Two Lone Star College-Cypress Center students have received the Gene Haas Scholarship earmarked for those interested in the essential career of machining, especially now in this pandemic.
Both recipients Ron Davis, who wants to start his own machining business, and Thuc Nguyen, who wants to join his friend’s business making parts for the oil and gas industry, plan to graduate from the Machining Technology Program within this next year.
The manufacturing-related careers provide many options in a variety of fields. Most people think a machinist just makes parts for the oil field, but they also make parts for the medical field, aerospace (including NASA), automotive and airplane industry as well as the U.S. Armed Forces.
“What caught my attention,” said Davis, “the fact that I could make parts for anything in the world was and still is fascinating! I was amazed at how little things like a screw was made by a machine and then I started researching on a larger scale. There are endless possibilities! That is what inspires me to open my own shop. It’s a passion that I can not let go.”
The scholarship came at the right time for Davis who’s been trying to keep a roof over his family’s head since he was unfortunately among those laid off during this pandemic.
“I always put my family first, so anything I receive I put it toward them,” said Davis, honored to be a scholarship recipient. “With the scholarship I can continue taking classes to make sure I finish strong for my family and myself.”
Nguyen can also continue toward his career with the financial helping hand in his LSC-Cypress Center education. He said his knowledgeable professors have already taught him much more about the process and techniques than he could learn from watching videos or textbooks.
“Being able to ask questions and working hands on with the manual lathes and mills gives me a greater understanding of how these machines work and how complex manufacturing is,” said Nguyen, who is interested in earning a welding certificate this year. “I’ve learned the basics of manufacturing from blueprint, measurement readings, to a final product.”
Nguyen even likes using his skills to make fishing equipment, such as filet knives, scrapers/scalers, fishing poles and lures from an aluminum mold.
“I like anything where people give me a general drawing and I design it and build it out myself from start to finish,” he said.
The machining scholarship was established with a Gene Haas Foundation grant in 2019 to help meet industry demands for trained workers in machining, engineering and welding. Multiple $1,000 scholarships will help defray educational costs for those recipients pursuing manufacturing-related careers.
The next deadline for available LSC-CyFair scholarships for the spring semester will be Oct. 1.
For more information on the Gene Haas Scholarship and LSC-Cypress Center programs, email Director of Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Michael.L.Young@LoneStar.edu or Machining Technology Instructor Bo Cui at Bo.Cui@LoneStar.edu.