San Jacinto College and LyondellBasell finalists for AACC award
San Jacinto College and LyondellBasell are finalists for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Award of Excellence in the Outstanding College / Corporate Partnership category.
The American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) annual Awards of Excellence underscore the association’s priorities and bring national visibility to promising practices among its member colleges. The College and LyondellBasell are among five finalists in the Outstanding College / Corporate Partnership category.
“We are honored to share this recognition with LyondellBasell,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor, San Jacinto College. “Our partnership is a testament to the dedication of LyondellBasell and the College to provide a skilled and trained workforce for the petrochemical industry. I thank them for their continued support and all they do for our students and staff, and appreciate the AACC for naming us as a finalist for the Award of Excellence.”
In 2019, with the grand opening of the Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology (CPET), it was announced that LyondellBasell was the facility’s naming rights partner, honoring the company’s generous $5 million donation and its support in developing the program curriculum. Several LyondellBasell employees serve on the College’s Curriculum Advisory Committees, driving curriculum to stay not only current, but looking ahead to what is on the horizon for industry training.
LyondellBasell supports San Jacinto College instrumentation and process technology program by awarding a $2,500 scholarship each year to 10 students. Since 2020, the company has awarded scholarships to 50 San Jacinto College students. LyondellBasell’s support of San Jacinto College students also includes monthly lunch and learns, plant tours, virtual interview trainings, and resume workshops. The company also created a scaled model glass distillation lab at the trainng facility, exclusively designed and built by a team of LyondellBasell employees.
In addition to monetary support, LyondellBasell frequently holds events at the College that benefit the entire community. The company held a massive tree giveaway for East Harris County residents while also planting trees on the San Jacinto College campuses. They held a computer giveaway for hundreds of residents and have continued to support the annual Mindtrekkers Adventures in STEM Festival, and provide support to the Energy Venture Summer Camp, events which introduce students to the energy fields as early as the sixth grade.
Award of Excellence winners will be announced at the Awards of Excellence Gala on
April 8 during the AACC Annual Conferece in Louisville, Kentucky. For a complete list
of AACC Award of Excellence finalists, visit the AACC website.
About San Jacinto College Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is one of the top 10 community colleges in
the nation as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream
Leader College of Distinction in 2020. The College is a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, serving approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students
annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas
of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter
the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard
& Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s.
