(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s newest graduates at the North Texas campus are ready to energize their careers.
More than 40 graduates, ranging from those in high school who earned dual credit hours to nontraditional students, took part in the Spring 2025 Commencement held Monday, April 28, at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
More than 10 students from the Electrical Power and Controls program, including Cody Dobson, Vincent Dubose and Estean Freeman, received associate degrees. Jeremy Deadmon, a program instructor, said he enjoyed making connections with such a diverse group of students.
Dubose, of Glenn Heights, said he and his wife were raising two teenagers as he pursued his studies. Before coming to TSTC, he worked as an electrician in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years.
“It’s been a long time since I graduated from anything,” Dubose said. “Finishing college at 43 years old is an accomplishment beyond anything.”
Dubose said his advice for future college students is to organize their lives around classes and studying, adjust to the faster pace of teaching and stay ahead with good time management.
Dubose works as an electrical assembler at Schneider Electric in Red Oak.
“It’s a good company and is expanding,” he said. “Opportunities mean growth.”
Dubose said he and his wife plan to travel this weekend to Cancun, Mexico, for a vacation to celebrate his graduation.
Freeman, of Lancaster, decided to attend TSTC because he wanted a career change. He said he wanted to be part of the growth in power distribution and robotics.
Freeman works as an electrical and instrumentation technician at GAF Materials Corp. in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“I’m ready to get my journey started, and I am looking forward to seeing what it brings,” he said.
Dobson, of Mansfield, said he had no electrical experience before enrolling at TSTC. He said that although he found the computer-related work easy, learning the mathematics and theory involved in the program proved to be difficult for him.
“It’s a needed field, and you can make good money,” he said. “The Money-Back Guarantee is also a reason.”
Dobson said he and his family will commemorate his graduation by going this week to a Texas Rangers baseball game. They plan to move soon to Weatherford, where Dobson will continue his job hunt.
Daniel Vu, of Arlington, a graduate of the Architectural and Civil Drafting Technology program, received the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
