(May 24, 2013) – Officials with the Lone Star College Foundation are still reeling following the record-setting success of StarGala 2013, which raised $565,000 and set numerous other revenue records.
The revenue success can be attributed to the outstanding leadership by the Star Gala 2013 co-chairs Ian and Linn Powell, said Darcy Mingoia, executive director of the LSC Foundation.
“The Powells were the ‘power couple’ of this year’s event,” Mingoia said. “From sponsorships to auction items to the raffle, Ian and Linn connected with business partners and community members who wanted to financially support the students of Lone Star College System. They made it happen.”
A highlight of the evening was a speech by LSC-North Harris and University of Houston-Downtown graduate Monique James. Her story so moved the audience that she earned a standing ovation and, in addition, Dr. Bill Flores, UH-D president, and Jacob Monty, UH regent, offered James a full scholarship for the master's degree she said she is determined to earn.
In her speech, James explained that she was a single mom with no education and no employment prospects. Because she needed to support herself and her child and she wanted to teach, she realized that she needed a degree. Her educational journey began in classes at LSC-North Harris. After earning her associate degree, James enrolled in a cohort program with LSCS and UH-D to earn her bachelor’s in education. Currently James is an elementary teacher in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.
StarGala 2013,held April 27 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott & Convention Center, also paid tribute to special honorees – the Tomball Regional Medical Center and Massey Villarreal.
Tomball Regional Medical Center was recognized for its outstanding support of the LSCS health care programs including numerous student scholarships funded by the hospital’s auxiliary and the donation of the land where the new allied health care education facility for Lone Star College-Tomball is housed. Bud Wethington, chief executive officer of the Tomball Regional Medical Center, accepted the award at the gala.
Massey Villarreal was honored for his outstanding support of LSCS and its mission and vision to provide education for our community’s residents. Villarreal is chairman of the LSCS Chancellor’s Hispanic Advisory Committee and has been instrumental in helping reach new supporters throughout the state.
Top sponsors were PBK, Inc., The Woodlands Waterway Marriot Hotel & Convention Center, Caldwell Cos., Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center, the Feldman Family, Bob and Darcy Mingoia, Noble Energy and Precision Task Group. Other sponsors include Canteen Energy, Gilbane, Joiner Partnership, Inc, and Valence Operating Co. Underwriters for the event included Allegiance Bank Texas, DataVox/Cisco, EMCID, Follett Higher Education Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, Kroger, and Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Shannon Fine Jewelry provided a custom purple spinel and diamond necklace for the raffle.
This annual event, themed “The Way We Were”, reflected back on the pop culture and sports champions of 1973 — the year LSCS students began attending classes. Dinner, dancing to The 5th Avenue Band, shopping the live and silent auctions as well as an opportunity to donate a $500 “Support a Student” scholarship were all part of the evening’s festivities. Many in the audience chose to attend the event sporting 70s vintage clothing.
Established as a 501(c)(3) Type I nonprofit corporation, the LSC Foundation’s mission is to raise money to support students, faculty and programs of the LSCS. Through StarGala, the annual golf tournament, and the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses and other organizations, the foundation is able to grant more than $700,000 in scholarships annually to students attending Lone Star Colleges. For more information, visit the Foundation online at LoneStarCollegeFoundation.org.
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 , Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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