Several Dow employees recently volunteered as instructors for the PTEC 101 class at Hahnville High School.  The course is designed for 12-grade students interested in pursuing a degree in the process technology field. The class enables students to earn three hours of credit towards a 2-year associate degree program in process technology, while continuing to work towards their high school diploma.

Dow is sponsoring the college-level class in partnership with other area chemical and refining companies to help students from St. Charles Parish gain a head-start in developing the skills needed to work in local chemical plants.

PTEC is the standardized curriculum for a two-year associate of applied science degree in process technology. It prepares students to work as process operators in the chemical, oil and gas, power generating and pharmaceutical industries. The program is available at community and technical colleges in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, LaPlace and Gonzales.

Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. St. Charles Operations is owned by Union Carbide Corporation, which is a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.