Your Community's College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including...

Local aviation program appeals to aspiring pilots

One of the lesser-known programs San Jacinto College offers is the aeronautical technology (aviation) program. Often overlooked by many students wishing to obtain a private or commercial pilot license, or aviation management degree, many students are surprised to learn about these career training opportunities right in their own back yard. “I was searching online for flight schools and found...

From water to the port, students train for a wealth of maritime and trade opportunities

Houston is home to one of the world’s busiest ports, and with upcoming global events, traffic is expected to increase. The need for skilled maritime employees is becoming ever more apparent. The Panama Canal expansion in 2014, coupled with an aging maritime workforce, unveils an anticipation of increased port traffic and an employee shortage across all skill levels. “The Department of Labor...

Continuing and Professional Development: Education for career and life

Courses are designed with exact skills requested by workforce; programs available to enhance quality of life. There are areas within colleges that offer noncredit course options; and then, there is the Continuing and Professional Development division at San Jacinto College. The CPD division delivers the exact skills a person needs to fit right into positions that are in high demand across...
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How to Pay for College?

Let’s face it. Figuring out how to pay for college can be intimidating. With the rising cost of tuition and fees across the country, you may think that the only way you can attend college is to improve your jump shot or win the lottery. Not true! The good news is that there is help out there for students just like you. Don’t assume that you won’t qualify for financial aid because you or...

The Wonder Women: Cultivating Curiosity in STEM

For decades, women in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields have been overshadowed simply due to preconceived gender differences. Even today, interest in STEM careers among young girls starts dwindling in middle school. Stereotypes, lack of self-confidence, and the fear of failure set in, keeping them from furthering any interest and curiosity they may have had. Educators at...
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Students train in truck driving as highways roll out the jobs

Unlike some industries that struggle with job growth, others, like truck driving, are enjoying a wealth of employment opportunities. Transportation and material moving occupations are projected to add 1.3 million new jobs by 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Perhaps this is why students like Kurt Wankowski of Friendswood, are going back to school to train as truck...

A day in the life of a San Jacinto College student

A typical day for 30-year-old Julio Lopez revolves around college, work, and family. Upon graduation from Pasadena High School, he went into the Marine Corps and served as an avionics technician. Lopez returned home and attended San Jacinto College as an automotive technology student. “I was very impressed with the automotive program and that is what persuaded me to later on enroll in the...

Auto collision students use virtual spray paint technology

Technology is integrated in almost every career field, and now even more in education. With an entire generation of technical professionals beginning to retire, many company recruiters and workforce education programs have to find new, creative ways to attract potential employees. In order to appeal to a younger workforce, programs like San Jacinto College’s automotive collision repair...

Automotive technology program cruises technicians on into workforce

Just about everyone needs a vehicle, which means those vehicles need repair at times. One could say the automotive industry is much like any service-based industry - where there are needs, there are careers. That’s why students like Theodore Reardon of Spring already have a job, and yet, are going back to college to obtain the certifications needed to move up in the workplace. “I got...

IBUS student on the road to launching transport business

Ivan Richardson is well on his way to launching a successful heavy machinery transport business, thanks to practical training he is receiving as a student in San Jacinto College’s International Business and Logistics (IBUS) program. Richardson grew up in the Galena Park area, and graduated from Furr High School. Living near the Port of Houston, he watched the Ship Channel grow and develop, and...

Your Community's College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options,...
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News & Notes

College earns Bayou Buddy award San Jacinto College recently earned the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition’s (GBCC) Bayou Buddy award, based on the College’s “real dedication to the care and restoration of the watershed.” Faculty, staff, and students from the College participated in volunteer efforts to clean up trash, and remove tires and invasive plants, replacing them with native plants...

San Jacinto College teams up with AACC to increase adult learner graduation

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is teaming up with two-year institutions from across the United States to streamline their nontraditional student support services and smooth the way back to college and into careers in high employment fields for adults age 50 and older. San Jacinto College is one of 82 colleges to sign on with the AACC initiative, Plus 50 Completion...

