HOUSTON (Feb. 2, 2017) – Lone Star College students shared their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and finding success at the 24th annual Chancellor’s Breakfast presented by the Lone Star College Foundation.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year because we get to hear some remarkable stories from Lone Star College students who have worked hard to find success,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “It is truly a privilege to listen to them share their personal stories of accomplishment.”

The Chancellor’s Breakfast recognizes six students, one from each of the Lone Star College campuses, for their winning essay. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship which is made possible due to the generosity of LSC Foundation donors and supporters.

The six student essay winners were: Diego Zaragoza, LSC-CyFair; Alexis Duke, LSC-Kingwood; Chelsea Nail, LSC-Montgomery; Jessica Tovias, LSC-North Harris; Janeth Del Carmen Castellanos, LSC-Tomball; and Bianca Bravo, LSC-University Park.

LSC students are invited to participate in the essay contest to write about “How my Lone Star College experience has influenced my life” each school year. Winners are selected by campus committees before the breakfast event, which was held Jan. 31 at the Lone Star Community Building in The Woodlands.

“We are so grateful for the generous support the Lone Star College Foundation receives from the many individuals, families, businesses, and foundations which help Lone Star College students reach their goals,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director. “The students’ stories are truly inspiring.”

Excerpts from this year’s student essay winners:

Diego Zaragoza, LSC-CyFair
“To me, Lone Star College-CyFair is not just a community college. It is not just a place
where you take classes and leave. Lone Star College is what you make it! I think that is what makes this college special; it gave me the opportunity to change and grow. Lone Star College-CyFair has more than influenced my life; it completely changed my life.”

Alexis Duke, LSC-Kingwood
“The tools I have gathered such as listening, understanding, then reacting have shaped me to
become a diverse person. The ability of realizing other perspectives has assisted me, as I hope to pass this on in the future to my clients after I become a psychologist. The ability to learn from
others and have an open mind is something Lone Star College-Kingwood has taught me and
something I am very grateful for.”

Chelsea Nail, LSC-Montgomery
“Like most people, I found my voice in college. I finally found how I was going to help people and make the world a better place. The psychology classes at Lone Star College-Montgomery lit a fire in me that burns hotter and brighter with every class. It’s because of our psychology department that I found my calling in life. Then, after seeing how Lone Star College-Montgomery helps our veterans, I knew that was what I wanted to focus on, helping the men and women who serve our country.”

Jessica Tovias, LSC-North Harris
“Lone Star College-North Harris has directed my life in a positive way. I am more than glad that my first college experience was from attending Lone Star College. I have learned many things here that will continue to help me in the future. I’ve had many challenges while attending college, some with the classes and other outside of class but I have been able to overcome all of them. I feel confident that I am prepared for any challenges that come my way.”

Janeth Del Carmen Castellanos, LSC-Tomball
“I have grown so much as a person and through my education because of Lone Star
College-Tomball. I feel like I have been given the tools and the confidence to succeed in whatever I set my mind to. Thanks to all of the amazing people I have met through Lone Star, I now have that many more people to make proud one day and I will not let them down.”

Bianca Bravo, LSC-University Park
“I’ve never been so inspired so much by so few people in such a short time. I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone time and time again and learned I can thrive in that space too. Not only that, but the students are amazing. I learn just as much, if not more, from them. They’re so diverse and I’m grateful for that.”

Established as a 501(c)(3) Type I nonprofit corporation, the LSC Foundation’s mission is to raise money to support students and academic programs of the LSC. Through StarGala, an annual golf tournament, and the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses and other organizations, the LSC Foundation is able to annually grant numerous scholarships to students attending LSC colleges and centers. For more information, visit  LoneStarCollegeFoundation.org.

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 98,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.