The Coyote Insider
Message from Dr Gonzalez President Kingwood College
Hello, Coyotes!
What an inspiring couple of months we ’ ve had!
During Commencement, hundreds of students walked across the stage, and we know that we have prepared them well for their next steps
We also celebrated the success of those who earned workforce certificates and GED’s.
We are so proud of all of our graduates and wish them the very best!
We hope you enjoy the newsletter, and -- Go Coyotes!
campus NEWS
2024 COMMENCEMENT
Congrats to all our graduates at Lone Star College-Kingwood! More than 600 students walked across the stage to receive diplomas on Saturday, May 11th Included in that number were 190 early college high school students from Avalos P-TEC, Infinity Early College High School, I-School Atascocita, The Guy Sconzo Early College High School, and Splendora Early College High School. Many of those students were receiving their associate degrees before their high school diplomas. We wish all our graduates the best of luck in their future careers! To view pictures from the Commencement ceremony, click here. To see the full video, click here.
2024 CONTINUING EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT CEREMONY
The weather didn’t deter hundreds of family members and friends from showing up to support students who were receiving workforce certificates or GED’s at the 2024 Continuing Education Achievement Ceremony. Ninety-one students attended the May 16th event LSC-East Aldine Center Dean Reyna Tippets shared her experience of overcoming extreme obstacles to get an education. Congrats to all these students on all their hard work! To see more pictures, click here
FIRE SCIENCE GRADUATION
The Fire Science Program held its 2024 Pinning Ceremony on May 10th. Chief Carter Johnson from the Porter Fire Department was the guest speaker LSC-Kingwood President Dr Melissa Gonzalez and LSC Board of Trustees member Mike Sullivan also spoke Thirty-four students were pinned. A pinning symbolizes the students have met all requirements and are equipped for employment. Twelve graduates already have jobs, pending TCFP (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) test results. Several special distinctions were also awarded to certain students. Chief David Teverbaugh says he is so proud of those who have completed the Academy. “As an instructor, it is so satisfying to see someone achieve something they quite possibly thought was out of reach Now they know they can do anything they want in life, achieve any goal, climb over any obstacle I feel kind of like the proud father who watches his children become something more than he ever thought ” To see pictures from the Fire Science Pinning, click here.
FIRE SCIENCE PROGRAM RECEIVES NEW EQUIPMENT
The LSC-Fire Science Program has received $100,000 worth of new equipment to support the program. The equipment includes 15 new self-contained breathing air packs (SCBA's), 20 masks, and 20 bottles that will hold the compressed air. The program was also able to purchase 8 sets of personal protective gear and a new 35-foot ladder
This will help replace aging and expiring equipment. Chief David Teverbaugh says the funding helped save the future of the program.
Chief Teverbaugh says Division Operations Manager Dena Meshell and Dean Roger Chambers were instrumental in finding the funding to purchase the new equipment. Shari Robinson, the Division Operations Specialist, was able to quickly solicit bids and execute the purchase orders to have the equipment delivered within a couple of weeks after the funds were released
“This purchase really saved our program from disaster,” Teverbaugh says. “Quite often the work of our DOM's and DOS's goes unnoticed. I think it’s time we recognize the efforts they put in to keep the wheels turning.”
POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION
It was a proud night for 23 students as they stood before professors, family, and friends, to celebrate their graduation from the Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy (LEA). More than 300 people attended the ceremony on the LSC-Kingwood campus on May 1st. Guests included family members, law enforcement representatives, and LSC Board of Trustees members Mike Sullivan and Iesheia Wilson The LEA program is offered at LSC-East Aldine Center Around 75% of the students already have a job offer before they even graduate. The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office has hired 12 program graduates since 2022. Congrats to these cadets! To see more pictures from the ceremony, click here.
campus NEWS
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
Here at LSC-Kingwood, we ’ re thankful for our police officers who keep our campus community safe
We caught up with a few of our officers during National Police Week to personally thank them for all they do.
If you would like more information on safety tips or to find important emergency numbers, LSC-Kingwood has a campus safety guide. You can access it here.
MEMORIAL DAY: REMEMBER AND HONOR
The LSC-Kingwood Student Veterans Association, in conjunction with the LSC-Kingwood Veterans Resource Center, put together a moving tribute to fallen veterans for Memorial Day. The Missing Man Table represents those who did not come home
The symbolism of the Missing Man Table, according to The War Memorial Center: The table is round, to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.
The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
The single red rose; displayed in a vase, reminds us of the lives of these Americans and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith while seeking answers
The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate; captured and missing in a foreign land.
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty
The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return, alive or dead. The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country.
