When you meet Bam, his story stays with you. It’s a story of resilience, redemption, and the power of opportunity—and it started at River Parishes Community College (RPCC).

Bam grew up in a neighborhood where the odds were stacked against him. Like so many of his friends, he faced limited options and even fewer second chances. "I saw the people around me getting caught up in things I knew I didn’t want to be a part of," Bam said. "But for a long time, I didn’t know what other path there was."

That changed when Bam discovered RPCC’s Welding program.

Drawn to the hands-on nature of the work and the high demand for skilled welders in Louisiana’s booming industrial sector, Bam enrolled in the program hoping for a fresh start. But it was more than just a class schedule that changed his life—it was a scholarship.

"The day I got the call that I received the scholarship, I cried," Bam said. "It was like someone finally believed in me. It felt like the door I needed had finally opened."

The scholarship not only covered tuition and supplies but gave Bam the breathing room to focus fully on his future. With grit and determination, he completed the program and earned credentials that made him a competitive candidate for high-paying, stable jobs.

Now a certified welder, Bam is building more than pipelines—he’s building a life he never thought possible. He’s no longer watching friends get caught in cycles of crime and hardship. Instead, he's inspiring others to break out of that cycle.

"RPCC didn’t just teach me how to weld," Bam said. "It gave me a way out. A new start. A future."

Bam’s story is a reminder that with the right support, education can be the spark that changes everything.

Interested in writing your own success story? Learn more about RPCC’s Welding program and scholarship opportunities at www.rpcc.edu.