TX Commissioner of higher education tours LSCO campus

ORANGE, TX – The Commissioner of Higher Education for the state of Texas, Dr. Harrison Keller, made a trip to Orange on Tuesday to visit the Lamar State College Orange campus. LSCO President Dr. Tom Johnson led a tour of the campus and showed the Commissioner the innovative technical and workforce programs that are enabling students to transition immediately to work and to address the immense workforce needs in the area.

The Commissioner of Higher Education was accompanied by the Texas State University System (TSUS) Chancellor, Dr. Brian McCall, TSUS Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer, Daniel Harper, and TSUS Vice Chancellor for Academic and Health Affairs, Dr. John Hayek.

"We are thrilled to welcome Commissioner Keller to our beautiful college on the Sabine. We at Lamar State College Orange are in the business of transforming lives, and it's an honor to show Commissioner Keller and our Texas State University System Chancellor, Dr. Brian McCall, exactly how we're doing that. Our innovative and ready-to-work programs ensure that students achieve affordable educational goals while experiencing the least amount of debt possible," said LSCO President Dr. Tom Johnson.

"It is wonderful to witness the work that is being done at Lamar State College Orange that trains students to be ready to make an impact immediately on the local and state economy. These innovative programs are meeting the needs of local industry and allowing students to access high-demand, high-quality jobs. These efforts lead to bolstering the ninth-largest economy in the world, making a Talent Strong Texas," said Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Harrison Keller.

"We are pleased to show Commissioner Keller the incredible programs our TSUS institutions offer. These programs are producing credentials of value that make a difference in the Texas workforce. Lamar State College Orange is leading the charge in this area to match the needs of Industry with a workforce that is trained and knowledgeable. TSUS prides itself on this kind of immediate impact for its students and for the Texas economy," said TSUS Chancellor Dr. Brian McCall.

The group toured the LSCO Nursing Programs, the new CDL Training Facility that was created as a result of a grant from Governor Greg Abbott's office, the new Electro Mechanical Technology Program, and other workforce and technical education programs. The tour concluded with a visit to Cloeren Incorporated in which Peter Cloeren, CEO of Cloeren Incorporated showed the impressive facilities of one of their local plant sites.  Lamar State College Orange is proud of the recent partnership that led to the fall 2022 launch of the new Electro Mechanical Technology program.

Lamar State College Orange is part of the Texas State University System (TSUS). The System, founded in 1911, is Texas's first university system. TSUS member institutions currently serve more than 87,000 students on 13 campuses from far West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Additional member institutions include Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, Texas State University, Lamar Institute of Technology, and Lamar State College Port Arthur.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Harrison Keller - Commissioner of Higher Education for Texas; Dr. Thomas Johnson – President of Lamar State College Orange; Dr. Brian McCall – Chancellor of the Texas State University System.