“I was looking for the best way to get into the oil and gas industry, so I searched online and found Houston Community College Northeast,” says Ganame. His quick search led him to the HCC Northeast Division of Science and Engineering Technologies webpage where he found detailed information on multiple programs and video highlighting each program. “HCC Northeast offers so many career options for entering the industry, but I felt that the Petroleum Engineering Technology program would be a great steppingstone to becoming a petroleum engineer.”

After enrolling in the Petroleum Engineering Technology program, Ganame decided that he wanted to do more to get students interested in the field. He joined the HCC Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) where he served as secretary for the organization until he graduated in December 2012. The student chapter participates in industry webinars, luncheons, national meetings and networking events. The group also invites petroleum engineers to the campus to speak with students about industry opportunities.

In summer of 2012, Ganame landed his first internship through a visit from Conoco Phillips to HCC Northeast. A student networkingopportunity, coupled with experience, opened the door to a second internship with Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation during the fall semester. Ganame completed an associate degree in Petroleum Engineering Technology and was hired by Occidental Oil and Gas as a petroleum engineer technician with a starting salary of over $70,000.

Ganame explained that a petroleum engineer technician can work in the field or in the office, “I work in an office and use my computer skills to handle more than 700 wells, keep track of drilling costs and completion and I setup new databases.” Ganame added, “There is a high demand in the field. If you are very skilled on software and learn what you need to know in the program about exploring, servicing and the production of oil and gas, you have a good chance of getting a job.”

Ganame continues to give back to the College by mentoring students, by actively participating in the HCC Northeast chapter of the SPE and bringing engineers on campus to speak to members.

In the Petroleum Engineering Technology program, students complete core coursework in areas that include oil and gas exploration, hydrocarbon safety, drilling, geology and reservoir. Classes are offered through the Division of Sciences and Engineering Technologies located at the HCC Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, Houston, TX 77013. The division is a premier center for high-tech training in science, technology,engineering and math (STEM) and Energy programs. For more information on program offerings and registration, call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

Photo: Lamine Ganame, Petroleum Engineering Technology graduate

Through the HCC Northeast dual credit program, area high school students take classes that count towards both high school and college at no cost. The program helps students to gain a head start in college and save money. This year, more than 150 students from Booker T. Washington and Waltrip High School took advantage of the program and took courses including Spanish, Marketing, Computer Technology and Computer Maintenance. Upon graduating from high school, many students use these courses to complete associates degrees and workforce certificates.

HCC Northeast provides workshops that assist area highschool students with enrolling at HCC Northeast through the College Connection program. In recent months, HCC Northeast staff provided both financial aid and enrollment workshops at Booker T. Washington, Scarborough and Waltrip high schools. At the workshops, students learn about the admissions and financial aid process and receive assistance with completing their applications. These workshops are beneficial to students and help make the transition from highschool to college a smooth process.

The College works with area middle schools including M. C. Williams to provide pathways to higher education. During the academic year,students from M.C. Williams Middle School participated in the HCC NortheastScience, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Expo. The Expo is an interactive event designed to generate interest in STEM-related career fields. Middle students and teachers gained access to information on career options as students prepare to transition to high school.

“Our goal is to expose as many students as we can, as early as we can, to the wealth of career training opportunities that exist at Northeast College,” said HCC Northeast President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher. She added, “We want students to know that they can prepare in middle school for dual credit and workforce training opportunities awaiting them in high school and at a college campus in their community.”

The College reaches out to parents to keep them informed of the benefits and educational opportunities offered to students at area high schools and the Pinemont Center location. Through community engagement and participation in a number of meetings, HCC Northeast is able to directly answer questions from parents interested in sending their children to the community college. HCC Northeast also partners with community organizations near Pinemont Center on events including the Acres Homes Family Fun Day in the Park, Independence Heights Community Expo and Greater Heights Chamber of CommerceCrawfish Festival.

