Interior Design students – Rebeca Munoz (left) is the winner of Best of Residential Design, and Tania Albin is the winner of Best of Commercial Design. Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society.
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has chosen two students from the Houston Community College (HCC) Interior Design program as winners of two categories at the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter Ruby Awards.
During the recent event at the Decorative Center of Houston, Tania Albin won Best of Commercial Design and Rebeca Munoz won the award for Best of Residential Design.
“This award is very important for me because is the first time in my life I feel that an organization and a school is supporting me in achieving my professional goals,” said a thrilled Munoz. “The HCC Interior Design program helped grow as an interior designer. Since I started the program, my design abilities have been constantly improving with the help of my experienced professors. They are constantly pushing you to do your absolute best.”
Those proud professors are Shasta Swift, associate chair, HCC Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence and Kevin Hamby, HCC Interior Design program coordinator.
“We provide a rigorous two years of intensive design classes which has produced some of the most refined and talented interior designers Houston has to offer,” said Hamby. “Shasta and I are so delighted when our students receive recognition from the professional interior design community for the hours of hard work and dedication it takes to get though the program.”
The Interior Design program is part of the HCC Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence. For more information, visit hccs.edu/interiordesign.
HCC’s careers in the manufacturing sector gets national nod
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society.
Forbes Magazine says Houston is the best city in America for manufacturing and in less than 10 years, companies will need to fill more than three million manufacturing jobs.
Houston Community College (HCC) is positioned to fill the skills gap by educating and training individuals at the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
HCC leadership, Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella, and members of the community celebrated the grand opening of the Center, housed at the newly constructed Stafford Workforce Building on the HCC Stafford Campus. Stafford is home to the largest concentration of pipe, valve, and fitting manufacturers in the United States and boasts the latest technology based manufacturing equipment out there on the market from CKSGLOBAL.NET.
“We offer a lot here, and Stafford should certainly be proud of what it has cultivated as a result of its relationship with Houston Community College,” said Mayor Scarcella. “We look forward to making this one of the premier workforce development destinations in the country.”
The HCC Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence offers degrees in Manufacturing Technology and Manufacturing Engineering Technology and certificates in plumbing, welding pipefitting, mechatronics, industrial robotics, and automation in collaboration with the School of Continuing Education and the HCC Material Science Center of Excellence.
“In support of local industry, this Center of Excellence offers opportunities for upskilling incumbent workers who must keep up with technology and industry changes,” said Dr. Madeline Burillo, HCC Southwest President.
Advanced Manufacturing students have access to state-of-the-art industrial technology laboratories, CNC machines, a makerspace with 3D printers, woodworking, and machining tools and, most importantly, a pipeline to prosperous careers.
Robert Glaser, Vice Chair of the HCC Board of Trustees, owns a manufacturing business in Stafford and noted that he has the same equipment in his shop.
“Whether our students are straight out of high school or have come to change careers, this is what you want them to be learning on,” Glaser said.
“I’m pleased to be part of what HCC is doing,” said Nathan Byman, Industry partner and Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Advisory Board. “Their recognition of the importance of manufacturing to the strength of our community is tremendous.”
Chancellor Cesar Maldonado said that HCC students are at the right place at the right time.
“In the next decade, we’re going to see a convergence of IT, manufacturing, big data, machine tools and construction, all before our eyes—and it’s going to be happening here at this Center.”
To learn more about the programs offered at the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, visit hccs.edu/manufacturing
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.
Houston: HCC opens Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence
Participants as the Houston Community College holds a grand opening for the Public Safety & Automotive Technology Center of Excellence at the Northeast Campus. Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.
Ryan Russell has wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was a little boy. Today, the Houston Community College (HCC) Fire Academy cadet is on his way to achieving that dream.
“I really like helping people,” said the class leader. “This is something I can do to give back to the community.”
Helping others has always been a passion for Maria Mora, who has been in law enforcement for nearly 10 years. Mora started as a 911 dispatcher and is now a student at the HCC Police Academy.
“I’ve been a cadet for nearly four months and choosing Houston Community College has been one of the best decisions in my life,” said Mora.
Russell and Mora are just two of the many success stories coming out of the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence housed at the HCC Northeast Campus. This Center of Excellence offers associate degrees and workforce certifications in public safety including EMS, fire science, criminal justice and law enforcement, automotive technology, and heavy vehicle and truck repair.
You may wonder why police, fire, EMS, and transportation fall under the same center of excellence umbrella.
