Tien Truong

December 2021: An international student from Vietnam, Tien Truong graduated LSC-CyFair in May 2021 with more than just lifelong friends and his Associate of Arts degree. He left a legacy to introduce the beauty of Vietnamese culture and language at the campus when he established the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA).

“I believe everything happens for a reason, and attending Lone Star is a reason for my expeditious growth through the sensational people I met and the practical lessons I acquired,” said Tien, a Phi Theta Kappa member who made the President’s List three semesters and earned a scholarship as a winner of the Chancellor’s Student Essay Contest.

Having had the only new student organization approved during the pandemic, Tien, along with friends serving as VSA executive board members, built quite a presence on Instagram.  Among the year’s events were sharing info on Vietnamese foods, Hang Out with Scholars conversations, Vietnamese for Beginners classes and Game Night in collaboration with Circle K International and Humanitarian Connection members, just to name a few.

In addition to creating a campus club, Tien also founded the VieTalk Project, a nonprofit project to teach Vietnamese to the community for free. In December 2020, Tien and fellow volunteers began helping 145 students from 9 countries worldwide learn the language and understand the origin and more about Vietnamese identity and people.

With a career goal of opening a free online school for Vietnamese students to learn multiple subjects and receive Chromebooks through donations, Tien is first pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

“I firmly believe education changes lives … I truly hope to bring free education to every single Vietnamese household, especially in traditionally disadvantaged communities. To teach, to inspire, to rise, and to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, is the true power of knowledge.”

Ena Cusi

November 2021: Proving you can achieve great success while being an Lone Star College-CyFair student athlete, student worker and a nursing student is Ena Cusi, an award-winning tennis team captain who graduated summa cum laude for her Associate of Science degree and magna cum laude for her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).

“I feel like a big part of my success was due to class flexibility and staff who always emphasized prioritizing academics, valued my opinions and saw something great in me,” she said. “LSC-CyFair gave me the resources and taught me the skills to succeed academically and personally. From the engaging student life to the encouraging staff/instructors, I learned how to be confident in my capabilities and be a part of something bigger than myself.”

Now with plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing next year, Ena is currently loving the diversity and pace of working as a Registered Nurse in a Louisiana emergency room.

Her journey began in 2016 taking nursing pre-requisites at LSC-Cypress Center. Drawn to the competitive ADN program, in part by the cohort component, she was accepted but unable to fully commit to the program due to personal reasons until 2019. In the meantime, she continued her studies, worked as a part-time campus scribe/reader/test proctor (and later as a COVID health screener) and got involved in Student Life and Recreational Sports.

She served as Student Activities Board secretary and later president, Student Government Association treasurer, Student Fee Advisory Committee student representative and Student Nurses Organization vice president. She was a member of the Falcon Tennis Team that in 2018 won Student Life’s Most Improved Organization of the Year and the Lone Star Sports Conference Championship. In 2019, the team was named United States Tennis Association (USTA) Club of the Year and as captain, she won USTA Texas Leader of the Year.

“I’m so happy I was involved on campus because I got to be a peer leader and athlete; I met lifelong friends and mentors; and I gained invaluable experiences that I never would’ve even imagined had I not applied myself.”

Julie Clements

October 2021: Several years after Julie Clements helped open Keith Elementary School in 2004, this CFISD Speech-Language Pathologist began coursework in

LSC-CyFair’s Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) to become certified in EC-12 Special Education.

“I made the decision to go back to school and get my teaching certification because I love working in public schools and was committed to making that my permanent career,” she said.

She initially chose LSC-CyFair’s ATCP because of the flexibility of course times, proximity to her job and home, and low tuition costs. Once underway, she found the staff to be friendly, very supportive and willing to acknowledge experience, even asking her to present material when they were learning about Special Education Laws related to speech therapy.

“I appreciated the opportunity to practice my teaching skills on a topic I felt very knowledgeable about … and my classmates heard information from someone who lived it every day!” said Julie, who earned her certification in 2008 while working full-time. “If I had not had the flexibility to take evening courses through LSC-CyFair, I might not be where I am today.”

First, she made a difference in CFISD classrooms, teaching the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities and 2^nd- and 4^th-grade English/Language Arts for three years and then became Instructional Specialist for ELAR for two years.

