NATCHITOCHES – Boise Cascade Wood Products of Lena increased the amount of the scholarships they award to students from central Louisiana who major in engineering technology or computer information systems at Northwestern State University. The new commitment doubles the amount awarded to two students each year to $1,000 per year. First preference is given to students from Northwood High School in Lena, then open to other Rapides or Vernon parish students. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or better to qualify.
“It is with great pleasure that we announce that Boise Cascade has increased their scholarship amount per year,” said NSU Development Officer Kimberly Gallow. “We are proud to continue the productive partnership Boise Cascade forged at NSU and thank them for their commitment to helping students.”
“Manufacturing companies such as Boise Cascade are in need of capable, energetic young professionals that can lead from the front and take control of the wood products future,” said Tommy Peek, Human Resources Generalist for Boise’s Alexandria Operations. “Everything we do and accomplish at Boise Cascade is driven by analytical performance gained only by the passion and dedication of its driving future. That future lies in the hands of the Demon Demographic.”
Peek said Boise Cascade is looking for young professionals that drive change not only on the analytical or spectral front of engineering, but in people and what it takes to gain emotional /cultural buy-in at the highest level. Those sentiments align with NSU’s commitment to working with industry partners to keep talent in Louisiana and strengthen the state’s economy.
“We believe that our highest, most cherished commodity in manufacturing is not the machines or the wood, but the people,” Peek said. “Our future leaders should have a passion for performance and team cohesion. They must have the aptitude and attitude to invoke change for the betterment of the product we at Boise Cascade provide and the futures that we build. Boise Cascade wants you to engage, provide and lead change and performance at every level possible. This scholarship is our first step in providing that opportunity to future leaders in manufacturing.”
Boise Cascade manufactures and markets engineered wood products with improved structural characteristics that use wood fiber more efficiently. Boise Cascade owns and operates the world’s two largest laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and I-joist manufacturing plants in Alexandria and White City, Oregon. Using leading edge manufacturing technology, Boise Cascade’s engineered wood products are environmentally friendly and provide engineers, architects, designers and builders with cleaner, simpler and more efficient design options.
Boise Cascade’s Lena plant is home to the company’s manufacturing regional office. Located there is an engineered wood product facility and a plywood mill. The plant is one of the two world’s largest laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and I-joist manufacturing plants. Boise Cascade also operates plywood mills in Oakdale and Florien. The company is a participant in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), a comprehensive forest management program that is a combination of environmental responsibilities and sound business practices.
“We are extremely grateful to Boise Cascade for their outstanding support of our Engineering Technology programs,” said Dr. Jafar F. Al-Sharab, head of NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology. “Enrollment continues to grow in all our ET programs. Such scholarships represent a true manifestation of support to STEM-related fields. In addition, these scholarships will help us to meet the demand for technologists capable of using appropriate basic science including theory, mathematics and computational technology in support of Louisiana industry.”
The Northwestern State University Foundation serves the university, its students and faculty by securing financial resources to support scholarships, faculty development and academic programming. To learn more visit northwesternalumni.com.
