The Coyote Insider Edition #5
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER SEPTEMBER 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
JANUARY
VETERANS DAY: Honoring those who’ve served
WELCOME BACK TO THE WOODS COYOTE KICKSTART SUPER SATURDAYS CLUB RUSH AMERICA’S WESTERN LANDSCAPE STRATA VARIOUS
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS: Tree Lighting Social
EDITION #5
The Coyote Insider
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Message from Dr. Gonzalez President Kingwood College
Hello, Coyotes! The LSC-Kingwood Campus and Centers honored Veterans with several special ceremonies.At the Kingwood event, the Atascocita High School Marine Corps JROTC presented the colors. Leiyauna Manning sang the National Anthem, and the Pledge was delivered by Lovella Maxey. Leonard Lynce, Jr., a Navy Veteran, spoke at the Kingwood campus and Atascocita Center, about the obstacles he faced during his transition to civilian life. Veterans also enjoyed food and fellowship during the event. The event was supported directly by the Student Veterans Association. To see pictures from the LSC-Kingwood Veterans Day Celebration, click here.
The holidays are upon us and I know we are all looking forward to some time off to relax and recharge. We want to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season, and we look forward to supporting you in your new goals in the new year. Happy Holidays, and -- Go Coyotes!
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: JAMES J.E. ROBAYO I An LSC-Kingwood student and Veteran has overcome unbeatable odds to follow his dreams for a higher education. James J.E. Robayo I is attending college at age 50, and his son is taking classes right along with him. Robayo I was recently elected President of the Student Veterans Association on the LSC-Kingwood campus. He served in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk Crew Chief and Door Gunner. He also served in the Third Balkan War. After losing his wife tragically in a car accident, raising his son, and overcoming his own life-threatening health issues, Robayo decided he needed a change. He went back to college. He says he decided to run for President of the SVA because he wanted to leave a legacy of support and community. “The mark I want to leave for future SVA members and Executive Officers is that we should ‘Aim to serve; not be served.’ As the ‘old man’ of the group I hope that I can tie in my military and life experiences into something all SVA members can learn from and take on with them through the future.” To see the full interview with Robayo I and his son, click here.
VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE CENTERS LSC-Kingwood Campus and Centers honored Veterans with several special ceremonies. Leonard Lynce, Jr., a Navy Veteran, spoke about his service during a breakfast at LSC-Atascocita Center. At LSC-East Aldine Center, veterans were also honored by Senator Carol Alvarado, who held a pinning ceremony to thank them for their service.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS The Dia de los Muertos Ofrendas were stunning! What a talented group of artists we have at LSC-Kingwood!
International Education Week was full of unique and exciting events. Students and staff had the opportunity to taste traditional Asian fruits, such as the stinky Durian fruit. Models rocked their cultural attire during a Fashion Show. Countries represented included Africa, Brazil, Czech Republic, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mariana Islands, Mexico, and Pakistan. A table parade was also on display to showcase cultures from around the world. More pictures from these events can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5cqX https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5mhw https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5mhw
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
“TU CAMINO” SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN SURPRISE CEREMONY Kenia Mojarro Mejia dreamed of being the first in her family to go to college – and now she has a $15,000 scholarship to help her reach that goal. Mejia was one of three people awarded the “Tu Camino” scholarship in November, during a surprise ceremony on the LSC-University Park campus. The scholarship was sponsored by Univision, Lone Star College and the LSC Foundation. Applicants were asked to write an essay answering the question, “How a Lone Star College Scholarship will help me attain greater education or certification that will enhance my career path or pursue a career shift.” Mejia is the first in her family to go to college. “I’m just so happy that I was able to be a part of this opportunity. It makes me so excited. I’m very proud of myself and my family is very proud of me as well.” LSC-Kingwood President Dr. Melissa Gonzalez congratulated Mejia on the accomplishment. “It is an honor to see such a deserving student receive this scholarship. We know this will help her achieve success here at LSC-Kingwood and we look forward to supporting her on that journey.” Mejia says she’s considered Lone Star College before, but always held back due to financial constraints. Now, thanks to this scholarship, she’ll be able to work toward her goal of obtaining a degree in Healthcare/Business Administration.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
CREATIVE COYOTES SHOWCASE THEIR ARTISTIC TALENTS
HONORS COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY
Coyotes showed off their creativity at the Poetry and Songwriting Club open mic night in November. Top performances for the open mic were the following students and works: Josiah Scott, original Christian Rap: "I'm a Double D and D, Devil" Anthony Pamos Paredes, original poem: "I Hold a Pencil" Jorge Palomarez, original song: "Nancy Loves the Rain" Cleo Waith-Mair, original song: "Flies in my Room" Ali Ibrahim, original poem: "Why Is Everyone Trying to Convince Me" The next meeting of the club will be Tues., Feb. 13 in APA 105, 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. To view more pictures, click here. To see the performances, click here.
