed house too. What's that? It was a packed house too. So they to show that and to share I mean, some of them were said, I wish I'd have done this when I was a student.
Bridget Laborde:You know, they really kind of
Amber Narro:gave themselves credit for making mistakes along the way as well. Yeah. But Because they're real.
Bridget Laborde:Yeah. And and the parents and the students saw that they were real. Right. You know? And and part of genuineness is being real.
Amber Narro:Indeed. You know? We we had a lot of great feedback yesterday, and it was hard. Look. I'm wore out today.
Amber Narro:You know?
Bridget Laborde:I was You don't often come in saying I'm I'm tired, and yesterday was a lot.
Amber Narro:It was a lot. I could tell. Had it was scholars it was our scholars event. It was only for those students who are scholarships who are coming in for the fall and on academic scholarships. And they came in and were they were ready to go.
Amber Narro:And, of course, that's a lot of our honor students, you know. So I had lots of questions and lots of things thrown at me yesterday, which was wonderful. It was so exciting, and it was so wonderful. And I left here with a giant smile on my face. And like I said The cup was full.
Amber Narro:Oh my gosh. It was so full. But the letter that we got back from our dean, from doctor Procopio this morning was thank you so much, and you guys did a great job. And I heard from lots of the parents and the students how how appreciative they were that you guys were jumping in and helping them, you know, with schedule issues or with because they got their schedules yesterday while they were here, you know, so that's a big deal for them when they're coming in.
Bridget Laborde:That was a big day for y'all.
Amber Narro:So we were answering lots of questions, making little tweaks and changes. I mean, I was already up late last night, starting to make some of the tweaks and the changes for students, and and they were thanking me for getting it done real real quickly, and it's good for us too to get that that done so we can we can get y'all into classes and everything, so it's a win win for us. Trust But they are the students are so appreciative when you reach out and you just encourage them and help them. And I think that that's where NTCC and Southeastern not only work independently to reach this, but also together
Bridget Laborde:Yeah.
Amber Narro:To really make sure that we put a stamp on this community. Yeah. And this project is a true sign of collaboration between North Oaks, NTCC, what will be Southeastern because you will be sending these folks on to us for RN, the BSNs, and all other things.
Bridget Laborde:Absolutely.
Amber Narro:And it it is going to be an just a brilliant kinda trophy for all of our hard work in working together and making sure students succeed.
Bridget Laborde:And, of course, you know, this campus, this new campus will have a health science and nursing focus, but it's gonna have all the things that our current campus has, welding, HVAC, electrical, machining, automotive, IT, care and development of young children, and the academic classes. You know? So, you know, you know, campus dean there, you know, from 2013 to '20 middle of twenty nineteen, yeah, of course, you know, there was talks about a new campus, you know, talks about expanding the the current campus and you know, because that building was built in the late sixties. Right? Sure.
Bridget Laborde:Early seventies. I think it was whenever they did a groundbreaking. So it's aged. You know, it's aged out. We're we've been maxed out at that campus for a long time.
Bridget Laborde:Yeah. Have we brought in state of the art health science simulation lab? Absolutely. Have we brought in, you know, an incredible HVAC building automation systems? The the lab the HVAC lab will blow your mind.
Bridget Laborde:It it's incredible. So our instructors and our deans have really worked hard, you know, to make sure that even in an aged building same thing at Sullivan campus in Bugaloosa. Even in an aged building that we still bring in the state of the art equipment and learning tools and training modules and and kits and all that, I can't even imagine, you know, what the new Hammond campus is gonna be like. I mean, of course, our Look Home campus, that is our main campus, and it has so many wonderful state of the art technology, and it's a it's a beautiful campus. And, of course, everybody goes there and, like, oh, this is fantastic.
