McNeese Presents Honorary Doctorate
Swift has also served as an outstanding leader in civic and professional organizations through his service on numerous boards and organizations at the local, state and national levels.
Westlake Chemical Donation to College of Engineering
McNeese State University President Dr. Philip C. Williams, right, presented George Swift with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during McNeese’s fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 10, at Burton Coliseum. McNeese Photo
McNeese State University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, during the 147th commencement ceremony in December. Today, the Alliance is an umbrella organization comprised of three groups - the Chamber Southwest Louisiana, the Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation, which serves as the chamber’s nonprofit fundraising arm, and the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, which is comprised of regional elected and appointed officials involved in economic development. The Alliance – under Swift’s leadership - has been recognized as one of the top 10 economic development organizations in the nation three of the last four years. Currently with over $100 billion in announced projects, Southwest Louisiana leads the nation in projected growth. The Chamber SWLA is now a Five-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber, and with over 1,500 members, the Chamber SWLA now has the largest membership in its history.
66 www.thriveswla.com
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for RN (NCLEX-RN) and be prepared to enter the workforce as a registered nurse. Students at both higher learning institutions receive hands-on experience and learn under qualified faculty who meet the accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). For more information about the Nursing Concurrent Enrollment program, call (337) 421-6594.
McNeese Foundation Announce Officers for 2017 Left to right: Wayne Ahrens, vice president of operations at Westlake Chemical, Richard H. Reid, vice president for university advancement and executive vice president of the foundation, Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college, and Joe Andrepont, senior community affairs representative at Westlake Chemical.
Westlake Chemical has donated $10,000 to the McNeese State University College of Engineering and Computer Science through the McNeese Foundation for the college’s future engineering student study center.
SOWELA and McNeese Launch Unprecedented Initiative New Agreement In an effort to enable Nursing students to complete their bachelor’s degree, SOWELA Technical Community College and McNeese State University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Dr. Neil Aspinwall, SOWELA Chancellor, and Dr. Philip C. Williams, McNeese President, were on hand for the official signing. SOWELA’s ASN program is designed to prepare students for immediate employment in the healthcare arena and to lay the foundation for transferring coursework to a BSN program.
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
The McNeese State University Foundation Board of Directors has elected new officers for 2017. Willie Mount will serve as president, Dr. Eric Sanders, vice president and president-elect, William E. Rose, treasurer, and Judy Fuller, secretary. Dale “Butch” W. Ferdinandsen II, Tom Henning, Ben Marriner, Dr. Lee J. Monlezun Jr., Mount, Angela Queenan and Rose were elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors. Foundation donors vote to elect board members. The McNeese Foundation was incorporated in 1965 with the primary mission of raising funds to support endowments for student scholarships. The McNeese Foundation, with total assets exceeding $73 million, annually awards over $1 million in student scholarships, faculty development awards, campus improvements, stateof-the-art technology and academic enhancements in support of the university’s core values. For more information, visit www.mcneesefoundation.org or call (337) 475-5588.
January 2017