HOUSTON, TX (June 23, 2026) —Lone Star College-University Park (LSC-University Park) hosts its newly rebranded Lions Summer Learning Program, providing elementary students with a fun and creative way to continue learning during their summer break.
Formerly known as the Lions Summer Reading Program, the camp has expanded to include math lessons. Designed by LSC-University Park faculty member Jessica Mercado, the program helps students in grades 2-6 stay engaged in learning and brush up on their reading and math skills through crafts, activities and games while closing any learning gaps. The camp is supported by Lone Star College students preparing to become teachers, along with certified teachers.
“We are excited to welcome these students to campus,” said Terri Hill, coordinator of youth engagement programs at LSC-University Park. “Children can learn in different ways. Some can read and catch on, and some benefit from visuals or hands-on instruction. If a student is struggling in reading or math, then trying a new approach can build understanding and confidence. We hope when students return to the classroom, it will open the students’ eyes and give them a renewed enthusiasm for learning.”
The free program welcomed its first cohort on June 1, offering a morning session from 9 a.m. to noon and an afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 60 students attended the classes, with some participating in both sessions, which alternated through Reading and Math.
The morning classes primarily focus on reading topics such as story structure, where students create their own books and present them to their parents at the end of the cohort. The afternoon classes revisit math concepts such as telling time and solving more complex math problems. Students used wooden picks and marshmallows to create diagrams that guide them through the problems step by step.
The camp will continue with two additional cohorts June 22-July 1 and July 13-24. Through the summer sessions, the Lions Summer Learning Program aims to help students retain and strengthen their reading and math skills before the new school year begins.
To learn more about the LSC-University Park Summer Learning Program, contact UP-LionsSummerLearningProgram@LoneStar.edu.
About Lone Star College-University Park
LSC-University Park offers more than 70 programs of study, including credit and non-credit courses, workforce training, and continuing education classes. Classes are available during the day, evenings, and weekends in traditional, online, and hybrid formats. For more information about classes or to register, visit www.lonestar.edu/upstudentsupport, call 281-290-2600, or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu.
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. The college, led by President Matthew Dempsey, Ed.D., is devoted to impacting the community’s prosperity and upward mobility through student success. LSC-University Park’s expert 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, and iSchool.
About Lone Star College
Lone Star College System (LSCS) enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.