“They all have problem solving in common,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor. “When you are in an ambulance and need care, the person who is helping you is trying to analyze what is going on. An auto mechanic does the same thing. Assessing the problem is what our students are learning and using their experience in their special fields to apply that.”
According to Johnny Sessums, director of the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence, all programs are certified by the State of Texas and students have pass rates from their respective licensing agencies ranging from 85-98 percent and consistently high placement rates with police and fire departments across the Greater Houston area and Texas. There is also a 100-percent job placement rate for automotive technicians who graduate from HCC.
“These are the programs that we expect to provide reliable transportation maintenance and upkeep, and to come to our rescue in the event of police protection, fire emergencies, or sudden medical crises,” said Dr. Margaret Ford-Fisher, HCC Northeast President, during the Center of Excellence grand opening.
Dr. Ford-Fisher joined fellow administrators, industry partners, students, faculty members, and HCC trustees Dr. Adriana Tamez, board chair; Dave Wilson, District II; and Eva Loredo, District VIII.
“I am glad about all the opportunities this Center of Excellence has to offer and all the programs we have,” said Loredo. “It makes me proud to see that these students are going to be the first line of defense for us and that they are here for a purpose – to help people.”
Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander with the Houston Fire Department’s (HFD) Professional Development Command spoke about the longtime partnership between HCC and HFD and encouraged both public safety and automotive students to strive for the best.
“As you move on in your careers, as you move up the ranks, each badge will mean something,” said Alexander. “For those in the Automotive program, make sure that every time you go to work, leave your mark.”
To learn more information about the programs offered at the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence, visit hccs.edu/public-safety.
Foreign players with Dynamo Soccer Team learn English at Houston Community College
Houston Dynamo players Agustín Garcia Iñiguez and Mauro Manotas take a Workplace English course at the Houston Sports Park, their training facility. The course is offered by The Corporate College at HCC through a partnership with the Dynamo.
A big part of winning for any soccer team comes down to the camaraderie between the players, but for many Houston Dynamo teammates there is another factor that, at times, unites them- a language barrier.
Dynamo Defender Agustín Garcia Iñiguez is from Spain and Forward Mauro Manotas is from Colombia. For both, adjusting to a new life in the United States can be a challenge.
“It is very difficult for me to speak English, but I am trying,” said Iñiguez, also known as Agus.
That’s where The Corporate College at Houston Community College (HCC) comes into play by offering a Workplace English course through a partnership with the Dynamo.
“We help them practice their English; not just with reading, but with the speaking component as well to make them understandable to others,” said Veronica Trujillo, HCC corporate trainer. “We focus on what they deal with in their daily life and try to make it fun.”
The soccer stars wrapped up the first 62-hour, customized course at the Houston Sports Park, where they train. Both Agus and Manotas enjoyed the small, more personalized feel to the class which at the most, had six students. Because the classes are customized to fit the needs of the customer, allowances were made to accommodate changes in the schedule.
“We are so pleased to have a role in helping players realize their goal of speaking English; not only at work, but also during everyday activities,” said Jennifer Holmes, director, The Corporate College at HCC. “When we conducted our initial language assessments, we most often heard, ‘I just want to order from the menu in a restaurant in English’.”
That’s exactly some of what they learned, along with how to communicate with their bosses, teammates, and with the media.
“The commitment from Houston Community College and this partnership has been essential because HCC instructors have been able to come here and work with our players on site,” said Matt Jordan, Dynamo General Manger/Vice President. “It’s been a wonderful partnership and we are so appreciative of it.”
Jordan added that the goal of the program is not only to help the players integrate within the city and the team; but to also carry this experience with HCC as English speakers long after they hang up their cleats.
“I can now speak with my teammates and coaches. I need language not only to play soccer but for my life after soccer,” said Agus.
The Corporate College at HCC structures a program for companies and organizations by adjusting to their needs and schedules of their associates. Just like Garcia Iñiguez and Manotas, the language tools they receive are essential to their future success on and off the field.
To learn about training opportunities through the Corporate College at HCC, visit hccs.edu/corporate-college.
HCC receives INSIGHT into Diversity 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award
HOUSTON [September 1, 2016] – Houston Community College has received the 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award – a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion – HCC solidifies its position as the #1 community college among 1,905 in the nation serving students from across the globe.
For David Cross, HCC Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, receiving this distinction for the second year in a row is recognition of the focus that every department of the institution has on diversity and inclusion.