Bridget Laborde:I just can't even imagine the what Hammond's gonna be. You know, having, you know, the the health science and nursing focus, you know, it's just gonna be dreamy. It's just gonna be dreamy. And, you know, and I feel like a proud parent, you know, like, this is finally we're finally giving birth just, you know, to to to something so beautiful. So And, you
Amber Narro:know, we get excited about the big buildings because, I mean, education and it is traditional. Right? We we use it until we can't use it anymore. So when we get something new and shiny, those of us who work on campus understand how special it is. I mean, we're sitting in a brand new special awesome building that was donated by Robin Roberts here Yes.
Amber Narro:At Southeastern And it's beautiful if you've never seen it. It's gorgeous. Come on in. I'll interview you. Tell me just email me.
Amber Narro:Tell me you want something. Yep. So the I I think that I I can can share in that excitement for you because Dee Bickers was an old building and it was something that was starting to get dated and Robin Roberts came here and said, oh no no no, not my school, and she donated some money and got it rolling as well as some legislative funds, thank you to our local contingency. But we also I I wanna shout out before the end of this a couple of things that we that you mentioned in your note that I wanna make sure that our community understands is so impactful. First of all, workforce is huge in health care because we need people to take care of us when we get when we get older.
Amber Narro:It is a source of pride for me that the biggest, group in our honors program are nurses here on Southeastern's Yes. Followed very closely by by biologists who are also largely going into health care. Sure. So very we are impacting that workforce shortage in this area at NTCC as well as at Southeastern. Also, thing that I want people to understand is that this is a true partnership of growing our own nurses, the people who are gonna truly care about our area.
Amber Narro:We're gonna train our people here, and they're gonna work here, and they're gonna just have that extra level of care because they grew up in this area and already love us.
Bridget Laborde:Yeah. They're gonna they're gonna train where they live, and they're gonna work where they live. So what does that do to this local economy?
Amber Narro:It it as well. Oh, man. Yes. Not to mention not to mention what it's gonna do for our tax dollars. Thank you so much for for reminding us of that as well.
Amber Narro:Also, you mentioned that this this project is out for bid, so tell your people. We've got very talented builders in this area and construction and Yeah.
Bridget Laborde:There's two projects
Amber Narro:and contractors two projects Yes. That we have going on. Tell your people. Share this. Yes.
Amber Narro:Keep it local. Let's get some people in and and and get them bidding for these projects. This is massive. It is. And to rewind to what we were and thinking about, you know, what it what NTCC wasn't even when I graduated from high school.
Amber Narro:Oh, yeah. When people are looking for when it was the Votek The Votek. Right? Yes. And what it has grown from and grown to.
Amber Narro:In look. That's only twenty five years. I mean, you know, thirty years now. Yeah. That that's only a few decades.
Bridget Laborde:Yeah. That's massive growth. You know, I graduated from Hammond High School. I of course, I was the first class that graduated from the new high school on the other side of Hammond. Right?
Bridget Laborde:So I traveled down 190, past the Votech Yeah. Right there, right before before you get to the airport, heading on out to Hammond High School, I'd never thought a second about it. And I can assure you that there was very few Hammond High students other than me, you know, who thought about Votech because that's what it was, Hammond area Votech at the time. Then I think it became, shortly after that, Louisiana Technical College. Right?
Bridget Laborde:Right. But, I mean, we didn't think about that. I I didn't even really I knew I knew it existed because my mom had gone to Hammond area of Votech in bookkeeping. Mhmm. Right?
Bridget Laborde:She she did took some bookkeeping classes. I mean, that was when I was a little girl, so that was in the seventies. Right? So it's like to know, like you said, where it's come from. You know?
Bridget Laborde:And I can remember, you know, teaching there. Like, when I started teaching in 2007, it was Louisiana Technical College. Then shortly couple years later, we became North Shore Technical College. And then a year or so later, we became North Shore Technical Community College. And I remember as an instructor feeling the pride.
Bridget Laborde:Mhmm. Right? It changed from being Louisiana Technical College to North Shore Technical Community College. I can just remember the pride as a faculty member there thinking, this is a big deal. Right.
