The Northwest Louisiana Chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NWLA FAME) celebrated a major milestone this month, recognizing both its second graduating class and the newest group of students selected for its prestigious work-study program.
On May 9, 2025, seven students from the 2023 cohort completed the rigorous two-year Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program. Graduates earned both a FAME certificate and an Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering Technology with a concentration in Industrial Maintenance from Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC).
These students were sponsored by five of the chapter’s leading manufacturers: Arq, Inc., Benteler Steel/Tube, Frymaster, Maxim Watermakers, and Prolec GE. Most graduates received full-time job offers from their sponsoring employers prior to completing the program. Jacob Tellis, sponsored by Frymaster, was selected as the 2025 Distinguished Graduate by chapter members.
Just days later, on May 13, NWLA FAME hosted a signing ceremony to welcome its fourth cohort. Twelve students were selected from a competitive pool of more than 40 applicants. The 2025 cohort will be sponsored by Bienville Lumber Company, Benteler Steel/Tube, Frymaster, Kronospan, Maxim Watermakers, Pratt Paper, and Prolec GE.
This year’s applicant pool reflected 11% growth over the previous cycle, and notably, 25% of the incoming class is female—an encouraging trend in an industry historically underrepresented by women. Employers within the NWLA FAME chapter are actively working to shift perceptions and create more opportunities for women in manufacturing.
“Overlooking women in manufacturing means leaving money on the table, as they are often the leaders of process improvements, boosting productivity, and driving team success,” said Kathryn Childs, Director of Operations at Frymaster.
Founded by Toyota in 2010 to develop a pipeline of highly skilled maintenance technicians, the FAME program became part of The Manufacturing Institute in 2019 and has since expanded to include more than 40 chapters nationwide, supported by over 450 manufacturing employers. The NWLA FAME chapter is a partnership of 10 regional manufacturers, Bossier Parish Community College, and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP). It remains the only FAME chapter in Louisiana.
To learn more about the FAME program and opportunities with the NWLA chapter, visit www.fame-usa.com.