Pinemont Center offers a variety of workforce and academic courses serving Acres Home, Oak Forest, Greater Heights, Shepherd Park Terrace, Shepherd Park Plaza, Candlelight Oaks, Ella Lee Forest and other surrounding communities. The Center provides many specialized training, university transfer courses and dual credit for high school students. Summer II and fall registration is now in progress. For more information on the HCC Pinemont Center, call 713.718.8400 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

Rep. Green stated, “Our Citizenship Day event is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done as a public servant. Men and women who have lived in the U.S. for decades but have been intimidated by beginning the process have the opportunity to take that first step. I have been to several naturalization ceremonies and the patriotism and pride just take your breath away, and it is an honor to be a part of that.”
Houston Community College Northeast President, Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, also came to the event to show her support. Local volunteers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), NALEO, LULAC, Hispanic Organization for Postal Employees (HOPE), and local immigration attorneys were also essential to the success of Congressman Green’s 19th Annual Citizenship Day.

The collaboration grew out of conversations between HCC Northeast President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, METRO and Houston Food Bank representatives about the growing need for educational opportunities, social services and mobility in the Northeast sector of Houston. The Houston Food Bank’s Serving for Success training program and the College’s expansive career offerings connects the community to numerous resources and potential job opportunities.

Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, who attended the media event, described the impact that the bus route will have on area residents, “The new 348 route will help transform lives in our community by providing more access to educational attainment.” Ford Fisher added, “This type of collaborative partnership is vital to the mission of HCC and the economic vitality of ourcommunity. Potential students can now board the bus, come to the food bank for essential programs and services, and then on to the Northeast Campus to enroll in high-tech programs that can lead to high wage jobs.”

Current HCC Northeast students will also benefit from the bus route by having access to an emergency food pantry, assistance with state-funded programs and volunteer opportunities. Dr. Ford Fisher along with HCC students Ricky Whitehead, Rachel Perez and Frances Rodriguez toured theroute and expressed their excitement over the additional route to the campus.

“As a former bus rider, I know what it means to be able to cut hours off of a bus ride by having more routes,” says Rodriguez. “This new route will mean a lot to students who need to take the bus to get to the campus.”

Other distinguished community leaders were also present at the kick-off event. Houston Food Bank President Brian Greene expressed his appreciation for the new route and described how the partnership provides agreat value to the community. Congressman Gene Green highlighted his longstanding support of HCC Northeast, METRO and the Houston Food Bank and expressed the importance of connecting people to vital social and educational services offered by the College and the food bank. METRO’s Interim President Tom Lambert discussed the importance of offering the community travel choices, matching the right vehicles to the services provided and meeting the needs of the community.

The 348 Food Bank Shuttle bus departs from the Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center every 50 minutes on weekdays and runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are several connecting bus routes to the new shuttle: 11 Almeda/Nance, 26 Outer Loop Crosstown, 27 Inner Loop Crosstown, 29 TSU/UH Hirsh, 30 Clinton/Cullen, 42 Holman Crosstown, 80 Dowling/Lyons, 137 Northshore, 48 Navigation, 97 Settegast Shuttle and 1 Hospital. HCC students are also eligible for a 50 percent discount with the METRO Q© Fare Card. For more information on HCC Northeast programs and registration, call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

HCC Northeast supported the conference by presenting information on educational opportunities offered in the district. Parents and students received information on the dual credit program and upcoming classes at the North Forest Campus located at 7525 Tidwell Road. A representative also answered questions about the College’s academic and workforce programs and shared information about plans to relocate to the future HCC North Forest Campus located at 6010 Little York Road.

To raise awareness about HCC within the North Forest community, participants were given the opportunity to win HCC t-shirts at the end of the forum. In addition, participants also had the opportunity to provide feedback on future programs and amenities planned for the North Forest Campus.

