Monroe, LA – On Monday, May 5, students from Louisiana Delta Community College’s (LDCC) Industrial Instrumentation program visited Eastman Chemical Company, a long-standing industry partner and Advisory Board member of LDCC. Eastman has played a vital role in supporting the college’s Process Technology and Industrial Instrumentation programs by participating in job fairs, recruiting events, and equipment donations.
The visit began with a warm welcome in Eastman’s auditorium, where students were introduced to the company through a presentation highlighting its operations and recent developments. A mandatory safety video followed, ensuring all visitors met current plant safety protocols.
LDCC alumni currently employed at Eastman then joined the group for a candid and inspiring discussion. These former students, now thriving professionals, shared their experiences in the field, offering advice on navigating the workplace, balancing career and personal life, and the long-term benefits of careers in industrial technology.
“It was a time of excitement, seeing my former students had achieved their goal and were all doing quite well,” said Mark Ketchell, Assistant Professor of Industrial Instrumentation at LDCC. “It felt like a passing of the torch—those who’ve made it, guiding those who are right on the edge of success.”
Following the discussion, students were taken on a guided tour across Eastman’s expansive 6,000-acre site. The tour included multiple stops where hosts explained various chemical processes and highlighted the use of hundreds of sensors, technology that the students had studied extensively in the classroom. After the tour, students enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to explore Eastman’s on-site training facility. There, they met training officers and explored hands-on learning modules that covered both legacy and state-of-the-art equipment. Because of the plant’s decades-long continuous operation, technicians must be well-versed in technologies ranging from systems over 50 years old to modern digital controls.
“Our School of Industrial Technology is proud to be industry-driven,” said Ketchell. “We listen to our partners and adapt our training accordingly to ensure our students are workforce ready. The fact that companies like Eastman drive over two hours to recruit from our programs is a testament to the quality of our students and the strength of these partnerships.”
One student from the visit even began an internship with Eastman the day after the semester ended, highlighting the real-time impact of these connections. For more information about the Industrial Instrumentation program at LDCC, please visit ladelta.edu.