“I am very proud because this award demonstrates that HCC has applied a strategic leadership approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to support student and faculty success,” said Cross.
The HEED Award considers not only achievements in equity and inclusion, but also progress made in community engagement and student programs.
“We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus.”
The HCC Diversity and Inclusion Council was established in 2010. On a continual basis, the council conducts lunch-and-learn sessions, round table discussions, training regarding diversity issues, and the promotion of various diversity initiatives led by student organizations.
HCC Procurement Department receives national award
Members of the Houston Community College Procurement Department were recognized during the August meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees for being awarded the 2016 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute.
The Houston Community College (HCC) Procurement Department has received the 2016 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute, Inc.
This prestigious, annual award recognizes organizations that demonstrate excellence in procurement through best purchasing practices with client departments and the vendor community. The evaluation criteria measures innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes.
During the August meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees, members of the HCC Procurement team, led by Executive Director Rogelio Anasagasti, were applauded for their hard work.
“It is our distinct honor to have been recognized for the hard work and dedication the Procurement team puts forth each day,” said Anasagasti. “This award is a testament to what can be accomplished through teamwork.”
HCC is one of 25 higher education institutes across the country to earn the award this year. To learn more about the HCC Procurement Department and its mission, visit hccs.edu/procurement.
Houston: Quality Texas Foundation recognizes HCC strategic plan
Steve Arms, Chair of the Board of Directors of Quality Texas Foundation, presented the Performance Excellence Award to Houston Community College for their collaborations to improve student success rates. Accepting from HCC is Dr. Michael Edwards.
– In a continuous effort to achieve excellence and enhance the student experience, Houston Community College received the first phase of the Texas Award of Performance Excellence (TAPE) awarded by Quality Texas Foundation at a ceremony in San Antonio.
“I accepted this award on behalf of HCC, the Chancellor and all my colleagues who put in a great deal of effort. We collaborated not just to win this award. The effort was ultimately centered in improving our student’s success rate. Just pursuing the TAPE recognition, we’ll get better,” said Michael Edwards, HCC Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness.
The TAPE award originated with the Quality Texas Foundation. It was established in 1994 for the purpose of highlighting the work of diverse organizations and provide a recognition of excellence to organizations including universities, hospitals and businesses. TAPE is the forerunner (initial level) to the national quality award – The Malcolm Baldrige Award.
Submitting the documentation to obtain this distinction took months of preparation for Edwards and his team. They put together a comprehensive report evaluating leadership, operations and results at HCC.
“We have to embrace data and become an even more analytical institution. In this quality journey, we will learn about our students, our institution and the communities we serve,” indicated Edwards.
The distinction of this level, he added, is a powerful validation that HCC and our efforts are progressive.
“It’s a big deal because now, our competition knows, based on this acclaim that we are serious about being recognized as one of the best in Texas and in the country.”
Edwards and his team continue to plan for the submission of additional documentation to Quality Texas Foundation in order to secure the next level of six applications in pursuit of TAPE.
Understanding our heroes: Houston’s college hosts conference to serve needs of veteran community
Heroic, brave, angry, and scared. Those are some words that come to mind when we think about our nation’s veterans and their transition from the front lines back into civilian life.
Houston Community College (HCC) helps thousands of veterans and their dependents reestablish themselves into society through education and partnering with veteran servicing organizations that offer support to these military men and women.
The HCC Office of Veterans Affairs/Counseling & Disability Support Services and the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) recently presented the UC4 (University Counseling Center Core Competency) Conference at the HCC administration building.
“Their role is to provide critical training, education, services, research, and data on how, in the higher education environment, to reintegrate veterans successfully and provide them with support services to keep them through degree completion,” said Dr. Cephas Archie, who facilitated the day-long training session.
HCC is one of six higher education institutions from around the country chosen to host the event, which brought out representatives from local universities including Texas Southern University (TSU), Sam Houston State University (SHSU), Rice University, Prairie View A&M University, and University of Houston-Downtown (UH-D) along with various veterans’ organizations from across the Greater Houston Area. HCC staff and faculty, who work closely with veteran students on a daily basis, also attended the conference.
“It’s an institutional effort to start off with the first responders. This is the population that interacts and engages with veterans and should be aware of the cultural and psychological developmental needs,” said Archie.
The conference focused on:
Culture and experience of service members and veterans on campus
The deployment cycle and impact on students
Reintegration on campus
Outreach strategies and group exercise
Overview of treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on campus
Leon Grissett, Sr., director of the HCC Office of Veterans Affairs & Student Support Services, is a retired Army veteran who believes this is a unique way to give everyone a view into a veteran’s world.
