Lone Star College-CyFair Internship Program Launches Students into Houston’s IT Workforce
At Lone Star College-CyFair, the path from classroom to career has never been clearer — especially for students looking to break into Houston’s booming IT industry. Thanks to the college’s Falcon Internship Program (FIP), students are not only gaining real-world experience but are also landing jobs that put them on the fast track to long-term success.
This fall, three students — Marco Alatorre, Jerome Landagan, and Gabrielle Panuelos — began their professional journeys with the Office of Technology Services (OTS) at LSC-CyFair. As part of a paid summer internship through FIP, the trio trained hands-on in campus IT support roles. Within weeks of completing the program, all three were hired as permanent, part-time PC technicians. For Landagan, the experience also led to an additional internship with tech giant Cisco.
“That rarely happens with ‘off-the-street’ applicants,” said Darrell Woodruff, User Services Manager for OTS. “These students already know our systems, our culture, and how we serve faculty. They’re productive on day one.”
Woodruff, who brings nearly 30 years of combined private and public sector IT experience, says the Falcon Internship Program is proving to be a game-changer for connecting motivated, skilled students with immediate job opportunities. “This internship program does a great job of bringing me more high-quality candidates,” he added. “FIP’s talent pipeline are students who are motivated, willing to learn and tend not to come with baked-in expectations.”
Since launching just two years ago, the Falcon Internship Program has placed nearly 40 students in paid roles across various industries — nine of which have already resulted in permanent hires. According to Patty James, Manager of Career and Internship Success at LSC-CyFair, the strength of the program lies in its close collaboration with employers and its commitment to student readiness.
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Her team helps employers outline internship needs, pre-screens applicants, and ensures interns are well-prepared through personalized coaching, resume workshops, and interview training. “There are potentially no bad hires,” James emphasized.
From Interns to IT Pros: Local Students Share Success Stories
Panuelos, a cybersecurity major, said the program allowed her to bridge theory and practice in a supportive, real-world setting. “I learned how to troubleshoot issues in live environments, work collaboratively with different teams, and put my classroom knowledge into practice to solve real problems,” she said. “The experience helped me feel confident transitioning into my role as a PC technician because I already understood the tools, office culture and expectations of the team.”
Alatorre echoed the value of learning by doing, especially while preparing classrooms with everything from A/V systems and projectors to document cameras and keyboards. “OTS also provided hands-on customer service skills through working with faculty and staff,” he said. “Understanding how important it is to explain technical issues in simpler terms has given me meaningful insight into what it means to be a technical expert.”
Landagan emphasized that FIP gave him a competitive edge: “FIP significantly helped, as my experience working as an IT intern led to me securing another internship at Cisco. Some may think that attending a community college like LSC means that they won't have access to substantial resources, but FIP proves the opposite.”
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Connecting Cypress-Area Employers with Job-Ready Talent
The Falcon Internship Program continues to grow, offering local employers across Greater Houston a strong pipeline of skilled, coachable talent in areas like IT, cybersecurity, and computer support. Companies interested in partnering with FIP can post internships, manage candidates, and engage with upcoming talent through Lone Star’s Symplicity CRM system.
One opportunity to connect is the upcoming Career and Internship Fair on February 24, which offers a platform for businesses to meet and recruit motivated students ready to hit the ground running.
More information about the Falcon Internship Program and partnership opportunities can be found at LoneStar.edu/OpportunityHub. For direct assistance or to register for recruiting events, employers can email CFInternships@LoneStar.edu or Patty.James@LoneStar.edu.
As spring registration continues for classes starting January 20, students are encouraged to explore the many ways LSC-CyFair supports career readiness — from classroom instruction to paid internships. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/RegCyFair.
Start close. Go far. At LSC-CyFair, programs like the Falcon Internship Program offer students a practical bridge between education and employment. As more students gain hands-on experience and employers connect with local talent, the program continues to grow as a valuable resource for both the college and the wider Cypress and Houston communities.
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.
