Bank of America recently awarded Lone Star College Foundation two grants totaling $100,000 for academic support, technology, meal plan vouchers and other services supporting students involved in the foster and adoptive care system. Half of the funds assisted over 100 students in spring and summer 2025, and the remaining funds will be spent in the 2025-26 school year.

“Lone Star College Foundation is grateful for this generous funding going toward the Navigators program, which increases opportunities for students to achieve educational success,” said Susan Summers, CFRE, LSC Foundation director, Donor Relations.

Students who grew up in the foster and adoptive care system tend to face more barriers to higher education opportunities than their peers, ranging from financial challenges to a lack of consistent support.

The National Foster Youth Institute reports that less than 10% go on to earn a college degree. But the Lone Star College System Navigators want to help change that statistic through LSC Foundation. Nearly 1,000 LSCS students benefit from the program, which offers educational, transportation and housing resources to support students involved in the foster and adoptive care system.

The LSCS Navigators program works with community organizations and school districts in its service area to help students in foster care continue their education during or after high school. Additionally, the program provides critical resources and services to assist with basic needs.

“Partnering with Lone Star College System’s Navigators program allows area school districts like Spring ISD to provide needed life and educational resources to their students currently in foster care,” said Glorivee Burgos, Spring ISD special populations advisor. “Our goal is to help them further their education beyond high school, which will lead to vast opportunities in the job market.”

Texas students who were in foster care are eligible to have college tuition and fees waived at state-supported colleges or universities, medical schools, dental schools, community colleges and technical institutes.

“If you were in foster care and are attending or planning to attend Lone Star College System, we are here to support you with many resources to help reduce barriers as you start or complete your educational journey,” said Ashlie Resendez, LSCS associate vice chancellor, Student Engagement.

Visit LoneStar.edu/Navigators to learn more about the program.