Trusted By
100% of Latino Graduates Start Trades Careers with Centro Educativo Latino's Workforce Development Program
Key Successes:
- Launched the nation’s first comprehensive
North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
HVAC certification hybrid program in Spanish - Reached 99% program graduation rate
- Achieved a 100% NATE Core certification and
state EPA certification attainment rate among
graduated students. - Reduced student enrollment fees to 3% of
comparative state-funded programs - Supported 100% of graduates in joining the
trades workforce, with 75-80% becoming
entrepreneurs
Training Goals
- Scale and expand trades education access for
the Spanish-speaking Latino community with
online and supplemental hands-on training
options. - Provide Spanish-language credentialing prep for
NATE, EPA, and other employability certifications
in service, installation, and electrical. - Modernize and enhance the community’s
learning experiences with safe, cutting-edge
technology like 3D training simulations and VR. - Offer flexible and affordable learning formats for
those working full-time and/or who have familial
responsibilities.
“When students show up to local employers with three community college certificates, NATE, the State EPA certification, and a portfolio of about 34 Interplay HVAC certificates, the employer says to us, ‘We need more of these people.’ So we stay well-connected and funnel our students into the workforce when they meet employers’ qualifications.”
carlos cotto
Director of Centro Educativo Latino and LCC’s Associate Dean of Workforce Development and Latino Programs
About Centro Educativo Latino
The Centro Educativo Latino (CEL) workforce
development program at Lenoir Community
College (LCC) is a pivotal resource for the Spanish- speaking community, offering leading technical
education in Spanish. With a mission to bridge
equity gaps and empower Hispanic individuals
with rewarding, well-paying careers, the program
provides Spanish-language courses in fields like
HVAC, welding, and auto-mechanics. This
initiative underscores Lenoir Community
College’s dedication to inclusivity, creating
educational and economic opportunities for
diverse student populations.
A College Within a College
Since its inception in 2010, Centro Educativo
Latino at LCC has become a cornerstone for the
Hispanic community, offering over 70 Spanishlanguage workforce development courses in
high-demand trades.
Carlos Cotto, the Director of Centro Educativo
Latino and LCC’s Associate Dean of Workforce
Development and Latino Programs began his
mission to help more Latinos feel welcomed at the
college, turning access into more economic
opportunities in the state.
“It’s sad to say, but the Latino population has never
had access to a good, higher education. They were
offered English as a second language or Windows
98, and they never came on campus—they’d be
taught at churches, libraries, or a little trailer on
the side of the college campus. My intention with
CEL was to create a college within a college
welcoming the underserved population in their
native language.”
A Model for Equitable Education
Centro Educativo Latino extends its commitment
beyond linguistic accessibility by providing an
affordable and flexible hybrid model of HVAC
instruction, blending Interplay’s online coursework
and in-person labs.
The program addresses the needs of parents and
individuals working full-time by offering four
hands-on weekend classes, serving approximately
120 students. A sliding-scale pricing model, supported by generous scholarships like Train the
East, ensures that education remains financially
accessible, reducing student fees to about 3% of
comparative state-funded programs. The in- demand program reaches 29 surrounding counties, with its popularity drawing students who travel from out-of-state to participate in the always-full program. Cotto breaks down the costs,
“Our HVAC program adds up to about 240 hours of online and in-person instruction and costs about 3% of the cost of similar state-funded programs. We provide all tools and materials at no extra cost, plus access to college, state, and NATE
certifications, ensuring comprehensive value for
our students.”
Along with its catalog of online courses, the VR training provided by Interplay is also available to students through the school’s VR headsets, which they cast onto screens during weekend labs, creating a field-like virtual reality environment that enhances safety, engagement and hands-on learning experiences. This dynamic approach puts theory into practice, addressing language barriers and caters to diverse learning styles.
88% of students willingly drive up to 2.5 hours for this program, underlining the dedication and enthusiasm for this valuable educational opportunity. Additionally, the hybrid instructional model has acted as supplemental support for program instructors, enabling their main HVAC instructor, Henry Perez, to expand his mentorship and impact to more students. This past year, Perez received an award for one of HVAC Excellence’s top 25 Most Influential Instructors for 2024.
Summary
- Centro Educativo Latino at LCC offers the first
NATE HVAC associate certification program in
Spanish. - CEL provides an affordable and flexible hybrid
model of HVAC instruction, blending Interplay’s
online courses and in-person instruction. - Interplay’s trades training integrates video
courses, hands-on 3D simulations, and VR
training in Spanish, enhancing program
engagement, safety, and accessibility to nonEnglish speakers. - Employing a sliding-scale pricing model and
scholarships for financial accessibility, the
popular in-person weekend classes cater to
students from 29 counties and attract out-ofstaters working full-time.
A One-of-a-Kind HVAC Program
Centro Educativo Latino offers the nation’s first
NATE HVAC certification program in Spanish.
The integration of Interplay’s trades training has
elevated the impact of its 200+ hour associate
degree program, incorporating online courses and
the latest in 3D simulation and VR training
technology, presented entirely in Spanish. This
marks a tide change in technical education,
bridging the gap between theory and practice with
innovative opportunities once typically reserved for
English-led trade programs.
“This partnership with Interplay Learning is a
significant step forward in providing our
students with courses that reinforce NATE and
offer the best cutting-edge 3D simulation and
VR training in their native language. This
comprehensive education ensures they are
industry-certified and just as prepared for the
demands of rewarding careers and
entrepreneurship as their Anglo peers.”
Program Outcomes:
Steady Enrollment
The popular program has continued to attract students from surrounding counties and out of-state, with enrollment holding steady at 30students per class. With four classes per weekend, the program averages about 120students per semester.
Industry-Certified Graduates
99% of students graduate from the program, with100% obtaining their NATE Core Certification and state EPA, along with various Interplay certifications across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, enhancing their employability and career prospects.
Strategic Partnerships and Entrepreneurship
The program has established strong relationships
with local employers who value the skills and
certifications of Centro Educativo Latino graduates, leading to 100% of grads going on to work in the trades. Cotto is particularly proud to share the story of two young women who recently completed the program with honors and are now enjoying a better socioeconomic standard of living, boasting newly attained annual salaries starting at $62,000 a year. Cotto also weaves in classes in entrepreneurship to prepare students to start their own trade businesses, which 75-80% of students completing the program have gone on to do.
Summary
The collaboration between LCC and Interplay Learning empowers more individuals within the Latino community to access and excel in trades education. Not only is the program opening doors to new economic opportunities, but it’s fostering a more skilled and diverse workforce.
