Frederick Bell graduated from Louisiana Technical College on May 12. Having completed the four required certifications with a 4.0 grade point average, Bell is now a certified technician for heating and air.

He has been working toward this goal for over two years. After graduating from the SBRM Discipleship Training Program, he wanted to be trained in a field where he could get a good job.

He obtained Pell grants for the schooling, but the funds ran short. When his truck broke down, he didn’t have the money to get it fixed.

Bus passes provided through a grant from United Way made it possible for him to continue going to class. “I never missed a day in the year and a half I attended classes,” Bell said.

At age 57, he has a new lease on life. His future plans include securing a job in the heating and air field.

“I feel wonderful,” Bell said, “I have such a feeling of accomplishment. For a guy who didn’t finish high school, I didn’t know I had it in me.”
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