Schools - page 7

Lamar State College Orange celebrated the grand opening of the Electromechanical Technology Buildings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

Classes officially began in August of 2023. The two buildings combined provide more than 12,000 square feet of space for instruction in areas such as hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, machining and equipment installation to name a few. The buildings are also home to an innovative makerspace, laser and 3d printing equipment for students.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Texas State University System and the state of Texas for funding the remodeling of these two buildings” Dr. Tom Johnson, President of LSCO, said. “It is with deep appreciation to Cloeren Incorporated for helping us equip these state-of-the-art facilities and for providing scholarships for our students right here in Orange, Texas. It’s because of their tremendous support that we were able to make this a reality.”

Located on the corner of Green and 1st Street, the property was previously home to the headquarters of the Procell Brothers Performance Center and Procell Machine and Parts Shop. The Procell Brothers Performance Center was known for building high-quality racecar engines responsible for earning 23 National Hot Rod Association world records. With the standard set high for developing champions, LSCO purchased the property in 2021 with the intent to carry on the tradition of excellence set by the Procell brothers.

“We’re excited to continue offering high-quality education in these high-demand industries” said Dr. Keith Jones, Associate Dean of Technical Studies. “These newly renovated buildings offer the space and tools necessary to train the next generation of industry leaders.”

Electromechanical Technology is a high-demand career field where students are exposed to multiple facets of machinery and equipment while building a foundation that enables them to pursue further education or entry-level employment in distribution, manufacturing, refinery businesses and more. Students can enroll in a stackable credential program leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Electromechanical Technology. Visit LSCO.edu to learn more about the program and how to become a student.

The Texas Workforce Commission presented checks to seven local schools on September 14, 2023, including Lamar State College Orange. Lamar State College Orange President Dr. Thomas Johnson spoke about the programs these grants totaling $434,591 helped to fund.

The first grant of $159,780 was used for the purchase of a construction crane and heavy equipment simulator to provide training on complex, expensive, and hazardous equipment needed in the commercial and industrial construction industry.

The second grant of $274,811 was used for the purchase of virtual reality fire suppression equipment, continuous and batch distillation unit, and lockout tagout training system to provide relevant training opportunities to students enrolled in our Process Technology; Instrumentation; and Safety, Health, and Environment programs.

The Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program provides funding for eligible entities to purchase and install equipment necessary for the development of career and technical education (CTE) courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.

At the Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD High School Pep Rally on September 8, 2023, City of Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr. recognized a group of outstanding students as “Hometown Heroes.”

After the Orange Bowl football game between the WOS Mustangs and LCM Battlin’ Bears last Friday, a handful of LCM students stayed behind to pick up trash on the visiting side, exemplifying what it means to “Be a Bear,”

To acknowledge the level of class and character of these students, Mayor Spears recognized September 8, 2023, as “Orange, Texas Hometown Heroes Day” in a special tribute for Caden Anderson, Rayna Christy, Alayna Gintzler, Camille Kelly, and Santiago Ramirez.

The Superintendent and CFO of Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District (LCMCISD) have been working with the LCM Transportation Department for well over a year to get air conditioning (AC) put on all LCM route buses that do not currently have it. This was brought to the board last year and approved by the LCM School Board.

The first of 12 buses left last week to have the AC installed. This has been a very long ongoing process with the the units being on back order, shipping being delayed, and all the obvious unforeseen things that have accompanied the process of making this happen.