Bridget Laborde:So then when I had the opportunity after five years, you know, in the classroom going into student affairs and going out into the community recruiting, right, because that was part of my job, and, you know, talking to individuals, telling the story, Really telling the story. Telling them this is an option, and this is what we can do. As a community college, we offer associate degrees. So you can start here, small classrooms. You can start here and go to the university.
Bridget Laborde:You can start here and be work ready, right, or having those certifications, having those technical diploma within twelve months or sixteen months. And then when I became campus dean in 2013, my job was no longer not that wasn't recruiting, but my job was to go be immersed into the community. So I I joined yeah. I was on the would go to the chamber luncheons. Mhmm.
Bridget Laborde:You know, the the Hammond chamber at the time. I would go to the rotary meetings and speak. You know, I would go to some churches and and talk about North Shore Technical Community College. And I started seeing the transformation and the excitement in our community also. You know?
Bridget Laborde:Because if you don't if we don't get out there and tell our story, no one knows about us. Yeah. We can't just put a sign up on Highway 50 Highway 190 that says North Shore Technical Community College. We've gotta go tell the story. The sign can't just tell the story.
Bridget Laborde:The building can't just tell the story, which means that this $54,000,000 building that we're gonna build here, it's not gonna tell our story. We're gonna continue doing the work, training the students, hearing the success stories. Oh, man. We had, you know, our largest graduating class in May that we've ever had in the history of North Shore Technical Community College. And to hear some of the stories of success, individuals, yeah, they're graduating, they already have a job.
Bridget Laborde:You know, they're they've already either started or they're gonna be starting soon. And just the transformation that we have seen because of education. You know? Unbelievable. So the building, you know, the $54,000,000,000 building is not gonna tell our story.
Bridget Laborde:It's gonna help us tell our story. Right? But we have to continue to get out there and just share what we're doing and how we're impacting the community. And we will. We we will continue Southeastern will continue to because we know that's what we have to do.
Bridget Laborde:And, you know, I know we haven't touched on adult ed. You know, that's always I'm always gonna talk about that. And we have an incredible job to do because individuals who wanna take advantage of health sciences, you know, a a career in health sciences, many of them have to have that high school diploma. Right? So they can start with us, come through the doors of our adult education program, earn that high school equivalency diploma, and then okay.
Bridget Laborde:What's next? You wanna go into nursing? Let's get you there.
Amber Narro:At a You know? $54,000,000 building that on the other side of it, you will have a job. Yes.
Bridget Laborde:Yes. So just A career, not just a job. That's right. It's it's a career. Career.
Bridget Laborde:It's a career. So when we are talking we're talking to those our who are interested in adult ed, we let them know, you know, yeah. You're gonna come through the doors in adult ed, but we're gonna provide you career pathways that we want you to just continue. Don't stop. Get in the Life's
Amber Narro:long learning. Just get
Bridget Laborde:it get it on. It is.
Amber Narro:Get it on.
Bridget Laborde:It is. So all of Good stuff.
Amber Narro:Always such a great pleasure to talk to you. So I I appreciate you coming here, sharing what was just announced I know. And and telling us about all the beautiful work that North Shore Technical Community College is doing and allowing us to kinda seg into some leadership conversations here too and celebrate some of the great leaders in this community. So Yeah.
Bridget Laborde:I appreciate your time. You've always so good. I love it. I love it. It fills my cup.
Amber Narro:Filled my cup.
Bridget Laborde:Filled Filled
Amber Narro:my cup.
Bridget Laborde:Cup. And this morning. There we go.
Amber Narro:Start it's a great week, man. It is. You, Bridget, for coming and sharing this with us. I appreciate having you. Thank you.
Amber Narro:Alright. Thank you for listening here on the Lion's ninety point nine FM. We are ninety point nine FM's, the Lion, however you wanna say it. We're at the Lion's Roundtable today with Bridget Laborde at North Shore Technical Community College. Great new things coming to this area, y'all.
Amber Narro:It's a good place to live, this Tangipahoa Parish. Y'all join us again at 09:00 on Thursdays and Fridays here right on KSLUs nine point nine FM. Y'all have a great day. I'm Amber Narro.
