HOUSTON (April 22, 2013) – Corrpro, a global provider of corrosion control and integrity engineering services, recently presented Lone Star College-University Park with an endowment, helping to expand a partnership between the two organizations and adding to the growing list of endowments at the college. The gift will help fund scholarships for LSC-University Park students and serve as a catalyst for Corrpro to develop engineering programs in conjunction with the college.
According to David Kroon, P.E., chief technical officer for Aegion Corporation and president of Corrpro, “People are the most important resource at Corrpro.” He added, “Like many industries, we are facing a shortage of well-trained workers. We expect the partnership with LSC-University Park to allow us to grow talent in the engineering field and provide graduates with a tremendous opportunity to get a well-paying career.”
Shah Ardalan, president of LSC-University Park, couldn’t agree more. Ardalan added, “LSC-University Park and Corrpro are a perfect fit. Corrpro is looking for graduates with strong backgrounds in the science and mathematics fields and LSC-University Park provides numerous academic and workforce opportunities in these disciplines.”
Dr. Lawrence Brandyburg, vice president of instruction and student success at LSC-University Park added that LSC-University Park is currently developing a new engineering program for an Associate of Science in Engineering degree, scheduled for the fall 2013 semester. He said, “Our faculty is working closely with area industries, including Corrpro, to help develop a curriculum and programs that meet their demands.” Brandyburg added that the Associate of Science in Engineering degree will articulate with local universities. LSC-University Park has designed seamless 2+2 degree pathways for its college students to transfer their two-year completed associate’ degree to one of its four university partners on campus to obtain their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The LSC-University Center at University Park offers junior, senior and graduate-level classes through partnerships with four universities. In conjunction with the University Center at University Park, engineering will now be added to the more than 80 certificates, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
The AS in Engineering degree will also complement the AAS Engineering Technician program housed at LSC-University Park. The AS in engineering program can transfer into any of the other engineering programs such as mechanical, electrical, civil, petroleum, biomedical, industrial and chemical engineering.
The engineering program, coupled with a new $20 million Energy and Manufacturing Institute located on the LSC-University Park campus and slated to open in spring 2014, will provide students with not only credit courses towards an Associate of Science in Engineering degree , but also hands-on workforce training in a state-of-the-art facility, Ardalan added.
Corrpro has more than 30 facilities and warehouses worldwide and is a leading provider of materials, design, engineering and installation of cathodic protection systems. Corrpro offers corrosion solutions for every industrial market including pipeline, refinery, aboveground and underground storage tanks, water, wastewater, concrete, infrastructure, offshore and marine. Corrpro strives to consistently provide high-quality cathodic protection materials and cost-effective services including engineering, pipeline integrity, construction and coating inspection.
Founded in 1984 by now president David Kroon, Corrpro was acquired by Aegion in 2009 as part of its Energy & Mining platform. Corrpro employs more than 900 staff in 46 offices on four continents today. In April 2011, the Engineering News Record ranked Corrpro Companies number 54 on its list of top 500 engineering design firms.
Corrpro’s gift represents just one of 18 endowments that will be recognized at a scholarship luncheon later this month at LSC-University Park.
LSC-University Park is the newest and sixth LSCS campus and includes one of the two LSCS university centers. LSC-University Park is home to LSC University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, the LSC Energy and Manufacturing Institute and iSchool High. The campus is located at the corner of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road across from Vintage Park. For more information about LSC-University Park, call 281.290.2600 or visit LoneStar.edu/UP.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.