Lone Star College and National Oilwell Vargo (NOV) are educating and training future employees in the machining industry.

In fall 2022, five Aldine Independent School District graduates started the first machining cohort at LSC-North Harris. They developed their interests while enrolled in the Machining Pathways program at Blanson Career and Technical Education High School, named after Archie Blanson, Ph.D., LSC-North Harris President.

“The Blanson Career and Technical Education High School opened in fall 2018 to provide students with an opportunity to attain valuable career skills and meet the growing demands of the workforce,” said Blanson. “Once they graduate with a program area endorsement or a certification, we encourage them to attend Lone Star College to earn an associate degree that will grant them entry into their chosen field.”

The student cohort is enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science CNC Machining program at LSC-North Harris. They attend classes in the mornings and work part-time in an NOV machine shop in the afternoons Monday through Thursday and all day on Fridays. Additionally, NOV pays for tuition, books, shirts and other equipment needed to complete the machining program.

“I have family members who are in the machining industry and before high school, I visited a machining shop and saw how the machines worked,” said Anthony Martinez, LSC-North Harris machining student and NOV machining apprentice. “That experience led me to watch online videos, which fostered an interest in pursuing a career in the machining industry.”

The LSC and NOV partnership recruits students from underserved, low-income and diverse backgrounds whose parents may never have had the opportunity to attend college. This is a college-to-career commitment and students must enroll full-time in the fall and spring semesters at LSC-North Harris before receiving a part-time position at NOV. The company will offer them full-time positions after they graduate with an associate degree.

“This partnership is important because students are learning machining basics in the classroom and can apply that knowledge working in a hands-on environment at NOV,” said Jeff Dodd, NOV Vice President Human Resources. “This is a ‘win-win’ program for NOV and the students, who may not have had an opportunity to attend college and earn an associate degree in Machining Technology without NOV’s assistance.” 

The energy/machining industry across the United States is experiencing a significant labor shortage. LSC’s joint venture with NOV can help to address this by generating interest in these positions at the high school level. Additionally, it will provide support to help students connect the dots and ensure a smooth transition from high school through college and into the workforce.

“Our goal is to provide systems of support that will prepare these talented individuals for a college and career in the machining industry,” said Cruz Casiano, LSC-North Harris Career and Applied Technology Division Director. “The first step is to identify high school students interested in this field and guide them into the pipeline to obtain college and career success.” 

The Machining Technology program at Lone Star College trains students to create precise mechanical parts and tools for engines and other automated products using power-operated machines. Machinists are also responsible for reviewing blueprints and specifications, planning and troubleshooting the production process and ensuring the accuracy of their finished products.

“Machining was a second career option for me, but once I learned more about the industry and studied the equipment, I became interested in this field,” said Jennifer Navarro, LSC-North Harris machining student and NOV machining apprentice. “Lone Star College-North Harris and NOV are setting me up for a successful career as a machinist.”

Visit LoneStar.edu/Programs-Of-Study/Machining-Technology to learn more about the Machining Technology Program offered at several Lone Star College campuses. 

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.