(HUTTO, Texas) – Austin Henson developed his passion for technology while growing up in Bastrop.
At 12, he studied how computers work and built a virtual one using Minecraft.
“I was like, ‘This is super cool,’” he said. “I started doing research on low-level coding and architectures.”
At 14, he built a central processing unit (CPU) using breadboards, enabling him to understand how machines think. He said his parents supported his endeavor, helping him get the parts he needed.
“I was kind of obsessed with it as a kid,” he said.
His interest in technology grew into drawing schematics, learning to code in Python, and dabbling in computer-aided design software. Henson recently designed another CPU and expanded his self-directed learning to include computer graphics and programming.
When Henson graduated from Brentwood Christian School, his senior year had not gone as planned, leaving him unsure of his next steps.
“I thought I would take a gap year and figure it out,” Henson said.
His father encouraged him to look at Texas State Technical College’s Automation and Robotics program. Henson already had a classmate and friend, Gus Ebner, planning to pursue Welding at TSTC’s Waco campus. After touring the robotics facility twice, Henson registered about three weeks before the fall semester began.
“I was super excited to go here,” he said. “These are super expensive robots. It’s all cool and unique.”
Now in his third semester of the associate degree program at the Waco campus, Henson is pouring his passion into advanced manufacturing.
“I have great camaraderie and made friends in the classes,” he said. “The instructors are not just wanting you to know what you have to know; they want you to know what you need to know in real life. The instructors just have a demeanor about them — they know what they are talking about. They are confident in you.”
Henson said learning motor controls came easily because he enjoys building circuits. Understanding programmable logic controllers and sensors has been equally engaging.
He was also drawn to TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee, an initiative enabling students who do not receive a job in their field within six months of graduation to receive a tuition refund.
“TSTC is trying to make people actually make money,” he said.
After graduation, Henson plans to stay in Texas to work and possibly pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer or electrical engineering.
As Henson thrives in Waco, students in the Austin area will soon have an opportunity to enter the field closer to home. TSTC’s Williamson County campus will begin offering the Associate of Applied Science degree in Advanced Manufacturing – Automation and Robotics this fall. The 20-month program focuses on hands-on learning in diagnostics, electromechanical devices, industrial maintenance, motor controls and robot programming.
“Our students should expect to work hands-on with real-world equipment while learning the technical and problem-solving skills needed for automated manufacturing,” said Brandon McMahan, TSTC’s director of alignment for robotics. “Our graduates are highly employable and have the option to pursue multiple career paths.”
The program’s launch is also a major win for local education and workforce development in Hutto.
“The launch of TSTC’s Automation & Robotics program in Hutto represents an important investment in our community’s workforce,” said Cheney Gamboa, executive director of the Hutto Economic Development Corporation. “The program builds on the incredible technical education and robotics exposure already available through Hutto ISD, creating a stronger connection from K-12 education to postsecondary training and into high-demand careers.”
Beyond Hutto, the program’s expansion supports broader regional economic growth across Williamson County.
“Programs like this help connect education directly to the needs of industry, while creating accessible pathways for local residents to build high-demand, high-value careers close to home,” said Ben White, president of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation. “For Taylor, that alignment between education, workforce development and industry is essential to sustaining our economic growth and ensuring that the opportunities being created in our community translate into long-term opportunities for the people who live here.”
Local employers are already preparing to hire these future graduates to support expanding regional operations, including Durcon, a manufacturing leader based in Taylor.
“We are looking for the next generation of machine operators and fabricators who can blend a core manufacturing skillset with advanced critical thinking to successfully run and optimize state-of-the-art equipment,” said Dave White, senior engineer at Durcon.
Other manufacturers echo the urgent need for specialized technical talent.
“As automation and advanced manufacturing technologies continue to evolve, the demand for skilled technical talent is growing across our industry,” said Dan Delgado, senior plant manager at Gemini in Taylor. “TSTC’s new Automation & Robotics program is an exciting investment in the local workforce and will help prepare students for the rewarding careers that are shaping the future of manufacturing.”
To meet that growing local hiring demand, TSTC’s upcoming Williamson County cohort will train students on industry-standard machinery from day one.
The fall semester at TSTC starts on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Registration continues for the fall semester at TSTC. For more information, visit tstc.edu.