LSCO continues growing with new buildings, courses

A building site that once drew fame to Orange with a local family business, is now housing a school and training center to produce more famous mechanical and technical-minded innovators.

On Wednesday afternoon, Lamar State College Orange will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the community at the new Electromechanical Technology Building. LSCO President Dr. Tom Johnson is adding more subjects to train regional residents to get jobs in area industries.

Students will be able to study hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, maching, and equipment instrumentation in a space with more than 12,000 square feet. The building also has space for instruction in new growing technologies like laser and 3-D printing.

The the ribbon-cutting is on Wednesday, students have been attending classes in the building since the beginning of the fall semester.

"We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Texas State University System and the state of Texas for funding the remodeling of these two buildings" Dr. Johnson said. "It is with deep appreciation to Cloeren Incorporated for helping us equip these state-of-the-art facilities and for providing scholarships for our students right here in Orange, Texas. It's because of their tremendous support that we were able to make this a reality."

The building is a combination of two renovated buildings on Green Avenue at First Street. The Procell Brothers Performance Centerand Machine Shop was there for many years.The Procell business was known for building high-quality racecar engines responsible for earning 23 National Hot Rod Association world records. With the standard set high for developing champions, LSCO purchased the property in 2021 with the intent to carry on the tradition of excellence set by the Procell Brothers, according to the college.

"We're excited to continue offering high-quality education in these high-demand industries" said Dr.Keith Jones, associate dean of technical studies. "These newly renovated buildings offer the space and tools necessary to train the next generation of industry leaders."

Electromechanical Technology is a high-demand career field where students are exposed to multiple facets of machinery and equipment while building a foundation that enables them to pursue further education or entry-level employment in distribution, manufacturing, refinery businesses and more.

Students can enroll in a stackable credential program leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Electromechanical Technology. Visit LSCO.edu to learn more about the program and how to become a student.