In the late 1990s, I wrote a column about the potential of the Northwest Louisiana Vocational Technical School. I imagined a future where it could serve as Minden’s college, providing a path for local students to stay close to home while pursuing skills that could lead directly to meaningful careers.
Fast forward to today, and that vision has not only become a reality but has exceeded expectations.
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) has been named one of the Top Vocational Schools for 2025 in a national ranking published by USA TODAY in partnership with Statista. This recognition highlights institutions that deliver strong outcomes for students, including high graduation rates, competitive graduate salaries, and solid returns on investment.
NLTCC’s programs aren’t just about earning a piece of paper. They’re about transformation. When I gave the commencement address to a graduating class back in 2017, I told them their diplomas meant more than completed coursework. Those credentials represented life-changing opportunities—access to careers that could lift families, empower communities, and create a ripple effect for generations to come.
With campuses in Minden, Mansfield, and Shreveport, NLTCC offers training in high-demand fields like Allied Health, Industrial Technology, and Manufacturing Technology. These are not theoretical degrees. These are hands-on, job-ready programs that meet real industry needs. And as more families seek alternatives to the traditional four-year path, schools like NLTCC are becoming the go-to choice for practical, affordable, and impactful education.
This recognition didn’t happen by accident. It is the result of years of leadership, dedicated faculty, supportive staff, and strategic partnerships. Dr. Jayda Spillers, Chancellor of NLTCC, continues to champion a student-first approach that ensures graduates are ready to succeed from day one on the job.
We often talk about how to prepare our region for the future. NLTCC is doing just that—one graduate at a time. Every welding certification, every medical assistant diploma, every skilled technician that walks across that stage is a win for Webster Parish and beyond.
If you haven’t visited the NLTCC campus in a while, I encourage you to go. Meet the students. Talk to the instructors. You’ll walk away inspired.
And as a community, let’s remember to celebrate this incredible asset in our backyard. Let’s support it. Promote it. Partner with it.
In a world where education and workforce alignment often seem at odds, NLTCC is proof that when done right, career and technical education works.
Congratulations to everyone at NLTCC. Your work matters, and the nation is taking notice.
David Specht is president of Specht Newspapers, Inc., publisher of the Minden Press-Herald, Bossier Press-Tribune, and BIZ Magazine.