The presidents of LaGrange’s two major institutions of higher learning touted the benefits of education Tuesday.

LaGrange College and West Georgia Technical College attract different types of students, but both campuses want to prepare learners for the workforce and the world.

LaGrange College President Dan McAlexander told the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce at its monthly breakfast he wants the school to be a partner with the community, especially in the areas of the community with the most need.

“We want to reach out when we see a need,” said McAlexander, who has previously volunteered with Habitat for Humanity before moving to LaGrange this summer.

McAlexander said he’s already been speaking to County Commission Chairman Ricky Wolfe about the college partnering with DASH for LaGrange Inc., an organization founded by Wolfe that promotes affordable housing. McAlexander also said he’s pleased to be part of the new countywide strategic planning commission.

With a PowerPoint presentation including a close-up view of the downtown statue of Lafayette wearing a LaGrange College Panthers jersey, McAlexander said the city and area already have embraced the college, for which he’s grateful.

“That’s an exuberant expression” of the city’s acceptance of the college, he said.

West Georgia Technical College President Skip Sullivan also took over leadership in July, but his introduction to LaGrange came by way of a merger between Carrollton-based West Central Technical College with West Georgia Tech.

“The merger was at best painful, but interesting,” Sullivan said. “It was not necessarily welcomed, but we’re here.”

Sullivan told members of the chamber Tuesday they would be shocked by the number of residents without a high school diploma or GED. One of the college’s main functions is adult education.

“It severely limits opportunities,” he said. “You can apply for a job at Kia, but they won’t look at you without a high school diploma.”

Now that the merger is complete, West Georgia Tech has plans to publicize not just its adult education courses, but all 130 of its programs, from technical education to health care to business and general education. Sullivan said before his switch to the education field, he was a truck driver for 20 years. There are plans also to add more sports and student organizations “to build the culture of the college,” he said.

“We are now the second-largest community college in the state,” Sullivan said.

The college has 7,300 students, 1,691 of them at the LaGrange campus.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.