News & Notes

Online training course recognized as exemplary The San Jacinto College educational technology services department recently earned international recognition for ACAdemic Learning, a course that provides professors training for teaching online and hybrid classes. The League for Innovation in the Community College recognized ACAdemic Learning as one of its Innovation of the Year award winners as...
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Pharmacy alum pays it forward

It’s not every day that a student in the middle of finishing a master’s degree suddenly quits to start another career path from scratch, but that’s exactly what San Jacinto College pharmacy technology alumnae Meredith Fugitt did. “I was literally halfway done completing my master’s degree in psychology when I decided that it wasn’t the right decision for me,” said Fugitt....

Medical physics student part of effort to eliminate cancer

Making Cancer History” is the goal of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. San Jacinto College honors graduate Jackie Castro hopes to be a part of that effort to do away with cancer. Castro attends MD Anderson’s School of Heath Professions, where she plans to earn a bachelor of science in medical dosimetry in 2014, en route to earning a PhD in medical physics. “I would love...

Your Community’s College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including...
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Program renowned for supplying Houston with skilled technicians

It’s widely known across the Houston area that one place ensures the training of highly-skilled automotive technicians in a variety of manufacturers. “The majority of our technicians come from San Jacinto College,” said Danny Barnett, service manager with Monument Chevrolet. “We trust the automotive program for high quality technicians.” That trust comes from years of providing the...

Your Community’s College

Surrounded by the monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, we are committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 credit students in more than 200 degree and certificate options,...
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Math on Set

How many Hollywood directors have math majors on their film crew? Chances are if you spot a shoot in Houston, you’ll find San Jacinto College alum Andrew Olson using math to help capture those perfect on-screen shots. Now a full-time freelancer, Olson brings a little something extra to the table when it comes to film shoots. “Even though my associate degree is in math, most of the jobs I do...

Your community's college

Surrounded by the monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, we are committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 credit students in more than 200 degree and certificate options,...
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Sous chef comes full circle back to San Jacinto College

As many can see from the cut-throat competition of TV reality shows, it’s not that easy to make a name for yourself in the world of culinary arts. However, one San Jacinto College graduate has … in one of America’s largest cities. James Heard, 33, of Laredo, Texas, began his journey to culinary greatness back when he used to visit his grandmother in Mexico. Waking up at 6 a.m. and sweeping...

LVNs and EMTs thrive in accelerated RN program

For licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and paramedics, finding a path to continue their education and transition to a career as a registered nurse (RN) can be difficult. San Jacinto College’s associate degree nursing (ADN) mobility program is designed specifically for these medical professionals. The program considers work schedules, builds on professional experience, and delivers an accelerated...

San Jacinto College alumna hopes to make a difference as a caring, dedicated nurse

Elena Mallary wants to make a difference by being compassionate, caring, and dedicated to her patients. She found her career path as a nursing student at San Jacinto College, earning a certificate of technology in vocational nursing in 2011. She then passed her national licensure exam as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, and transferred to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of...

Your community’s college

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, San Jacinto College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of approximately 30,000 credit students. The College...
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Maritime opportunities grow as no shortage of trade in sight

At the age of 52, Dave Allen is ready to earn his degree and sail off to the high seas. He is making it all happen through the San Jacinto College maritime program. “I have always wanted a college degree, and I have always been interested in maritime,” said Allen. “After 30 years as a successful graphics contractor in Dallas, I researched maritime programs online, and this one fit my...
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Your community’s college

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, San Jacinto College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of approximately 30,000 credit students. The College...
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College offers free in-demand IT certification training

One of the fastest growing industries in today’s job market is computer information technology (CIT). Much of the American workforce depends on technology driven by computers that the demand for certified IT professionals grows almost daily. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists Texas as the state with the highest employment level of computer network support specialists (18,560...
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Your Community’s College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, San Jacinto College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of approximately 30,000 credit students. The College...
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Small Business Development Center opens doors for more than just small businesses

