We held the first Louisiana Tech Day at the Capitol this week thanks to the leadership of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation. We wanted to remind key decision makers about the important roles that Louisiana Tech is playing to advance educational attainment and economic prosperity for our community, region and state.  Several of our key business & community leaders as well as corporate partners joined us for the day.     We began with a breakfast with Governor John Bel Edwards at the mansion. This gave us the opportunity to thank the Governor for his support for higher education and for our capital projects including the new Integrated Engineering & Science Building and funds for deferred maintenance. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker was also able to provide the Governor updates on numerous construction and transportation projects in the community. The Governor’s mansion is beautiful and it is always special to go there for a visit.   Following breakfast, we headed to the Capitol for meetings with House Speaker Taylor Barras and Senate President John Alario. And while walking the halls in the Capitol, we were able to visit with several house and senate members. I also enjoyed visiting with Dr. Jim Caillier, Executive Director of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, and a very strong advocate for the TOPS program. I thanked him for his diligent efforts to ensure that the State’s TOPS commitment to students continues to be honored.     We hosted a luncheon for several members of the NE Louisiana legislative delegation and invited some of our major technology-focused corporate partners to join us. Our partners provided overviews of their successes in corporate growth in North Louisiana and the important roles that Tech is playing to support them. These companies are remaining (and growing) in NLA because of the availability of talented students and graduates and the willingness of Tech to support them in their development of talent. Craig Spohn of the Cyber Innovation Center joined us for lunch and provided updates on other exciting things that are under development and will further the growth of cyber and defense-related activities regionally. We have dynamic ecosystem in North Louisiana which will continue to grow if we can sustain the support for higher education. We had a meeting in the afternoon with Louisiana Economic Development leadership and then I headed over to the Capitol to hear testimony on important TOPS legislation. We capped off the day with a reception for legislators and Baton Rouge alumni at the Capitol Park Events Center. Special thanks to the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association for coordinating and hosting this event. I enjoyed renewing friendships with numerous alumni and parents of Tech students. We also had quite a few legislators come by to visit after finishing their activities at the Capitol. I was very pleased that ULS President Jim Henderson and Board Chair Al Perkins joined us for the evening.   One of the most enjoyable things of the day…. one of my special friends, Chef William McDaniel invited his friend Chef Jeremy Coco to provide the food for the evening reception. William is one of Tech’s most loyal fans and has been enjoying learning about being a chef recently. He and Chef Coco did a great job for the reception! And William even brought his parents to Ruston Thursday evening to watch some Bulldog baseball. What a fan! All in all, it was a great day for Louisiana Tech. We plan to be back in Baton Rouge next year.  Special thanks to the Louisiana Tech Foundation, Alumni Association and business leaders for the help. Particular thanks to my friend Ty Bromell who scheduled key meetings. Here are a few favorite pics for the week: