A steady hand and eye for detail make you a classic in this industry.
Some prefer to be behind the wheel, but you prefer to be under the hood.
Moving electricity, water, oil, gas, and data; all under your control.
When it counts, medical equipment can’t fail. No sweat. You got this.
Texas employs more diesel engine specialists than any other state in the nation, from trucks that deliver goods across the state to engines that power farm and construction equipment.
Your mad math and science skills are needed to program and manage the automated computer systems that power industries today.
The automation industry relies on technicians to maintain productivity and efficiency. What a powerful opportunity for you!
There's no one more popular than an A/C repair person in the Texas summers.
If you don't want to focus your talents on one subject, learn it all!
You have the power to take control of your future with an education in the generation and management of electricity.
Take your career to new heights in this high-paying industry.
Let TSTC be an instrumental part of your career success.
Scholarships are awards that do not have to be repaid. They are available to students who qualify based on financial need and academic standing.
We have resources to help your individual financial needs. Apply for a scholarship so you can focus on your schoolwork.
Want to get a head start on your college education? Dual Credit may be for you! Dual Credit gives high school students a head start toward their futures. Take college courses to earn college and high school credit at the same time.
Dual Credit courses are available at some high school campuses, on-site at a TSTC campus, and through distance learning classes taught by TSTC instructors.
Being different is part of who we are.
Meet Daniella. She’s a pageant winner.
She’s also a TSTC Welding Technology graduate.
Our value-priced courses provide the perfect opportunity to continue your education or retrain in a new field without drowning in debt. We are so confident in the quality of our technical education that with some of our high-demand, Money-Back Guarantee programs we guarantee you will find a job within six months of graduation—or your money back.
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a component of the accreditation process. It reflects and affirms our commitment to enhance student learning.
Our dual enrollment pathways give your students a head start to a great technical career.
Gifts made to The TSTC Foundation have the potential to change the direction of someone’s life. All while answering the needs of the Texas workforce.
As the manufacturing industry becomes more automated, many machinist are staying ahead of the curve by learning how to use CNC machines.
Lock in your rate. Pay the same amount semester after semester. No surprises!
Every gift received by The TSTC Foundation introduces the possibility of transformation for TSTC students. Thank you to every person and organization that believes in our mission of placing more Texans in great-paying jobs.
We provide testing services to assist you in assessing your knowledge and skills.
Welcome to the largest airport operated by an educational institution in the United States.
TSTC in Sweetwater has been selected to be part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative sponsored by iconic Grammy Award-winning band Metallica.
Earn your degree from TSTC, then transfer to one of our educational partners to further your education with a four-year degree. Interested in transferring? Talk to your enrollment coach to get started.
In partnership with ed2go, TSTC Workforce Development offers flexible, self-paced non-credit certificate programs to help you start a new career or advance within your current occupation.
The Texas State Technical College Workforce Training & Continuing Education team is excited to share our Course Catalog with you! If you are looking to learn more about how TSTC can meet your training needs, this catalog will provide you with our foundational inventory and corresponding certifications.
Industrial Systems and Precision Machining Technology are two of our most sought-out programs in the engineering & manufacturing fields. Find out why these programs are in high demand.
HVACR is one of the most constant industries for new jobs, so there’s no better time to join.
(WACO, Texas) – Jacob Pevia hears about it when he visits auto collision and repair shops of all sizes in Texas: more workers are needed. Pevia, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program in Waco, is also a part-time instructor for the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. Part...
Texas State Technical College alumnus Philip Saldana’s interest in automotive repair was piqued at a young age. That was the starting point that guided him toward a future career path. Saldana, of Harlingen, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology from TSTC’s Harlingen campus in December 2019. He furthered...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumna Dolores Garza, of McAllen, is a new TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology instructor for the spring 2022 semester at the Harlingen campus She is one of many women who are having great success in a technical career. Garza’s passion for the industry and education is infectious....
(WACO, Texas) – This fall at Texas State Technical College, there are four female students taking the Automotive Plastic and Sheet Molded Compound Repair class. This makes Kayla Walsh, a first-semester student in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program from Arvada, Colorado, very happy. “Females are more detail-oriented,” she said. “It’s breaking that barrier.”...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A typical day for Jose Villarreal includes hopping into his car and hoping he has enough money for gas to drive 45 minutes every day from Pharr to Texas State Technical College for class, but Tuesday was anything but normal for the 22-year-old. Villarreal and four other TSTC Auto Collision and Management...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many automobile aficionados recall how they first grew an admiration for the automobile industry. For Kevin Cantu, of Pharr, the oil change he performed on his grandfather’s vehicle as a teenager would lead to an education at Texas State Technical College. After that moment, Cantu’s interest in automotive knowledge spread like a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What some see as a wrecked car, Juan Medina sees as a worthwhile challenge. Medina is sharpening the skills needed to restore damaged vehicles to their former glory by earning a certificate of completion in Auto Collision and Management Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Additionally, the Brownsville resident has...
From independent body shops to high-profile dealerships – auto technicians, repairers and painters are in demand, with Texas’ projected job openings to be at more than 14,000 by 2026 according to O*Net Online. And TSTC, with its Auto Collision & Management Technology program, is ready to meet industry demand. TSTC Auto Collision & Management Technology...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Artistry. A passion for perfection. The ability to restore a damaged vehicle to showroom condition. All are sought-after attributes found in the best automotive refinishers. And Texas State Technical College student Edrick Cuevas wants to be one of the best. The Port Isabel resident possesses an impressive talent for automotive refinishing that...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Trinity Ortiz, of Harlingen, gained hands-on mechanics knowledge during her teenage years when she assisted her father in his auto shop. That passion led to her enrolling at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen and pursuing a certificate of completion in Auto Collision Refinishing. In the past year, her father and...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has been selected as one of four colleges nationally to take part in a program aimed at producing more workers for the automotive collision repair industry. Enterprise Holdings, with funding from its philanthropic arm the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, and Missouri-based Ranken Technical College have launched the Automotive Collision...
(WACO, Texas) – For Texas State Technical College student Haley Rios of Bryan, auto collision and repair work is a family tradition. Her grandfather used to own a paint and body shop where several relatives worked. She would go to the shop as a child and watch repair work being done. “It was nice,” Rios...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Modern technology is reshaping the automotive body repair industry, and that impacts how future automotive body repairers are trained. Jose Vasquez is the Auto Collision and Management Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Recently he talked about how some of the industry’s new technology is enhancing students’ skills....
(WACO, Texas) – Two students at Texas State Technical College are scheduled to be the first ever to graduate with degrees in the college’s newest Auto Collision and Management Technology specialization at the upcoming Fall 2023 Commencement in Waco. Bryam Herrera, of Rosebud, and Carlos Rincon, of Jacksonville, Texas, are on track to receive Associate...
(WACO, Texas) – William Graham, of Teague, began teaching in October 2022 in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program at the Waco campus. Graham is a graduate of Teague High School and TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program. Recently Graham talked about his new role and what he hopes students...
(WACO, Texas) – Travis Hanson, of Mabank, stood alone as he slowly mixed paint during the Color Analysis and Paint Matching class at Texas State Technical College. Afterward, he put on gray overalls, placed personal protective equipment on his face and ventured inside a booth to practice painting. “If you really want to do it,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Routine vehicle maintenance or a wheel alignment can help prevent a severe automotive collision. Jose Vasquez is the Auto Collision and Management Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. Recently he shared how preventive maintenance can help consumers avoid a visit to an auto body repair shop. How...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Repairing dents, dings and scratches is almost child’s play for Stephanie Luna, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program in Harlingen. She also works at Hacienda Collision Center in Brownsville. Luna comes by her passion for auto restoration naturally. From a young age, she enjoyed...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – College Factual recently placed Texas State Technical College at the top of its list of 2024 Best Mechanic and Repair Technologies Associate Degree Schools in the United States. According to its website, collegefactual.com, the company was created to help students research colleges and careers. It gathers data from public and private sources,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Daniel Pacheco strives for perfection with his hands-on assignments in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program. He applies the same level of commitment while he prepares to compete in the SkillsUSA Texas District 13 Leadership and Skills Conference that will be held February 15-17 at TSTC’s...
(WACO, Texas) – Discipline acquired from military service plays an important role in Texas State Technical College student Edward Hernandez’s day. “I know I need to wake up at 5 a.m. so I’m not late,” said Hernandez of Killeen. “I work everything around school.” Hernandez grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was a...
(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College student has received a nationwide scholarship focused on women in the automotive industry. Kayla Walsh, of Arvada, Colorado, is in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program at the Waco campus. She recently received a $3,000 Women in Auto Care scholarship, which is awarded by the Maryland-based...
(WACO, Texas) – Two students and a recent graduate of the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College have been nationally honored for their academic work. Edward Hernandez of Killeen and Jennifer Watson of Moody are U.S. military veterans who received 3M Hire Our Heroes tool grants valued at $4,500 each....
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program celebrated the end of the fall semester at its traditional barbecue on Thursday. Representatives of Service King presented program faculty with a $5,000 2019 Service King School Grant through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Clint Campbell, TSTC’s statewide Auto Collision and Management...
(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College student has received a prestigious Women’s Industry Network scholarship. Jennifer Watson, an Auto Collision and Management Technology student from Moody, was awarded the WIN College Tuition and Conference Scholarship Award. Clint Campbell, the statewide department chair of TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management department, encouraged Watson to apply...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – “It was a blessing.” That is how Jackie Norman, a Texas State Technical College Metallica Scholar and Automotive Technology student, described his feelings after several people stepped up to offer financial assistance. Earlier this year, the engine on Norman’s pickup truck blew out, and he thought it would be a quick and...
(WACO, Texas) – Five Texas State Technical College students at the Waco campus will soon put their skills up against the nation’s best. The 58th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference will be held June 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing will be Michael Lopez, of Taylor, in Facilithon; Luis Luna, of Stephenville, in Collision...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program held an end-of-semester taco luncheon for its students on Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Waco campus. The lunch was held in a program lab and catered by Taqueria Los Cuates of Lacy Lakeview. Students and faculty members ate street-style tacos with pork,...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department hosted a representative from the Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships who spoke to students on the Waco campus on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Tom Gammon, a partner in the Nyle Maxwell dealerships, talked to students in the Auto Collision and Management Technology and Automotive Technology programs....
(WACO, Texas) – Faustino Laessig of Lometa felt right at home in the auto collision labs at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. “I’ve always been fixing things up and making them look good,” he said. Laessig is an associate degree candidate for graduation in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at TSTC’s Fall...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Gissela Hernandez Guzman recalled a time during her youth when her father had a successful automotive shop. His interest in repairing automobiles would be the first spark that would lead his daughter to an education at Texas State Technical College. “It made me want to learn more about the automotive field,” she...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – One might say that Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Jesus Quintero comes by his love of automobiles naturally. While growing up he was intrigued by watching his father, a mechanic, resolve automotive issues. Quintero took the initiative to learn more about the automotive industry by getting hired as a retail...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To commemorate National Automotive Service Professional Week, which this year is June 5-11, Texas State Technical College celebrates its Automotive Technology instructors who educate and train a new generation of automotive technicians by sharing their industry knowledge. Miguel Zoleta is the Automotive Technology program director at TSTC’s Harlingen campus and a 2014...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Classic automobile aficionado Jesus Reyna, an instructor in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College, has educated his students about the restoration process of vehicles for two years now. His latest project is a 1927 Durant touring car that the students began working on last year. “I...
(WACO, Texas) – The color of a vehicle can make a statement, but getting the perfect shade can be a challenge. Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program offers a refinishing component for students who have an interest in auto body work and painting. The program is taught in a hybrid format,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many automobile aficionados who have a passion for the automotive industry set out to achieve a dream of establishing their own automotive mechanic shop. That is the commitment of Jesus Manrique-Garcia, a first-semester Automotive Technology student pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree at Texas State Technical College. Manrique-Garcia developed an interest...
