On Monday, I was pleased to host the senior management team from Benteler Steel/Tube that is beginning to build a steel tube manufacturing facility near the port in Shreveport.  This approximately $1B investment will have significant impacts on the region. This facility will host some highly innovative manufacturing processes that will require experienced and skilled employees at all levels.  We look forward to working with the company to help them fill their workforce, research, and other needs.  You can check out more on them at their website: http://www.benteler.com/ On Tuesday, Tommy McClelland, Ryan Richard and I traveled to Lake Charles to meet with alumni from the area.  We had approximately 65 in attendance and were able to establish and renew connections with friends of Tech.  I was pleased to see former classmates, former students, a current student, and even a prospective student there.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting several alumni who I had not met before and learning more about their careers and Tech experiences. I traveled to Baton Rouge on Wednesday to attend a Regents’ workshop on “Creative Pathways for Modern Learners” that focused on some of the strategies for teaching, learning, and marketing (topics such as on-line programs, MOOCs, adult learners, global competition, etc.) that are somewhat disrupting current models of higher education.  It was great to get national perspectives from some excellent speakers. We hosted a fish fry on Thursday for our Building & Grounds and Housing staff.  This gave us an opportunity to thank them for all of their extra efforts during these difficult economic times.  As we have had to significantly decrease our numbers of staff, we have had to rely on others to assume more responsibilities and also find more efficient ways to operate.  I appreciate the tremendous efforts of all of these staff to keep Tech operating smoothly and looking great for our students and visitors. Friday, we had a special commencement ceremony to recognize 6 student athletes who graduated in the Fall Quarter but were not able to attend Fall Commencement because of an away game.  Congratulations to each of these graduates: Matthew Conger (Forestry), Don Gene Banks (Finance), Carter Street (Finance), Vincent Cano (Political Science, Pre-Law), Jacarri Jackson (Sociology), and Thomas Graham (MS in Counseling & Guidance). We are proud of them for their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the field.