TSTC welcomes new, returning students for fall semester

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed students back to campus on Friday, Aug. 27, as the fall semester began Monday, Aug. 30.

Students who live on campus were welcomed by Lupe Navarrette, housing director, and the resident assistants who will be helping them during the semester.

“We wanted to allow students to come back in waves, so we set up a canopy to greet everyone,” he said. “We wanted to reduce exposure to others and wanted everyone to be safe.”

New students and their parents arrived at the Sweetwater campus Friday, and students who live in the apartments moved in on Saturday. All remaining returning students moved in on Sunday.

Navarrette said students came at different times, mostly in the afternoon.

“We always have those stragglers, but we are glad to have people moving into the facilities,” he said.

Navarrette said the number of students living on the Sweetwater campus is up from a year ago.

“We have 76 students living on campus this semester and are seeing that continue to go up,” he said.

With the fall semester underway, instructors are excited about the opportunity to teach new and returning students.

“We have more students beginning in the fall than I expected. I am excited to get them in the shop and start working with them,” said Lane White, Diesel Equipment Technology instructor.

For Russell Benson, he is excited to begin teaching students in their final semester of the Electromechanical Technology program.

“This is the time when we let them go and see what they can do,” he said. “It is going to be a challenge for them, but it will also be fun to see everything they have learned so far put to use.”

New students will have their first chance to begin working in TSTC’s many labs at the West Texas campuses. Automotive Technology instructor William Parker said it is important to have students in the labs.

“Students will not get the proper training and will not succeed in the field without training in our labs,” he said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.