Lone Star College Foundation relies on area businesses to provide financial, professional and mentorship opportunities. Johnson Controls recently donated another $100,000 to assist students enrolled in the LSC-North Harris HVAC/Refrigeration and Electrical Technology programs.
“Lone Star College System and Lone Star College Foundation appreciate generous donors like Johnson Controls who continually create pathways for our students to succeed in the classroom and the workforce,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director.
Through the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, LSC-North Harris’s HVAC/Refrigeration and Electrical Technology programs have received $400,000, helping nearly 200 students, like Harold Baxley, remove financial barriers while in school. Baxley earned an HVAC/Refrigeration certificate at LSC-North Harris in 2022 and now works as an on-site technical project manager at Johnson Controls.
“Lone Star College-North Harris’s partnership with Johnson Controls provided students like me with stability, sustainability and job satisfaction,” said Baxley. “The suggestions, guidance and specialized skills I received have prepared me for the ever-growing HVAC industry. I am very excited to continue my career at Johnson Controls.”
Although the multi-year grant has ended, LSC Foundation established an endowment in Johnson Control’s name to support underrepresented students in their efforts to provide a better career and quality of life for themselves and their families.
“The skilled trades offer a culture of continuous learning, where hands-on experience and evolving knowledge go hand in hand,” said Julie Brandt, president of Building Solutions North America at Johnson Controls. “Our investments in Lone Star College System equip students with the skills and mindset to embrace this dynamic field and thrive and innovate within their communities.”
To date, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program funds went to 168 LSCS students; 90 earned an associate degree, 59 are first-generation college students and 16 are veterans. Additionally, students received access to internship and mentorship opportunities through lunch and learns and job fairs.
“Since the first year of the partnership, I have witnessed first-hand how it has transformed the lives of so many students,” said Osvaldo Caballero, LSC-North Harris director, Construction Technologies. “The opportunities Johnson Controls has provided have impacted our students, elevated our program and strengthened our entire community.”
Lone Star College System HVAC/Refrigeration and Electrical Technology programs train students on the mechanical and electrical/electronic systems involved in contemporary environmental controls. Graduates can enter the technical service workforce specializing in residential, commercial and industrial environment systems.
“Lone Star College-North Harris has structured its HVAC/Refrigeration and Electrical Technology programs to help increase our students’ earning potential as they fill the huge shortage of qualified and talented skilled trades professionals needed today,” said Cruz Casiano, Ed.D., LSC-North Harris director, Career and Applied Technology Division.