Four Machining Technology students at Lone Star College-Cypress Center received a financial helping hand with the center’s inaugural Gene Haas Scholarship.
Recipient of a $10,000 Gene Haas Foundation grant, LSC-Cypress earmarked these grant funds for multiple $1,000 scholarships to help defray educational costs for those interested in manufacturing-related careers.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to help remove financial barriers for our workforce students through this new scholarship,” said LSC-CyFair President Dr. Seelpa Keshvala.
Five scholarships were awarded for the fall semester to Clifton Haynes, Doan Nguyen, Nhat Pham and Matthew Riggs.
Pham and Haynes, who are pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in the Machining Technology program, said they appreciate the help with tuition costs.
“It allows me more time and energy to focus on my academic journey. As a full-time student and employee, it’s hard to maintain the time for both in a proper way,” said Pham, who is interested in improving his skills at work and ultimately having a coding career in Computer Numeric Control (CNC.) “It’s given me motivation to complete the program.”
A non-traditional student and recently “blessed with a newborn,” Haynes expects the hands-on experience and knowledge he gains with the support and encouragement of his instructors will further his success at work.
"I have been interested in machining since I was in high school where I was a Metal Shop Student Helper 44 years ago,” he said. “I am presently applying for a Tool and Die Maker position at my job since it is in my line of progression as a Die Setter.”
LSC-Cypress Center’s Machining Technology instructors help students build their resumes with skills in blueprint reading, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CADCAM), extensive hands-on set up, machine shop math, operating manual lathes and mills, as well as operating and programming CNC machine tools.
“We are meeting industry demands by keeping our workforce programs, real, relevant and related to current industry standards and practices,” said Michael Young, LSC-Cypress Center’s Director of Advanced Technology. “In addition to financial assistance and preparing our students with the skills to be competitive and employable, our workforce instructors are working directly with industry partners.”
Among the local businesses hiring and providing internships for welding, machining and industrial electronics students are C&J Equipment Manufacturing, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America, Baker Hughes and Schlumberger.
For more information on the Gene Haas Scholarship and LSC-Cypress Center programs, go to LoneStar.edu/wf-energy-manufacturing-construction, email Michael.L.Young@LoneStar.edu or contact Machining Technology Instructor Bo Cui at Bo.Cui@LoneStar.edu.