(WACO, Texas) – Thomas Breshears, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program in Waco, was recently named a recipient of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) World Class Technician award. The award is presented in partnership with the Auto Care Association and ASE. The award honors automotive technicians who have...
(WACO, Texas) – Travis Hanson, of Mabank, is leaving Texas State Technical College not only with two associate degrees, but also with a recognition highlighting his work ethic and drive to succeed. Hanson received the Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award at TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Saturday morning at The BASE at the Extraco Events...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – When making and producing a typical package of cookies like those sold at grocery stores, every step — from baking the cookies to putting them in packages and on pallets — is performed by machines. Humans do not even touch them until they are being eaten. From the food we eat to...
The Automotive Technology program at Texas State Technical College is improving its educational resources with two new online manufacturer-specific trainings: Toyota Technician Education College Support (TECS) and the Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP). The TECS program will offer students e-learning modules with an online library of repair and training information. These resources will qualify a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Dominick Zavala first became fascinated with automobiles when the “Fast & Furious” media franchise became popular. “I enjoyed watching the movies because the characters drove high-performing sports cars,” he said. “The movies inspired me to buy my first vehicle, which was a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck....
(AUSTIN, Texas) – An Austin company is utilizing Texas State Technical College as a resource to fill critical positions needed to keep operations running smoothly. Flex is a multinational contract manufacturer that partners with many different companies across multiple industries. Flex pioneers within industries such as automotive, aerospace, computer hardware, medical devices, and renewable/solar. One...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jose Villarreal, of Pharr, became interested in automotive vehicles at the age of 7 when he assisted his grandfather in the family’s garage. That mechanical knowledge intrigued him and became a deciding factor that led him to enroll at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. He is now pursuing a certificate...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Nathan Weaver recalls the moment when his father, a military veteran, first introduced him to repairing the family’s automobiles during his junior year of high school. The clatter of tools and the revving of a restored automobile engine would inspire Weaver to pursue a certificate of completion in Automotive Maintenance and Light...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It seemed to be in the works at a young age for Tanner Tankersley to work on automobiles. “I grew up around people I like to call ‘vehicle heads.’ They always were working on cars together,” said Tankersley, who is studying for his certificate of completion in Automotive Technology at Texas State...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – The 10 letters that make up the word “automation” carry a lot of weight in how we work now and will in the future. Automation is the ability to transform raw material into a finished product with very little human interaction, said Douglas Clark, lead instructor in TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students in Harlingen and Waco will receive scholarships thanks to a San Antonio-based automotive organization. The non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs CarFest in San Antonio, rewarded TSTC’s Automotive Technology students for participating in last year’s event with a $30,000 check for scholarships and equipment....
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For U.S. Army veteran Antonio Lopez, the talent that he developed as a driving instructor in the military would lead him to an education at Texas State Technical College. “After I graduated college, I enlisted in the armed forces and taught soldiers how to drive tactical wheeled vehicles,” he said. “I loved...
(WACO, Texas) – Interstates and highways are busier compared to a year ago, and that means maintenance on vehicles will increase. Texas State Technical College helps automotive shops around the state fill the need for service technicians. According to onetonline.org, 60,440 technicians were employed in Texas in 2018. The need is forecast to increase 8%...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Richie Solis says the hands-on learning experience he receives at Texas State Technical College will lead him to a rewarding career. “What I am doing in class right now is something I will be able to put into practice in the real world,” said Solis, a TSTC Metallica Scholar who is studying...
Gold medalists will go on to compete on the national level at SkillsUSA (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students earned a total of 47 medals — 18 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze — during the recent statewide SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston. The three-day competition ended Saturday, April...
(WACO, Texas) – Students at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus won medals in 15 events at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held April 18-20 in Houston. “This year we competed in categories and events with many new advisors, and we did not disappoint,” said Abby Ford, TSTC’s SkillsUSA coordinator...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The demand for robotics and automation specialists is growing. As of May 2022, Texas sat as the third highest employer of robotics and automation technicians in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But what does that mean for students looking to get into the industry? Additionally, what is...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – A fast-track program to teach basic automotive skills will be taught at Texas State Technical College this fall. Sweetwater Automotive Technology instructor Gerod Strother will teach the 15-week Occupational Skills Award (OSA) program. The OSA is part of TSTC’s Rapid Industry Skills and Employability (RISE) program that helps students learn skills quickly...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Narciso Villela III and his wife, Valerie, have one directive when it applies to their children’s future: It is either college or the military. Though their daughter is currently in high school, the remainder of the family is encouraging each other while enrolled in different programs at Texas State Technical College’s campus...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The revving of engines is music to the ears of students and instructors alike in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for automotive service technicians are expected to continue to rise through 2026. TSTC’s Automotive Technology program utilizes a hands-on method of...
(WACO, Texas) – Automotive Technology students at Texas State Technical College continue to gain insight into what their careers can look like upon graduation. “It’s a good time in the automotive industry because of how everything is advancing,” said George Williams, lead instructor in TSTC’s Automotive Technology program in Waco. The program’s students and faculty...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The future of the automotive world is electric, and Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology instructor Miguel Zoleta is making sure his program’s students stay plugged in to advancements in the industry. “Right now, we’re seeing that a lot out of industry is electrical vehicles, and electrical vehicles are coming out in...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Rey Rocha has always had an interest in gears, transmissions and engines. Now he is gearing up to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from Texas State Technical College this fall, and he already has a full-time job lined up. Rocha is currently working part time at Boggus...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Being able to help others was the goal for five Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students at CarFest in San Antonio. Kohl Henry Clark, Juan Guerra, Richard Martin, Ryan Rogers and Alejandro Soto represented the Sweetwater campus during the annual event at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall earlier this month. San...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Marcos Anzaldua, of Weslaco, grew up with a knack for tinkering in the family’s mechanic shop. Years later, observations of his father’s repair work enhanced that automotive knowledge. That would guide Anzaldua toward a rewarding automotive career. Anzaldua earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive...
Automation offers enhanced safety, efficiency and control (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Oil and gas drilling contractor Nabors Industries made history in October 2021 as the company announced that its PACE-R801, the first fully automated land drilling rig, reached total depth on its first well, located in Midland, Texas. While the company retained a similar number of...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automation and Controls Technology program is providing students with new opportunities to learn valuable job skills. “The buzzwords in the industry are smart devices, the internet of things and also Industry 4.0,” said Douglas Clark, the program’s lead instructor. “There are big things surrounding this new push in...
(WACO, Texas) – Eli Alvarez, of Hutto, grew up working on cars with his father. That interest led him to Texas State Technical College with an automotive scholarship in hand. Alvarez is one of five recipients nationwide to receive a $10,000 scholarship from Pep Boys’ Find Your Drive initiative. He is in his first semester...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s statewide Automotive Technology program will be revving up stronger than ever, thanks to a generous contribution from a Texas-based automotive organization. The Community of Automotive Professionals recently gave $30,000 for TSTC’s Automotive Technology programs in Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco. The money will give a financial boost to TSTC’s...
(WACO, Texas) – Brayan Plascencia, of Crowley, is an Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College. He is scheduled to graduate in December with a certificate of completion in Automotive Technician and continue on toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at the Waco campus. He commutes to and from classes...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Sometimes it takes a while for someone to realize that a job is just not for them. For six years Samuel Gonzales worked as a medical phlebotomist but was not especially happy. Then one day he had an “aha!” moment and decided to pursue an automotive education at Texas State Technical College....
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Irving Velasquez wanted to expand on the automotive knowledge that he gained from his father. After learning that Texas State Technical College offers Automotive Technology, Velasquez knew it would be the best place to grow as a mechanic. He is studying for an automotive technician certificate at TSTC, with plans to open...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – After 12 years of serving in the U.S. Army, Hollis Manis has plans to open his own automotive shop in his hometown. Manis, of San Angelo, said studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at Texas State Technical College is the first step of his goal. “I have...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Years ago, many motorists used a clutch to shift gears in their automobiles. With technology growing in the automotive industry, drivers moved away from a manual transmission vehicle. But at Texas State Technical College, Automotive Technology students recently spent one day learning how to take apart a manual transmission in order to...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Trey Beavers takes inspiration from one single saying from his grandfather. “He always told me, ‘If someone built it, you can work on it.’ That is how I fell in love with working on anything with an engine,” Beavers said. Beavers is studying for a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College students are raising their SkillsUSA gold medals with pride because they will advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference that will be held June 19-23, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Jessica Alaniz, Jessie Contreras, Julia Farris, Melanie Limon, Alfredo Molina, Reymundo Salinas and Edna Vargas will...
(ATLANTA) – Students and faculty members representing six of Texas State Technical College’s campuses arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, June 20, for this week’s 58th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Students from the Breckenridge, Brownwood, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses will compete against the nation’s best in events such as...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Automation and Controls Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus offers a path into numerous job sectors. Automation and controls is a field that TSTC instructors Douglas Clark and Troy Powledge said many find difficult to understand, due to its broad scope, but is an industry that has endless...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – There is a growing need for qualified automotive technicians in Texas. Many dealerships and automotive repair shops turn to Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology graduates to fill the need for mechanics. According to onetonline.org, Texas has more than 60,000 automotive service technicians and mechanics employed around the state, and that number...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Spending six hours a day in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology lab helped five candidates for graduation form a bond and learn the value of teamwork. Joseph Fredericks, Brady Kennemur, David Lopez-Cortez, Patrick Rodriguez and Tanner Tankersley agreed that their time in the lab taught them more than just skills they...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Melissa Castro, of Mercedes, grew an interest in the automotive industry with motivation from her uncle, who was a mechanic. His approach for resolving automotive issues impressed her. After her uncle’s death, the hardworking mother of four desired more for her family. Now she is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Life could not be better for Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology graduate Thomas Rivera, who recently accepted a full-time job as an automotive technician with Valley Metro at the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council’s Transit Center in Weslaco. Rivera, who recently received his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC,...
(WACO, Texas) – Thirteen students from Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program at the Waco campus recently participated in CarFest at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall in San Antonio. CarFest is hosted by the Community of Automotive Professionals and brings together the community to build awareness about the automotive industry. This year’s event was...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In one year, Texas State Technical College student Christopher Machado will earn an associate degree in Automotive Technology, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. But the 19-year-old also has one other thing to be proud of: He already has a full-time job in his chosen career field....
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is giving first-semester Automotive Technology students opportunities to learn using virtual reality. The program began using TRANSFRVR headsets and hand controllers this semester in the Introduction to Automotive Technology class at the Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. Students are prompted to take virtual lessons in how to do...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Automation is the future for many industries, and welding is no exception. Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology automation lab at TSTC’s campus in Fort Bend County recently received new equipment to help keep TSTC students on the cusp of emerging technology and practices. “We’ve got a submerged-arc machine, new orbital pipe...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Leo Tamez, of Harlingen, recently completed his first semester of teaching in the Automotive Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. “It’s great to see the students’ reactions when they understand my approach to fixing an item on a vehicle,” Tamez said. “My objective is to find a method for...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Mopar Career Automotive Program at the Waco campus will accept students for the first time for the spring semester. Students who apply to TSTC must apply separately to the program, which includes an interview with a faculty member in the Automotive Technology program. Matthew Mills, an instructor in...
(WACO, Texas) – Juan Mijarez of Georgetown, is excited about the transitions going on in his life now. “I like to see what today will bring me and what challenges I will face,” he said. Mijarez is a candidate for spring graduation with an Automotive Technology – Chrysler Specialization certificate at Texas State Technical College...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Automobile tire safety is crucial for drivers who commute on Texas roadways, and knowledge about an aging tire can help prevent an automobile accident. Miguel Zoleta is the Automotive Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. Recently he shared how tire efficiency can improve a driver’s safety. “An...
(WACO, Texas) – Texans love their air conditioning. From the house to the automobile, people need to stay cool as the summer sun shines overhead. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s American Driving Survey 2020-2021 released in October 2022, drivers indicated that they spent an average of 61.3 minutes driving an average of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Jesus Resendez could not be more thankful for his automotive career that began last November at Toyota of Pharr. “I’m a level 2 express technician, which is doing an oil change, a tire rotation and other duties on high-mileage automobiles,” he said. “I was hired for a...
(WACO, Texas) – Cicilia Bunting has felt this feeling before. Bunting, a Culinary Arts student at Texas State Technical College, won first place for the second consecutive year in Commercial Baking at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held in mid-April in Waco. “I know what to expect and what the judges...
Electromechanical Automation one of several courses to choose from (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas A&M University student Bahaa Alhaj was eager to get back to in-person learning when he decided to enroll in Electromechanical Automation at Texas State Technical College. “It gave me experience in electrical circuits. Especially with COVID-19, we were doing all of our...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – After putting an engine in a 1984 Chevrolet pickup truck, Tate Potter knew he was destined to work on vehicles. Potter said he felt a sense of accomplishment when he completed the job and began preparing his career. He is working to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Utility companies depend on highly skilled automotive technicians to keep their fleet vehicles ready for everything from routine service calls to emergencies. Alex Alvarado, of San Benito, is a fourth-semester Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, where he is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree. He...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – National Welding Month, which is observed each April, is a good time to showcase how current automation technology in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program is preparing students for careers in the manufacturing field. The orbital tube welding machine and the robotic welding arm cell are types of welding automation that...
Auto expertise opening doors for TSTC students (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Working on an automobile most of the week is building confidence in two women at Texas State Technical College. Kelsey Rice, of Abilene, and Nianica Dorado, of Wichita Falls, had different reasons for studying Automotive Technology, but they have similar goals. “I wanted to learn...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology students learned one thing from February’s winter storm. The students learned to have their vehicle prepared for an ice storm and a lengthy period of not driving it. Recently several of the students shared some of the vehicle winterization tips they have gleaned from their time...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumna Kari Alonso, of Brownsville, recalled her childhood memories of observing her father work on auto body repair projects outside their home. Little did she realize that would steer her toward a prosperous career in manufacturing. She grew a keen interest in the medical field after graduating from...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For more than 235 Texas State Technical College graduates, it was a rewarding moment as they walked across the stage at the South Padre Island Convention Center and received certificates of completion or associate degrees at TSTC’s Spring 2024 Commencement on Tuesday, April 30. Eladio Jaimez, provost at TSTC’s Harlingen location, welcomed...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Miguel Zoleta’s passion for transmissions and engines revved his gears right into a position at Texas State Technical College, where he is now a lead instructor in the Automotive Technology program. Jobs in the automotive industry are growing rapidly. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The challenges may have looked a little different due to the pandemic, but that did not keep two Texas State Technical College automotive students from excelling during a recent SkillsUSA competition. Noe Ramos and Mark Gaspar, both Automotive Technology students, took first and second place, respectively, in SkillsUSA at the state level....
(WACO, Texas) – Students at Dillard McCollum High School in San Antonio are starting the year learning in new dual enrollment classes through Texas State Technical College in Waco – a first for TSTC and the Alamo City. Eight juniors and seniors are taking Introduction to Automotive Technology and Automotive Suspension and Steering Systems in...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The West Texas heat wave is leading people to find ways to stay cool. The heat can also cause damage to something many people take for granted — the tires on their vehicles. Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program is teaching students ways to keep their tires properly maintained during the...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicting an “unseasonably cold” winter for Texas, now is the best time to prepare your vehicle. Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology students have been learning proactive ways to keep vehicles operating during a cold winter. Ryan Rogers, of Mason, and Alex Soto, of Hawley, said there...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Hugo Villanueva never thought college would be in his future, much less a cooperative (co-op) education learning experience with American Electric Power (AEP). The San Benito native who expects to earn his certificate in Automotive Technology in Spring 2020 is working 20 hours per week...
(WACO, Texas) – Some high school students from Central and Southeast Texas spent Thursday and Friday at Texas State Technical College, where they worked with TSTC students to perfect their hands-on skills in preparation for a national contest. The students from Belton High School and the Pasadena Independent School District’s Dr. Kirk Lewis Career &...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Joseph Fredericks, of Ballinger, admits that he is learning more than he expected in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program. Fredericks, a second-semester automotive student, is already setting his sights on furthering his education at TSTC. He is currently studying for a basic automotive certificate and plans to earn an automotive...
(WACO, Texas) – Christopher Landeros, of Bryan, is living his family’s dream. His parents were born in Mexico and moved to the United States. They had three children: a son who was born with hearing, a daughter who was born without hearing, and Landeros who had hearing when he was born, but lost that ability...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Rachel Wood-Rush has always been around vehicles. “I have been helping my father work on cars since I was eight,” she said. “I am the grease monkey of all my sisters. I have been my father’s go-to person when it comes to cars.” It is only natural that Wood-Rush, of Stephenville, would...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Ricardo Flores is in pursuit of an entrepreneurial goal: to establish an automotive restoration and modification shop. The Harlingen resident is aligning that path through an education at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. “I earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from TSTC in 2021,” Flores...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the fall semester on Monday with some students adapting to different ways of learning. “We have students who are so excited, both new and returning,” said Jerome Mendias, associate provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. The Automotive Technology program and the Electrical Lineworker Management and Technology...
(WACO, Texas) – Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming more prominent in the automotive and diesel equipment industries, and Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology programs have partnered to create a training class that will prepare students for that reality. Thomas Breshears, statewide department chair for TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program,...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Robert Olivares wanted to know more about automobiles. Before he enrolled as a Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student, he already knew how to fix a tire and change the oil. But it was knowing about the inner workings of vehicles that Olivares craved. “In high school, I took a class...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automation and Controls Technology instructors Douglas Clark and Troy Powledge recently took 10 of the program’s students on a field trip to STEMCO in Longview, Texas. “Some of these students have never even been in a manufacturing facility in any way,” Clark said. “We wanted them to see...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many Rio Grande Valley high schoolers are taking advantage of Texas State Technical College’s dual enrollment program this school year. TSTC has active dual enrollment partnerships for the 2021-22 school year with Brownsville ISD, Harlingen CISD, La Feria ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Lyford CISD, Mercedes ISD, Raymondville ISD, Rio Hondo ISD and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The sun was gleaming and a cold January breeze made its presence felt across South Texas, including at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus where more than 2,220 students began the spring 2024 semester on Monday, Jan. 8. The new year brings a focused mindset not only to TSTC students who have...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It’s time to start the engines and drive toward the future for many area high school students. Thanks to a partnership between their schools and Texas State Technical College, students can earn early college credit. TSTC established a dual enrollment Automotive Technology program for Brownwood and Snyder high school sophomores, juniors and...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Bryce Block is taking the skills he is learning inTexas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program home with him on weekends. Block, of Wall, is working to restore a Chevrolet Camaro while studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree at TSTC. He said he enjoys learning the new skills in order...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College students from the Harlingen location medaled at the recent 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston. Winning gold medals were Allison Agundiz, of Donna, in Welding Sculpture; Mohamed Deyab, of Harlingen, in Sheet Metal; Rene Garay Jr., of Brownsville, Matthew Muniz, of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Seven Texas State Technical College students will compete for gold medals at the 59th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference next week. Jessica Alaniz, Julia Farris, Melanie Limon, Alfredo Molina, Christopher Paul, Reymundo Salinas and Edna Vargas will represent TSTC’s Harlingen campus. Amanda Posada, provost at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, said the...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – November has been a busy time for the Student Recruitment department at Texas State Technical College, and prospective students from area high schools are learning what makes TSTC an exceptional institution. One recent visit was by Porter Early College High School in Brownsville. Some 150 seniors were greeted by six TSTC recruiters...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – At least 175 Texas State Technical College students and alumni attended TSTC’s Fall 2022 Industry Job Fair on Thursday at the Marshall campus. The event was held in the South Building. More than 50 employers attended the event, which is the largest number the campus has ever hosted. “This shows there is...
(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and the Baylor University School of Engineering and Computer Science joined Axtell residents on Thursday, July 21, for the dedication of a wheelchair-accessible swing at Axtell Community Park. “It’s one of those things where you see us (TSTC and Baylor) as these big brands,” said Jerome...
(WACO, Texas) – Some students returned to Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus on Monday to a new way of conducting classes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The students who returned will be taking intensive labs to complete the spring semester, which is projected to end May 29. The return to on-campus instruction is...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College recently hosted its Interview Practicum, an annual tradition that prepares soon-to-be graduates for job interviews. In line with TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans into great paying jobs, the two-day event brought industry partners, community members and TSTC faculty and staff together to...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For high school seniors, picking a college can be stressful. But for a handful of Rio Grande Valley high school students, choosing Texas State Technical College was an easy decision. Recently several technical dual enrollment seniors signed a “Change of Major” form, marking the transition from high school student to college student,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – February is a time to celebrate technical skills. Feb. 6-10 is SkillsUSA Week, a time for high school and postsecondary advisors to promote the organization and the benefits that students can gain from it. SkillsUSA is a professional organization focused on employability, leadership and technical skills that can help high school and...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 28. Kent Kahler, an instructor in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, has taught at TSTC since 1977 and said he still enjoys teaching and learning about new students, particularly about their style of learning. “I tell them, ‘I was...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Despite the grayness of the early morning, the sun broke through the clouds as the groundbreaking for Texas State Technical College’s new Transportation Center of Excellence was held at the Fort Bend County campus on Wednesday, Nov. 29. In attendance were TSTC Chancellor and CEO Mike Reeser, other TSTC leadership, local and...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Technology in vehicles changes often. To keep up with new technology, Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students have a new vehicle to work on during lab sessions in Sweetwater. The college recently purchased a 2018 Dodge Charger through Performance-Based Education funds for students to learn the newer technology. “There is a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With inflation affecting the price of resources that are important to Texas State Technical College students, the Advocacy and Resource Center at TSTC’s Harlingen campus recently received a donation of 50 backpacks through a partnership between The TSTC Foundation and the Boggus Automotive Group. “This type of donation is essential for a...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – As the bell sounded around 8 a.m. on a recent morning, high school students who were dressed in chef’s jackets, medical scrubs, automotive work shirts and other uniforms filled the hallways of Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center in Sugar Land. Senior Ryan Watassek was among them, on his...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Noe Ramos likes to work with his hands — especially on automobiles. After graduating from Mercedes High School in 2020, Ramos wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice but decided to change his career path. He learned about Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program and is now pursuing an Associate...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – William Parker will bring his professional experience in the automotive shop to Texas State Technical College this fall. Parker, who will be an Automotive Technology instructor at TSTC’s Sweetwater campus, is no stranger to teaching. In addition to his 30 years of working at Ford dealerships, Parker was an automotive instructor at...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Brothers Edgar and Paul Alcala, of San Benito, are enrolled in the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Now in their third semester at TSTC, they continue to persevere in their college journey toward Associate of Applied Science degrees. What drew you to this program of study...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College keeps up to date with the latest technologies, such as those commemorated on Feb. 16 of each year on Innovation Day, that will benefit students for success. TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program recently incorporated into its curriculum a Stryker Tower, which provides visualization and documentation for various medical...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program provides students with something they cannot find in textbooks: first-hand knowledge. Students Tanner Tankersley and Brady Kennemur said instructors Mike Myers and Gerod Strother bring their knowledge to the lab sessions in a way that helps them prepare for the workforce. “The best aspect of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A curiosity for engines and transmissions is what drove Diego Trevino to a career at Texas State Technical College three years ago. He is currently an instructor in the Automotive Technology program and brings to the classroom not only his love for all things automotive, but also his firsthand experience. What was...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 20 Automotive Technology majors at Texas State Technical College will receive a financial boost this semester from a San Antonio-based automotive organization. The non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs CarFest in San Antonio, recently awarded a $30,000 check for scholarships and equipment for the participation of Waco’s Automotive Technology...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – A vehicle is stolen in the United States every 39 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At Texas State Technical College, Automotive Technology students learn not only how to repair their vehicles, but also how to keep them from being broken into or stolen. July has been designated...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Precision machining has become a process more and more automated since its inception. With many industries needing vast amounts of specific parts, manual machining simply cannot keep up with the demand. As such, Texas State Technical College prepares students to face the modern challenges of the profession, training them to be the...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 400 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Summer 2023 Commencement held Thursday, Aug. 31, at the BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. “This night is truly magical,” said Beth Wooten, provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. “A lot of...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department hosted TSTC students for a two-day interview practicum on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and Thursday, Feb. 22. “It took a lot of communication between the new program team leads and instructors to let them see the importance of the students getting mock interviews,” said Peter Collier,...
(WACO, Texas) – Zackery Mitchell, of Mesquite, took automotive collision classes in high school before spending four years in the U.S. Marines driving military vehicles. After he left the service, Mitchell found his way to Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program because of the college’s work with veterans. Mitchell said adjusting...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Robert Schneider said he was “made to turn wrenches.” After a career in the military and oil field, Schneider wanted to settle down and looked for a college that offered Automotive Technology. He learned of the Texas State Technical College program and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2018....
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students are getting a feel for what it will be like in the shop. With TSTC going to online classes, the students enrolled in the program are now working remotely. According to lead instructor Miguel Zoleta, this could be what students experience in the workforce. “The...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In a recruiting effort to identify potential qualified employees for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, company representatives recently visited the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College. Students who had already completed a written assessment by the company were given a hands-on test in the areas of mechanical drives, motor controls/electrical wiring,...
(WACO, Texas) – The time is coming closer for students in Texas State Technical College’s Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP) to graduate and go to work at dealerships throughout the state. “This is a really good group of students,” said Matthew Mills, a TSTC instructor in the Automotive Technology program’s Mopar CAP program. “Most of...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Students in the Automotive Technology program on the Texas State Technical College campus in Sweetwater listen when their instructors talk. Mike Myers and Gerod Strother use their different backgrounds to teach the students what to expect on the job. Myers worked in the automotive industry for more than three decades, while Strother...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Daniel Gainer, of Mason, has been building things his entire life. He found a love of working on different vehicles in his father’s shop at a young age. He is preparing to enter the workforce after he graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program this fall. “I have had a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Armando Galvan Jr., a biomedical technician II at Fresenius Kidney Care, credits his degree from Texas State Technical College to his current success in his position. “The Biomedical Equipment Technology program at TSTC really helped me gain the skills and knowledge that I needed to choose a great career path,” he said....
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Siblings often have a powerful influence on each other’s lives, and that can correlate to a professional career. Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology student Saul Turrubiates became interested in the health care field after he saw the career success that his older brother has achieved as a biomedical equipment technician....
(WACO, Texas) – The technical well-being of patients at Navarro Regional Hospital is in Travis Recksiek’s hands. Recksiek, a biomedical technician, is responsible for about 1,500 pieces of medical equipment at the hospital and four clinics in Corsicana. He usually starts his workday at 6 a.m., almost an hour ahead of when operating room doctors...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When repairs are needed for biomedical equipment in the Houston area, Rene Torres and Javier Valdez are ready to answer the call. Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program, they founded iServe Biomedical in 2016. The equipment that iServe Biomedical services is used to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – High school students spent the day seeing what the future could hold for them during Texas State Technical College’s recent open house. The Sweetwater campus opened its doors to students to discuss career options through the various programs available at TSTC in West Texas. Faculty from the Breckenridge and Abilene campuses were...
(WACO, Texas) – Justin Meckel is already getting valuable work experience even though he is in his third semester in the Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He works as a warehouse technician and robot supervisor at Sherwin-Williams Co.’s distribution service center in Waco. He said experiencing the...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Students at Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus benefited from watching and listening to instructors from various programs during recent lab sessions. In one session, Automotive Technology students learned how to take a transmission apart by watching Diesel Equipment Technology instructor Shannon Weir. While that was happening, Welding Technology instructor Taylor Elston...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With graduation looming for Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students, two men are already putting their knowledge to work at home. “I am using what I have learned by working on my girlfriend’s car,” said Keith Guffey, of Lubbock. “I have retained so much during my time in school. I have...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Chipman Falls, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College, recently accepted an internship at Vitesco Technologies in Seguin. His decision to apply for an internship started when he met some Vitesco representatives during a recent employer spotlight at TSTC. “Their presentation...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – For three high school seniors, a few hours in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology lab give them each a sense of pride and accomplishment. Sweetwater High School seniors Ely Barrera and Jacob Rosas, along with Colorado High School senior Richard Martin, plan to continue their journey in college after completing the...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College instructor Charles Sparks would like to help you reframe what you picture when you think of robotics — specifically in the context of TSTC’s Robotics Technology program. “When most people think of robotics, they envision consumer-based items such as drones, robotic vacuums, cars, trucks, boats and even ‘battle...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 170 Texas State Technical College students presented their resumes and cover letters and greeted area business and industry representatives who served as interviewers/coaches at a recent Interview Practicum presented by TSTC’s Career Services department. The mock-interview event focused on preparing summer 2023 candidates for graduation for real-life job interviews. The...
(WACO, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus will see differences in how they learn and interact as they start the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 31. “We are constantly looking at our process and how we can make the campus safer,” said Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost. “Safety is our priority....
(HOUSTON, Texas) – Students and faculty members from eight of Texas State Technical College’s campuses have converged on Houston for the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference began with an opening ceremony held April 7 at the Omni Houston Hotel. Competitions began after the opening ceremony and continue Friday at locations throughout...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 900 high school students and visitors, including some from as far away as San Antonio, toured Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus during Discovery Day on Thursday, Nov. 30, to learn more about the career pathways and state-of-the-art technologies that are available at the college. Stephanie Garcia, TSTC’s student recruitment...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Jazlyn Roque recalls the day when she asked a man what his career as an electrical lineworker entailed. “(He) talked about a work situation when he left for Florida to help restore power caused by damage from Hurricane Sally in 2020,” she said. “I found his story...
(HOUSTON, Texas) – More than 200 students and faculty members from Texas State Technical College have arrived in Houston to participate in the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference began Thursday, April 18, and will end with the awards ceremony on Saturday, April 20. The event’s contests are being held at locations...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Autonomous technology manufacturer Kodiak Robotics recently sent representative Matt Cearnal, its head of service and support, to speak with Diesel Equipment Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus about the growing autonomous trucking industry and open and upcoming positions within the company. Kodiak Robotics, based in Mountain View,...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has been recognized by the Smart Automation Certification Alliance for the number of microcredential certifications awarded to noncredit Industrial Systems students in 2022. “I think it just validates the push for industry-based certifications,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education for the Marshall,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning services are requested by businesses, Javier Garcia and Carlos Ortega are ready to provide their skills. The two graduates of Texas State Technical College’s HVAC Technology program founded Apex Automation LLC in 2022. The company offers industrial and commercial automation that is used in such...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Gerod Strother has worked on all types of vehicles. Strother, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. military, brings that experience to Texas State Technical College as an Automotive Technology instructor. After retiring from the military, he began working at the Sweetwater campus in January. His experience in the military included service with...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is welcoming students back for the first week of the spring semester. “The provost’s office is very excited to welcome back our students taking both virtual and hybrid classes,” said Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost. “ We could not be happier to kick off another successful semester and...
(WACO, Texas) – As doctors and nurses battle the COVID-19 pandemic, biomedical equipment technicians are alongside them keeping devices and machines functioning. CardioQuip in College Station has two Texas State Technical College alumni encountering the most serious work they have done so far in their careers. David De La Hoya is a training associate and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – John Moody is an Automotive Technology graduate from Texas State Technical College. He earned his associate degree in 2012 and since then has had a successful career in industry. The 37-year-old, San Benito native, said vehicle maintenance and repairs has been his life. As a child he would assist his late father...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Electricity drives not only productivity, but also job creation. Warren Ketteman, president and chief executive officer of the Waxahachie Economic Development Corp., said the availability of electricity is a key factor for prospective companies interested in the city. The Waxahachie EDC and Texas State Technical College in North Texas work together...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Brian Bradley was once a Texas State University Bobcat, yet he never graduated. But now, at 29 years old, he can call himself a graduate of Texas State Technical College. The Fulshear native graduated Thursday night as a Board of Regents honors graduate, with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and an associate...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Innovations in medical equipment technology are leading to life-changing results for patients, and that is how Texas State Technical College is raising the bar for one of its allied health programs. Recently US Med-Equip donated more than 25 pieces of medical equipment to be used by students in the Biomedical Equipment Technology...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – On Friday, Texas State Technical College student David Krenek will walk across the stage at the Stafford Centre and receive his associate degree in Industrial Systems. “It feels great knowing that I’m done and about to graduate,” said the 20-year-old. “It’s time to move forward and get my life started. That’s exciting.”...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The bond between a father and son is a connection that can transform a child’s ability to learn life lessons. Texas State Technical College HVAC Technology alumnus Marco Silva treasures the relationship he has with his father because it led him to a valuable trade and the possibility of becoming an independent...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – If there is one word to describe Mallory Torres, it is fierce. Not only is she conquering the male-dominated field of mechatronics, but she is also doing so after overcoming personal hardships. In 2017, she completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College, where her...
(WACO, Texas) – Trinati Montes, of West, is in her fifth semester in the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Waco. The West High School graduate was hired last December by SPBS Inc., a clinical equipment services provider located in Lubbock, as a medical equipment technician. She is using the spring...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College celebrated its summer 2021 graduates Thursday evening, lauding Harlingen campus students for their achievements during a virtual ceremony streamed on Facebook Live. “As provost for the Harlingen campus, I had the privilege to welcome you to our TSTC family when you first started this journey,” Cledia Hernandez said...
The Dallas native, who moved to the Rio Grande Valley to attend TSTC and whose father is also a TSTC alumnus from the engineering program, said the move was worth it because shortly after graduating he received a job offer from Collision Stop in Harlingen, where he is still employed. He began as a detailer...
(HARLINGEN) – Blueprint reading, coding and design is what Texas State Technical College students Eduardo Ortiz and Gabriel Flores have been focused on in preparation for the upcoming SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers....
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Ronald Jones, of Hamlin, was laid off in the spring. He took the advice of his wife and enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. “At that time it was hard for people to get a job. My wife said I should take the opportunity and pursue the welding program,”...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – This summer more than 50 high school students from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties have participated in the Migrant Academic Achievement Residential Summer (MAARS) program at Texas State Technical College. MAARS is designed to meet the needs of high school migrant and seasonal farmworkers in pursuing higher education and to provide community...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – A bridge is easier to cross with a friend or loved one by your side, just as father and daughter Matt and Brooke Linthicum learned when they attended Texas State Technical College together. The two earned their Associate of Applied Science degrees from TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology program at the Marshall...
(WACO, Texas) – Programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, are the brains behind industrial automation. The digital computers can be found in industries such as automotive, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and water and wastewater treatment. PLCs can operate using five programming languages. “They (PLCs) sit patiently waiting for responses, which are called inputs, from integrated components to...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It takes a talented individual to elevate art and design to the next level, such as in digital architecture. For one student at Texas State Technical College, he is well on his way. Charles Hervey, of San Benito, is a first-semester Drafting and Design student at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, where he is...
(WACO, Texas) – Christina Pace is elevating her creativity through digital art. Pace, 23, of McGregor designs fliers for Texas State Technical College in Waco’s Visual Art Society, which includes other TSTC Visual Communication Technology majors. It is practice for her future career in graphic design. As she pursues her endeavors and studies, Pace finds...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – James Walker still remembers making an F on a second-grade mathematics test at his elementary school in Hughes Springs. Since then, Walker has not looked back in meeting academic obstacles. Today, he is an Automation and Controls Technology student at Texas State Technical College in Marshall scheduled to graduate in spring 2023....
(WACO, Texas) – The TSTC Foundation, the support arm of Texas State Technical College, has received a significant gift to help students in specific programs on the Waco campus. The $1 million cash gift to create the David and Valerie Fallas Scholarship was announced at the TSTC Board of Regents meeting and quarterly dinner on...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology and Wind Energy Technology students recently learned how their skills could relate to jobs at Altec Inc. during an employer spotlight at TSTC’s Harlingen location. Altec is a leading equipment and service provider for the electric utility, telecommunications, lights and signs, and contractor markets. John...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Aron Guajardo grew up in Donna, Texas, and is a graduate of the South Texas High School for Health Professions in Mercedes. He also has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. Guajardo has a maintenance position at PVC pipe manufacturer JM Eagle...
(WACO, Texas) – Aviation maintenance technicians are needed now more than ever. Robert Capps, statewide chair of Texas State Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance department, said aviation maintenance and repair businesses working with contracts are doing well, along with aviation manufacturers. “Our graduates have not had a hard time finding jobs,” Capps said. “Right now, the...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Brandon DeLeon admits he has always been “mechanically inclined.” While talking to a co-worker in the oil field, DeLeon learned he could be doing more than just repairing valves. His co-worker suggested that he look at Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program in Sweetwater. “I had repaired oil field valves...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The need for highly skilled technicians in the workforce continues to grow. Additionally, Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties not only in Texas, but in the entire country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Texas State Technical College looks to grow alongside the population and deliver technical education and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After a challenging yet rewarding journey for Texas State Technical College graduates, their hard work concluded and a day of celebration arrived. The sounds of families cheering and applauding filled the room when more than 270 TSTC graduates from TSTC’s Harlingen campus echoed expressions such as “I can’t believe I did it”...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 20 career and education counselors and teachers throughout Texas learned about technical careers at Texas State Technical College’s TECHcelerate conference held Tuesday, July 11, through Thursday, July 13, at the Waco campus. Attendees got hands-on experience in some of TSTC’s programs, including Building Construction Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Robotics...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – There is a shortage of skilled workers in construction and technical jobs. The Associated General Contractors of America found that around 89 percent of contractors are struggling to find workers to fill roles. Despite this shortage, there may be a brighter future on the horizon as more people look toward technical colleges...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Auto Collision and Management Technology instructor and program director Jose Vasquez has made a profound impact not only on his students, but also as a coach and mentor outside of his job at TSTC. Vasquez has coached area youth in the nonprofit Los Fresnos Falcons Little League, where...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department recently held an Interview Practicum to help prepare TSTC students to use critical thinking, soft skills and communication to land high-paying jobs after graduation. More than 135 students from programs including Auto Collision and Management Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Building Construction Technology, Cybersecurity, and Wind...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 60 students from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus are preparing to put their know-how to the test. The students will compete at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference taking place from Thursday, April 18, to Saturday, April 20, in Houston. “This year we have quite a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, Texas State Technical College’s Advocacy and Resource Center will host a webinar titled “Women in Technology” that will showcase some of its current and former students in technical programs and nontraditional careers. The free event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Matthew Barringer’s most prized possession is on four wheels and comes with history. He owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota that belonged to his grandfather, who died when Barringer was in elementary school. “That is the only physical memory I have of him,” said Barringer, a Hutto resident. When it came time to...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Micah Johnson, of Carthage, looks forward not only to graduating this semester from Texas State Technical College, but also to starting work shortly thereafter as an instrumentation technician at Phillips 66’s Sweeny Refinery in Brazoria County. “I’m excited for sure,” Johnson said. “It is something new. It is going to take me...
(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College recently held a recognition ceremony for its fourth cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in May to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly intern, the students developed...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When Wesley Robert was laid off from his automotive job at the onset of the pandemic, he decided to reshape his prospects by returning to school. Now, Robert expects to graduate from Texas State Technical College in spring 2022 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Robotics Technology. What initially got...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Tristan Matthew seemed destined to become an engineer like his father. The two frequently teamed up to fix things around their house throughout Matthew’s childhood in The Woodlands, Texas, leading him to join his high school’s robotics team. Today Matthew is studying for an Associate of Applied...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Gladewater resident and single father Blake Edwards had a special request for senior enrollment coach Jason Beach when applying to attend Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus. “What I asked Jason for was the hardest program with the biggest potential,” Edwards said. “I was just looking for something to get me in...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To help students at Texas State Technical College who want to work while attending school, the TSTC Career Services department recently held a part-time job fair on the Harlingen campus to connect students with potential employers. AutoZone, Dollar Tree, Eco Renewable Solutions, Express Employment Professionals, H&R Block, TSTC Human Resources, and Wing...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Jacob Vigil has always been mechanically inclined. While working full time at The Auto Clinic in Snyder, Vigil is broadening his skills by studying Diesel Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College. He hopes that his certificate of completion specialization in Heavy Truck will lead to more career opportunities. Vigil spent his...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – While it is true that Texas Instruments is known for making calculators, some Texas State Technical College students recently learned that the Dallas-based company does much more than that. “Our calculators are the only thing that says Texas Instruments on the outside,” said Katie Peebles, a technician supervisor for the company. Students...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 350 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Fall 2022 Commencement held Wednesday, Dec. 14, at The BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. Jerome Mendias, associate provost of TSTC’s Waco campus, said the gathering of relatives and friends during...
(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START program at Texas State Technical College held a recognition ceremony Thursday, Nov. 18, for its fifth cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in August to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly intern, the students...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s mission is to place more Texans in great-paying jobs, and now three of its Biomedical Equipment Technology students are the recipients of new career opportunities. Juan Aguilar, Eber Trejo and Joseph Ybarra, each of whom is working on an Associate of Applied Science degree, recently were hired as...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – As a child, Damon Barker was fascinated by engines and Texas’ seemingly endless truck population. “I’ve always looked at the semis going down the road and wondered how they worked,” Barker said. “That’s what started it all for me.” Today, Barker is studying for a certificate of completion in Texas State Technical...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran Adrian Yanez worked as a truck driver for more than 20 years. After a career on the open road, he pursued an education at Texas State Technical College, where he graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Security Technology in 2012. “I helped people...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – During seasons of bad weather and cold temperatures, there may be no job more important than that of the electrical lineworker for keeping your house running smoothly. Ronald Jones, lead instructor for the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County, has had many job-related...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Adrian Nacianceno’s education in Texas State Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance program has led to a promising career as an aircraft airframe and powerplant mechanic. Nacianceno, of Edinburg, developed an interest in the aviation field through a family friend. “Our friend worked as an aircraft mechanic for American Airlines in Fort Worth,” he...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – “Safety first” was one of the messages that representatives from utility company American Electric Power had for students in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State Technical College during a recent visit to TSTC’s Harlingen campus. The visitors from AEP stressed that the electric power industry is physically demanding and high-risk,...
(WACO, Texas) – Jay Jackson is not daunted by a little hard work. Jackson, of Bosqueville, is studying Biomedical Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College and working on his family’s dairy farm in rural McLennan County. He also has a dream of attending medical school in Texas. So far at TSTC, Jackson has learned...
(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Daniel Aguirre, a lifelong resident of Brownwood, is ready to pass his knowledge of welding on to the next generation. Aguirre will begin his first year as Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology instructor in Brownwood this fall. This will be his first time teaching welding, and he said he is excited...
(WACO, Texas) – Nick Meyer is a Biomedical Equipment Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is scheduled to graduate in spring 2023. “I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but I could not really handle nursing tasks,” the Harker Heights resident said. “That is why I wanted to...
TSTC diesel program helping student pursue career goals (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Growing up on a farm in Jacksboro, Kenneth Perry was constantly repairing equipment. When it was time to choose a career path, Perry said he had two career options, and both included Texas State Technical College. “My school counselor told me about TSTC’s programs....
Vilze Gamboa didn’t think college was in the books for him, but nearly eight years later he graduated from the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen making him the first in his family to graduate from college. After graduating from Harlingen High School in 2011, the Harlingen native immediately enlisted...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Eric Interiano graduated from high school in the top ten percent of his class, but with no college plans or career path to follow. For the now 20-year-old, who recently earned his associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology, this was concerning on many levels. As a top 10 percent, general academics dual-enrollment...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Gabby Moya is no stranger to a diesel engine. The Knox City native was a heavy-equipment mechanic for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, which included a deployment to Oman. Moya decided that being a diesel mechanic would be a good career when she left the Corps, which led her to...
(WACO, Texas) – At least 50 students in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program signed up to work as wire-down guards and drivers for damage evaluators during the state’s recent winter weather event. The students were on-call contract workers for Irving-based J&S Inspections, a utility contracting firm. Robert Mitchell, lead instructor in TSTC’s...
(WACO, Texas) – The plumbing and pipefitting field carries the stereotype of dirty work and smelly situations. Not so, said Chris Porter, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program in Waco. “Plumbers regulate the safety of everyone, whether it’s water or sewage,” he said. “Someone can become a certified backflow...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 40 poles have been installed at Texas State Technical College’s outdoor lab for the new Electrical Lineworker Technology program to debut this fall in Harlingen. The program is benefiting from the construction of the 12-acre, 100-pole yard at the corner of Rio Hondo Road and 29th Street. Eric Carithers, TSTC’s...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Texas State Technical College student Daniel Rendon was growing up in Alton, he dreamed of having a respectable job like members of his family had in the petroleum, construction and medical fields. After working at some unfulfilling jobs as an adult, Rendon knew that a change was imminent. Based on their...
(HARLINGEN) – Texas has become one of the most important locations for the aviation and aerospace industry, and students from Texas State Technical College are getting in on the action as graduates from the college’s Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs. TSTC is one of about a dozen colleges in Texas certified by...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jasmonae’ Mosby grew up in San Augustine, where she began doing external repairs to people’s smartphones while in high school. “For some reason my phone would always mess up. So I ended up repairing screens, and that is what drew me,” she said. “I started getting my own clients at home. I...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – At a young age Carlos Rodriguez gained a love and passion for traveling, and now at 24-years-old, he will get to do a lot of it because of his new career. The San Benito native will graduate with a certificate from Texas State Technical College’s Aircraft Airframe Technology program in August and...
(WACO, Texas) = Natalie Ozment looks forward to working in her hometown of Temple after she graduates from Texas State Technical College. Ozment, a third-semester Biomedical Equipment Technology student, eventually wants to work as an on-site technician at a hospital. “The biomedical field is definitely in need of women because the field is lacking,” she...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Darwin Henriquez is pursuing a certificate of completion in the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus. He is scheduled to graduate in December. Henriquez, of Missouri City, is a graduate of Hightower High School. How did you become interested in TSTC and your...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Kaylee Jimenez, of Rio Hondo, hopes to have a career in the medical field with a connection to engineering in a hospital setting. Her choice to pursue the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus has been a rewarding one. The program teaches students how to inspect, calibrate,...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Fairbanks Morse Defense is hiring in the Houston area, and Joe Tomaskovic, the company’s general manager, hopes that Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology students in Fort Bend County will consider the opportunity. The storied military and industrial contractor has over 125 years in the business, building engines for the U.S....
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Maintenance and construction supervisors at Oncor Electric Delivery Co. know that Texas State Technical College provides the company with quality employees. During a recent employer spotlight, Jerry Murphree, a 42-year veteran of the company, told TSTC Electromechanical Technology and Wind Energy Technology students about the company’s benefits and job opportunities. Several students...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Alaijavon Johnson and Trevor Milton learned that they have at least one thing in common. The Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology students were influenced by their grandfathers to work in the diesel engine industry. Both are studying for a certificate of completion in the program with plans to open their...
(ABILENE, Texas) – For two Texas State Technical College aviation students, the past is their future. Colby Northcutt and Matthew Voss, both of Abilene, want to follow the example of Nelson Ezell, founder of Ezell Aviation in Breckenridge. Ezell had a passion for preserving and maintaining World War II-era aircraft. In honor of her late...
(WACO, Texas) – Drafting and design involves creating technical drawings, plans and models used for the construction and creation of products and structures in architecture, engineering and manufacturing. Texas State Technical College offers its Drafting and Design program online and in a hybrid format at the Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses. “The online...
