Inaugural alumni awards celebrate successful Lone Star College System graduates

HOUSTON, TX -- The inaugural Lone Star College System Alumni Awards honorees exemplify the college system’s values well beyond their time as students. The winners were announced at Lone Star College Foundation’s StarGala on May 2.

“These influential alumni set powerful examples for our current and future students,” said Carolyn Donovan, LSCS associate vice chancellor, Alumni Relations & Engagement. “Mareeha, Brett, Meaghanne and John demonstrate what it means to invest in your community with generosity, determination, resilience and leadership.”

Two nominees were selected in each category—the Alumni on the Rise Award for individuals who obtained a degree or certificate between May 1, 2020, and May 31, 2025, and the Distinguished Alumni Award for those who graduated before May 31, 2015.

Alumni on the Rise Award: Mareeha Jangda, A.S. ‘22, B.A.T. ‘24

Mareeha Jangda graduated with an associate degree from LSC-Kingwood in 2022 and found herself back at LSCS after the college system launched its Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity. Her time in the Honors College as a Chancellor’s Fellow taught Jangda all about networking, writing and research—skills she used to become a cybersecurity engineer at United Airlines and will continue to use throughout her career.

“If I had gone the typical four-year route, I would not have been noticed as much, I would not have the connections I have now, and I would not have had opportunities like being able to speak at the UN about climate change,” Jangda said. “Walking at graduation where all of my friends and family were just so proud of me—I knew that was where I was supposed to be.”

Alumni on the Rise Award: Brett Shryock, A.S. ‘22, B.A.S. ‘24

Brett Shryock enrolled at LSCS while working for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management as a logistics specialist and was among the first students to enroll in the college system’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management program immediately after completing his associate degree in fire science. He is now working toward a master’s degree in public service administration from The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Shryock said. “I had matured a lot as the years went on, so I looked at the classes differently than I would have at age 18 or 19. Bringing that experience to the classes really helped. I got to give a lot of feedback and share my experience with classmates, and I learned a lot from the professors.”

Distinguished Alumni Award: Meaghanne Ilene Logan Ruiz, A.A. ‘15

Meaghanne Ruiz completed her associate degree at LSC-North Harris as an Honors College Scholar and transferred to the University of Houston to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science. From there, she became an officer in the U.S. Air Force and has since worked across the globe, earned a master’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy, and launched her own defense innovation firm. Ruiz is shaping the future of defense and innovation, but she credits her time at LSCS for giving her opportunities to travel and sparking a curiosity about global affairs.

“Thank you for donating. It impacted my life immensely, and there is no way I would have gotten through college without it,” Ruiz said. “To be able to lead after college is a testament to what was taught to me. I’m very grateful that people were able to invest in me so I could pay that forward and give back to our nation.”

Distinguished Alumni Award: John Fisher, A.A. ‘14

John Fisher enrolled at LSC-Kingwood in 2006 and quickly got involved as a campus ambassador and student worker. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston-Downtown and has served as an officer with the Houston Police Department since 2019. While attending classes at LSCS, Fisher began volunteering with Lone Star College Foundation, where he continues to invest his time and finances today to support the next generation of students.

"At Lone Star College System, I learned business acumen, explored my passion for technologies and continued my love for lifelong learning," Fisher said. "My collective experiences developed the person I am today and taught me the soft skills to be successful in past, current and future opportunities."

Visit LoneStar.edu/Alumni-Awards to read the full bios of each of this year’s recipients and to learn more about future award nomination opportunities.

With 15,000 students graduating this May, the LSCS Alumni Association is hosting events to welcome the Class of 2026, celebrate their achievements, offer career advice and connect them with fellow alumni. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Alumni-Events.