A high school program that prepares students for careers in the forest products industry began its fourth year with welcome orientations on Wednesday, Aug. 25. Due to the large number of students enrolled in the program this year, there were two orientation sessions: one at 9:30 a.m. for Allen Parish schools and one at 11 a.m. for Grant, Rapides and Vernon parish schools. Both events were at the Roy OMartin corporate offices in Alexandria.

Wood Works will be offered to students in nine Central Louisiana high schools this school year. Ninety-three students are enrolled for the fall session while another 14 are scheduled to take the course this spring.

Founded and funded by RoyOMartin, Wood Works prepares students for careers in the growing forest products industry. The Wood Works curriculum was developed by several Central Louisiana school districts and RoyOMartin with collaboration from The Orchard Foundation.  The fall course will give students at Grant High School, Fairview High School, Kinder and Reeves High schools, Northwood High School, Oakdale High School, Oberlin High School, Pitkin High and Tioga High School an opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills associated with this industry. Lakeview High School in Natchitoches Parish will offer the course in the spring.

The Wood Works course of study includes training in Safety, Applied Math, Forestry, Employability skills, Wood Industry Terminology, and an introduction to the industry as a viable career option. It provides basic training for students to become productive employees in business and industry.

“Wood Works is a realistic approach to developing the skills needed for a career in the forest products industry,” said Roy O. Martin III, president of RoyOMartin.

Joe Rosier, president and CEO of The Rapides Foundation, said Wood Works is a great example of collaborations between local industry and schools. “It provides practical career training for students and a source of productive, skilled employees for Central Louisiana industry.”

The Orchard Foundation is a nonprofit local education fund that works with school districts, businesses and communities to improve educational opportunities in Central Louisiana. It is funded and operated by The Rapides Foundation. 

RoyOMartin, based in Alexandria, is an international leader in the wood industry, and producer of innovative forest products since 1923. Print