Southeastern instructor honored with national award
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University Instructor of Industrial Technology
Anthony Blakeney has been honored with the WEMCO Excellence Award as the top educator
in the country. A resident of Ponchatoula, Blakeney was nominated by his peers.
“For over two decades, Anthony has dedicated himself to teaching our students
about welding technology. He has single handedly developed the welding program into
one that is not just regionally recognized, but also nationally recognized,” said
College of Science and Technology Dean Daniel McCarthy. “He is more than deserving
of this prestigious award, and we are proud to have him as a member of our faculty
at Southeastern.”
WEMCO created the annual Excellence in Welding Awards to recognize individuals
and organizations that are instrumental in raising the image of welding, strengthening
the industry, and have shown exemplary dedication to promoting the image of welding
in their communities.
“I am humbled to be recognized by my colleagues within the American Welding Society
and by the American industrial sector,” Blakeney said. “My passion for my students
has always driven what I do.”
Each year individuals from the welding industry nominate their peers for these
awards. The nominations are submitted to the Excellence in Welding Committee, which
reviews them carefully before the winners are selected. The winners are announced
at the Excellence in Welding Awards Ceremony at the FABTECH Show. Blakeney will accept
his award in Atlanta next month during the awards ceremony and luncheon.
