(MARSHALL, Texas) – On his first day as a Welding Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus 6 1/2 years ago, Philip Miller knew he was there to stay.
“TSTC means quite a bit to me,” he recently said.
Miller has a history with the college. He graduated from TSTC’s Waco campus in 2014 with his Associate of Applied Science degree from the same program that he now teaches.
“My dad was a welder for 40 years before I started doing it,” he said. “He showed me a little bit, and then I wanted to go to school for it.”
After spending a few years in the workforce after he graduated, Miller was offered a teaching position at the Marshall campus.
“I actually wanted to be a teacher for a long time,” he said.
Student safety is Miller’s top priority, having witnessed his share of workplace accidents. He advises his students to take their work seriously and reminds them that they should never stop learning.
“Everything you do at this point in your life makes a big difference 10 years from now, and the little effort now makes a huge effect later,” Miller said.
Miller said he wants to be a teacher forever, though he would like to be a program team lead someday.
Raleigh Derks, a Welding instructor at TSTC’s Marshall campus, graduated from the Waco campus at the same time as Miller did. The two have worked at the Marshall campus together for three years.
“He’s motivated by creating a quality student,” Derks said of Miller. “Not only is he a great co-worker, he’s a great friend.”
Welding Technology is available at all 11 TSTC campuses across the state. The program offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and three certificates of completion, depending on location.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.