“Many of my colleagues do not know what these young men and women experienced during deployment,” said Grissett. “They are learning how to reach out to our veterans, embrace them, and help them develop better skills as students.”
The HCC Office of Veterans Affairs & Student Support Services plans to have more training sessions in the future. To learn about the HCC veteran community and programs offered on the HCC campuses, visit hccs.edu/veterans.
Houston Communication College offers new opportunities at citywide college fair
HOUSTON [August 3, 2016] – Tamika Key went to the Catch Your Success One Stop College Fair with one mission in mind: to get her niece registered for college, but a new opportunity opened up for her. Houston Community College (HCC) advisors informed Key of a little explored field for women. Key, a graduate of the HCC Certified Nurse Aid program (CNA), decided to sign up for the Welding Technology program.
“We don’t have a lot of women welders, so now it’s time for something different,” she said. “I want to be able to buy a house and not worry about finances. My new career as a welder will make that dream a reality.”
Changing lives through education is the ultimate goal of the event, which took place at the Northeast Multi-Service Center. This was the first of a series of one stop college fairs that are free, bilingual, and open to the public. Representatives from higher education institutions, workforce organizations, and support services offer vital information about college admissions, financial aid, transportation options, resume building, and career opportunities.
The Catch Your Success One Stop College Fairs are an initiative of Houston Health Department My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), a local and national effort designed to improve life outcomes for young men of color and their communities. HCC is part of the MBK Milestone 4, which is to make sure all Americans complete post-secondary education or training needed for successful careers.
“We wanted to partner with all of these resources and have it at a multi-service center in the community; because for many, college events can be intimidating,” said Dr. Melissa Gonzalez, HCC chief of staff. “If we have it in their neighborhoods they are more likely to attend.”
The Catch Your Success One Stop College Fairs are an initiative of Houston Health Department My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), a local and national effort designed to improve life outcomes for young men of color and their communities. HCC is part of the MBK Milestone 4, which is to make sure all Americans complete post-secondary education or training needed for successful careers.
“If we really want people to be college ready and make college accessible we are going to come to where the people are,” said Kristi Rangel, public health education chief, MBK-Houston Movement.
For Tamika Key, this was all about timing and this fall, she will be among the thousands of HCC students starting new chapters in their lives.
The next Catch Your Success One Stop College Fair is Saturday, September 24 at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood, Houston, TX 77026. Contact Kesha P. McNeil, 713.254.2831 for more information.
After 15 years as ex-students, couple reflect on HCC’s academic experience and success
LeMarcus and Amber Newman on graduation day.
Leo LeMarcus Newman graduated from Houston Community College (HCC) 15 years ago, but still credits HCC for helping him be the person he is today. “My advice for students is to get to know your advisor on a personal level. That way your advisor knows everything that’s going on in your life and then he or she will be able to guide you in obtaining your degree,” Newman said.
Both Newman and his wife Amber recently graduated with master’s degrees in public administration from Texas Southern University. To this day, he still feels a connection to the faculty and staff at HCC. He recognizes that took they took the time to get to know him first as a person and then as a student.
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities.
“Houston Community College has instilled in me hardworking values,” said Newman. “I had an opportunity to learn about different cultures and that has helped get me to where I am today.”
Newman’s past life experience paved the way for academic success. At one point, he played for the San Francisco 49ers and served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a government contractor. Nevertheless, his years at Houston Community College were the foundation to tackle the hardest thing he and his wife have faced.
“The biggest challenge was time management. During the time we were getting our degrees, we really didn’t have any time for us. We were in school and raising the kids, who are 7, 9 and 21. We were stretched thin.”
To keep each other motivated the coupled achieved their academic goals through loving competition.
“My husband is really competitive so we would turn in our papers and then he would wait to see how he made out. If I got a higher grade than him, then he would set as a goal to do better next time,” said Amber Newman.
While she cooked for the family, he helped the kids with homework. While he studied, she got the kids ready for bed.
The Newman family schedule is filled with school, work, and extracurricular activities.
“Our 9 year old is actually really good at organizing. She essentially has mapped her whole life out. She has a vision board of what type of house she wants, what school she wants to go to. She’ll come and look at the calendar to see what things they need to do,” said the proud mom.
The couple is now set to pursue their doctorates in public administration next spring.
