Earlier this week, 17 students from Baton Rouge Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, Louisiana Delta Community College, Northshore Technical Community College, River Parishes Community College, South Louisiana Community College and SOWELA Technical Community College left for Salzburg, Austria to participate in the LCTCS Global Leadership Program. The program, which the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) launched four years ago with a grant from the AT&T Foundation, is a short-term international study experience offered by the Salzburg Global Seminar for students of U.S. colleges and universities. Students will participate in an intensive seven-day international experience and will explore pressing issues of global concern. They will have the opportunity to think critically as they interact with experts from around the world as well as students from all over the United States.

"We're so proud to be sending our largest delegation of students to date. We want to expand this program to all of our colleges so that students from all over the state can participate in this unique opportunity to travel abroad and take part in this incredible learning experience. The goal is to expose them to important global issues which have been literally a life-changing experience for many students who have attended in the past," said Dr. Joe D. May, LCTCS president. "We're also extremely grateful to the donors who have partnered with our colleges in this endeavor and provided the funding to support our students. Without them, this would not be possible."

The Foundation for Louisiana's Community & Technical Colleges helped the colleges leverage private funds so that their students and faculty can participate. "Expanding international study opportunities is a priority of the Foundation," says vice president of system advancement Leah Goss. AT&T continues to support the program with corporate donations. Dow, Shell, and Northshore Community Foundation have committed funding to the 2012 program, ensuring the participation of seven colleges. The community colleges that will participate for the first time this year include South Louisiana Community College, Baton Rouge Community College, and Northshore Technical Community College.

The students attending this year's seminar are: Mitchell Collins II and Kristin Nesom of Baton Rouge Community College; Kaytlyn Remedes, and Raylyn Rist of Bossier Parish Community College; Rosemary Gibbons, Linsey Junkin and Jeremy Thornhill of Louisiana Delta Community College; Cody Everett and Thomas Fambrough of Northshore Technical Community College; Eldridge Burns, George Godfrey Jr and Von de Leigh Hatcher of River Parishes Community College; Emily Burchardt, Samantha Yantis, and Ryan Talbot of South Louisiana Community College; and Kara Guidry and Sonya Haase of Sowela Technical Community College. LCTCS Vice President of Academic Affairs and Institutional Research Dr. Derrick Manns, LCTCS Board of Supervisors Member Stevie Smith and BPCC Faculty Member Marjorie Harper will accompany the students during their travel.

The Salzburg Global Seminar will be held at Schloss Leopoldskron, an 18th century castle in Salzburg, Austria. Students are accompanied by faculty and administration representatives. Selected faculty and administrators will participate in their program later in July where they will learn how to integrate global perspectives throughout the community college curriculum.

The Foundation for Louisiana's Community & Technical Colleges was founded in 2006 and solicits contributions to create a world-class workforce for the state through the development of sound education policy, the promotion of international programs, and the creation of a culture of philanthropy for community and technical colleges.