The Honors College held its Undergraduate Research Day. During the event, students presented their research projects for their professors and peers. These students were selected by honors faculty, and represent the best research projects in honors classes and seminars for the Fall 2023 semester.You can view videos of the sessions on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLiWMHTHJh4rGNByfxiDB4jPwNy270CxuG
PTK CLUB BASH PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) held its annual Club Bash in November. Various clubs set up activities for students to hang out and learn about all of the opportunities to get involved here at LSC-Kingwood. To see more photos, click here.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS TAKE TOP AWARDS
NATIONAL RESPIRATORY CARE COMPETITION
Congratulations to Lone Star College-Kingwood Graphic Design-Visual Communications students for taking top awards at the 2023 AAF Conference.
Students from LSC-Kingwood’s Respiratory Care Club competed in the Sputum Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, in November.
LSC-Kingwood students were members of the first, second and third place teams. The 42nd annual American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Houston’s Student Conference and Competition competition was held last month. Students were tasked with creating a marketing campaign for sponsoring brands.
The Sputum Bowl event is a Jeopardy-style competition that challenges students on various therapies in Respiratory Care. The TSRC (Texas Society of Respiratory Care) holds a conference every summer in which students compete against other schools in the state.
Students Duy Pham and Timothy Lam were on firstplace teams; Maggie Callahan and Amber Leach earned second place, and Lucas Pettingill, Nuvi Xon, Ruben Canales, and Nicole Jacobs earned third place awards from AAF-Houston.
The LSC-Kingwood students placed 2nd at the state competition, so they were invited to go to the AARC Conference to compete at a national level. The “Lone Star Loogies,” as they dubbed themselves, made it all the way to the quarterfinals! Congrats on a job well done!
Other LSC-Kingwood students who participated were Xavier Burgess, Lyka Eunice Ronquillo, Paola Vasquez, Alizehl Plamo, and Angelena Phavorachit.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
campus NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
HOLIDAY CHEER IS HERE: TREE LIGHTING AND ORNAMENT DECORATION SOCIAL LSC-Kingwood brought the holiday cheer to campus with the annual Tree Lighting and Ornament Decorating Social sponsored by College Relations. Dr. Melissa Gonzalez did the honors of turning on the tree lights. Cookies, hot cocoa and coffee were served. Coyotes got creative and showed off their artistic abilities with ornament decorating. Afterward, the ornaments were added to the tree. For more pictures of the event, click here.
EXAM JAM Don’t cram - exam jam! Students stopped by the Learning Commons to get tutoring assistance ahead of finals. Even Dr. Gonzalez helped out! Thanks to all the volunteers who stepped up to give students a chance to get ahead of the curve.
HOLIDAY CAROLING LSC -Kingwood's Concert Choir caroled around campus last week, sharing their incredible voices with some classic holiday tunes. To see their performance in the APA, click here.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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campus NEWS
EDITION #5
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
TRANSFER FAIR Around 40 universities set up shop at LSCKingwood for the Career & Transfer Fair. Representatives from the colleges were on hand to help walk students through the transfer process so they could move forward in their educational journeys. To see more pictures from the Transfer Fair, click here.
CAREER FAIR Coyotes had an opportunity to visit with various businesses during a Career Fair hosted by the CATCenter. More than 170 students stopped by to learn more about employment with more than 20 vendors. Businesses represented included the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Greater Houston YMCA, the FBI, HCA Healthcare and more. Some even offered onthe-spot interviews. To see pictures from the event, click here.
PSSA POTLUCKS The PSSA provided potlucks at LSC-Kingwood and its Centers. They will host a potluck for Process Tech later this week. Thanks for all you do throughout the year to support our staff! 20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
STAFF & fACULTY NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC_KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
LSC-KINGWOOD WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS AMANDA MOLLET, DISABILITY SERVICES MANAGER Introducing Amanda Mollet, M.Ed., as our new Disability Services Manager at LSC-Kingwood. Amanda earned her BBA in Accounting from McMurry University, followed by a M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of St. Thomas. Amanda Mollet is also a certified Educational Diagnostician. In Houston, she served as a Special Education teacher and case manager for five years before championing transition services for students and families within the Houston Independent School District as a Transition Coach for the past eight years.
