Summary
Texas State Technical College hosted 27 high school students at its Williamson County campus for a five-hour, hands-on Career Exploration Workshop. Held in partnership with Texas A&M University and the Texas Defense Aerospace Manufacturing Community, the event gave local students a practical look at high-demand technical careers.
(HUTTO, Texas) – Twenty-seven high school students attended a hands-on Career Exploration Workshop hosted by Texas State Technical College in Williamson County on Friday. The event was held in partnership with Texas A&M University and the Texas Defense Aerospace Manufacturing Community.
The workshop provided participants with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with career pathways that directly support Texas’ growing aerospace, defense and manufacturing industries. Students rotated through training labs, using state-of-the-art equipment from three of TSTC’s Williamson County programs: Automation & Robotics, Precision Machining and Welding.
“We were thrilled to see such high energy from the students today,” said Kay Lehman, TSTC’s HVAC and Welding program team lead in Williamson County. “This workshop is all about sparking a passion for the technical skills that drive Texas industry forward.”
During the five-hour event, attendees moved past traditional classroom lectures and stepped directly onto the shop floor. For many of the participants, it was their first time operating advanced industrial machinery, offering a clear and practical look at what a day in the life of a modern technician looks like.
Colton Han, a dual enrollment student at Hutto High School and TSTC, was drawn to the event because of its unique focus.
“I came to TSTC for its precision machining classes during the school year, and I was interested in aerospace,” Han said.
Jeremiah Jarvis, a junior at Hutto High School, agreed that the interactive environment made a significant impact, noting that his favorite part of the workshop was “just getting hands-on experience” and “learning new things.”
Events like the Career Exploration Workshop are part of an ongoing effort by TSTC and its statewide partners to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in Texas’ high-tech sectors. By introducing students to these fields early, the college aims to build a pipeline for the state’s future workforce.
Registration for the fall semester at TSTC is underway. For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.