P.O. Box 310 . 7384 John LeBlanc Blvd . Sorrento, LA 70778 . www.rpcc.edu

MEDIA CENTER

News Release

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
STEVEN W. JOHNSTON
(225) 288-7883

DONNA H. SEALE
(225) 675-0207

FAX: (225) 675-6394

October 10, 2006

SORRENTO, La. – River Parishes Community College Chancellor Joe Ben Welch was recently inducted to the Zachary Community School Board Hall of Distinction. The induction ceremony, which took place on September 29, was the school board’s first. Welch was one of six honorees. He was recognized for his achievements in the education field, specifically for his involvement with community colleges in Texas, Georgia and Louisiana. During his career, Welch has grown two community colleges from the ground up, including River Parishes Community College.

Four of the other honorees, R. E. Amrhein, Jerry Boudreaux, City Court Judge Lonny A. Myles and Jesse Spears, were inducted because of their involvement with the creations of the independent school board in Zachary. The sixth, Donald D. Hunt, was inducted posthumously. Hunt served as Zachary’s representative on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board for 16 years.

A reception was held for the six, after which they were each honored and recognized at the football game between Zachary High School and Broadmoor High School.

“I was thrilled to be recognized by my high school,” said Welch. “I am honored to be among the first to be recognized by the school board; I’m in good company with this first class. Also, I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. My thanks go to Warren Drake, who chaired the Hall of Distinction Committee.”

Welch graduated from Zachary High School in 1958. He started his education career after graduating from Louisiana Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree. After teaching for several years in both Louisiana and Texas, Welch earned a Master’s Degree in Math and Science Education at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He directed the development of a branch campus for Lamar University in Orange, Texas. That campus is now an independent community college. While working at Lamar University, Welch commuted to McNeese State University in Lake Charles, where he earned a doctorate in Administration and Supervision of Higher Education in 1974.

Welch stayed at Lamar University until 1989, when he became the president of Middle Georgia College in Chochran, Ga. He remained at the Georgia school until 1999, when he returned to Louisiana to become founding president of River Parishes Community College.

River Parishes Community College was created by the state legislature in 1997. Along with six other community colleges around the state, River Parishes Community College became part of the also newly formed Louisiana Community and Technical College System that year. The college began offering classes in the fall of 1999. The first classes were held in Sorrento at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the Sorrento Fire Station and the Louisiana Technical College – Ascension Campus while the new campus was being built. Since that time, the college has grown steadily, growing 25 percent for almost each year of its existence. Today, River Parishes Community College boasts over 1,100 students.

River Parishes Community College is a two-year learning institution, fully-accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate Degrees. The school is located at 7384 John LeBlanc Blvd. in Sorrento. For more information about River Parishes Community College, or to enroll in classes, call 225-675-8270 or log on to www.rpcc.edu.

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