Tomball Regional Health Foundation Support for Lone Star College Nears $2.5 Million, Helping Train Local Health Care Workers
For Tomball-area families, the impact of a scholarship or paid certification exam can eventually reach far beyond a college classroom. It can show up years later at a hospital bedside, in a clinic or in the decisions of a nurse who notices something that needs immediate attention.
Petronila Arrey knows that connection firsthand. Just two years after graduating from Lone Star College-Tomball with an associate degree in nursing, Arrey earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is now pursuing a dual Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration degree from Lamar University while working as a care transition coordinator and neurocritical care nurse.
“Every time I walk into a patient’s room or get recognition at the hospital for catching something critical, it’s thanks to the amazing teachers that believed in me, taught me well and made sure that I was an amazing nurse,” Arrey said. “Honestly, I don’t know if I would have been able to accomplish all of this in such a short time without the help I had. Instead of having to worry about whether my monetary needs would be met, I was able to focus on school.”
Arrey is one of 180 Lone Star College System students who have received scholarships through the Lone Star College Foundation with funding from the Tomball Regional Health Foundation. Since 2011, the health foundation has contributed nearly $2.4 million to the college foundation, putting the longtime partnership within reach of the $2.5 million mark.
Nearly $2.4 Million Reaches Beyond Scholarships
The investment has supported more than tuition assistance. According to Lone Star College System, Tomball Regional Health Foundation funding has covered testing, certification and board exam fees for 674 students, provided more than $1.1 million in health occupations equipment and paid for vaccinations for more than 110 Veterinary Technology students.
Those expenses can represent important hurdles for students preparing to enter nursing and other health care professions. Removing some of those costs can give students more room to concentrate on completing their programs and becoming licensed or certified for work.
“Tomball Regional Health Foundation’s generous support has been transformative,” said Lee Ann Nutt, Ed.D., president of Lone Star College-Tomball. “Their investment has removed financial barriers, brought state-of-the-art equipment to our classrooms, and facilitated even higher levels of student success. By investing in our students, TRH Foundation fulfills its mission for the health and well-being of the Tomball community, and we are honored to be a conduit of their generosity.”
That investment comes as Lone Star College System itself reaches a significant point in its growth. Founded in 1972 with 613 students, LSCS surpassed 100,000 students for the first time in fall 2026 and now operates eight main campuses and more than 20 locations throughout the Houston area. The system offers more than 200 degree and certificate programs, including academic transfer pathways and career training designed to prepare students for jobs across the region.
The Lone Star College Foundation has been part of that mission since 1991. According to the college, the foundation has awarded nearly $33 million in scholarships to more than 30,250 students and provided another $16 million in program support, helping students with needs ranging from tuition and textbooks to emergency assistance.
A Tomball Health Care Legacy Finds a New Path
The Tomball Regional Health Foundation's roots are also closely tied to the area's health care history. The former Tomball Hospital Authority owned and operated Tomball Regional Medical Center from its founding in 1976 until the hospital was sold in 2011. The foundation was created following that sale to administer the proceeds for charitable purposes and continue supporting health and wellness in the surrounding communities.
Today, the Tomball Regional Health Foundation supports nonprofit health and wellness programs serving Tomball, Magnolia, Waller, Cypress, Klein, Spring and nearby communities. Its mission focuses on improving health through access to care, preventive care and health education.
That history gives the Lone Star College partnership a local connection beyond the dollar amount. Rather than operating a hospital itself, the foundation is helping support some of the people who could become part of the region's health care workforce.
“When you hear heartwarming stories like Petronila’s, it makes us want to do more for more people,” said Jeffrey Klein, CEO of the Tomball Regional Health Foundation. “Tomball Regional Health Foundation is proud to have supported Lone Star College Foundation since the inception of our organization.”
From College Classrooms to Local Patient Care
For residents, one of the most direct measures of the partnership may be what happens after students graduate. Lone Star College System says many graduates who received financial assistance funded by the Tomball Regional Health Foundation are now caring for patients in local hospitals and clinics.
The college also reports strong academic outcomes among students currently moving through its programs. Nursing students at Lone Star College-Tomball have a 100% passing rate on their exit board exams, according to Lone Star College System, while scholarship recipients have an average GPA of 3.48.
“Support from partners like Tomball Regional Health Foundation keeps students motivated, engaged and focused as they work toward their goals,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, associate vice chancellor of Foundation Advancement and Donor Engagement. “Our nursing students at Lone Star College-Tomball currently have a 100% passing rate on their exit board exams, and scholarship recipients have a 3.48 average GPA.”
For a growing region, the partnership connects two community priorities that are often discussed separately: making higher education financially attainable and developing a pipeline of trained health care professionals. In Tomball, those goals increasingly intersect as students move from local classrooms into the medical workforce serving their neighbors.
With nearly $2.4 million invested since 2011, the Tomball Regional Health Foundation's support of Lone Star College has become more than a scholarship program. For students such as Arrey, it can provide the breathing room needed to finish an education. For the broader community, the return on that investment can arrive in the form of trained professionals caring for patients close to home.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more updates on education, health care and community investments affecting Tomball and the greater Houston area.
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.
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