Lone Star College System relies on community members and organizations to help students fund their educational goals.

The Collins 8 Foundation, the scholarship arm of the Collins Strong Foundation, created the Mark Collins Field of Dreams Scholarship through Lone Star College Foundation to honor Collins’ passion for skilled trades, his unwavering faith and his deep love for his family, sports and the outdoors. The name reflects both his dedication to hard work and his belief in fostering opportunities for future generations.

“Lone Star College Foundation looks forward to assisting students in our skilled trades programs thanks to the generosity of the Collins 8 Foundation,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSCS associate vice chancellor, Foundation Advancement. “With their support, our students will have an opportunity to pursue their dream careers without worrying how they will pay for it.”

The Collins Strong Foundation was formed to honor the lives of Collins and his four grandsons, who were tragically killed in 2022. The organization strives to support students and uplift others who have faced hardships through scholarships, service projects and outreach.

“I love that there is a scholarship honoring my father’s legacy. He was very big on supporting people in licensed trades,” said Chris Collins. “My father was known for his strong belief in the power of hard work and practical education. He understood the immense value of specialized knowledge in skilled trades, believing it could lead to great success.”

The Mark Collins Field of Dreams Scholarship supports students pursuing degrees and certification in skilled trades, such as automotive technology, construction supervision, construction trades, electrical technology, energy and manufacturing technology, engineering design technology, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, industrial electronics, land surveying and mapping technology, logistics management, machining technology, or oil and gas drilling. Preference is given to those impacted by tragedy or who attended Tomball High School or Tomball Memorial High School.

Learn more about the Mark Collins Field of Dreams Scholarship at LoneStar.edu/Giving/ApplyScholarships or CollinsStrong.org.