Gregory Diggs
	Cory Vial

Dow's facility in St. Charles Parish (St. Charles Operations) awarded two PTEC scholarships worth $3,000 each to Gregory Diggs, graduating senior from Hahnville High School and Cory Vial, graduating senior from Destrehan High School, for a total of $6,000 in all. PTEC is the standardized curriculum for a two-year associate of applied science degree that prepares students to work as process technology operators in the Louisiana chemical industry.

Stanley Dufrene, community relations manager for St. Charles Operations, said investing in local people makes good business sense. He said the scholarships represent a significant step toward ensuring that prospective job candidates will have the skills and knowledge local manufacturing companies need. And local residents with PTEC degrees, Dufrene said, increase their chances of landing a job.

"Our company works together with the people who live here to make this a better place," Dufrene said. "So, it only makes sense that we would want to invest back into the community. By giving people a chance to go to college and get a PTEC degree we improve the workforce one person at a time. The people who live here get an opportunity to have a better chance at a great career. This kind of partnership and working together is what being a good neighbor is all about."

Stacey Chiasson, executive director of Career Builders, said the scholarship program provides an opportunity to educate people about what process operators do and what the chemical industry is all about. She said people will not consider a career if they don't have a clear idea of what it entails.

"Most people don't know what goes on behind the gates of a chemical plant," Chiasson said. "They don't know the industry produces and processes the chemicals that are used to make plastic bags, the container their dishwashing liquid comes in, CDs they listen to, the tires on their cars and the parts on computers they use to surf the net. To get people excited about what the chemical industry does you have to make it relevant to their everyday lives."

Cory Vial, a scholarship recipient from Destrehan High, said he has chosen to pursue a degree in PTEC because as a lifelong resident of the River Parishes area, he has seen the impact the chemical industry has made and how many opportunities the industry affords their employees.

"Knowing that the Louisiana chemical industry will have to hire thousands of operators over the next five to ten years reinforced my decision to train and prepare for the PTEC program." Vial said. Vial has taken PTEC 101, a college course, as a high school student in addition to his rigorous academic schedule which made him a prime scholarship candidate.

Dow's PTEC scholarship program is also part of an overall effort to address a worker shortage by the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) and Career Builders, an intermediary that coaches young people on how to make smarter education and career decisions. About half of all process technology operators are over age 50 and will retire soon. Because of the anticipated retirements, the chemical industry needs twice the number of students currently enrolled in PTEC degree programs to meet future workforce needs.

To obtain a copy of the 2005-2006 scholarship guidelines, eligibility requirements, application form and more information about PTEC, call Career Builders toll free at (866) PTEC101 (1-866-783-2101)or go to www.ptec101.com.

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 $40 billion, Dow serves customers in 175 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress: 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 43,000 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 (UCC), a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. "Dow", as used throughout this web site, often refers generically to The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.