Three Lone Star College-University Park (LSC-University Park) students are participating in the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Conference this week, Nov. 2-4, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Vanessa Kitchens, Tyler Kierpiec, and Adam Lopez received sponsorships to attend the conference compliments of IADC headquarters. The IADC sponsorship pays for all expenses related to the trip.
The IADC's Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a premier conference for the drilling industry. The conference brings oil and gas industry stakeholders from around the world together to discuss cutting-edge drilling technology, safety, environment, training, industry economics, and more.
"The conference provides a big picture for the drilling industry beyond the Gulf Coast and the opportunities provided here," said Steve Kahla, LSC-University Park interim vice president of instruction, and dean of business, applied sciences, computing, and engineering technologies. "The potential career paths in this industry are limitless, and the conference will show these to our students."
Tyler Kierpiec is in his first semester at LSC-University Park and is taking pneumatics, blueprint reading, and hydraulics courses and plans to pursue an associate degree in industrial electronics. Adam Lopez is working towards an Associate of Applied Science in petroleum service technology.
"Exposure to potential employers and valuable networking opportunities are a few benefits of receiving sponsorship from IADC headquarters," said Lopez. "Being able to socialize with peers also pursuing careers in O & G is something that I look forward to as well."
Vanessa Kitchens was accepted into Energy, Manufacturing, and Trades Bachelor's program in August through Lone Star-Corporate College at LSC-University Park. She believes the IADC conference will allow her to grow her understanding of the industry.
"This conference will have industry leaders in attendance whose presentations and breakouts will expose me to the future growth and direction the industry is heading," said Kitchens. "It will prepare me to enter the field upon my degree completion."
Lone Star College (LSC) offers IADC-accredited certifications as part of the Continuing Education Petroleum and Services Technician AAS Degree Program at LSC-University Park. The Energy and Manufacturing Institute at LSC-University Park provides hands-on training opportunities, including training with the RigSIM:600 drilling simulator in the Learning Innovation Lab.
"Part of being the community's college is providing quality education and customized workforce training to help our students reach their individual career goals," said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Our programs help supply students with the necessary resources to succeed while meeting the workforce needs. The majority of our students remain in the local area after college. Lone Star College-University Park’s partnerships with the business industry and organizations like the IADC allow students to harvest the wisdom of experts in the field and develop mentorships that will be available far beyond their graduation date.”
Lone Star College has a long partnership with the IADC and is in the process of starting an IADC student chapter, where IADC has promised a $5,000 donation.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative higher education institutions in the country. Under its founding president, Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park is devoted to impacting the community's prosperity and upward mobility through student success. The college's competent and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs.
Located on the grounds of the former Compaq Computer Corporation and Hewlett Packard's world headquarters, LSC-University Park's facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, Learning Innovation Labs, and the Geology Rock Wall. It is also home to the University of Houston-NW Downtown, Lone Star Corporate College, iSchool, and YMCA Children's Academy.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education, ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list, and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.