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at San Jacinto College, which is administered by the College’s Continuing and Professional Development division, helps businesses to start new ventures, expand, boost productivity, and maximize profitability. Although the word small appears in the organization’s name, it is anything but. According to Richard Prets, the San Jacinto College SBDC...
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Your community’s college

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, and three-time Aspen Award finalist, San Jacinto College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of approximately...
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Business and professions courses glam up résumés with impressive certifications

The San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) division offers a way to break into the world of business in a short amount of time. The business and professions program offers a variety of courses that allow participants to gain certifications in resume building skills. Many employers often ask for experience or knowledge in such areas as project management and data...

Health occupations program creates stepping-stones for variety of medical careers

As Houston continues to hold its prominent position in the medical world, many new career opportunities are becoming available. The San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development division offers a number of health occupation training programs to enable students to enter the medical workforce with quality certification training to start their medical careers. Programs like the...

How to pay for college

Let’s face it. Figuring out how to pay for college can be intimidating. With the rising cost of tuition and fees across the country, you may think that the only way you can attend college is to improve your jump shot or win the lottery. Not true! The good news is that there is help out there for students just like you. Don’t assume that you won’t qualify for financial aid because you or...

Craft trades considered by industry as highly valued skill sets

We all need shelter, electricity, and transportation, and as long as the needs are there, jobs will be available. That is Dr. J.D. Taliaferro’s motto for those training in Applied Technologies and Trades at San Jacinto College. “Everyone has woken up and realized that the craft trade areas provide lucrative careers,” said Dr. Taliaferro, director of Applied Technologies and Trades. “I...
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Aerospace Academy gives students STEM at their fingertips

One of the most unique programs the San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development division offers to students is the Aerospace Academy. For more than a decade, the Aerospace Academy has partnered with the NASA-Johnson Space Center Office of Education to collaborate with education, industry, government, economic development, and community groups to advance science, technology,...

An industry always hiring to keep the lights on

Texas boasts some of the highest employment for electricians, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as many of the top-growing industries are located within the Houston region. With a median pay at an average of $50,000 a year, anyone interested in working as an electrician can benefit from knowing that he or she can train and gain employment in as little as two years. “The security...
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Training for health care’s newest demand

Combine a master’s in electrical engineering, computer science, and high school graduate enthusiasm, and you get just some of the diverse backgrounds of San Jacinto College’s biomedical clinical equipment technician program. All patient care technology requires maintenance and repair. Houston is one of the largest global medical hubs, which prompted San Jacinto College to launch the program...
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Faculty Spotlight: Eddie Foster’s journey to finding the ‘best job’

Eddie Foster’s lifelong love may be high school football, but the Mont Belvieu native describes how the lovesick blues set him on a path into welding, or what he calls the “best job.” As department chair of industrial technology at San Jacinto College, Foster now guides students along a path that has changed from on-the-job training to formal education. What jumpstarted your career in...

News & Notes

Girl Scouts attend San Jacinto ‘Cookie College’  San Jacinto College hosted nearly 130 Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council for a Girl Scout “Cookie College” event. Along with arts and crafts booths and a cookie “spirit nails” station facilitated by San Jacinto College cosmetology students, the girls also learned about marketing, money management, goal setting, and business...
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Fast track training can have students job ready in one semester

San Jacinto College offers numerous “fast track” programs at each of its three campuses that can have graduates ready for entry-level positions with just one semester of training. Credit hours in most of the fast track programs can be applied toward a higher certificate or associate degree, allowing many students to work while completing college. Fast track programs are available in a...