“Whether it is the lightbulb moments, the funny statements, or the questions they ask that make you really think about things in a different way, communicating with children brightens my day.”

Then, as someone who wants every child to succeed and with her desire to impact more students and staff on a larger scale, Julie moved into administration. She served as assistant principal for Frazier Elementary from 2013-2016 and then at Ault Elementary through the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Today, having rejoined her family as Keith’s new principal, Julie said she’s “looking forward to accomplishing great things with this amazing school’s remarkable staff, students and community.”

Andrew Granger

September 2021: Always a tinkerer in computers and anything with electronics, Andrew Granger found that  LSC-CyFair’s Industrial Electronics Technology program fit him to a T.

“I was drawn to the labs and hands-on approach of the program. I am definitely a kinesthetic learner so being able to work directly on the projects we studied in class cemented the information,” said Andrew. “I can’t say enough about the impact LSC and so many of my professors have had, not only in my technical growth, but toward my personal and professional development, overall. I have benefited from the class challenges that fed my natural inquisitiveness, the guidance to develop my leadership skills, and the encouragement to meet every day with the goal to learn something new.”

Working full-time while attending classes at LSC-CyFair, Andrew graduated Magna Cum Laude in spring 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree and an Industrial Electronics Field Service Technician Certificate.

Upon graduation, he was excited to accept a part-time internship as a flight simulator technician at CAE Dallas West training facility - the world’s largest corporate aviation training center. He worked on a wide realm of preventative maintenance functions on simulators and contributed to a number of processes and procedures that significantly improved productivity.

“One of the most valuable aspects of the Industrial Electronics Technology Program was the ability to hit the ground running and be a valuable technician quickly,” said Andrew, who added that with the technical skills gained in LSC-CyFair’s program, he was full-time in five months, a promotion which usually takes one to two years.

After a year, wanting to continue his education and grow as a technician and a leader, he returned to Houston and LSC with plans to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy, Manufacturing and Trades Management in spring 2022.

“Again, with the advantages afforded by LSC’s value, scheduling options, and proximity to home, I am able to continue working full-time, while gaining education and experience simultaneously,” he said. “That’s the best part about my experience at LSC – their ability to meet me wherever I was and provide what I needed.”

Andrew recently accepted a position as an electrical technician maintaining and trouble-shooting facilities and medical equipment for a major hospital system.

Alejandro Alvarez

August 2021: Admitting he struggled and did not graduate high school because he hadn’t created a good environment for himself, Alejandro Alvarez would later prove you can change and succeed, academically and professionally.

In 2006, he received his GED and by 2011 he was working as a welder and had decided to enroll at LSC-Cypress Center, which offers a certificate in welding as well as an AAS degree in Welding Technology. His career goal was to become a certified Welding Inspector by the American Welding Society.

“Welding is a long-time family business. My dad was a welder and he taught my uncle and brother, who now have their own welding businesses in Houston. Welding has always been a part of my life and is a field that I am extremely passionate about,” he said.

While at LSC-Cypress Center, he started the only AWS student chapter in town, was elected as a student official representative for the local AWS Houston Section in District 18 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with his degree in 2013.

“In the Welding Technology program, we were able to divide our time between the classroom and the welding laboratory. We learned the theory behind welding and then applied what we learned in the lab. The professors were extremely knowledgeable and focused on developing our technical skills.”

“If it wasn’t for LSC, I would have never of known of the career opportunities in Welding Technology and Welding Engineering,” he continued. “The professors and fellow classmates were crucial to my success, motivating me to continue with my educational career.”

Alejandro went on to Ohio State University graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s in 2017, with his master’s in 2020 and this past May, with his Ph.D., all in Welding Engineering. He is looking forward to his current goal of obtaining a career in a national research laboratory, where he can use all of his skills, including research and development.

Elmedin Cancar

July 2021: Earning an LSC-CyFair associate degree in 2019 was the catalyst to a logistics management career for Elmedin Cancar, who said “If there is one piece of advice that I would give anyone, it would be to never stop learning.”

Drawing Elmedin to the logistics field was the abundance of opportunity and various different types of roles available. While at LSC-CyFair, he was a SIDO (logistics club) member and participated in the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals student competition.