The glass is inverted, symbolizing their inability to share a toast.
Our deepest gratitude to those who’ve served in the past and those who continue to serve today.
RESPIRATORY CARE PINNING
On May 8th, eighteen respiratory care students participated in a pinning ceremony. This symbolizes they have met the requirements for their degrees. One of the graduates, Nicola Merritt, was the Chancellors essay contest winner this year. The whole class was awarded a post-graduation fees award by the LSC-Foundation, to help cover costs such as board exams and state licensing There were also multiple awardees of the National Board for Respiratory Care, which donated $5,000. Congrats to these graduates and best of luck to them in their future careers as Respiratory Therapists!
DENTAL HYGIENE PINNING
Congrats to the 2024 graduating dental hygiene class! All 24 students in the class graduated with their A.A.S. in Dental Hygiene. Five of the students also graduated with their B.S. in Dental Hygiene through the dualenrollment program with Texas Women’s University The graduates were pinned during a ceremony on May 9th to recognize their hard work and next step toward their careers.
Awards included:
Academic Recognition – Janella Isidro with a 3 89
Hearts of Alumni Award – Michelle PinonBennick
Mentor of the Year – Pamela Broadhead
Dental Hygiene Devotion Scholarship -- Michelle Pinon-Bennick
Outstanding Leadership Award – Pamela Broadhead
Colgate Star Award – Amey Anderson
Golden Scaler Award – Kyle Lark
More pictures here
LONE STAR COLLEGE WINS TELLY AWARD WITH LSCKINGWOOD NURSING VIDEO
Kudos to Lone Star College on winning a Telly Award for their promotional video on the Nursing Program. The video, titled “Be a Nursing Instructor at Lone Star College,” won a Bronze Award Jeff Dunn was the Producer/Director/Editor and Michael Sellers was the Director of Photography The video featured LSCKingwood’s Nursing faculty and staff. You can view the video here.
PAWS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & PAINTING POTS ON THE PATIO
A “pawsitively” amazing event at LSC-Kingwood. “Paws for Therapy” brought a cuddly canine to campus in May to show some puppy love to students preparing for finals. Other students enjoyed painting pots on the patio in an effort to destress. You can see more pictures from the event here.
LSC-KINGWOOD MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORM IN IRELAND
A group of Lone Star College-Kingwood music students is back from a whirlwind trip to Ireland in May, where they showcased their incredible talents all while being immersed in meaningful cultural experiences. The Kingwood Chorale, which is made up of community members as well as some LSC-Kingwood students, performed to great acclaim in Galway, Killarney, Waterford, and Dublin. While there, the group visited sites like The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and the famed Ring of Kerry. They also saw some ancient monastic ruins and performed in a 1,000-year-old chapel
Dr. Todd Miller, conductor of the choir, said he felt the most meaningful cultural experience was sharing a concert with the Irish choirs in the historic Waterford town hall. The sold-out concert featured the Kingwood Chorale singing American Music, while the Irish choir sang music from Irish composers. At the end, the two choirs sang an Irish and American piece together in a show of solidarity. Student Clarissa Kimbrell said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience “It's been a revelation witnessing the universal language of music in action, seamlessly uniting people from all walks of life I'm utterly amazed by the wealth of knowledge and experiences gained during this remarkable journey.”
KINGWOOD KABARET RAISES THOUSANDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
The annual Kingwood Kabaret saw sellout crowds all three nights - and that resulted in raising a whopping $4,800 for theater scholarships! Theatre Professor Eric Skiles was the emcee of the event, which ran June 20th through 22nd Performers included faculty and students and featured songs ranging from Broadway to Disney classics to modern pop hits. Thanks to all those who worked behind the scenes to pull off another fantastic show!
Photography Credit: Lynn Lane Photography
2024 VISCOM PORTFOLIO ART SHOW AWARDS
Congrats to the winners of the 2024 VisCom Portfolio Art Show! We sure have some creative Coyotes!
