U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro announced Lone Star College has been awarded two TRIO Student Support Services grants from the U.S. Department of Education. TRIO grants are used to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“These grants will be a tremendous help to students who want to further their education, but lack the means to do so,” said Dr. Austin Lane, LSC executive vice chancellor. “Low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities will be able to take advantage of these new grants.”
LSC-North Harris received $1,122,521 and LSC-Tomball received $1,100,000 which will used over a five-year period beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year for students who successfully complete a program of study at the postsecondary level. Both campuses have current TRIO funding that ends at the end of this year. In addition to LSC, grants were awarded to 45 Texas colleges and universities including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, University of North Texas and Texas Christian University.
“Lone Star College worked very hard to obtain these highly competitive grants,” said Lane. “We are very pleased to be able to offer even more financial-aid options for students needing assistance.”
TRIO grants are given to institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth and secondary schools. The total funding allocation for the TRIO Programs in 2014 was $8.28 million. The total number of programs was 2,787 nationally assisting more than 759,000 participants.
Lone Star College has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSC remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online.
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