NATCHITOCHES – In observance of National Manufacturing Month, Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology (ET) hosted industry engagement events and professional development workshops throughout October. The initiatives highlighted manufacturing career opportunities, strengthened industry partnerships and promoted essential technical and workplace skills.
The Department hosted the 9th annual ET Symposium and Career Day on Oct. 21, bringing together 58 ET students, six ET faculty members and four students from Natchitoches Central High School, accompanied by teacher Mike Stewart.
Industry representatives from Crest Industries, RoyOMartin, Asplundh Power, International Paper and Region 6 STEM Center shared insights about their organizations, products, career opportunities and essential workplace skills.
Two ET alumni served as guest speakers, Kaleb Chesser, Woodyard Mechanical & Electrical Supervisor at International Paper, and Jon Lentz, Project Manager at NSU. They shared their career journeys and valuable advice on employer expectations and professional success.
Jon Lentz spoke to the participants in NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology’s Symposium and Career Day.
Department Head Dr. Shahriar Hossain, with support from Instructor Craig Caskey, led a 30-minute interactive workshop on eight essential workplace skills emphasizing communication, leadership and collaboration. The event concluded with a raffle drawing awarding five gift cards to students.
The Department also presented two workforce development workshops with support from a $2,000 Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund grant.
Statistical Quality Control took place Oct. 2-3. Led by Dr. Nabin Sapkota, the workshop covered quality principles, process variation, control charts and process capability. Kenyetta Jackson and Isabella McCall successfully completed the training.
Managing Projects: Structure That Still Flexes took place Oct. 8–9. Led by Craig R. Caskey, the workshop explored project planning, execution, monitoring and continuous improvement using practical project management methods. Kenyetta Jackson, Isabella McCall, Isiah Everage Jr. and Aaliyah Johnson successfully completed the training.
Participants in professional development workshops hosted by NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology were awarded completion certificates. From the left are instructor Dr. Nabin Sapkota, completers Isiah Everage Jr., Isabella McCall, Aaliyah Johnson and Kenyetta Jackson, instructor Craig Caskey and Dr. Shahriar Hossain, head of the Department of Engineering Technology.
Participants received practical, industry-relevant training, with lunch and certificates of attendance provided.
“These October initiatives demonstrate ET’s commitment to connecting education with industry needs,” said Dr. Shahriar Hossain, department head and associate professor. “Through hands-on learning, professional training, alumni engagement, and industry partnerships, the department continues to prepare students and workforce participants for successful careers in engineering, manufacturing, and related fields.”
“Special thanks to our industry partners, alumni, faculty, students and the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund for their continued support of engineering education and workforce development,” Hossain added.
Information on NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology is available at https://www.nsula.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-of-stem/engineering-technology/.