HOUSTON (May 8, 2017) – The Lone Star College Foundation raised over $450,000 as part of StarGala 2017, its annual signature event.

“I have always been, and continue to be, a big supporter of the Lone Star College Foundation,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “As a former director of Financial Aid, I saw a definite need to make as many scholarships available as possible.”

This year’s event, with more than 600 guests in attendance, was held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center April 29. The gala featured LSC-North Harris student ambassador Josiah Crosby, who spoke about his experience and the impact Lone Star College is having on his life.

“The Lone Star College Foundation is so grateful to all the generous donors and sponsors,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, LSC Foundation executive director. “Many lives were changed for the better thanks to the support of the Lone Star College community.”

Attendees were treated to a performance by the LSC-Montgomery Chamber Singers, followed by a dinner, live auction and dancing with music provided by DJ Lewis.

“The work the Lone Star College Foundation does is so incredibly important for our community,” said Carl Joiner, LSC Foundation board chair. “StarGala 2017 is truly an investment in our future.”

Among the guests attending StarGala 2017 to support the Foundation was U.S. Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, who presented a proclamation and spoke on her commitment to continue to work feverously to support higher education institutions like Lone Star College.

“These funds will go a long way in helping to make a college education possible for many hard-working and deserving students,” said Head. “In many cases 20 or more students will apply for just one scholarship so every dollar raised is important.”

A traditional live auction item, “Golf with the Chancellor,” consisting of a day of golf for two foursomes, followed by dinner with Dr. Head, set the record for the highest-earning auction item which sold for $27,000.

Other popular auction items included throwing out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game; two first-class United Airlines tickets with the winning bid getting to choose between a trip to the Riviera Maya, an Alaskan cruise or a romantic retreat to Hawaii. An Astros suite for a party of 36 was also up for bid.

Sponsors included: Champions sponsor – Caldwell Companies, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital and Follett; Dream Maker sponsors – Canteen Vending Services, G2X Energy Inc./Diane and Danny Wilson, Netsync Network Solutions and PBK Architects.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to make StarGala 2017 the success it was,” said Robinson Gauthier. More than 70 LSC students and employees, donated more than 200 hours to support the event.

The mission of the Lone Star College Foundation is to change lives through student scholarships and quality educational programs achieved by excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management.  Since its creation in 1991, the Foundation has expanded its initial investment of $20,000 into an extensive portfolio of $22 million.  With an enrollment of 95,000 credit and non-credit students, attending classes in six comprehensive colleges, six satellite centers and two university centers, the need for financial support increases each semester. For more information, visit LoneStarCollegeFoundation.org or 832.813.6636.

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 95,000 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.