The best of both words — training nurses through nursing

Nursing students looking to specialize in maternal and neonatal nursing have a great advantage taking classes with San Jacinto College vocational nursing professor Dora Martin. Aside from teaching, Martin is also a women’s nurse practitioner. Her constant encouragement and motivation in the classroom make her a mentor to so many of her students. Describe the difference between a nurse and a...
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Born a teacher, Tanya Stanley shares her passion for literature in the classroom

Native Houstonian, Tanya Stanley, is a rarity – she loves the city’s scorching summers and humidity. It is one of the reasons the San Jacinto College professor has made her career here, helping thousands of students adjust to college culture and become better writers. As a 2006 San Jacinto College graduate with her associate degree in English language and literature, Stanley transferred to...
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College preparatory professor says cultural diversity enriches education

San Jacinto College has a rich history of cultural diversity, with students attending from all over the world. Myrna Perez, who teaches developmental integrated reading and writing, says everyone benefits when people of all backgrounds lay aside prejudice and celebrate our diversity. “America has always been a melting pot with a rich mixture of different nationalities and cultures,” Perez...
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Impacting student success one paper at a time

A history professor who loves to write and an English professor who loves history – it may not sound like your typical dynamic duo, but since 1998, Dr. Eddie Weller and Dr. Greg Smith have empowered students in their Honors interdisciplinary course beyond what even they imagined. The course began after Dr. Weller put a proposal together that blended writing and literature with the history of...
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Chemistry professor concerned about shortage in science, tech fields

How would you summarize your professional career, including your service as an educator? “I worked for 12 years in the chemical industry. Part of that time I worked as a quality assurance supervisor for Hercules (now Ashland), which produced plastic pellets, gunpowder, and other products. I also worked for Dow Chemical in technical services, and in industrial hygiene. I have about 26 years of...
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Gifted English professor known for versatility, creativity

Versatile San Jacinto College English professor Dr. David LeMaster is equally at home on stage, at the author’s desk, or in the classroom. Central Campus students know LeMaster as a gifted English professor with an engaging and interactive teaching style. Outside the classroom, he finds a creative outlet as a prolific playwright, director, and actor. He portrayed the role of President...

The many images of a long-time medical radiography career

How long has Cindra Daniels taught in the San Jacinto College medical radiography program? Let’s just say that if she were to need an X-ray exam anywhere within a 30-mile radius, chances are very good that a former student will be her technologist. “That is always a nice feeling,” said Daniels. “I love seeing my former students, especially after all these years.” For 35 years, Ms....
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The other side of the desk

Graduation day is the ultimate culmination of student success. But behind that diploma, certificate, or degree are the stumbles and struggles that encompass the journey, and in the crowd are the teachers that taught them how to get back up and try again. Teaching future teachers is something that Dr. Joy Thompson-Grim, lead faculty in the San Jacinto College South Campus education program, or...

News & Notes

Gala raises $300,000 for student scholarships The San Jacinto College “Building a Brighter Future” gala, held Friday, May 16, 2014, at the San Jacinto College South Campus, raised more than $300,000 in support of student scholarships. The gala was co-chaired by the Honorable El Franco Lee, Commissioner, Harris County Precinct 1, and his wife Kaye; and the Honorable Jack Morman,...
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Putting families first

One of the most unique health care programs offered at San Jacinto College is the long term care administration (LTCA) program. Requiring a bachelor’s degree, the LTCA program sets a standard for administrators in training (AIT) that is rigorous, yet rewarding. In just one calendar year, students who complete the program can start a new career as a nursing home facility administrator. Classes...
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Dental Assisting program off to a promising start

Dental assisting, a new allied health program at San Jacinto College, is off to a promising start. “The program is still in its infancy and has officially graduated two classes,” commented Sarah Pinto, dental assisting program director. “Thus far, the average completion rate stands at 91.5 percent. We have started the third class and anticipate 100 percent completion with increased...
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A Breath of Fresh Air

For students wanting to enter the medical field but aren’t sure where to start, San Jacinto College’s respiratory care program is a gateway to many opportunities. Respiratory therapists provide care, through the use of diagnostic testing, to patients with abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary systems. Therapists practice their specialty under the direction of licensed physicians and perform...

