The Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association (LWAA) has purchased two Louisiana State University (LSU) football season tickets that will be raffled to students that attend selected safe boating classes.

The LWAA will randomly select six students who attend a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) safe boating course between July 13 and August 27. Each of the six students selected will receive two tickets to one of LSU's home games this fall.

"This donation from the agents association was very generous and will help spur interest in our safe boating classes. Anytime we can offer an incentive for people to take this very valuable class is a bonus as boating safety education is proven to save lives on the water," said LDWF Sec. Robert Barham.

Louisiana boaters born after Jan. 1, 1984 must complete a LDWF approved boating education course and carry proof of completion to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower. LDWF initiated the state's boating education program in 2003 and has certified over 40,000 boaters during that time.

Studies have shown that states with a mandatory boating education program have fewer boating incidents that result in fatalities than states that have no boating education program. States with a boating education program for more than 20 years had 3.67 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats, and states with no boating education program had 6.61 fatalities per 100,000 boats.

"Not only will the student get their official safe boating certificate from the department, but they get the chance to see our LSU Tigers play in Tiger Stadium. These tickets are very valuable as LSU is in a great position to make runs at both the SEC and National Championship and have Florida, Arkansas and the defending national champion in Auburn coming to Baton Rouge," said Barham.

For more information on the safe boating course, please visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating.

LWAA is a non-profit corporation that fosters, protects and promotes the welfare and interest of all classified commissioned LDWF enforcement agents, active or retired. For more information and donation opportunities for the LWAA, please visit www.lwaa.org.

LWAA supports and provides funding for the following: Fallen Officers of the LDWF Enforcement Division, Louisiana Law Enforcement Fallen Officers Fund, Louisiana Special Olympics Program, hunting and boating Safety, National Hunting and Fishing Day, Children's Hospital, American Heart Association, St. Jude's Hospital, Louisiana Lions Camp For Crippled Children, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Cancer Society, Toys to Recovery, Louis Infant Crisis Center, Becoming an Outdoor Woman, Operation Game Thief and Camp Quality.

The following are the eligible LDWF safe boating classes for the LSU football ticket raffle:

Minden: July 13-14 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m. both nights) 318-371-3049

Opelousas: July 16 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m) 337-948-0259

Lake Charles: July 16 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 337-491-2580

Abbeville: July 17 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 337-491-2580

Rhinehart: July 23 (class starts at 9 a.m.) 318-487-5634

Covington: July 23 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 225-765-2999

Henderson: July 23 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) 337-948-0259

Destrehan: July 23 (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 504-284-2023

Marksville: July 27-28 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m. both nights) 318-487-5634

Crowley: July 30 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 337-491-2580

Gonzales: July 30 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 225-765-2999

Metairie: July 30 (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 504-284-2023

Abbeville: Aug. 3 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 337-491-2580

Vacherie: Aug. 6 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 225-562-2572

Ville Platte: Aug. 6 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) 337-948-0259

Opelousas: Aug. 13 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) 337-948-0259

Houma: Aug. 13 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) 985-447-0821

Monroe: Aug. 13 (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) 318-343-2417

Metairie: Aug. 13 (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 504-284-2023

Ferriday: Aug. 20 (class starts at 9 a.m.) 318-487-5634

Pierre Part: Aug. 20 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 985-447-0821

Lake Charles: Aug. 20 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 337-491-2580

Destrehan: Aug. 20 (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 504-284-2023

Alexandria: Aug. 24-25 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m. both nights) 318-487-5634

Minden: Aug. 27 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 318-371-3049

New Iberia: Aug. 27 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) 337-948-0259

Convington: Aug. 27 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 225-765-2999

Gonzales: Aug. 27 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) 225-765-2999

Please call the number listed for the classes to register.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at aeinck@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-2465.