Registration for summer session classes is now taking place at the North Forest Campus. For more information call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

Ford Fisher outlined many of the campus’ accomplishments, including increased enrollment and expanded course offerings. She also updated the committee on the proposed plans for the future North Forest Campus thatwill be located at 6010 Little York Road. The initial phase calls for a repurposing of the west wing of the existing North Forest Administration Building, which will be used to house classroom space and administrative offices. New and existing HCC North Forest students will be able to take classes at the new site starting in the fall semester. In the second phase, the College plans to expand the campus to provide a variety of academic and workforce courses, as well as adult basic education.

Bruce Austin, HCC Trustee District 2 and Board Chairman, also spoke to the group about the potential impact that HCC Northeast will have by increasing its program offerings at a permanent campus. Trustee Austin remarked that as more people in the community are able to increase their skills and qualify for higher wage jobs, it would transform the community and attract more businesses and developers to North Forest.

North Forest Campus Manager Michael Frazier presented an update about the progress of the campus. Frazier reported that over 500 students are now taking classes at the campus and that number is growing. Frazier also reported that the college has improved spring semester retention by building a unique team focused on providing resource information and addressing specific challenges that students may face. He also shared the success stories of two students, now over seventy years old, who are working towards completing their degrees. He credits the successes of the campus to the leadership of Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher and the dedicated staff at the NorthForest Campus. The campus also includes a diverse range of students, many of whom reside in the North Forest community.

Community leaders praised HCC Northeast and Dr. Ford Fisher for ensuring that the College’s commitment to the community isfulfilled. The North Forest Campus currently offers courses for a number ofacademic programs, as well as classes for students pursuing careers in Science, Engineering Technology and Mathematics (STEM). Registration for Summer Session I classes is now taking place at North Forest Campus, which is located on the third floor of Forest Brook Middle School, 7525 Tidwell Rd., 77028. For more information, visit northeast.hccs.edu or call 713.718.8300.

Photonics involves cutting-edge uses of lasers, optics, fiber-optics, and electro-optical devices in numerous and diverse fields of technology—alternate energy, manufacturing, health care, telecommunications, environmental monitoring, homeland security, aerospace, solid-state lighting, and many others. The demand in the photonics industry is rapidly increasing as communications industries replace copper cabling with fiber optics and uses for laser technology expands. However, companies are having a difficult time finding people who are qualified to work in the field. Starting salaries for photonics technicians can range from $40,000 to $50,000 depending on education and prior work experience.

Upon learning about the career opportunities photonics offers, HCC Northeast President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher sought to bring the program to the Northeast College. “It is critically important that we endeavor to provide current and relevant educational opportunities, and I am delighted that our students will now have a pathway to gain skills in this emerging field,” says Ford Fisher.

She adds that the new program will further build upon the solid foundation of STEM offerings in the Division of Science and Engineering Technologies (DSET) at HCC Northeast. “Over ten years ago, we recognized the growing need for highly trained STEM technicians and immediately partnered with industry leaders to develop pathways to meet the demand. We have been innovative in implementing career programs that includes process, petroleum and chemical engineering technologies, biotechnology, drafting and design, biomedical electronics and renewable energy. This new opportunity will continue to offer the community a chance to train for careers that meet the demands of future.”

The new partnership came about through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Forum, hosted by Dr. Ford Fisher, which featured Daniel Hull, Executive Director of OP-TEC. The forum brought together high school and college leaders, industry advisory members and community partners to discuss the challenges and opportunities in STEM education. At the event, Hull praised Dr. Ford Fisher for her leadership in bringing STEM workforce programs to the Northeast service area. Hull also discussed the need to create more AAS degree curricula for STEM technicians in high-demand areas like photonics.

