Supporting the success of Lone Star College-CyFair’s students in various capacities are five dedicated employees recently honored with the college’s Staff Excellence Award.
Nominated by their peers and chosen as this year’s outstanding award honorees are Sarah Ceballos, Lyndell Masterson, Valerie Pinto, Sierra Rena and Catherine Ussery.
“I enjoy working with students, being part of their academic journey and seeing students everyday achieving their goals within higher education,” said Ceballos, a patient and hardworking part-time employee in Student Services at LSC-Cypress Center since 2018.
Masterson began working as Division Operations Manager at LSC-CyFair in 2016 and has continued that role since at LSC-Westway Park Technology Center, which opened in 2019 to serve students in the Information Technology (including Cybersecurity) and Visual Communication Programs.
“As staff members, while we are sometimes behind the scenes, we directly impact the strategic goals of LSC with our work and actions every single day,” she said. “I love that my job presents new challenges regularly and that I work with a fantastic team at both locations.”
Pinto, a first-generation college student who understands the struggles some need to overcome to get an education, has been helping to ensure student success in her role as LSC-Cypress Center’s Workforce Advisor since 2017.
“As an academic advisor I am able to interact and provide students with the guidance and tools needed to fulfill their ultimate goal, whether it is obtaining a certificate and/or degree,” she said. “My own memories as a first-generation college student motivate me to make sure my students are aware of the services available to them as they navigate through their college career.”
An LSC-CyFair 2016 graduate, Rena has held several roles at LSC in her field of interest - social and behavioral sciences. She began working at LSC-CyFair in 2015 for two years as a part-time Division Staff Assistant. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018, she became a full-time Division Staff Assistant at LSC-North Harris in 2019 and then returned to LSC-CyFair in 2021 as a Division Operations Specialist.
“I genuinely enjoy my position and absolutely love coming to such a positive work environment every day,” she said. “I work with an amazing, supportive team … and I am incredibly thankful for those who have helped me along my LSC journey.”
With seven years Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District paraprofessional and teaching experience, Ussery began working as Dual Credit Specialist in LSC-CyFair’s Admissions and Records department in July 2021 and was promoted to Dual Credit Coordinator in November 2022.
“I work with an outstanding group of employees who bring their absolute best to the table every single day. I enjoy my job greatly,” she said. “I love to help students overcome barriers and achieve their dreams. I look forward to every day because I know I am helping to make a difference in my community.”
These deserving award recipients were recently recognized at the campus convocation and will be honored again at the LSC system’s upcoming awards event.
It’s not too late to register for spring classes with multiple Next Start options available. For information, go to LoneStar.edu/regcyfair or LoneStar.edu/nextstartcyfair