Texarkana, Texas – As the lithium boom spreads across the Smackover Formation, Texarkana College is taking proactive steps to ensure local students are ready to fill the thousands of jobs the industry promises. The college’s chemistry department has forged partnerships with EnergyX and French Evaporation, giving students direct exposure to lithium extraction, chemical processing, and the technology used by energy companies.
Classroom learning meets real‑world practice
Dean Catherine Howard said the collaboration allows students to apply the same techniques they learn in General Chemistry I and II to actual lithium production. “It’s basically an evaporation process where they separate the water out and then they separate all the other ions except lithium,” Howard explained. “A lot of the skills they use in the lab are the ones they learned here.”
Preparing a skilled workforce for the ArkLaTex
The partnership is aimed at creating a pipeline of chemists, laboratory technicians, engineers, and other skilled professionals who can stay in the ArkLaTex region rather than seeking work elsewhere. College officials believe the abundant lithium resources could transform the local economy, generating demand for high‑paying technical jobs.
“It might be a way to get students to really pursue STEM fields instead of just the STEM background education they need for other degrees,” Howard added. “They actually see that you can apply that and do that for a living.”
Industry support and future growth
EnergyX and French Evaporation are investing in the partnership by providing equipment, site visits, and internship opportunities. Both companies see the collaboration as a way to develop a local talent pool that can support their expanding operations in the region.
College leaders anticipate that as the lithium industry continues to grow, the need for skilled workers will increase dramatically. By integrating industry‑focused training into the curriculum now, Texarkana College hopes to position its graduates at the forefront of the next generation of energy production.
Impact on students and the community
Students enrolled in the chemistry program are already benefiting from the hands‑on experience, gaining confidence in laboratory techniques that are directly applicable to the workplace. The partnership also aligns with the college’s broader mission to keep young people close to home while they pursue rewarding careers.
“We want our students to have the opportunity to stay here, build families, and contribute to the prosperity of our community,” Howard said. “This partnership is a concrete step toward that goal.”
With industry partnerships expanding and the demand for skilled workers expected to rise, Texarkana College officials are confident that today’s students will become a key part of the workforce driving the region’s energy future.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