(WACO, Texas) – Javier Arroyo, the die casting process manager at Anderton Castings in Troy, is proud to show off the future to visitors. This fall, the company will finish installing new equipment to increase production of aluminum high-pressure die castings for the automotive industry. The expansion aligns with the company’s mission to embrace lean...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Steven Williamson, a Precision Machining Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location, recently described one of the benefits of taking college classes at night: “You work during the day and then you come to school, and you still have time with family and friends.” Several TSTC students are benefiting from...
Tesla START graduates look forward to working for company (WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College recently held a recognition ceremony for its third cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in January to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at...
(WACO, Texas) – Four new schools are partnering this year with Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus to provide high school students opportunities to take dual enrollment classes. Some students at Hubbard, Mart and Robinson high schools, along with St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Killeen, are taking online and hybrid classes in Architectural Design and...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Though college is a place enriched with possibilities, often students are eager to graduate and ready to begin their professional lives. But sometimes the possibilities that an alma mater offers are too good to leave behind. At Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus, TSTC graduates Charla Foster and Troy Powledge have discovered...
(RED OAK, Texas) – An instructor from Texas State Technical College spoke on how artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration industry. Jacob Usery, lead instructor for the Computer Networking and Systems program on TSTC’s North Texas campus, spoke about AI, its role in the industry and TSTC’s role in preparing...
(KILLEEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus hosted the Operation Reclass recruitment event on Saturday, July 15, at the Killeen Special Events Center. Faculty members representing more than 10 of TSTC’s technical programs had information tables that attendees visited to learn more information. Some of the programs highlighted were Automotive Technology, Biomedical Equipment...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is hosting a group of engineering students from Texas A&M University in College Station who are taking classes this summer in Waco. The students are taking nine weeks of courses focusing on AC and DC circuits and basic programmable logic controllers. The classes are being taught by TSTC’s...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – High school students from throughout West Texas learned about the different programs that Texas State Technical College has available during its Fall Preview Day earlier this month. Around 250 students toured the labs of TSTC’s Sweetwater campus and met with instructors from programs available at campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge and Waco. The...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Houston was recently named a city on the rise for STEM-related jobs — and Texas State Technical College plays an essential role in training students for many types of those careers. “TSTC is the primary state agency responsible for preparing Texans for high-paying technical jobs,” said Randy Wooten, provost of TSTC’s Fort...
(WACO, Texas) – Starting in March, Texas State Technical College will become the first college in Texas to host the Tesla START training program. Tesla START is an accelerated 12-week training program designed to equip students with the skills necessary to become electric vehicle technicians. Following completion of the program, Tesla will work with successful...
(WACO, Texas) – Ricardo Echeverria of San Angelo did not go to college right after graduating from the city’s Central High School in 2017. He went to work at Mitchell Toyota in San Angelo as a lube technician, but said he knew he needed to advance his career. A dealership employee recommended that Echeverria give...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Anyone can dream up an idea, but it takes manufacturing to bring that dream to life. “Without manufacturing, nothing gets made,” said Matt Sykora, a representative for Haas Automation. Such a crucial facet of the economy requires highly trained workers, which Texas State Technical College works to provide with its Precision Machining...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The game of chess is known to require the utmost patience, preparation and strategy. Those same principles are comparable to the welding industry. Four TSTC alumni have established the direction of their program into a cohesive Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Manuel Ahumada, Isaac Rivas, Raul Saldivar...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers its programs to adults of any age and background to help them find higher-paying jobs. Industrial Systems student Troy Campbell, of Longview, gained several years of experience in the maintenance, oil, machining and welding fields before coming to the Marshall campus to receive a formal education. “I...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College has a mission, and that is to help TSTC students and alumni find a great-paying career. That is a commitment that Drake Everett shares as the department’s new Career Services representative in Harlingen. He recently transitioned from a job as a student worker...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Representatives from MEYER, an oil well testing equipment and well control system manufacturer, visited Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County on Friday, Feb. 18, to tell TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology students about the opportunities available to them. Dave Key, CEO of MEYER, discussed the importance of the training that...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Roland Leija graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, the alumnus never imagined that his passion for technology would bring him back as an instructor to the same location. He is thrilled to celebrate 10 years as a Mechatronics Technology instructor at TSTC....
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County will host the Tesla START training program this fall. It will be the program’s second location in Texas. The first, at TSTC’s campus in Waco, recently graduated its fourth cohort. “I think it’s indicative of the reputation that the Fort Bend County TSTC...
(WACO, Texas) – Jonathon Houston, of Killeen, takes pride in his attention to detail, which comes in handy in his field of study. Houston is a fall candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College in Waco. “I like being hands-on and mechanically inclined;...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Built from the ground up by Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructors and students, the program has a new pipe fitting training station for its Advanced Layout and Fabrication course. The course, taken during a student’s third semester in the program, focuses on layout design, build and processes, blueprint reading and...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – From an early age, David Lopez-Cortez showed an interest in cars. The graduate of ATEMS High School knew by the age of five that he wanted to work on vehicles for a living. Lopez-Cortez said his passion started by playing with Hot Wheels toy cars at his childhood home. Lopez-Cortez wants to...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Billy Potts has a passion for auto racing. The 1997 Texas State Technical College graduate is passing that passion to the next generation, but not through a lot of horsepower. Potts is president of the Bobcat Solar Racing Team composed of students at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club. Each year,...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus and current student Alfonso Juarez, of Weslaco, was captivated at an early age by how things work. He could not have dreamed that one day he would have a job with aerospace manufacturer SpaceX. “I was very curious how things worked mechanically,” he said. “I was that...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program teaches students the skills they need to walk into any company that hires precision machinists and begin work. “If it’s man-made, we (machinists) made some or all of it in the process of its production,” said Darren Block, statewide lead instructor for TSTC’s...
(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College held a graduation ceremony earlier this month for its first cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in March to learn the skills necessary to become electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla paid hourly internship, the...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Lionel Silva is originally from Mexico, but he moved to Rosenberg in 2009 because of its proximity to a wide range of opportunities in petrochemical and other industries. When Silva decided to start an apprenticeship in the robotics maintenance department at his workplace, a global manufacturer of pipes and related services, he...
(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College held a recognition ceremony earlier this fall for its second cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in August to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly internship, the...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For one Texas State Technical College alumnus, the need for a career change from automotive technology to cybersecurity happened almost overnight. Mario Graciani, of Raymondville, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from TSTC in 2002. He then was hired as a diesel mechanic for a San Benito construction...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Harlingen’s Juan Garcia knows the value of an education. He passed that value on to his son, who is now attending Texas State Technical College. Garcia obtained his GED through TSTC and was thankful the college staff showed him different career options. But he did not stop after earning his first associate...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Red Oak High School students do not have far to go for dual enrollment classes. All they have to do is walk across a parking lot to Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus. Dual enrollment enables high school students to take college-level courses as they work toward high school diplomas...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jose Rodriguez, of Brownsville, developed an interest in precision machining when he was a student at Hanna Early College High School. His former high school had offered both precision machining and welding in the same shop, and he was intrigued by the demonstrations of how things were made. Now he is pursuing...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 9. “The first day of the spring semester represents an opportunity to kick off the new year with a bang,” said Beth Wooten, acting provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. Enrollment coaches worked quickly during the morning at the Student...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Family and friends of 26 IDEA San Benito seniors learned that Texas State Technical College would be the students’ school of choice beginning this fall. The high school students revealed their decision to attend TSTC during the annual college signing day celebration earlier this month. “Most of the students said they wanted...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Robotics Technology program is on the move. The program is slowly relocating from its longtime campus location in the Electronics Center into space being remodeled in the Dr. Roy G. Dugger Center, which is next door. The move is scheduled to be complete by the end of the...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Alfredo Calderon and Alexandra Santos are more than just classmates in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. They are also husband and wife. Calderon and Santos are getting accustomed to balancing their training at TSTC with work — and raising their two children. The Needville couple are pursuing certificates of...
Competition draws 83 cars from classic to modern (ROSENBERG, Texas) – On a recent weekend at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus, dozens of cars — both classic and cutting-edge — filled the parking lot. Their owners propped open hoods, trunks and doors, showcasing polished interiors or outer patinas. Many displayed rows of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What do well-known companies such as American Electric Power, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger and Toyota have in common? Each has hired a graduate from the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College. The term mechatronics combines “mecha” for mechanical and “tronics” for electronics. TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program combines basic skills in...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – “I made it!” and “my journey is over” were among the phrases heard by Texas State Technical College graduates at TSTC’s Spring 2022 Commencement held Tuesday, April 26, at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. More than 270 graduates from TSTC’s Harlingen campus raised their diplomas with enthusiasm and accepted certificates of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With no intention to go to college, Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology alumnus Matt Lashbrook is now thankful that he did, because he said college took him from rags to riches. The Rio Hondo native always put effort into his schooling, even taking dual enrollment courses while in high school, yet...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The demand for electrical power and controls technicians is high and continuously increasing, which is why Texas State Technical College and its Electrical Power and Controls program are working diligently to produce highly skilled graduates. “The industry is growing by leaps and bounds around the industrial centers in the Gulf Coast region,”...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Thirteen Automotive Technology students in the Tesla START program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County location were honored at their graduation ceremony held at TSTC’s Brazos Center on Friday, May 10. Each graduate received an advanced technical certificate in Automotive Tesla START Technician. The program is a collaboration between TSTC...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed 27 high school seniors who committed to a technical education during National CTE (career and technical education) Letter of Intent Signing Day on Thursday, April 20. TSTC joined colleges from across the country to honor seniors who pledged to receive a technical education. At TSTC’s Industrial Technology...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Jorge Lopez, an alumnus of Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, returned to TSTC this fall to work on his Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration. After graduating from TSTC’s North Texas campus with his first associate degree, Lopez found a job with a...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Three employees of Texas Instruments — equipment engineers Jimmy Carter and Danny Culver and campus recruiting manager Eric Batten — hosted three employer spotlights at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus on Thursday, Sept. 14. An average of 17 students, most of whom were from TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology program, Process...
(WACO, Texas) – Students representing Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus brought back 11 medals from the 2023 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference held April 13-15 in Houston. “I am beyond ecstatic to see such a strong presence of TSTC medalists at this year’s state competition,” said Abby Ford, TSTC’s assistant department chair...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus holds regular interview practicums for any TSTC students who are willing to participate. On Sept. 27, 32 students attended the fall practicum. “We hold an interview practicum every semester so that the students can get the experience of interviewing for the...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – John Sherman knows that Texas State Technical College graduates will give their best in the workforce. The Altec talent pipeline development manager gave students advice on how to enter the workforce and be good employees. He spoke to students at the Sweetwater and Abilene campuses about job opportunities and what Altec provides...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and SkillsUSA Texas hosted U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, for a tour on Friday, Feb. 23. The visit coincided with TSTC’s hosting of the SkillsUSA Texas secondary District 6 Leadership and Skills Conference taking place from Thursday, Feb. 22, to Saturday, Feb. 24. “The development of the Texas...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Next week many students in Texas will take time away from their studies and begin spring break, including Texas State Technical College students. While having fun in the sun at South Padre Island, visiting a lake or taking a road trip sounds exciting, TSTC reminds its students to make it fun and...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Marshall’s Memorial City Hall was filled with applause on Friday, May 3, as 46 students from Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location became graduates. Each one received either their certificate of completion or their Associate of Applied Science degree. “I look forward to seeing you become the best in your chosen career...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Rene Escobar was the only student at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County to earn a gold medal at the SkillsUSA state competition held recently at TSTC in Waco. “When I heard my name, I could not believe it,” said the 24-year-old. “I know I worked hard preparing for the...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Sparks sprayed and popped in the Welding Technology lab at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County. Texas state Rep. Jacey Jetton (R-Richmond) was applying what he learned from TSTC Welding Technology instructor Alex Deibert in a hands-on lesson. Jetton grinned as he raised his welding helmet to check out...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus hosted a visit on Thursday by state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, who represents the newly redrawn District 1 at the state Capitol. VanDeaver’s visit was his first to the Marshall campus. “It is very impressive,” he said. “They (TSTC) are obviously preparing people for success...
