The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) and ľ«¶«´«Ă˝ (SoLAcc) marked a major milestone in their longstanding partnership on Wednesday, August 27, with the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art welding facility and a graduation ceremony celebrating program completers.
At 11:30 a.m., leaders gathered at the LPSO Public Safety Complex, located at 1825 W. Willow Street in Scott, for the ribbon cutting of SoLAcc’s new, 10-bay Welding Training Facility. The permanent structure replaces the college’s previously deployed 8-bay mobile welding unit and was made possible through generous funding from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (LA DPS&C).
“This new facility isn’t just a building—it’s a long-term investment in second chances,” said Dr. Vincent June, Chancellor of SoLAcc. “By combining education with opportunity, we’re changing lives and strengthening our communities and families across Acadiana.”
The new Welding Training Facility significantly expands SoLAcc’s training capacity and deepens its impact. Since the program’s inception in 2017, more than 70 incarcerated individuals have graduated, with many transitioning into high-demand, high-wage welding careers after release.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting at 12:00 p.m., 11 individuals were honored during a commencement ceremony for completing SoLAcc’s Technical Welding Program. Alex Arceneaux, Joseph Bell, Joseph Daley, Sydney Faulk, Dalvin Major, Anthony Mckeever, Jay Pitre, Kwalan Rubin, Shane Suire, Brennan Tatum, and Spencer Williams earned technical diplomas and now have the option to continue their studies toward an associate degree.
“The generous grant received from LA DPS&C will help advance SoLAcc’s welding program at LPSO, allowing many more inmates to benefit from this life-changing opportunity for years to come,” said Dr. Andre Perez, Associate Vice Chancellor for External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at SoLAcc. “While the mobile welding unit served LPSO well, this new permanent facility will not only expand capacity at the Public Safety Complex, but it also positions the College to replicate and launch similar programs at other correctional facilities across SoLAcc’s eight-parish service region.”
“This program is about more than welding,” said Sheriff Mark Garber. “It’s about rebuilding lives. We are investing in people, giving them the tools to succeed and helping create a safer, stronger Lafayette Parish.”
The event was co-sponsored by One Acadiana and included remarks from both SoLAcc and LPSO leadership. Together, they emphasized the power of collaboration in tackling regional workforce needs and reducing recidivism through education and training.
The program’s recent designation as the region’s first fully accredited Prison Education Program (PEP) under SACSCOC further reinforces SoLAcc’s commitment to accessible, transformative education for all.