Training for the operating room

Many people find their calling in health care, and some, like Cassandra Gonzales, seek to be a part of the surgical process. Gonzales was recently hired as a surgical technologist at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Prior to graduating from San Jacinto College in August 2014, she underwent rigorous training to prepare in skills that are highly sought out, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics...

Health Information Management combines patient care, management, technology

Health Information Management (HIM) is a burgeoning career field that rewards people who enjoy using organizational, technological, and people skills while providing valuable health care services. The San Jacinto College HIM program trains students in a range of technical health information services, including the analysis, security, integration, and management of valuable health information. The...
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Mental health instructor thrives on helping others

Cayman Tirado is a mental health services instructor at San Jacinto College. She is also a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor - Intern. Question: What attracted you to the field of mental health services? CAYMAN TIRADO: I always knew I wanted to help others, but did not know it would be in the area of mental health. My college major was anthropology with a focus on anxiety disorders in...

Caring for the gift of sight

Eyesight. It’s one of the five senses that a person cannot afford to ignore. This is why San Jacinto College students in the eye care technology program are trained extensively for their careers through classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical rotations in ophthalmic offices and clinics. The San Jacinto College program is the only accredited technician-level training program...

Thinking outside the retail box

As a pharmacy technician supplemental instructor (SI), student Kenley Miller-Sangodeyi empathizes with students. Having just finished the program last year, he is finishing his prerequisites for pharmacy school at San Jacinto College, helping current students succeed in the program just the way he did. Opportunity knocks for pharmacy technician students “My whole family is in the medical...
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Training to meet the nursing demand

The final statement of the nurses’ Florence Nightingale Pledge says, “With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.” At San Jacinto College, training nursing students to not only recite the Nightingale Pledge as they graduate, but to also practice what they pledge, has led to a tradition of excellence in...

News & Notes

College re-certified as Achieving the Dream Leader College For its commitment to improving student success and equity, and demonstrating measurable gains on important student success metrics, San Jacinto College has been recertified as an Achieving the Dream Leader College, the organization announced this week. Since 2009, Achieving the Dream has granted Leader College status to a total of 79...
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Creating design one number at a time

The San Jacinto College art and design program encompasses an array of areas to suit the artistic needs of every student. Sometimes one class can lead to an exciting career and professional collaborations. Former San Jacinto College culinary instructor, April Didrikson, and art and design alumnus, Eric Bottos, took their collaboration all the way to Las Vegas last year and are making their way to...

Collaboration blends audio engineering with broadcast technology

In addition to the audio engineering program, San Jacinto College offers a Certificate of Technology in Music Broadcast Audio through a joint collaboration with Alvin Community College. Broadcast technology includes the set-up, operation, and maintenance of electronic equipment for the transmission of radio and television programs, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. Technicians also...
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Training to transform and design

Interior design program includes wealth of experiences before students enter the workforce If there is one message Kelly Harris of Baytown wants everyone to know, it is that the work of interior designers includes a lot more than what many people realize. Anywhere there is construction or remodeling, interior designers will be needed to come in and work their magic. “I’m really enjoying...
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A program designed to teach both language and future educators

San Jacinto College offers  noncredit courses in English  and courses to work in  K-12 education There are a variety of ways for a person to begin a new career. One area of the Continuing and Professional Development is Community Education for people who either want to learn English as a second language (ESL) or begin their training and career in education. The English as a Second Language...
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From backstage to on stage, you can do it all

San Jacinto College provides a balanced blend of theatre courses “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare. The Bard’s words of wisdom ring true, even in the 21st century. Accordingly, San Jacinto College provides a balanced blend of courses in theatre performance, theatre education, and technical training. “Practical skills in the...
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Dance program helping to dispel primitive dance myth

As a living art form, dance is constantly evolving almost by the minute. Whether it’s a student taking a dance course for the first time or a student on their way to a university dance program, San Jacinto College’s dance program offers its students a blank canvas to express themselves at any level. [caption id="attachment_1227" align="alignleft" width="280"] Corinne Miller, dance program...
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Faculty Spotlight: The art of collaboration

Art professor Jeffrey McGee tells his students that art is everywhere. From the clothes you wear, billboards you drive past, even on a paper cup. He encourages his students to think about what’s beyond art museums, and see what’s around them 24 hours a day. “There is a minority of people who put in the effort to go see art, but our world is so visual now that art is everywhere,” said...

