Alumni
Stay Connected!
sign up for our Alumni Initiative to:
- Win prizes and swag
- Stay up-to-date with your alma mater
- Network with fellow alumni and stakeholders
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Get access to a variety of exclusive opportunities at SoLAcc and in the community
Click below to fill the form and we'll be in touch.
It's free and there is no obligation on your part.
Other Ways to Engage
Click on the tabs and explore ways to make the most of your Alumni status.
Follow & share
Let's get social! SoLAcc is on several of your favorite social media channels. Give us a "like" or "follow" and look for good information to share with your friends. Help us spread the word about the great things happening at SoLAcc.
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Complete an alumni spotlight form
Follow this link to complete an Alumni Spotlight. Spotlights are used in Alumni and SoLAcc print and digital communications and shared on social media.
*Completion of this form authorizes SoLAcc to utilize your information publicly*
Handshake
For six months after graduation, alumni can utilize SoLAcc’s online job board, Handshake. Handshake's mission is to help you find a great job and build the foundation of a meaningful career. It is also a great way to keep up with upcoming Career Services events, such as job fairs.
Resume and Interview Preparation
A trained member of the Career Services staff can help you with your résumé or assist you in preparing for an in-person or online interview. For services, contact careertransfer@solacc.edu.
Work at SoLAcc
At SoLAcc, we want your light to shine bright! Explore the job opportunities that await at your alma mater here: SoLAcc online job board
Stay tuned as we reinvigorate the SoLAcc Alumni Facebook Page with updates and more ways to connect.
Events
Stay tuned for upcoming events and opportunities for you to re-engage with campus life!
Rising Star Award
Symbolized by the owl’s keen sight and limitless potential, this award celebrates a recent graduate who is already soaring—making a mark through innovation, leadership, or service.
Guiding Light Award
Represents the wisdom and leadership of a seasoned alum who has made a lasting impact—through professional excellence, mentorship, and service to both their industry and their community.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI awards
Pictured from left to right: Guiding Light recipient, Tim Marks, Rising Star recipient, Christopher "Tipper" Esponge, SoLAcc Chancellor Dr. Vincent June
Pictured left to right: 2025 Guiding Light recipient Tye Miller, 2026 Guiding Light recipient, Tim Marks, 2026 Rising Star recipient, Christopher "Tipper" Esponge, 2025 Rising Star recipient Shayla Polk
2026 Guiding Light Award: Tim Marks
Tim Marks is a 1996 graduate of the former T.H. Harris Campus in Opelousas, where he earned his Practical Nursing credential. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. He is Board Certified in Nursing Informatics and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Today, Tim serves as Director of Network & Partnerships for Opelousas General Health System, where he leads initiatives that improve healthcare access, strengthen collaboration among providers and ultimately improve the health of communities across Louisiana.Tim has remained deeply connected to South Louisiana Community College, serving on the Foundation for SoLAcc Board of Directors and helping create opportunities for future students to pursue the same life-changing education that helped launch his own career.His journey reflects what this award represents: a lifetime of servant leadership, professional excellence and an unwavering commitment to giving back.The light he has shared through his leadership has reached patients, colleagues, students and countless members of our community. It is a legacy that continues to inspire all of us.
2026 Rising Star Award: Christopher "Tipper" Esponge
A 2013 graduate of South Louisiana Community College's Industrial Technology program, Tipper has built a remarkable career rooted in leadership, entrepreneurship and public service. He is the President and majority owner of E & L Construction Group, overseeing projects for federal agencies including the U.S. Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, National Park Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, he also serves the community he proudly calls home as Mayor of Delcambre, leading with humility, integrity and a deep commitment to public service.
What makes these accomplishments even more inspiring is the journey that led him here. At just eighteen years old, during basic training with the Louisiana Army National Guard, a devastating accident left Tipper paralyzed. Rather than allowing that moment to define his future, he returned home, enrolled at South Louisiana Community College and began rebuilding his life one step at a time. He earned his associate degree here before continuing on to complete both a bachelor's of science degree in Industrial Technology and an MBA at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Today, Tipper often says he didn't succeed in spite of his challenges—he succeeded through them. His story reminds us that resilience is more than perseverance. It is choosing purpose over circumstance and using our experiences to serve others.
2025 Guiding Light Award: Tye Miller
Tye Miller started his information technology career at Computers for Business Management (CBM) in 1992 as an intern while attending SoLAcc’s Opelousas (T.H. Harris) campus. He would go on to earn his associate degree from the college in 1994. Tye worked his way up through the company, becoming a manager in five years, and then after a decade of hard work, an ownership opportunity followed. Today, an impressive 33 years later, Tye holds the title of President, continuing to help CBM Technology grow and evolve as an important member of Acadiana’s IT sector.
2025 Rising Star Award: Shayla Polk
Dr. Shayla Polk graduated from SoLAcc in 2012 with an associate degree in General Studies. She went on to receive a bachelor's in Sociology, a master's in Social Work, and a doctorate in Clinical Social Work. She holds her clinical social worker license and is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Office of Drug Policy for Governor Jeff Landry, overseeing several statewide advisory boards. Dr. Polk is a professor of social work, a sought-after speaker, and a holistic wellness consultant. She is the author of social-emotional youth workbooks and holds the title of Royal American Ms. 2024 by which she promotes mental health and well-being.
CONTACT
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