In the fall, the HCC Northeast Division of Science and Engineering Technologies will offer the prerequisite course work and add the photonic course work in the spring semester of 2014. The DSET is a premier center for high-tech training in STEM and Energy programs and is located at 555 Community College Drive. The division offers hands-on career and technical education and training for energy, manufacturing, construction, medical, processing, chemical, petroleum, renewable, sustainable and related industries. Northeast College has a continuous focus on preparing students for STEM pathways and career fields. For more information on STEM programs offered at HCC Northeast, call 713.718.8300 or visit www.northeast.hccs.edu

Photo: HCC NE President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, OP-TEC Executive Director Daniel Hull and HCC Trustee Bruce Austin

Community members in attendance received specific information about new facilities coming to the Northline Campus as a part of the 2012 HCC Bond program. The Northeast College is scheduled to receive $73 million dollars for new facilities in its service area that includes the Northline Campus located at 8001 Fulton Road. The Northline Campus is slated to receive a new multi-use facility that will provide added classroom space and a parking facility to ease parking challenges due to increased demand.

Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher updated the group on planned programs and services for the new building. She also discussed the many successes of Northeast College, including its stellar performance in the 2012 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). The survey’s findings revealed that when compared to community colleges across the nation, Northeast College exceeds the national average in the categories of Active and Collaborative Learning, Academic Challenge, Student-Faculty Interaction and Support for Learners.

“I want you to know that HCC Northeast leads the way when compared to our peers and community colleges of similar size, ” says Ford Fisher. She also pointed out how HCC Northeast scored nearly five to six points higher than the national benchmark on the CCSSE in the areas of Active and Collaborative Learning and Support for Learners. The results also revealed that 93 percent of the students surveyed would recommend HCC Northeast to a friend or family member. Ford Fisher also explained that HCC Northeast has demonstrated ‘leading the way’ and achieved outstanding results in the CCSSE benchmark areas since 2005. She added that HCC Northeast is not only dedicated to providing the best learning environment for students, but is also innovative in helping students master challenging material to achieve success. HCC Northeast Natural Sciences Chair Dr. Beverly Perry added that HCC Northeast biology students have a 100 percent acceptance rate into the nursing program offered at HCC Coleman College and her department is leading the way in preparing students for health science careers.

Community members had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on what they would like to see offered in the future at the Northeast College. They were also informed of a community survey that is inprogress to gather input on programs, facilities and amenities planned as apart of the bond allocation. The community is encouraged to complete the new facilities survey online by visiting northeast.hccs.edu or calling 713.718.8300.

Prior to the competition, faculty and students performed experiments in HCC Northeast chemical labs. Testing of samples was also completed using instrumentation at Lamar University with the support of Dr. Shyam Shukla, professor of chemistry. HCC Northeast student Juan Reyna won an iPad and trophy for his presentation that included the methodology, results and project’s conclusion. Prior to the competition, the work was also presented at the American Chemical Society conference in New Orleans.

HCC Northeast biotechnology students garnered third place at the symposium with a poster entitled “Development of ELISA Products for Clinical Diagnosis.” Dr. Chandra Mittal, professor of biotechnology, guided the students in developing the methodology and clinical and commercial significance for tests that use antibodies and color change to identify substances.

HCC Northeast is at the forefront of training students in STEM. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, HCC Northeast president, the College has continued to add cutting-edge programs and highly qualified faculty to the institution.

“I am both happy and proud of this great achievement and recognition of the outstanding, scholarly work of our faculty and students,” says Ford Fisher. She adds that the awards reflect the exemplary programs and commitment to excellence in teaching at HCC Northeast.

The College’s natural science department and Division of Science and Engineering Technologies offer academic education and high-tech training programs that prepare students for careers that include environmental science, energy, technology and healthcare. Northeast College offers AAS degrees, certificates, university transfer courses and dual credit for high school students in many STEM-related career fields. For more information on STEM programs offered at HCC Northeast, call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

Other activities at the event included live entertainment from local schools and other community groups, baseball games, a basketball tournament, face painting, activities for seniors, food and other community resource booths. HCC Northeast provided promotional bags for participants in the basketball tournament, which included information about Pinemont Center and the many career training opportunities in the Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics STEM disciplines.

HCC Northeast is committed to serving all of its communities. The community is also invited to share its thoughts as the College finalizes plans for construction of facilities in the Northeast service area. A facilities survey is available online at northeast.hccs.edu or by calling 713.718.8300.