(ABILENE, Texas) – More than 150 graduates received associate degrees and certificates of completion at Texas State Technical College’s Summer 2025 Commencement for the Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater campuses held Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Abilene Convention Center.
Among those graduating was the first group of graduates receiving certificates of completion from the Electrical Lineworker and Management program at the Abilene campus.
“They are all respectful young men,” said program instructor Steven Ross.
Joseph Green, of Hamlin, said he was inspired to pursue the program because his brother-in-law works for Oncor. Green also used to work for a tire shop and learned from customers that electrical line work is a great career.
“I really enjoyed it and learned a lot,” Green, a TSTC Board of Regents honor graduate, said of the program. “I enjoy being up on the (practice utility) poles. I like working.”
Green said he has a job interview involving a skills test and climbing with AEP in upcoming days.
Logan Isbell, of Haskell, said his father taught him about electricity through his work at a cable company.
“I was terrified the first few times up the poles,” Isbell said. “I enjoyed the brotherhood we built together.”
Isbell said he is interviewing for potential jobs and eventually wants to pursue an associate degree.
Peyton Randall, of Mineral Wells, said attending TSTC was a great decision because it made him learn about himself and how his life can change. He said his first time on the poles was scary yet fueled by adrenaline.
Randall said he liked both climbing in cold weather and the connections he made with classmates.
“We are setting an example for future linemen,” he said.
Randall will begin work later this month as an apprentice at Ferreira Power South in West Texas.
Two TSTC alumnae from the Sweetwater campus were honored with the TSTC Trailblazer Award being given this year to mark the college’s 60th anniversary. Maria Aguirre, of Sweetwater, TSTC’s vice president of marketing operations, and Annie Guevara, of Austin, a senior CAD (computer-aided design) specialist at The University of Texas at Austin and owner of AMG Designs, were recognized.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.