(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College nursing students have one thing in common: a commitment to helping others.
Second-semester students returned to the Sweetwater campus earlier this month ready to continue their education, which will lead to earning a certificate in the summer of 2026.
“At first, it was overwhelming,” said Daniella Vela, of Roscoe, of her first semester. “Once we got the work done and got in the flow, it was rewarding.”
Sunday Ozuor, of Midland, also found the first semester challenging, but has a different outlook heading into the second.
“I am ready to get to it,” he said.
Ozuor said being the only male student has not affected teamwork in the classroom and expects the same in his future career.
“It is nice to have the extra muscle in the room to help lift patients,” he said, smiling at his classmates.
Luzema Lopez, of Hereford, said she chose a career in health care because of how nurses treated her during past medical visits.
“I liked how they were nice to everyone,” she said. “That is one reason why I wanted to become a nurse.”
Vela shared a similar experience after becoming a mother.
“I thought I was going to be treated harshly because I was young when I had my son,” she said. “The nurses treated me with kindness and respect. It was a great feeling.”
All three students plan to continue their education after completing the Vocational Nursing program and intend to enroll in the LVN to RN Transition Nursing program at the Sweetwater campus.
Lopez encouraged those considering a health care career to visit with faculty members at the Sweetwater campus.
“The instructors know it is hard as a nursing student because they have been in our shoes,” she said. “They are working with us to make sure we become good nurses.”
Registration for the fall 2026 semester runs from March 11 through July 15. For more information, visit tstc.edu/programs/vocational-nursing.
In Texas, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn an average annual salary of $60,150, according to ONET Online, which forecasts employment in the field to grow by 12% from 2022 to 2032.
TSTC offers a Vocational Nursing certificate of completion at its Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. An Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing is offered at the Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.