Lone Star College-University Park presented a whimsical, enchanting event, Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Sunday (Dec. 4) on campus. The afternoon holiday tea and ballet performance drew nearly 100 children and adults to the community event.
“We heard wonderful reviews by those who attended, and it was our privilege to have our neighbors and friends on campus. This is just one way that we give back as this community’s college while letting the public know more about extraordinary fine-arts programming and classes that we offer,” said LSC-University Park President Shah Ardalan.
The afternoon event featured dancers from the Houston Dance Theatre under the direction of Angela Jackson. They performed excerpts from “The Nutcracker” after children and adults had enjoyed whimsical sweets and holiday, tea treats prepared by Klein ISD culinary arts students. It was the second year for the event that filled the college’s largest multi-purpose space.
“We are so fortunate to have strong partnerships that allowed the event to exceed our guests’ expectations,” said Lisa Hill, interim dean of Liberal Arts at LSC-University Park. “Young dancers from the Houston Dance Theater piqued youngsters’ imaginations with colorful costumes, and many saw the magic of ballet for the first time. Holiday cookies, tea sandwiches and petit fours that were carefully crafted by culinary students from Klein Forest High School, under the direction of Chef Jennifer Rodgers, helped create a memorable experience.”
Faculty & staff members from LSC-University Park helped make the event memorable. Developmental English Professor Suzanne Weatherly read excerpts from the holiday classic between the dance scenes and Sandra Salstrom, who also serves as an adjunct music faculty member, played the harp during the tea. Guests also enjoyed opportunities for group photos.
LSC-University Park is one of the fasted growing community college campuses in the country. Located in the former Compaq Computer’s world headquarters complex on 71 acres, it houses a University Center with two university partners – University of Houston-Downtown and University of Houston. It is also home to a Law Enforcement Academy, the college’s Energy and Manufacturing Institute, iSchoolHigh-a charter high school, several business partners and Lone Star Corporate College. Under its first President, Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park has been recognized nationally as a model for the innovative college of the 21st century. The college is located at the corner of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road. For more information about LSC-University Park, call 281.290.2600 or visit LoneStar.edu/UP.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 98,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.