Lone Star College offers fast-track classes in high-demand industries

HOUSTON, TX -- Lone Star College helps employers recruit trained professionals through its Continuing Education (CE) program. CE offers state-of-the-art certificate programs to help students learn new skills for their current positions or retrain them for a different career field.

“Lone Star College’s Continuing Education program has over 50 workforce programs and many take six months or less to complete,” said Linda Leto Head, senior associate vice chancellor, External and Employer Relations. “These fast-track offerings prepare students to enter and excel in high-demand industries like computer programming, construction, energy, engineering, health care and technology.”

The college’s Mechatronics program, located at LSC-University Park, trains students to work on equipment integrating electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics and computer controls. It gives individuals like Ben Harakal an opportunity to reinvent themselves. Harakal enrolled in the CE program because he wanted a hands-on career.

“I knew office life was not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed working with my hands,” Harakal said. “I was interested in Lone Star College’s Mechatronics program because it involved mechanical and electrical work, giving me a wide span of options.”

Harakal enrolled in LSC’s program in fall 2019 and learned career-related skills, including troubleshooting electrical wiring, schematics and basic hydraulic operations. He credits the program for succeeding in his first maintenance job and winning a skill-based electrical troubleshooting and mechanical precision competition.

“Having the ability to read a schematic and troubleshoot off that knowledge is literally invaluable,” said Harakal. “I have encouraged multiple people to go through Lone Star College’s Mechatronics program. I always explain this type of work is difficult but rewarding, especially if they like logical, deep thinking.”

Harakal earned a Mechatronics Technician Certificate from LSC and works as an equipment maintenance technician at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin.

Lone Star College Continuing Education workforce programs focus on technical and behavioral skills needed for specific occupations. Graduates receive certificates that are industry-recognized or have state or national occupational accreditation. CE also offers English as a Second or Other Languages (ESOL), General Education Development (GED®) and Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) programs. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Continuing-Education.