(WACO, Texas) – Michael Mims, of Big Spring, already has a job that he will start after he walks across the stage at Texas State Technical College’s graduation ceremony in May. Mims is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Instrumentation Technology. He has accepted an automation specialist position at...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College this fall have found two programs that have been updated and renamed, and a third that replaces an older program. “This is evidence of TSTC’s ongoing efforts to tailor our programs to the precise skill sets Texas employers need,” said Barton Day, TSTC’s provost in Marshall....
Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics graduates from Texas State Technical College are finding that the demand for their skills is increasing as highway, road and subdivision developments are growing across the state. TSTC Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics statewide Department Chair Samuel Pizano said students are being recruited across the Rio Grande Valley and statewide,...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students found that the need for employees is high across the state during the college’s Industry Job Fair on Tuesday, April 5. Representatives from around 60 companies provided information on job opportunities, employment benefits and possible interviews at TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene. More than 170 TSTC...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology program has a new name and focus for the fall. The program will shift to an all-online format with virtual labs. Josh Stampley, a program instructor, said faculty will use TSTC’s Moodle platform and Microsoft Whiteboard for teaching and interacting with students....
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department recently organized a virtual event to connect TSTC students with a potential employer: M&S Engineering. M&S Engineering is a Texas-based engineering firm whose scope of services includes electrical engineering; civil engineering; mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP); and survey projects through its sister company, Sherwood Surveying...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When he was in high school, Brandon Foster discovered he was interested in pursuing a career in diesel mechanics. Now, a decade later, he is a Diesel Equipment Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County. Foster appreciates TSTC’s mission of “placing more Texans in high-paying jobs” and being...
(WACO, Texas) – Three instructors in Texas State Technical College’s Cloud Computing program were recently named Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Cloud Ambassadors. Andy Kroll, Clint Pate and Rus Teston went through an application process and created a video explaining their philosophy in promoting cloud computing education. “It’s an honor to be accepted,” Teston said....
(WACO, Texas) – The Texas Mutual Insurance Co.’s $150,000 grant awarded in late 2020 through The TSTC Foundation to Texas State Technical College means that students can continue to learn technical skills quickly and receive assistance to ease life’s burdens. The college’s Rapid Industry Skills and Employability (RISE) program will receive $100,000 of the grant....
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When classes begin at Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus on Monday, Aug. 31, it will mark 50 years of service in West Texas. On Sept. 1, 1970, the first classes at the former Texas State Technical Institute Rolling Plains campus were held in Sweetwater. The college offered seven day courses and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In recent months the world has gone digital. Learning from home has become the new normal, and that new normal means that even though students may be many miles from a Texas State Technical College campus, they can still receive quality technical instruction. El Paso resident and New Jersey native Emily Mancini...
(ABILENE, Texas) – The Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene offers a diverse curriculum for students. Instructor Daniel Diaz said students learn different aspects of industrial systems, from hydraulics and electronics to welding and small engine repair. “We have had students get jobs with the wind industry, prisons...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Drone technology is revolutionizing the field of agriculture, and to ensure that students’ skills meet industry standards, Texas State Technical College’s Agricultural Technology program recently implemented drone training into its curriculum. “Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are transforming the way work gets done out in the field,” said TSTC Agricultural Technology instructor...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Matias Jimenez, of San Benito, grew up working alongside his father, a master electrician. He also served as a sergeant and engineer in the U.S. Army for four years and is currently in the Army Reserve. With that electrical knowledge, Jimenez decided to pursue the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – What does it take to be a successful Electrical Lineworker Technology student at Texas State Technical College? According to TSTC lineworker instructor Troy Eads, a lot of common sense, drive, self-assuredness and athleticism, to name a few qualities. “I tell my students, first of all, this job isn’t for everybody — you...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Austin Hargett makes roses bloom from metal — thorns and all. The Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor can also get scorpions to skitter out of aluminum, bees to buzz around a honeycomb of hex nuts, and many other feats of metalworking. A co-worker who became a friend showed Hargett the...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Daniel Diaz is proud of his Industrial Systems students, both past and present. The Texas State Technical College instructor has seen nearly all of his graduates get jobs in Texas, and he has observed the skills of new students improve as they progress. Diaz is excited about the new students who began...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The Electrical Lineworker Technology pole yard and surrounding area at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County was abuzz with activity Thursday morning. It was equipment day: the first opportunity for first-semester students to get their hands on their gear — and try it out. Dozens of TSTC students waited...
(WACO, Texas) – Jeffrey Potts’ fascination with aviation began when he was in high school in Michigan. He later joined the military and attended Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, where he graduated in December 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Avionics Technology. “I loved my time in the avionics program,” said...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Racheal Dupre has exchanged her stethoscope for a wrench. The former nurse is pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at Texas State Technical College. In her first year in the program, Dupre has been pleased with what she has been able to accomplish. “I...
(WACO, Texas) – As Texans prepare to beat the fall chill, their heating units could use some attention from qualified technicians. Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program and the Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas in Austin have ways for consumers to save time and effort in having...
(WACO, Texas) – Penn Nyagaka, of Arlington, has two primary ways he can commute to Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He can either drive on Interstate 35 or secure a seat on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Waco Regional Airport, then use ride-sharing to get to classes. Nyagaka is...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Angelo Larkins is at home in the air. On a sunny fall morning in the Electrical Lineworker Technology pole yard on TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus, Larkins was aloft, installing a dead-end/suspension insulator at the top of a pole. When he graduates at the end of this...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Andrew Vann found his career opportunity at Texas State Technical College. The first-year Industrial Systems student said it was only natural for him to work on equipment because he has done it his entire life. He spends his spare time working on his 1968 Chevrolet C10, which led him to choose a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After serving with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board for 13 years, Javier Garcia is now enjoying his first year of passing his knowledge and experience on to students in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program. Some of the students began the program not knowing much about what being a lineworker...
(WACO, Texas) – Kenneth Davis, of Robinson, wore white earbuds to cancel out as much noise as possible at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Dec. 11 in Waco. Davis, who has autism, completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology last spring but chose to walk...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Diego Ballesteros might be the youngest among his Electrical Lineworker Technology program classmates, but that does not stop him from taking the lead. “He takes the first step — always,” said Angel Toledo, TSTC lineworker lead instructor. “He’s always available, always able to participate. I’m giving my...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Colter Denson wants to take over his family’s businesses someday. To help him prepare for the future, Denson is working on a certificate of completion in Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College. His father owns two businesses in the Abilene area, and Denson wants to be his successor. “I plan to...
(WACO, Texas) – Family is a big motivator for two Electrical Lineworker Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. Casey Brewer, of Belton, and James Morales, of Plano, both credit their relatives’ support for the work they are putting into earning Associate of Applied Science degrees in Electrical Lineworker Technology. Brewer is scheduled...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Since its inception, the electrical lineworker industry has been a male-dominated field. But that is changing. First-semester students Anastacia Parsons and Ruth Smith are the first women to enroll in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at the Texas State Technical College campus in Harlingen. Both students are pursuing Associate of Applied Science...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program in Marshall gives students the hands-on experience they need to fill many East Texas jobs. The program’s courses include basic electrical theory, blueprints, commercial wiring, compressors and hydraulics. Edward Chaney, an instructor in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program, said instructors look at new students as blank...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Navy veteran Lucia Zifko, of Harlingen, had an adoring relationship with her grandfather, who suffered from a heart problem. Since his death, her focus has been to honor his memory by earning an education related to health care at Texas State Technical College. Before she enrolled at TSTC, Zifko researched medical careers...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There are instances in life when a heroic event occurs, such as firefighters saving people from a smoky building or a paramedic trying to keep a person alive. Brandon Vega, of Harlingen, observed such an occurrence when AEP lineworkers worked hard to restore power in his community when he was young. Years...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program hosted on Thursday the Texas FFA Association Tractor Technician Career Development Event, which featured 12 high schools from North and Central Texas. In the Texas FFA Association’s Area 5, Sam Rayburn High School placed first, Wolfe City High School placed second and Campbell High...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Samuel Valdez wants to expand his business opportunities. The Welding Technology student is studying for a certificate of completion in Structural Welding at Texas State Technical College in order to add to the list of work that he can perform in his construction business. “I am self-employed and wanted to expand my...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When Josh Leath’s family moved from Alaska to Texas, Leath knew that a career in wind energy would be in his future. After seeing his father working in the wind industry, Leath enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program to learn more. He graduated last month with an Associate...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will host a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) event at the Harlingen Public Library Wednesday, May 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event can help current and prospective TSTC students apply for financial aid to help with tuition and other costs related to their education....
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program is a powerful tool for anyone looking for a high-demand, great-paying career across countless industries. “We fix very complicated pieces of equipment when they break,” said TSTC Industrial Systems lead instructor Brian Weakley. “We’re not focused on any one industry because the skills learned here...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran Alfredo Casillas, of San Benito, always had a desire to people the community in health care. He served as a certified combat medic in the military. The Texas State Technical College alumnus learned about TSTC’s Surgical Technology program after a transition to civilian life. “I researched TSTC’s allied health...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Javier Garcia gave up a lucrative dump truck service he owned in order to work in an entry-level position at the Brownsville Public Utilities Board — for an entry-level wage. But the new Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker Technology instructor does not have any regrets. In fact, he would gladly repeat...
(WACO, Texas) – The TSTC Foundation unveiled a plaque on Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus on Tuesday, in recognition of contributions to TSTC from Southwest Aerospace Technologies LLC totaling $6.6 million. On hand for the ceremony, which took place at TSTC’s Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center, were several TSTC aviation students and faculty...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus held its annual Counselor Update on Friday to kick off the new year. “It just gives them a chance to see what is going on if they are new,” said Trey Pearson, TSTC’s North and Central Texas regional director for student recruitment. “For those...
(WACO, Texas) – Erik Trujillo worked with two other students on a recent morning assembling an engine in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Engine Testing and Repair II class. Trujillo, of Elgin, is in his second semester working on a certificate in the Diesel Equipment Technology program at the Waco campus. He is optimistic about...
(WACO, Texas) – The current global climate has brought unforeseen bumps in the road for Texas State Technical College students. However, Marissa Hunsucker is one of many who have proven that despite trials and tribulations, there is nothing that can get in the way of those who are “TSTC strong.” The Waco native recently utilized...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Whether to be on the forefront of construction projects or supervising during the making of the next great skyscraper, Building Construction Technology at Texas State Technical College prepares students for careers in the constantly evolving field of construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field will continue...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students graduating from Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program in Marshall leave with knowledge about commercial wiring, electrical theory, hydraulics, pneumatics and other topics. “There is actually big money locally if the students want to stay local,” said Edward Chaney, a TSTC program instructor. Texas had more than...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology and Welding Technology programs at the Fort Bend County campus are expanding. “Those have been two of the hottest trades in the region for several years,” said Jeremy Heath, executive director of the Rosenberg Economic Development Corp. “Everyone who goes through either program has a...
(WACO, Texas) – Samuel Esqueda, of George West, began welding when he took his first agriculture class as a high school sophomore. “It stuck with me more than anything else,” he said. “I wanted to turn it into a career.” Esqueda is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Robotics, machining, and computing, oh my! Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College offers an exciting degree path to an even more exciting career. Lead instructor Eldwin Leija discussed some of the program’s courses, as well as the characteristics that make studying mechatronics at TSTC technically better. What courses do you teach? I...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program will continue to teach in a hybrid format this fall. Students will listen to lectures online and participate in hands-on labs on campus. “Welding is by far one of our most popular programs, and it’s easy to see why,” said Barton Day, provost at TSTC’s...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Dalton Tiner knew he needed the right education to advance his career. The Texas Healthcare Linen maintenance technician is getting that education with Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program. He sacrificed his scheduled work hours to other employees so he could pursue an associate of applied science degree. “When the COVID-19...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Robert Sanders, of College Station, said Industrial Systems is the “essential man’s course” at Texas State Technical College. Sanders is always smiling when he walks into the Industrial Technology Center for classes. He is studying for an associate degree, saying his motivation is to be the best at whatever he does. One...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Zachary Powers is about to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity and has some sound advice for those about to embark on their college journey: Never give up. The Sugar Land native said that his love of technology is what pointed him in the...
