Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to LSC and Cornell University Scholarships and Support Programs

This article explores the various scholarship opportunities and support programs available through Lone Star College (LSC), Cornell University, and affiliated organizations, aiming to provide students with the resources they need to achieve their academic and career goals.

LSC's "Let's Chat" Program and Mental Health Support

Lone Star College (LSC) offers a program called "Let's Chat," inspired by the "Let's Talk" program at Cornell University. This initiative provides informal, drop-in consultations with counselors. Students can check in at the Student Services Desk in S-109 (providing only their first name) to join the counseling queue and wait in the designated area.

It's important to note that LSC's mental health counseling services do not include medical treatment, diagnosis, long-term therapy for chronic issues, court-related services, mandated counseling, or forensic testing for disability determination.

ASU Prep Digital: A Pathway to College and Careers

ASU Prep Digital is an accredited online K-12 school that is part of Arizona State University. It offers flexible full- or part-time schedules and personalized support, allowing students to start on a path to college and careers from Kindergarten.

Key Features of ASU Prep Digital

Flexible Schedule: Online learning that fits activities, family life, and any location.
Accelerated Pathways: Opportunities to advance in a college-ready core curriculum.
Savings for College: High school students can earn concurrent college credit, saving time and money on a degree.
Accredited, University-Connected Program: A trusted online K-12 school backed by Arizona State University.
Personalized Learning and Coaching: Individual support from caring teachers and a dedicated Learning Success Coach (LSC).
Essential Technology Skills: Daily use of digital tools to develop in-demand skills for future careers.
Clubs and Community: Opportunities to join interest-based clubs and group projects to connect, collaborate, and lead.
Parent Visibility and Communication: Progress updates and check-ins keep families informed.
Comfort, Safety, and Structure at Home: Predictable routines and familiar surroundings reduce stress and keep young learners focused.

Curriculum Breakdown

Elementary (Grades K-5): Builds a strong foundation in core subjects with structured schedules, hands-on activities, and consistent teacher guidance.
Middle School (Grades 6-8): Strengthens academic skills and grows confidence with accelerated coursework and early high school credit.
High School (Grades 9-12): Prepares for graduation, college, and careers with personalized coaching and opportunities to earn concurrent college credit.

Learning Success Coaches (LSCs)

A Learning Success Coach (LSC) is a dedicated support professional who assists ASU Prep Digital students from the start. LSCs check in with students to monitor progress, establish goals and work plans, guide course selection, and help them prepare for college and career success.

Cost and Affordability

Arizona residents can attend tuition-free, earning ASU college credit at no cost. Students outside Arizona have flexible tuition options. Earning university credit while in high school saves time and money on a future degree.

Rice University and Lone Star College Partnership: The Take Flight Program

Rice University and Lone Star College (LSC) have a partnership through the Take Flight Program, a cohort cocurricular pathway developed for LSC and San Jacinto College (SJC) Honors College students interested in STEM careers.

Program Structure

The program has two tracks: one for first-year students and one for second-year students. Both groups have access to specialized curricular and cocurricular STEM opportunities collaboratively offered by Rice and LSC STEM faculty and mentors.

Benefits for Students

Take Flight students also have access to specialized application support for funded summer research experiences for undergraduates, offered by Rice and other sites around the country.

Student Success Stories

Alexis Lopez, a Lone Star College student in the Take Flight program, conducted research at Cornell University on using computer vision to study plant health. The experience led her to be the first author of a published paper she presented at conferences. Jocel Angelo Reyes interned in a nanotechnology lab with Matteo Pasquali, director of Rice’s Carbon Hub. The internship “invigorated my passion for research." Carlos Carreon noted that the research experiences also helped build interpersonal skills.

Read also: Crafting Perfect Thank You Notes

Cornell University Learning Strategies Center (LSC) Scholarship

The primary objective of the Learning Strategies Center (LSC) Scholarship at Cornell University is to enable current, full-time undergraduate students to graduate on schedule by providing financial support to attend Summer or Winter Session.

Eligibility Criteria

Although many students wish to attend Summer or Winter Session, limited funding restricts the scholarships to eligible applicants who receive Cornell grant aid and demonstrate both an academic and financial need. To be considered, students must be nominated by their college’s designated nominator.

Nomination Process

The Summer 2026 scholarship cycle will open for nominations on March 2; students seeking a nomination must meet with their nominators no later than March 27. Unaffiliated students meet with staff from the Engineering Advising Office.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Several other scholarship opportunities cater to specific demographics and fields of study:

ASME INSPIRE/Charles W.E. A.W. Scholarship: For students of African descent or Black, Hispanic or Latina/Latino/Latinx, or Indigenous backgrounds.
Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages LLC Scholarship: Available to dependents of full-time Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages LLC employees who have been employed for at least one year at the application deadline.
Greystar Scholarship: Open to dependents of full-time Greystar team members who have been employed for at least two consecutive years. The team member must be employed at the time the scholarship application is submitted, the recipient is selected, and the scholarship is paid unless termination is outside of the employee's control.
Construction Management/Building Trades Scholarship: For students attending an accredited US technical institute, 2 or 4-year college with a program in construction management, secondary votech school or tuition bearing apprenticeship program in the traditional building trades.
"Pulse of Perseverance" Scholarship: Students must read the book, "Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success" and submit a 250-word essay focusing on how they are currently making a difference in their community and why they believe they have the #pulseofperseverance. Applicants must also submit a short video (no longer than 60 seconds) on why they possess the #pulseofperseverance and what the scholarship will mean to them.

Read also: Foundation Scholarship Details

tags: #LSC #scholarship #Cornell #University #details