Georgia-Pacific’s Fordyce OSB Mill has donated $12,000 to the South Arkansas College Foundation to support the technical education programs at South Arkansas College in El Dorado.
The donation will help fund scholarships, equipment, and supplies for students enrolled in the industrial technology, welding, and electrical technology programs, according to a news release.
“We are proud to partner with South Arkansas College (SouthArk) and support their efforts to provide quality technical education for the local community,” said Craig Sheek, plant manager for Georgia-Pacific’s Fordyce OSB Mill.
“We actively interact and interview with students who are successful program completers. These discussions affirm the necessity and importance of the training they are receiving as well as correlate their classroom experience with real world careers and daily tasks. We believe that investing in technical education is vital for the future of our industry and our region, and we are always looking for talented and skilled workers who can join our team and help us produce high-quality products for our customers,” Sheek said.
Georgia-Pacific’s Fordyce OSB Mill employs about 150 employees and produces oriented strand board (OSB), a versatile engineered wood product used in residential and commercial construction. The mill has been operating in Fordyce since 2000 and is one of the largest employers in the area, according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The company is committed to supporting the communities where its employees live and work, and has contributed to various local causes and organizations, including schools, fire departments, and youth programs.
SouthArk is a public two-year college that offers a variety of academic and technical programs, as well as workforce training and continuing education services.
“We are very grateful to Georgia-Pacific for their generous donation and their ongoing support to SouthArk students, who, with their support, benefit from our high-tech programs,” said Cynthia Reyna, executive director for the SouthArk Foundation.
“We value Georgia-Pacific’s collaboration with SouthArk College and appreciate their incredible support. Their donation will be awarded to qualified students who are working to complete their education in the Industrial Engineering Technology Program (IET), consisting of Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) and Industrial Maintenance, which continues to allow us (to prepare) a highly trained workforce, as we are most committed to providing urgently needed and trained professionals to our regional industries. We are proud to have Georgia-Pacific as a partner in our training and education efforts,” Reyna said.
Details: gp.com/about-us.