Celebrating September Successes and Looking Ahead
October 5, 2026 | Email
Dear LSCO Gator family,
As we begin the seventh week of our first 8-week session and move into October, I want to take a moment to pause and simply say thank you.
September was a busy, exciting, and incredibly successful month for Lamar State College Orange. Across our campuses and throughout the communities we serve, I witnessed faculty and staff members going above and beyond to support students, create opportunities, solve challenges, host events, and advance our mission. While the pace has been demanding, the results of your dedication are evident everywhere we look.
One of the highlights of the month was our Student Appreciation Day. The energy, enthusiasm, and strong sense of community on display served as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Seeing students connect with one another, engage with faculty and staff, and celebrate being part of the LSCO family reinforced the importance of creating a campus where every student feels welcomed, supported, and valued. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success.
We also celebrated a remarkable institutional milestone. Last week's announcement that LSCO's enrollment has surpassed 8,000 students reflects the growing confidence that students and families place in our college and the reputation each of you helps build every day. This achievement is not the result of one department, one initiative, or one individual. It is the result of exceptional teaching, innovative workforce and academic programs, outstanding student support, strong dual credit and statewide partnerships, and a collective commitment to student success. Every employee at LSCO has contributed to this accomplishment, and I hope you take great pride in what you have achieved together.
September also brought significant wins that strengthen LSCO's impact across Southeast Texas and beyond. We were honored to welcome Texas Workforce Commission Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño, III to campus for the presentation of our Skills Development Fund award. This investment will expand workforce training opportunities and help us continue meeting the needs of regional employers while creating pathways to good-paying careers for our students. We also celebrated another important partnership milestone with Sempra Infrastructure through a check presentation supporting workforce development and student success initiatives. In addition, we received notice that LSCO has been awarded a $99,000 Texas Workforce Commission Apprenticeship Grant, creating new opportunities to work alongside local employers to train and upskill their workforce.
Our momentum continued with exciting news from the federal level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded LSCO more than $750,000 through its Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Program. This four-year investment will strengthen nursing education through expanded simulation-based learning, new instructional equipment, and enhanced student support resources, helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals who will serve our region and beyond.
Taken together, these achievements represent more than funding announcements or ceremonial check presentations. They are evidence that LSCO is increasingly recognized as a trusted leader in workforce development, healthcare education, economic growth, and student success. Your commitment to excellence is attracting new opportunities, expanding our impact, and helping position LSCO as a model institution across Texas. Every grant awarded, every partnership established, and every milestone achieved is a reflection of the extraordinary work YOU do each and every day.
There are also exciting developments taking place across our campus. The exterior renovation of the Welch Center is giving one of our most visible facilities a refreshed appearance that reflects the momentum and growth of our institution. At the same time, we are preparing for another exciting transformation as the former Testing Center becomes Gator Alley. This new campus storefront will provide convenient access to office supplies and LSCO merchandise while creating an inviting space that showcases Gator pride to students, employees, alumni, and visitors alike. We look forward to seeing Gator Alley become another visible representation of the spirit and identity that make LSCO such a special place.
I would also like to extend congratulations to the team at the Gator Café for their continued success. Their commitment to quality and service continues to earn praise throughout our community, most recently receiving outstanding reviews during “Let’s Eat” Orange County week and even landed a surprise visit by Avery Eats. 😊 The success of the Gator Café reflects the same culture of excellence that defines LSCO and serves as another example of the positive impression our institution is making both on and off campus.
While September provided many reasons to celebrate, October brings important work and new opportunities. As the semester progresses, many of our students will encounter academic, personal, and financial challenges that test their confidence and determination. Often, the difference between a student who persists and a student who gives up is a caring faculty or staff member who takes the time to listen, encourage, and help them navigate the path forward.
As we move through October, I encourage each of you to remain focused, supportive of one another, and committed to the mission that unites us. Take time to celebrate progress, extend grace when challenges arise, and remember that the work you do changes lives every single day. The encouragement you provide today may become the reason a student graduates tomorrow.
THANK YOU for your dedication, professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our students and to one another. Because of you, LSCO continues to grow, thrive, and serve more students than ever before. I am deeply grateful for your contributions and proud to serve alongside each of you.
Let's carry the momentum of September forward and make October another month of achievement, service, and student success.
With gratitude and blessings, always!
Wendy