However, hearing about advisor Gilbert Leonard’s amazing experience working for Exxon, as well as Professor Jon Sorensen’s excellent way of teaching, reassured Elmedin that supply chain and logistics was the right career path for him.

He continued learning about this field at the University of Houston, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Technology, with a minor in purchasing in December 2020. He was recently certified by APICS in Planning and Inventory Management. And now he is pursuing a master’s in analytics at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Further education came from work experience, such as building leadership skills serving as team lead at one of Amazon’s Houston delivery stations. Additional insight into the field came from internships, including a logistics coordination intern position at Gesture, a company in New York. And just this May, he moved to Mississippi to start his new role with Nissan as a supply chain management intern.

“(Logistics) is an amazing field to work in,” he said. “What I like most about it is the positive impact I can have on a company, from finances to overall company success.”

Elmedin said his ultimate goals in logistics include plans to get a doctorate degree, and regarding his career, the sky is the limit.

Trinity Joshua

June 2021: Interested in becoming a biologist for the federal government, Trinity Joshua said she’s always loved animals and nature and wants to do her part to protect and care for animals in this changing world. Therefore, she is excited about participating in the Directorate Fellows Program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one of three summer internship offers she received this year.

“You can’t always tell what you like or dislike doing until you start doing it, and internships are great for that insight and look good on the resume,” she said. “Plus, you work alongside people who have walked similar paths before you and can give advice how to get to where you want to be. I make it a goal to get an internship every summer to gain experience and explore the world and its options.”

Last summer, Trinity was finishing her associate degree at LSC-CyFair that she had begun in California before her family relocated to Houston. In fall 2020, she transferred to Prairie View A&M University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

She said attending LSC-CyFair gave her time to adjust to the move. She took “university-grade classes for much less” and made grades that got her on the President’s and Dean’s lists as well as a PVAMU scholarship. She also worked as a part-time scribe for Disability Services and connected with faculty and staff that led to letters of recommendation.

“Many of my teachers were quick to help me with any questions I had, whether it be about careers or just about Texas in general. Advisors helped me with my resume and clearly told me what I needed to do to reach my goals. And staff members were so kind to work alongside,” said Trinity. “I really appreciated the community at Lone Star College, where everyone was trying to help each other out.”

Cameron Campbell-Bryant

May 2021: On his way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, Cameron Campbell-Bryant began his academic preparation for medical school at LSC-CyFair earning his Associate of Science degree with High Honors at LSC-CyFair in 2019.

This graduate had many reasons beyond affordability and being close to home for choosing LSC-CyFair to start his academic journey.

“The potential for growth that Lone Star offered, with their vast opportunities such as research, national conferences, study abroad, capstone trips and advanced courses, only further motivated me to make my decision to come here.”

Being heavily involved in extracurricular activities from Chess Club to Honors College and serving in many leadership roles led to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, such as participation and travel scholarships for the National Model United Nations conference in New York and the Italy Capstone trip he won. In addition, he was awarded the In Honor of Dr. Richard G. Carpenter Endowment and Lone Star College System Board of Trustee Scholarships and earned transfer academic scholarships to attend Baylor University, where he continued similar involvement and achievements.

“LSC-CyFair taught me how to be a leader, how to serve my community, and what it means to be a scholar (which he shared at the college’s recent Donor Reception.) The slogan ‘Start Close, Go Far’ could not be a more accurate depiction of LSC-CyFair.”

Nancy Stone

April 2021: Childhood dreams have a way of coming true at LSC-CyFair, as was the case for Nancy Stone, a Special Education co-teacher at Brill Elementary in Klein ISD.

By the time she began college in the 1970’s, the business world had enticed Nancy into Human Resources and the legal department as an Administrative Assistant. One day in 2009, after 30 years in corporate America had passed, she thought “What happened? I wanted to be a teacher!

With that epiphany, and an ensuing lay off, she enrolled in LSC-CyFair’s Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) while simultaneously substitute teaching, which allowed her to put the theoretical into real-time practice.

“Every concept and training learned was immediately applied to all the classrooms I taught. Soon, I enjoyed the art of teaching Kindergarten through Grade-5 students.”

After completing the ATCP in 2011, she chose to earn certifications for General Education (Early Childhood through Grade 8), English as a Second Language (supplemental) and Special Education. A preferred substitute with numerous long-term assignments in six school districts and networking landed Nancy her current position providing in-class support or resource support for identified students with learning disabilities in reading, writing or math.

