Graduates of Fletcher Technical Community College’s fourth Will to Skill Heavy Equipment Operations cohort are pictured with representatives of Fletcher and Venture Global following their graduation ceremony. The 10-member graduating class includes Adrian Ardoin, Elizabeth Berthelot, Deondre Celestine, Cameron Douglas, Shyianna Flakes, Malayaha Folse, Ernest Gray, Tajha Joseph, Dagan Savoie and Requan Williams.
SCHRIEVER, LA - Ten graduates are ready to take their next steps into the workforce after completing Heavy Equipment Operations training at Fletcher Technical Community College through Venture Global’s Will to Skill initiative.
The graduates represent the fourth Fletcher cohort supported through Will to Skill, a Venture Global community investment initiative designed to expand access to workforce training and create pathways to career opportunities. Since the partnership began last summer, 40 residents from Terrebonne, Lafourche and Assumption parishes have completed training through Fletcher’s Will to Skill cohorts.
Through hands-on Heavy Equipment Operations training, the latest graduates developed practical skills to prepare them for employment and new opportunities in the region’s workforce.
“While we all have different journeys and stories, what I know for certain is that we want to create a better future for ourselves and for the people we care about,” said Dr. Carrie Cortez, Fletcher Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Workforce Initiatives. “Today represents more than completing training. It represents a commitment you made to yourselves and to your future.”
The Will to Skill initiative provides training at no cost to participants, removing a financial barrier that can prevent individuals from gaining the skills needed to pursue new careers.
Charlie Burt, Senior Manager of Development at Venture Global, said the initiative is about more than providing technical training.
“It’s about creating life-changing opportunities, investing in people and helping bridge the gap to meaningful employment,” Burt said. “Each graduate here today represents determination, hard work and commitment to building a brighter future for themselves and their families.”
Burt also recognized Fletcher’s role in bringing the program to residents of the Bayou Region.
“Venture Global usually gets all the credit for these initiatives, but it really goes out to our training partners, their staff and ultimately the people who really put their trust in the program,” Burt said. “This partnership just seems to be growing each and every year, and we couldn’t be more proud to call Fletcher our partner here in the Bayou Region.”
For graduate Elizabeth Berthelot, enrolling in the program meant stepping outside of her comfort zone and returning to a classroom for the first time in 15 years. A 43-year-old mother of four whose husband works away from home two weeks at a time, Berthelot said she initially questioned whether she was ready to return to school and learn something completely new.
Once the class moved from the classroom to operating equipment, that uncertainty changed.
“Once we started learning and operating machinery, I realized I didn’t just like doing this. I realized I loved doing this,” Berthelot said.
She credited the Will to Skill initiative with giving participants an opportunity that extends beyond the classroom.
“The Will to Skill program, sponsored by Venture Global, didn’t just provide money for a program. They gave us an opportunity to change the direction of our lives,” Berthelot said. “Your investment goes farther than the cost. It reaches our homes, our families and our futures.”
That impact was already evident at graduation. One member of the class was unable to attend the ceremony because she was preparing to begin a new job the following Monday with a utility contractor.
The Heavy Equipment Operations graduates join a growing group of local residents who have completed workforce training through Fletcher and Venture Global’s partnership. Will to Skill training offered through Fletcher has included Heavy Equipment Operations, Welding, and Commercial Driver’s License training, providing residents with access to skills aligned with regional workforce needs.
“Today is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” Burt told the graduates. “We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing the journey ahead and the impact you’re going to make in your careers.”
The graduation also coincides with Fletcher’s 75th anniversary and its celebration of 75 years of changing lives through education and workforce training in South Louisiana.
“For 75 years, we’ve been helping individuals gain skills and confidence that open doors to new opportunities and change lives,” Cortez said. “Today, you become part of that legacy, and we couldn’t be more proud to call you Fletcher graduates.”
The Will to Skill Cohort Four graduates are Adrian Ardoin, Elizabeth Berthelot, Deondre Celestine, Cameron Douglas, Shyianna Flakes, Malayaha Folse, Ernest Gray, Tajha Joseph, Dagan Savoie and Requan Williams.
About Fletcher Technical Community College
Fletcher Technical Community College, a member of Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges, is a vital educational resource serving the Bayou Region. The college offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, short-term workforce training, and free adult education programs such as high school equivalency preparation, digital literacy courses, and English language instruction. Fletcher is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education that strengthens Louisiana’s workforce and supports the economic growth of South Louisiana. Visit www.fletcher.edu for more information.