Education

For many students across the Houston area, community college represents more than a starting point — it’s a place where careers take shape, confidence grows and lifelong connections begin. That message was front and center as Lone Star College System celebrated the recipients of its inaugural Alumni Awards during the Lone Star College Foundation’s StarGala on May 2.

The newly launched awards program recognized four graduates whose paths have taken them into cybersecurity, emergency management, military leadership and public service. While the honorees now work in industries that reach far beyond the classroom, each story reflected a common thread: students using education as a way to strengthen their communities and create opportunities for others.

“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.”

The Lone Star College System Alumni Awards included two categories: the Alumni on the Rise Award, recognizing graduates who earned degrees or certificates between May 1, 2020, and May 31, 2025, and the Distinguished Alumni Award, honoring alumni who graduated before May 31, 2015.

Houston-Area Graduates Recognized for Leadership and Service

The inaugural Alumni on the Rise Award recipients included Mareeha Jangda and Brett Shryock, both of whom used specialized degree programs to transition into careers focused on public impact.

Jangda, who earned an associate degree from Lone Star College-Kingwood in 2022 before returning for a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity, now works as a cybersecurity engineer at United Airlines. During her time in the Honors College as a Chancellor’s Fellow, she developed networking, research and communication skills that helped open doors well beyond the classroom.

“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.”

Her story reflects a growing trend across Houston-area higher education, where students increasingly seek flexible and workforce-focused programs tied directly to emerging industries like cybersecurity and technology infrastructure.

Shryock’s path similarly blended education with real-world experience. While working as a logistics specialist for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, he enrolled at LSCS and became one of the first students in the system’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management program after completing an associate degree in fire science.

Now pursuing a master’s degree in public service administration through Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government & Public Service, Shryock said his professional background changed the way he approached college.

“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 Reflect Long-Term Community Investment

The Distinguished Alumni Award recipients highlighted how community college experiences can influence careers years after graduation.

Meaghanne Ilene Logan Ruiz, who earned an associate degree from Lone Star College-North Harris in 2015 as an Honors College Scholar, later completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Houston before becoming a U.S. Air Force officer. Her career has since included global assignments, a master’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy, and the launch of her own defense innovation firm.

Ruiz credited educational support and scholarship opportunities with helping shape her future and fueling a desire to give back through public service.

“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.”

The fourth honoree, Houston Police Department officer John Fisher, first enrolled at Lone Star College-Kingwood in 2006 and quickly immersed himself in campus life as a student worker and ambassador. After earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston-Downtown, Fisher joined HPD in 2019 while continuing his longtime involvement with the Lone Star College Foundation.

"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."

A Milestone Moment for the Class of 2026

The alumni recognition arrives during a major graduation season for Lone Star College System, which expects approximately 15,000 students to graduate this May. The LSCS Alumni Association is also hosting events designed to welcome the Class of 2026, connect graduates with fellow alumni and provide career guidance as students transition into the workforce.

For many Houston-area families, those milestones carry significance beyond individual achievement. Community colleges continue to play a major role in workforce development, career training and affordable higher education across the region, particularly in fast-growing industries tied to healthcare, emergency management, public safety and technology.

Residents interested in learning more about the 2026 Alumni Awards recipients or future nomination opportunities can visit LoneStar.edu/Alumni-Awards. Additional alumni events and graduate celebrations are also available through the LSCS Alumni Association.

Lone Star College System serves more than 90,000 students each semester across eight colleges, six centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College throughout the Houston area.

For continued coverage of Houston-area education, workforce development and community achievements, stay connected with My Neighborhood News.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.