The little things make a difference. During the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, eight College of the Mainland staff and students helped clean up, set up and assist people in wheelchairs during the Random Acts of Kindness Day.

“I liked helping out. I lot of people said, ‘thank you,’ and were shocked,” said COM student volunteer Alicia Hernandez.
 
Created by the Community College Petrochemical Initiative, the day sparked opportunities for students to make others’ days brighter.
 
“We offered people hand sanitizer in the cafeteria and asked to take out trash,” said Julie Guardiola, COM accounting specialist. “Our students were phenomenal. They were professional and motivated, and it made me proud to see them.”
 
Besides volunteering, students and staff also talked to visitors about the Community College Petrochemical Initiative, funded by ExxonMobil. The initiative aims to recruit the next generation of petrochemical workers and instructors to train them.  
 
The initiative funds scholarships for students entering petrochemical fields, including process technology, welding, mechanics and health care.
 
For more information about the nine community colleges offering training or CCPI scholarships, visit energizehouston.org.