Lone Star College System officials recently dedicated the Wadhwani Conference Room at LSC-CyFair’s Health Science Center, recognizing a local family who has supported the college system for over 20 years.
“Generosity from donors like the Wadhwani family makes all the difference for our students,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSCS associate vice chancellor, Foundation Advancement. “One act of kindness can benefit an entire community when it allows someone to earn an education without having to worry about financial barriers.”
For decades, Ashok and Ishu Wadhwani have helped grow the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program at LSC-CyFair by serving on advisory committees, hiring LSCS students and graduates at their company, and establishing an endowment through LSC Foundation to provide scholarships.
The Wadhwani family’s latest gift supports the advancement of nursing education at LSC-CyFair, including the purchase of instructional equipment to enhance the Human Anatomy Visualization Lab on campus.
Before Ishu passed away in September 2025, she received exceptional care from Celia LaPlante, a nurse at Memorial Hermann Health System and an LSCS graduate. LaPlante’s compassion and professionalism left a lasting impression on the Wadhwani family, inspiring them to take their generosity to the next level by investing in the education of future nurses trained at LSCS.
“Nurses are often working with patients and families going through extremely difficult circumstances,” Ashok said. “Our hope is that future generations of nurses in our community will provide the same level of care that we received to others.”
Ishu was born in Calcutta, India, but lived in the Houston region since 1980. She and her husband owned Applied Field Data Systems, specializing in geospatial integration and data management services.
The GIS program at LSCS prepares graduates for careers as technicians, data analysts and project managers, among other pathways in the field. The nursing program has various pathways, from a Nurse Aide (CNA) certificate to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Learn more about how donors support students through LSC Foundation at LoneStar.edu/Giving.
About Lone Star College Foundation
Lone Star College Foundation impacts students' lives by reducing the financial barriers to a quality college education. Since 1991, LSC Foundation has awarded nearly $30 million in scholarships to more than 27,000 students and $14.7 million in program and emergency support. Through tuition scholarships, emergency aid relief or textbook funds, partner with the Foundation today to make your impact on the next generation. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Giving.
About Lone Star College System
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.