CTE LP CARD: LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial Partners with Pasadena ISD
LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial is partnering with Pasadena ISD to help students go from classroom to a career. The partnership has already provided welding supplies and safety equipment for LP Card Career and Technical classes and two seniors, Sam Riquelme of Tegler (left), and Victor Garcia of Pasadena High School (middle), with an employment opportunity at one of the company’s local refineries.
Like many of their peers, Victor Garcia of Pasadena High School and Sam Requelme of Tegler knew that their senior year would be laden with life changing decisions to make – go to college, get a job or both. What they did not know is they would have the support of local businesses LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial to help them along the way.
Through a flourishing partnership with LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial, both Pasadena ISD students have been invited to work part-time at one of their local refineries, where they will receive hands-on technical training and learn skills necessary to meet their career goals.
“This job is going to help me see what it is really like out there in the welding industry,” Garcia said. “I know that it will help me choose what profession I will pursue in the future.”
“I am just really excited that I get the opportunity to work at LyondellBasell,” Requelme said. “It’s going to make a huge difference in my life and it will help my family out.”
The scholarship program is one of the many perks of the partnership.
Several years ago, LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial joined forces and teamed up with local school districts for a grassroots initiative called Adopt-A-School, in an effort to increase the skilled labor workforce in the Houston area.
The two businesses decided to expand their reach and work with Pasadena ISD' s LP Card Career and Technical Center to give students who are already taking advantage of technical courses a unique opportunity to further explore career options and gain knowledge and experience about the welding industry.
Representatives from both companies hope that the partnership will help mold students into employable, career-minded individuals, ready for work in the skilled labor market.
“The key thing that we tried to do, besides helping students build skills, is help them get a vision for their lives,” Todd Monette, plant manager at Houston’s LyondellBasell refinery said. “And in doing so, we thought that this would be a good opportunity to show what these opportunities look like. It has been my experience that as we start working with the students to help them gain skills, it drives students to do well in school and it creates a passion and a vision for the individual.”
The partnership, which officially kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 29, will provide students with field trips to the local refinery, shop demonstrations and career presentations. Additionally, classes will receive hands-on-training using top-of-the line welding supplies and safety equipment donated by LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial.
LP Card welding instructor Ezequiel “Zeek” Garcia, was overwhelmed by all of LyondellBasell and Austin Industrial’s generosity.
“A few years ago, I got the Pasadena ISD Teacher of the Year award and I was so proud, but I am more proud about this partnership because it directly affects the students,” Garcia said. "Students will get to put the supplies and these opportunities to good use.“And I know that it’ll change their lives forever. ”
Pictured here (from left): Todd Monette, plant manager with Houston's LyondellBasell, Troy McCarley, Pasadena ISD associate superintendent, Bruce Grissom, maintenance manager, Joe Gomez, Austin Industrial Supervisor, and Scott Lemonine, maintence manager for the LyondellBasell refinery.
