Lone Star College Expands Take Flight Scholars Program to Boost Student Transfers to Top Universities
The Take Flight Scholars Program at Lone Star College System (LSCS) is reaching new heights this fall, opening the door for even more students to chart a pathway to success at four-year universities. Originally launched in 2022 to support STEM majors, the innovative program now includes students studying arts, humanities, business, and social sciences.
This expansion reflects a broader commitment by LSCS and its partner, Rice University, to support high-achieving community college students in pursuing enriching academic experiences—and transferring successfully to elite institutions.
“Take Flight is designed to help our students be successful no matter where they’re transferring, to make them better student scholars and to support their goals,” said Dr. Katharine Caruso, associate vice chancellor of Honors and International Education at LSCS. “We are thrilled to expand this amazing program to even more of our talented students.”
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The program, part of the Honors College at Lone Star College, offers students access to a range of academic enrichment activities, including lectures, conferences, workshops, documentary screenings, and fine arts performances hosted by Rice. Through dedicated Take Flight programming, students also receive guidance on securing undergraduate research experiences, preparing for medical school, and navigating the university transfer process.
On “Take Flight On Campus Days,” students visit Rice University to tour the campus, attend classes, and connect with peers and faculty—giving them a firsthand look at the possibilities ahead. Participants can also apply for competitive, paid summer research opportunities ranging from introductory lab work to full-time research team placements. In 2025, Rice will introduce new workshops tailored to business, social science, and humanities students, making the program even more inclusive.
At the fall kickoff event, 150 first-year Take Flight students came together to explore their goals, learn about the opportunities ahead, and hear from alumni of the program—like Noor Ayache, a former LSC-Tomball student now majoring in philosophy at Rice University.
“All the experiences I had at Lone Star really gave me an edge. When I got into Rice, my resume was stacked from all the opportunities I had,” Ayache said. “If you can, try to work toward presenting your research at conferences, studying abroad and participating in extracurriculars. You should take advantage of all the opportunities you can here at Lone Star.”
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The expansion of Take Flight comes at a pivotal time for community college students across Texas and the nation. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, upward transfers—from two-year to four-year institutions—rose by 7.7% in fall 2023 compared to the previous year. In Texas, a recent state‑level report found that 68% of students in the junior‑cohort who transferred from a community college earned their bachelor’s degree within four years of transfer, compared with 86% of non‑transfer students.
These numbers underscore the importance of dedicated transfer support programs—especially for first-generation and underrepresented students, who make up a large portion of the LSCS student population. By expanding Take Flight, Lone Star College is not only closing the gap between intention and completion but also redefining what a community college experience can look like.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester, providing affordable, high-quality academic transfer and career training education. It remains the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and was named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. To learn more about The Honors College and the Take Flight Scholars Program, visit LoneStar.edu/College-Departments/Honors.
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.