Music is the universal language

Many graduates of the College’s music department are now professionals Music is the universal language, and San Jacinto College offers a wide range of music courses and degree options to help students develop their talents and pursue careers in the dynamic music industry. Students have many opportunities to perform in large and small ensembles, not only in recitals, but also in concerts that...
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Behind every hit record is an audio engineer

Students graduate from the audio engineering program with work experience There is no doubt that the best musicians have the talent to rise to the top, but they also have the right sound team. As San Jacinto College student Blake Patterson puts it, every great song has a great audio engineer behind it. This is why Patterson drives from Spring, Texas, each day to San Jacinto College to obtain...
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Earning the right certifications to get ahead

Applied Technologies and Trades offers NCCER certification courses to give job applicants the credentials needed for hiring Brenitha Richardson knows a thing or two about the value of certification training when it comes to obtaining and keeping a job in some of the largest industries in Texas. In fact, she holds a few certifications of her own. “In the past, it was experience that got you into...

Students jumpstart their career in higher education

Early college high schools save time and money San Jacinto College offers a jumpstart into higher education through early college high school programs that are available at all three San Jacinto College campuses. The early college high schools allow students to earn high school and college credits concurrently, ultimately graduating with an associate degree before earning their high school...

Engineering science degree keeps students on par with four-year programs

There’s a new player in engineering education, and it is the associate of science degree in engineering science at San Jacinto College. Originally created for students following a mechanical engineering pathway, students interested in other engineering fields found it difficult to take necessary course work and be prepared to transfer into four-year engineering programs. Over the last year,...
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Recipe for success

“It’s a great time to be in the culinary business. The possibilities are endless.” So says Manny Chavez, who earned a culinary arts associate degree from San Jacinto College and who is in the process of launching his own unique restaurant business – Brink Dining. Brink is a “pop-up” restaurant venture, a relatively new concept in the culinary career field that is considerably...

Beauty that won’t break the bank

Chances are if you’re a student, you like to keep up with the latest fashion and beauty trends, but you’re also watching your wallet. The San Jacinto College cosmetology program provides quality salon services for one-third the cost you would pay at a retail salon. Students, faculty, and community members can get most of the same professional hair and beauty services right on campus....

Supplying region’s key industries with trained workers

San Jacinto College works with companies to deliver right training for oil and gas and manufacturing industries Contrary to headlines, the oil and gas industry is booming, especially on the downstream side. This could explain why there’s an even bigger need for skilled process operators, instrumentation technicians, welders, and pipefitters. Case in point, everyone Joshua White knows within the...

Spending retirement teaching future process operators

Stewart began her career as one of three women at her plant [caption id="attachment_1365" align="alignleft" width="320"] Cheryl Stewart, San Jacinto College process technology instructor, teaches introduction to process technology, occupational safety and health courses, and classes on hand tools and operations. She has years of experience and began her career as one of only three women working at...

Educational planners help students make smooth, seamless transfers

Many students start at San Jacinto College with plans to transfer to four-year universities, so San Jacinto College makes that process easy and seamless with flexible transfer plans that meet the requirements of most upper level institutions. Students are encouraged to earn associate degrees at San Jacinto College even if they plan to transfer to universities to complete baccalaureate degrees....
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Computer science community

Computer science is still one of the most underrepresented STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields when it comes to the number of women employed in the industry. According to a January article in National Geographic, the National Science Foundation estimates that women make up less than 20 percent of graduates earning computer science bachelor’s degrees. San Jacinto College...
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Meet Bonnie, a ‘virtual’ woman in STEM