HECTOR TEPO, MI FAMILIA, MI FUTURO COORDINATOR Hector Tepo is the new Coordinator III for Mi Familia, Mi Futuro at LSCKingwood. Hector He has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing & Advertising from Alva Edison University (2009-2013) in Mexico, an Associate Degree in Computer Science, and Certificate in Advanced Assembly and Computer Repair from BUSPEC Institute. He also holds a Digital Marketing Certification. Hector is hoping to use his passion for empowering the underserved community to assist him in his role with Mi Familia, Mi Futuro.
JAIYDA TYLER, DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST III Please give a big Lone Star College welcome to Jaiyda Tyler, our new Digital Marketing Specialist in College Relations. Jaiyda will be assisting with the Social Media and website and covering campus events. Jaiyda graduated from Michigan State University. She has worked in the news industry as well as higher education before arriving in Texas. Stop by her office, TIB 104a, and say hi!
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC-KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
LONE STAR COLLEGE STUDENTS VISIT OPERA FOR FIRST TIME
LSC-KINGWOOD STUDENTS FIND CONFIDENCE THROUGH CLOTHES Ten LSC-Kingwood students had an amazing opportunity to be part of a Dress for success event off campus, sponsored by Houston Dress for Success and in partnership with the LSC Career and Transfer Center. They non-profit organization provided interview preparedness skills, along with a full wardrobe ensemble for all participants that attended, as well as a personalized portfolio. The students left with confidence, courage, and an unforgettable experience.
A group of students from Lone Star College had the opportunity to see a performance by the Houston Grand Opera for the first time. Around 15 students from LSC attended the opera titled, “Intelligence.” The opera tells the story of an enslaved woman who goes undercover at the Confederate White House to spy for the Union. The field trip was made possible by CIS (Communities In Schools). The Office of Culture and Engagement also supported. Yolanda Deloney was one of the students who attended. She said, “I felt it was extremely wonderful that I was able to witness a cultural opera with black culture involved, and I liked the fact that different cultures from various Lone Star Colleges attended the opera. I believe that as a people, we may get closer and stronger the more we expose ourselves to the cultures and beliefs of others.” 20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC-KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
FINANCIAL AID BINGO Mi Familia, Mi Futuro offered a holiday-themed Financial Aid Bingo on campus. The fun and festive event was a way to educate students and others on financing college through federal aid and scholarships. To see more pictures, click here.
BLANKETS & BOOKS DRIVE
FACULTY/STUDENT CERAMICS SALE Coyote creativity was on full display at the fall Faculty and Student Ceramics Sale. Everything from bowls, to mugs, to jewelry created by our talented Faculty and students was on sale.
TOYS FOR TOTS DONATIONS
Thanks to a blanket and book drive at LSC-Kingwood, more than 70 blankets and around 35 books were donated to students at Brookwood Forest Elementary School in Porter. It was the result of a partnership with officers from HPD's Kingwood Division and staff from LSC-Kingwood's Women's Center. To see more pictures, click here.
Several boxes of toys were picked up from LSCKingwood's Toys for Tots drive before heading off to bring holiday cheer to those in need. More than 200 toys were donated. A special thank you to everyone who donated to make this holiday season special for children in our area. 20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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EDITION #5
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
LONESTAR.EDU/KINGWOOD | @LSC-KINGWOOD | 281-312-1600
LSC-EAC WELLSPRING OF WELLNESS The LSC-Kingwood Culture Impact Committee ignited a burst of energy and inspiration at the East Aldine Center's digital café this month. Faculty, staff, and students were swept into a world of engaging mental wellness activities. Some students chose to construct intricate Lego masterpieces. Others learned how to blend personalized sugar scrubs or chose to sculpt unique clay creations or crochet. Folks were also given an opportunity to take an immersive dive into diverse identities through a Virtual Reality headset. The event was supported by members of the LSC-Kingwood PSSA team and the Office of Culture and Engagement.
LSC-AC RELAX & RECHARGE
LSC-PROCESS TECH
Students stressing over finals got a chance to snag some goodies to help them relax and recharge, at LSC-Atascocita Center. Students also took some time to do some rock painting for relaxation. And the center celebrated National Cotton Candy day by handing out bags of the sweet treat to students. Thanks to Communities In Schools for providing snacks and support. And some exciting news for folks at Atascocita Center; they can now take advantage of the new Coyote Lounge. The Coyote Lounge was made possible by funding from a mini grant. The purpose is to provide Faculty, staff, and students a quiet place to decompress while on campus for classes or during the workday.
LSC-Process Tech Center hosted an information session on Instrumentation Technology last week. The program blends technology and manufacturing and is a very high-demand field. For more information on the Process Technology Center, click here.
20000 KINGWOOD DR., KINGWOOD, TX 77339
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