Here’s a look at the winners:
Best in Show: Angela Munos “Bunny Escape Point & Click Game”
Excellence in Graphic Design: Thalia Hernandez “Thalia Hernandez Portfolio Board”
Logo Design: Thalia Hernandez “Slow Burn Texas Brewers”
Poster/Single Page Design: Maggie Callahan “Portfolio Show Poster”
Concept Art: Angela Munoz “Cat Enemies and Allies”
3D Asset Modeling & Rendering: Lynnsey Harris “Harpsichord Close Up”
Environmental Modeling & Rendering: Nicole Roman “Takoyaki Shopp Lego 3D Rendering”
Video Production: Eduardo Lopez “It Lurks”
Package Design: Angelina Phavorachit “Doggie Donuts Treat Boxes”
Illustration: Destiny Spearman “Celebrate Black History Month”
3D Facial Animation: Andres Rosendo “Hoppit Facial Animation Breakdown”
3D Technical Animation: Tobiah Ford “Fill Rite 1200 Series Fuel Pump”
Motion Graphics: Ivann Gregory “Under the Seems”
STUDENTS WITH SUMMER ENRICHMENT INSTITUTE VISIT
PROCESS TECH CENTER
Students taking part in the Summer Enrichment Institute program had the chance to tour the LSC-Process Technology Center on June 11th. The program provides area youth with a four day experience at Lone Star College-Kingwood, in which participants are engaged in meaningful activities designed to prepare them for life beyond high school.
PROCESS TECHNOLOGY CENTER REPRESENTS AT JUNETEENTH EVENT
LSC-Process Tech staff had a chance to represent the center at the Generation Park Juneteenth celebration. What a great opportunity to be a part of such a special event
EAST ALDINE CENTER OPEN HOUSE
LSC-East Aldine Center hosted an Open House on May 8th. Students were able to learn about the various programs offered at EAC, such as instrumentation technology, welding, and more Even Cody got a very handson experience There were also fun giveaways such as a big screen TV! Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a success!
ATASCOCITA CENTER OPEN HOUSE
Congrats to the Coyotes who won big at LSC-Atascocita Center's Open House on May 14th! Jalyssa Gallow won the grand prize - a brand new Dell laptop Gabriel Felan came in runner-up with a new pair of headphones And Nanya Wade won a free shirt and headphones!
ATASCOCITA CENTER SNACK ATTACK
Atascocita Center is starting the week off right by offering snacks to students every Monday. Thanks to Communities In Schools for assisting with the snack pack distribution. Coyotes can grab snacks between 9am10:30am each Monday morning of Summer Session I, through July 8th.
STAFF & fACULTY NEWS
LONESTAR EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
INTRODUCING OUR NEW PSSA BOARD!
Say hello to the new LSC-Kingwood PSSA Board members! They got a chance to pose with Dr Melissa Gonzalez
Pictured:
Dr. Melissa Gonzalez (LSC-Kingwood Campus President), Erica T. Burroughs (PSSA President), Argelia Maldonado (Secretary), Amy Kocurek (V.P.) and Angela Reyna (Treasurer)
The Professional Support Staff Association (PSSA) supports employees in the workplace by providing trainings and engaging events to ensure a positive working environment.
Thank you for all you do for the LSC-Kingwood staff!
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
LSC-KINGWOOD STUDENTS GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITY THROUGH BUSINESS CLASS
A Project Management class offered at LSC-Kingwood offers more than just credit – it offers students a chance to give back to their community The class, Information & Project Management, involves a service project as part of the curriculum.
The students are randomly divided into groups, and each group must select a local charity to support in a project format. The students must use the concepts of project management that they are learning in class as they raise funds or collect items for the client organizations. Professor Ron White says the students learn important, real-life concepts through the projects
“The opportunity to start our own project and see it play out from beginning to end was amazing,” said Amanda Martinez, who was a student in the class. “My team and I worked on a project called Project Paws. We were receiving donations for a rehabilitation animal shelter and adoption center called Wags to Whiskers. We also had the opportunity to observe two other projects that were being done by our classmates.”
The other two projects in this class were a fundraising project for Magnificat Houses Houston and collecting hygiene products for Mission Northeast.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD BANK PARTNERSHIP
On May 22nd, Montgomery County Food Bank representatives met with members of our Student Veterans Association and Dr Melissa Gonzalez in an effort to strengthen our partnership. Thanks for stopping by!
CLEVELAND CIVIC CENTER
DONATION
LSC-Kingwood Student Outreach representatives donated 1,000 rulers to the Cleveland Civic Center on May 31st What a great addition to the supplies drive they will have coming up in July!
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
MI FAMILIA, MI FUTURO “PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS” FAMILY SUMMER CAMP
Mi, Familila, Mi Futuro hosted their first ever “Pathways to Success” Family Summer Camp The four day camp hosted 7th and 8th graders and their families. The activities included learning about the Fire Science program, health/science programs and more. Topics covered included financial planning, college readiness, and career exploration. To see more pictures from all four days of the camp, click here.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
ESOL CELEBRATE SUCCESS
Congrats to all the students who completed their ESOL courses this past semester. The “ESOL Celebrate Success” event was held May 9th It’s a fun way to celebrate students’ hard work and accomplishments, recognize program graduates and award winners, hear from student and guest speakers, and enjoy music and dance performances
