Lone Star College-Montgomery welcomed U.S. Congressman Burgess Owens (Utah-04) on June 22 to discuss workforce development, skills-based hiring, and opportunities to strengthen connections between higher education, employers and workforce training programs.
“Our goal at Lone Star College-Montgomery is not just that students would succeed in the classroom; we want to ensure they can land a job in their chosen field of study and thrive in the workforce long after their time with us,” said De’ Reese Reid-Hart, Ed.D., LSC-Montgomery president. “We are grateful to Congressman Owens for taking the time to visit our campus and understand how we prioritize student success.”
During his visit, Owens met with Mario K. Castillo, J.D., Lone Star College System chancellor, and Reid-Hart to explore the college system’s continued growth and innovative initiatives, including partnerships with regional employers and universities that help guide students toward their next steps. The group also discussed ways the federal government could support community college students who face barriers when pursuing careers in health care, education, cybersecurity and other industries, including ensuring access to hands-on learning opportunities through practicums and paid internships.
Owens toured biotechnology and nursing labs that equip students for careers in high-demand fields. These programs offer certifications and degree pathways that allow students to enter the workforce and earn livable wages quickly.
Owens has represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021. He serves as the vice chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. In these roles, Owens focuses on workforce readiness, skills-based hiring, accreditation reform, and strengthening pathways between education and employment.
He previously played ten seasons in the National Football League, including a Super Bowl XV win with the Oakland Raiders, and has also founded Second Chance 4 Youth, a nonprofit that helps troubled and incarcerated youth.
“America’s promise has always been that if we educate our children and teach them to work hard, they will be able to find meaningful employment and create a better life than those who came before them,” Owens said.
Learn more about degree and certification programs offered across all LSCS campuses at LoneStar.edu/Programs-Of-Study.
Lone Star College System 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, six centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.