Zappi talks engineering, partnerships with Rotary Club

One thing became abundantly evident at Tuesday’s Rotary Club of Crowley meeting, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s engineering program is a huge asset to the state.

The program, which continues to grow, now faces the problem its neighbor to the east at LSU faces, the lack of people in the program graduating to fill the growing need.

“Right now, one of the biggest hold ups in getting companies to look at Louisiana is we do not have enough engineers and technologists graduating to provide the expertise to move to Louisiana,” said Dean of UL Lafayette’s Engineering Program Dr. Mark Zappi. “We’re actually hindering our own growth.”

Zappi, the guest speaker at the Rotary meeting, provided insight into the engineering world as well as a look into the university’s partnership with Cleco.

Zappi took the opportunity to commend those instrumental in getting the Alternative Energy Center, an $8 million research and development center, to Crowley. He thanked not only Cleco, but the city of Crowley and the Acadia Parish Police Jury and Public Service Commission before thanking state Rep. Jack Montoucet, D-Crowley, and, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, M.D., R-Lafayette, and Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, all of which were instrumental in their own ways to get the project approved, moving and in specifically in Crowley. 

Onlookers will have a chance to see the many projects the center is working on firsthand during an open house Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

But, Tuesday, Zappi provided an overview of the projects at the center, which include three main technologies as well as a number of spin-offs.

As for the engineering program at UL Lafayette and the state of engineering in the state, Zappi pointed to the size of UL Lafayette’s program compared to many other larger universities. In fact, the Ragin’ Cajuns can boast a larger program than schools like South Carolina and comparable to others in size like Mississippi State.

It is also helping steer businesses into the state by helping provide the workforce needed through agreements and more.

Zappi explained that all engineering types are in high demand at this point; not just one field getting job offers after college.

But it is up to the likes of Zappi to try to get students interested in pursing a degree in engineering.

For more information on the UL Lafayette Engineering Program, visit http://engineering.louisiana.edu/.