“LSC offered me the opportunity to build the skills necessary to completely change career paths,” said Nancy, whose husband and daughter are also LSC-CyFair alumni.

“LSC is the definition of a community college encouraging everyone who chooses to attend for college credit or to enrich and further their education. Our family enjoyed attending and thankful we did.”

Cher Schmitt

March 2021: The first time Cher Schmitt went to college, before focusing on family and before moving to Houston after Hurricane Katrina to begin anew, she was obsessed with forensics and true crime and was pursuing a biology degree. With a desire to be “more” and with encouragement from a close friend who knew about her art background, Cher enrolled at LSC-CyFair to earn a degree in visual design.

Having always been a huge nerd, she was excited to get back into school. Though an older student with a job, a family and a 4.0 GPA, she felt she fit in and was able to make lifelong friends.

While still completing her degree, Cher was hired at AlphaGraphics Print Company where she worked six years, until 2016 when she returned to LSC-CyFair to teach in the Visual Communication program. Now this 2011 alumni works alongside professors she said were top-notch, hard but fair and pushed her to be her best. And this year, Cher was recognized for being the best with LSC-CyFair’s Adjunct Excellence Award.

Cher and her LSC-Westway Park Technology Center colleagues are committed to developing skilled and creative, yet employable, graphic designers as they push students to “practice how they play.” She is focused on teaching students to be a “complete designer.”

“We know what it takes to be successful in the industry … A desire to push yourself, ability to listen and be flexible, and realize the importance of being reliable and meeting deadlines,” she said. “The benefits to being in this industry is the ability to find your niche. Almost every type of business needs designers. If you like cars, fashion, food … you can design for that passion.”

Cassie Stroud

February 2021: Cassandra Stroud began taking advantage of educational opportunities at Lone Star College-CyFair first as a Dual Credit student earning college credit before she even became a 2004 Cy-Creek High School graduate.

Then as an official college student, this communications major got involved in a variety of campus activities. She sang in the Chamber Choir and performed in Reader’s Theatre and other theatre productions. She also helped with Discovery College, (the college’s summer youth camp) and volunteered with the Friends of the Library and in the Dr. Diane K. Troyer Community Garden.

In addition, she attended campus fairs the college hosts for community partners offering jobs and internships. Cassandra interviewed with the Disney College Program, was accepted and the next year she was taking distance learning classes at LSC-CyFair as she experienced an amazing adventure interning at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Even while enrolled at four-year institutions, she continued taking LSC-CyFair courses. Those credits helped her earn a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Houston and later a master’s in Education from Sam Houston State University.

“My time spent at Lone Star College-CyFair aided in my academic, professional and personal growth, all of which contributed to the person I am today.”

Now more than 16 years later, her educational journey has brought her back to the Cy-Fair community as a kindergarten teacher.

Marilyn Stone

January 2021: Marilyn Stone’s LSC-CyFair experience started in 2005 in pursuit of a career with natural history sciences. That goal eventually combined with a growing interest in media production, which allowed her to explore curiosities through a camera lens, and this past year, to earn several visual awards and showcase her and her students’ work in virtual film festivals.

She graduated in 2008 with her LSC-CyFair associate of science degree and in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. By 2013, she was headed to Washington, D.C. for graduate studies at American University. In 2018, she produced a capstone thesis film about snow leopard conservation in Mongolia and earned her master’s in Film & Video Production.

Now she is a Visual Media and Imaging Specialist for Montgomery Parks in Maryland, a position that is “creatively liberating” with more than 400 hundred parks and diverse activities to film and photograph for her marketing team. She is also a teaching artist with Docs in Progress, a non-profit organization, guiding professional development students toward producing their own visual stories.

While at LSC-CyFair, she was a Phi Theta Kappa member, who made the President’s List multiple semesters, found supportive faculty and created cherished connections. Participation in the student marketing organization came back full circle, now that she’s on a professional marketing team.

“LSC-CyFair is where I gained a lot of collegiate confidence and a foundation of scholastic encouragement and integrity was built for me. The LSC-CyFair experience also has been a real family affair. My mother earned her Alternative Teacher Certification in 2011 and my father earned his GIS Analyst Certification in 2012.”