News Archive

After spending more than 20 years in the transportation industry, John Russell Spear, Jr., decided it was time for a new direction. “I looked at several paths, and Houston City College offered the best opportunities,” he said. John enrolled at HCC Northeast where, in May 2025, he earned an Associate of Applied Science in Instrumentation and Controls Engineering Technology.

When Simon Obame came to the U.S. nearly two years ago from Gabon, his intent was to improve his English and return home to Africa and advance his career in the energy industry. He never intended to stay long, but he fell in love with the culture and decided to take a huge step and start another degree. His decision to enroll at HCC has paid off as Obame recently earned a $5,000 scholarship from the ISA Houston Section to further his academic journey in HCC’s Smart Building Technology program.

With the Houston region’s unemployment rate in August reaching its highest level in nearly a decade — 5 percent — the need for education and training opportunities is urgent. HCC is stepping up to help those who have lost jobs prepare for in-demand roles that require more than a high school diploma but less than a two- or four-year degree through its Connect 2 Workforce program.

In a quiet corner of Houston City College’s Northwest Campus is where literary theory and soil meet. That is where English Professor Cathy Clay tends to more than just blooming plants—she’s cultivating young minds. Through an innovative fusion of literature and gardening, she brings English texts to life by drawing connections between the resilience of plants and the complexity of human characters. Her method is anything but conventional, and that’s exactly the point.

HCC is launching LevelUP, a new continuing education series designed for creative professionals seeking to sharpen their skills and stay competitive in today’s fast-changing design and technology landscape.