CareerFocus: Our focus in this issue is women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Do you really fit in that category? Bonnie: Well, let’s see. My name is Bonnie. I love to dance, and I can curtsy. I can speak Javascript. I was programmed with Robotis Darwin Mini software. So, you do the math. CF: LOL. Yeah, I can see how you do sort of classify as a “virtual” woman in...
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Meet the ‘dynamic duo’ female welding instructors

The best man for the job might be a woman San Jacinto College’s Emily Choate and Amber Tyler are breaking stereotypes and demonstrating that women can excel in the male-dominated welding industry. The education and career paths of the two ladies are remarkably similar. Choate earned a welding technology associate degree from San Jacinto College in 2004 and went straight to the field as a welder...

Constructing your own path

Engineering Design Graphics faculty inspires students For Mary Ann Blake (AIA), being one of the only females in her university’s architecture program was never an issue. Even now in her engineering design graphics classes, while females are still in smaller numbers compared to male students, she says she never really notices. To her, the quality of the individual’s work speaks for itself, and...
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Initiative matters most when working in maritime

More women have career opportunities in maritime as industry evolves Capt. Carol Curtiss and Capt. Amy Arrowood have traveled the world as mariners. They know what it’s like to be one of a few women on board a ship at any given time. They are two of the 27 percent of women employed in the water transportation industry in the United States, and two of the 50,000 employed as captains and ship...

Ringing in 2016 with the opening of the Maritime Technology and Training Center

The 45,000-square-foot facility will serve as the College’s fourth campus There’s already something to celebrate for the 2016 New Year – the opening of the new 45,000-square-foot Maritime Technology and Training Center, San Jacinto College’s fourth campus just for maritime training. Located at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte, Texas, the Maritime Technology and Training Center will open...

Tackling the “M” in STEM

Math professor helps students conquer “Mathphobia” There are very few people that wake up in the morning excited to solve equations or graph points on a coordinate plane. You almost certainly wouldn’t count most math students in that group; that is, unless, you meet San Jacinto College math professor Kristen Foxley’s students. One of the biggest academic roadblocks for many students is...
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Combatting the “mathphobia” epidemic

“Mathphobia,” the fear of math, is one of the underlying academic epidemics that can cause students to delay degree completion, if not drop out of college altogether. Even the brightest students can feel defeated when they realize the one or two remaining math courses they’ve been avoiding are inevitable, and stand between them and their degree. To combat math anxiety and intimidation, San...
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Customized training according to company need

CPD division offers training CNC, industrial maintenance, and millwright. There’s an area of San Jacinto College that specializes in creating courses at the request of companies. [caption id="attachment_1453" align="alignright" width="240"] Instructor Steve McGinley demonstrates how students train in Computer Numeric Control (CNC) using equipment often used in industry at San Jacinto...
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Under-performing students can ‘test drive’ programs

Intentional Connections programs helps connect students with the right career path. The San Jacinto College Intentional Connections program provides guidance and mentoring to an underserved group of students – lower level college preparatory students who struggle with core subjects, but want to complete college and improve their lives. Launched in 2011 with only a handful of students, the...
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Learning beyond the classroom through service-learning

San Jacinto College students apply classroom lessons to their communities. At San Jacinto College, attending college is more than just about what occurs in the classroom. It’s about the holistic approach to education that leaves students with an understanding of how they can contribute positively to their communities through service-learning. Service-learning gives students the opportunity to...

Head of the Class

Honors program prepares students for university rigor. Imagine reading and writing about some of the most influential British authors and then taking a trip to the United Kingdom walking the same streets, eating in the same restaurants, visiting the towns they lived in, and getting a hands-on experience to what you and countless others have read about for centuries. That’s what San Jacinto...

Credit for Prior Learning lowers costs, saves time

San Jacinto College’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is an initiative to help students lower costs and save time by avoiding duplication of course work. People from all walks of life, with diverse educational experiences choose San Jacinto College. Many follow the traditional path of enrolling right after high school graduation. Others are home-schooled. Some transfer from other colleges. Some...
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