Southeastern helps LGU high school students become GIS certified technicians
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
by: Tonya Lowentritt
STUDENTS BECOME GIS CERTIFIED – Two high school students recently completed a course for certification as Geographic Information System Technicians because of a partnership between Southeastern Louisiana University’s Science & Technology Interactive Learning Experiences and Louisiana GEAR UP. From left are Fran Harvey, instructor of the GIS Technician Certification Course, students Aalaina Banks and Joseph Harden, and Teacher Assistant for GIS Early College Course Vibriyogn Epuri.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University Science & Technology Interactive
Learning Experiences has partnered with Louisiana GEAR UP to provide the opportunity
for LGU high school students to earn early college credits or an industry-based certificate.
Fran Harvey from the Global Geospatial Institute instructed the Geographic Information
System (GIS) Technician Certification class of five high school students. Two students
completed the course and certification exam to earn their GIS Technician Certification
- Aaliana Banks, a 10th grader from St John STEM Magnet Program, and Joseph Harden,
a 10th grader from Lee (Liberty) Magnet High in Baton Rouge.
“The GIS Certification Course strives to give students sufficient background
knowledge on mapping and geographic information in order to take a certification exam,”
said Program Coordinator of Southeastern STILE/GEAR UP Alexis Scamardo.
Banks and Harden passed their certification exam last month to become Certified
GIS Technicians. Both students received offers for job shadowing or internships over
the summer. Banks will be interning at St. John the Baptist Tax Assessor’s Office
and Harden will be job shadowing at Owen and White Engineering Company.