From left: Jennifer Middlebrooks, Cox Local Sales Manager; Brian Savoie, Cox Field Service Supervisor; Tracy Wirtz, Cox Public Affairs Manager; David D'Aquin, Cox Corporate Public Relations Manager; Lewis Lemoine, Senior Marketing Manager; Dr. Vincent June, SLCC Chancellor; Laycie Lewis, Cox Southeast Region Community and Public Affairs Specialist; and Lana Fontenot, SLCC Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs and Executive Director of the SLCC Foundation.
The SLCC Foundation is honoring a strong supporter of the community college and organizations across Acadiana with its most prestigious award. The SLCC Foundation named COX its 2021-22 Benefactor of the Year during a small gathering at the college’s Lafayette Campus on December 17.
COX has partnered with SLCC since 2013 in numerous ways that have been beneficial to community college’s students and program offerings. The organization has provided approximately $50,000 in scholarships to SLCC students over the last eight years. In addition, COX has provided laptops and equipment to SLCC’s Early College Academy with the Lafayette Parish School System. This program, which blends high school and college work, is the highest performing high school in Lafayette Parish and one of the top in Louisiana.
In 2015, COX closed the gap for a $2.1 million private match with a final $20,000 investment that allowed the college to begin building its $17.1 million Health & Sciences Building at its main campus in Lafayette. The organization also made a $12,000 in-kind contribution to wire the building with fiber.
COX championed new workforce development programs and certifications at SLCC. It has been a key partner for SLCC’s Power Lineman Program that began in 2019 by providing scholarships and lending its expertise. Almost 100 students have graduated from the 16-week program since inception. COX’s newest partnership with SLCC includes the development of a Fiber Optic Technician Program that is set to launch in July 2022. As a key partner, COX representatives have helped to develop the curriculum and will be assisting with other needs to get the program kicked off.
“COX immediately comes to mind when I think about overall community involvement and investment into SLCC and its students,” said Lana Fontenot, executive director of the SLCC Foundation. “COX not only states that they value education and workforce development, but they have tangibly partnered with SLCC in a variety of different ways throughout the years to advance education and the overall quality of life in our region.”
“Cox salutes our partners at SLCC for its everyday excellence in its mission of helping area residents engage in educational opportunities, professional growth and workforce development,” said Anthony Pope, Senior Vice President and Region Manager of the Southeast Region. “We look forward to supporting their expansion of concentrations in the rapidly changing technology fields to meet the increasing demands of our growing industry. Please accept our sincere appreciation for this prestigious honor.”
The Benefactor of the Year award is the fifth for the SLCC Foundation, where an outstanding partnership is recognized each year. Previous honorees are the Hugh and Byrnes Young Foundation, Lafayette General Health, and Elder Outreach.
###
About COX
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, we proudly serve nearly seven million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities, and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox.
About the SLCC Foundation
The South Louisiana Community College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization organized for the purpose of engaging in educational, scientific, literary, benevolent, and charitable works in support exclusively for the campuses of South Louisiana Community College. The SLCC Foundation secures and manages unrestricted and restricted assets to continually support and enrich the academic and scholarship programs at South Louisiana Community College. The SLCC Foundation is managed by a 17-member board of directors.