(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and L3Harris Technologies recently gathered to celebrate a new company employee at a recognition ceremony. Tyler Rochelle, of Whitney, was hired by L3Harris as a computer numerical control machinist for its manufacturing department in Waco. He began in November as a part-time employee, but his work...
(WACO, Texas) – The health protocols undertaken in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program are not only keeping students safe, but also teaching a lesson. Program faculty have designated entrances and exits for TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center, along with enacting social distancing, sanitizing and requiring masks. These measures will continue during the fall semester,...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program hosted on Thursday the Texas FFA Association Tractor Technician Career Development Event featuring 10 high schools from North and Central Texas. In the Texas FFA Association’s Area 5 consisting of North Texas schools, Wolfe City High School placed first while Denton High School finished...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Julian Rodriguez found the college that would lead him to a specialized career after a few minutes. While searching for schools that offered Electromechanical Technology, Rodriguez said Texas State Technical College was at the top of his search results. After reading about what the program offers, the Lufkin native knew that TSTC...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Rush Harris, executive director of the Marshall Economic Development Corp., said the need for industrial systems workers is being seen right now. Harris said he recently has spoken with two companies that need new workers. He said more than 20 companies in Harrison County and surrounding counties are searching for industrial systems...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Started in 2016, iServe Biomedical is a leading provider of medical equipment repairs serving the Houston area. Founders Javier Valdez and Rene Torres discussed their time at Texas State Technical College and how their Associate of Applied Science degrees in Biomedical Equipment Technology prepared them for this venture. “TSTC provided the foundation...
(WACO, Texas) – February’s winter weather experienced in Texas is giving Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology students plenty to think about. “There’s a lot of money in plumbing right now,” said Austin native Jack Guerrero, who is scheduled to graduate in December with a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate. “A lot of...
(HUTTO, Texas) – The majority of instructors in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program at the East Williamson County campus happen to be women. Kristin Burke, Samara Flener and Charli Wright bring decades of professional experience to teach their students to be the best welders they can be. “Three of the five welding instructors...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – East Texas electric cooperatives often look to Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program in Marshall as a source for well-trained workers. “In most cases, cooperatives are relatively small in size, so they do not have the capacity to take large numbers of students semester after semester, though they are in...
(WACO, Texas) – McGarry Warden, of Cleburne, is a senior network administrator for Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. He graduated in 2012 from Texas State Technical College in Waco with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration. Warden’s job focuses on overseeing the network and server configurations for hospitals in Mississippi...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Working in the industrial systems field does not just involve manufacturing. Jarriet Durham, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program in North Texas, said graduates’ skills are also needed in the oil and gas and alternative energy fields. Workers can also go into electrical distribution...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The need for qualified electrical lineworkers in Texas is predicted to grow at a rapid pace over the next few years, and Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program is teaching the next wave of workers at the Harlingen campus. With an average salary of $61,400 in the Harlingen area, lineworkers...
TSTC lineworker program provides Money-Back Guarantee (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Anyone interested in a degree in Electrical Lineworker Technology at Texas State Technical College has the opportunity to streamline their enrollment in the program — and earn $2,000 in the process. The only catch is they need to enroll during a special, ongoing event each Wednesday...
Lineworker students learned about local opportunities in field (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Electrical lineworkers must respond to power outages in all weather and conditions — especially when the lights go out because of the elements. As if to illustrate this point, rain poured down from above during a Tuesday visit by three staff members from the...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Rosenberg is seeing a high demand for housing as growth moves south and west in the city. As housing is built, the city attracts businesses of all sizes. Jeremy Heath, director of economic development for the city of Rosenberg, said the city’s western side is seeing industrial growth, while commercial and retail...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology students had a rare moment in the shade as they met team members visiting from Magic Valley Electric Cooperative. The students recounted how they became interested in lineworking. From fulfilling childhood dreams, to word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, to not knowing much about the industry until...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For some Texas State Technical College students, having a strong support system is their motivation for success. For Fabian Rodriguez, of Los Fresnos, the family he has started is his inspiration to succeed in his pursuit of a certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. He...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Colten Butts wanted to pursue an electrical career. When he learned about the Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College, he knew that would be his best route to begin his career. “This program will give me so many different opportunities,” he said. “I was amazed when I walked into the...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology instructors know that lineworkers will be needed as long as there are natural disasters. Before coming to teach at the Marshall campus, several of the instructors traveled all over the United States helping to restore power after some powerful storms. In his 30...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The high-risk challenges that electrical lineworkers experience when working with electricity on utility poles would inspire Marisol Gonzalez and Jacqueline Mejia to pursue an education in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Gonzalez and Mejia recently recalled the moment in each of their lives when they...
(WACO, Texas) – When working with farm and ranch equipment, it is important to know the risks involved. “To be safe, you have to be smart — educate yourself, read the manual, know the capabilities and limitations of the equipment you are working with,” said Matthew Peterson, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students learn quickly that their education requires a lot of hard work and determination, but the rewards are more than worth it. Henderson native and TSTC student Konner Hand has proven time and time again that he refuses to let anything hold him back. Hand has been hard...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College educates students about not only the basics of electricity and principles of refrigeration, but also how improperly installed or inefficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can be troublesome. Valentin Lopez is an HVAC Technology student at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. He became interested...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – It can be easy to think of lineworkers’ jobs as being emergency-focused. When a storm rolls in and power lines are down, lineworkers roll in to restore electricity to homes and businesses. But while that is an essential role they play, the work they do every day to keep the lights on...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Jerry Nieto sold the business he co-owned and he wanted to travel the world, but a life surprise led him to Texas State Technical College. The Brownsville native graduated with an associate degree from TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program in Spring 2019, and since then has found success within his chosen...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently held its annual Industry Job Fair at the Harlingen campus, where more than 400 TSTC students and alumni utilized their networking skills and handed out resumes to representatives from some 68 companies. “The job fair helps elevate that partnership that TSTC and our business and industry partners...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students competed in the fall semester Lineworker Rodeo at the Waco campus on Thursday, Nov. 16. The event exhibited the skills that third-semester students have learned during their time at TSTC. Teams of four worked together to complete four different tasks. The tasks...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Josue Jimenez remembers when he first became interested in the HVAC industry. “My dad would bring home air conditioning units so he could repair them,” Jimenez said. “It was intriguing to watch him work.” That inspired Jimenez to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in...
(WACO, Texas) – Leaving Sulphur Springs at 4 a.m. twice a week to attend classes at Texas State Technical College is no problem for Micah Flemens. “Knowing that I am getting an education makes the long drive worth it,” he said of studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology...
(WACO, Texas) – Working with electricity can be a highly charged task. “People need to understand how electricity and currents work,” said Andy Pustejovsky, an Electrical Construction instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. Some of the problems that people have with electricity include faulty outlets, outdated electrical setups and tripped breakers. “I would...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s HVAC Technology program in North Texas recently received a donation, through the TSTC Foundation, of an AAON rooftop unit (RTU) that will be used for teaching purposes. The unit was donated by Rusty Vaughn, a partner at Texas AirSystems and a TSTC Foundation Council of Advocates member....
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The idea of a high-risk career as an electrical lineworker may not be appealing for some, but it is for cousins Arturo Solis and Eric Zamora. Zamora, of Primera, first became interested in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program when some of its recruiters visited Harlingen High School...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The construction and transportation industry in the Houston area and statewide is rapidly growing, meaning that a skilled workforce is very much in demand. Texas State Technical College is helping to fill that need with its technical programs like Diesel Equipment Technology. TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology instructor Brandon Foster said that program...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Computers and water don’t mix. But water — too much of it — was what led Texas State Technical College alumnus Tony Torres to pursue his passion for computer programming. “After my wife finished school, the plan was for me to go (to college). But the day she was supposed to start...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology alumna Esmeralda Estrella developed a strong interest in helping people at a young age. Now she is helping to educate the next generation of biomedical equipment technicians as a new instructor at TSTC. The San Benito resident was introduced to the technical side of health...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Navy veteran Emanuel Torres developed a connection with Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus when he was a teenager. “I went on a field trip to TSTC when I was in middle school,” he said. “A program that we visited was Precision Machining Technology. I had the opportunity to input a...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – 1988 was a good year for Arturo Martinez. That was when he earned his associate degree in Electronics Technology at Texas State Technical Institute, now Texas State Technical College. Since then, Martinez has gone on to enjoy a 25-year career at Qorvo, a semiconductor manufacturer, at the company’s location in Richardson, Texas....
(RED OAK, Texas) – Aaron Mershawn, of Corsicana, is an Electrical Power and Controls student at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas location in Red Oak. He is also an industrial electrical apprentice at Owens Corning, a worldwide construction and building materials producer, in Waxahachie. Mershawn recently talked about learning and working in the electrical...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Isaiah Arizmendi is about to reach new heights with an associate degree from Texas State Technical College and a new career at World Atlantic Airlines. The 20-year-old graduated in December 2017 and December 2018 with an associate degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology, respectively. “Aviation is in his blood,”...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Abraham Vasquez is a Computer Networking and Security Technology student at Texas State Technical College. The Raymondville native expects to earn his associate degree this semester. When the 24-year-old isn’t busy studying, he can be found working at TSTC’s Talent Management and Career Services office as a work-study program employee. What are...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Former U.S. Marine Oswaldo Arriasola, an Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology student at Texas State Technical College, hopes that soon he will get the attention of potential employers in the Texas workforce. Arriasola is on track to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC’s Harlingen location this semester. “It’s a...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Marshall City Commission recently approved the Marshall Economic Development Corp. (MEDCO) request to spend more than $170,000 for two mobile diesel engine training modules for Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. “The equipment is the most modern equipment available that complies with all the emission regulatory entities,” said Donna...
(ABILENE, Texas) – As the aviation industry looks toward the future, one Texas State Technical College student is helping to preserve its history. Trenton Calsoncin, an aviation maintenance student, is earning Associate of Applied Science degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology while working with an area company to restore old warplanes. “It’s...
By Amanda Sotelo (HARLINGEN, Texas) – The demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians is high and continues to grow as the number of residential and commercial sites increases. And Texas State Technical College is working diligently to meet industry demand and fill the jobs that are vacated as people retire. According to...
(WACO, Texas) – Though the 2019 calendar says the first day of summer is June 21, Texas residents know that hot days and the comfort of air conditioning started much earlier. On Thursday, June 20, students in Texas State Technical College’s Air Conditioning Troubleshooting class were simulating cold and hot situations on air conditioning systems....
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Whenever a commencement ceremony is held, the provost of each Texas State Technical College campus is given the chance to present the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award to a deserving graduate. During his time as provost of the Marshall campus, Barton Day had given the award only once. But as the recent summer...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers a broad range of programs of study that military veterans can choose from to gain the technical skills they need for a high-paying job. Javier Escobar Jr., a U.S. Army veteran and Texas Army National Guard specialist, learned about TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program from a program...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The job of an electrical lineworker is not for the faint of heart. It involves the high-risk challenge of working with electricity on utility poles in all types of weather while providing a vital service to a community. That said, the courageous men and women who become lineworkers love their work and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Physics is a study of matter, motion and behavior through space and time related to energy and force. In Texas State Technical College’s Physics program, students receive the building blocks to support technical programs and educational goals. TSTC Physics campus department chair Jose Alvarez said that the mastery of physics can lead...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students learned what could await them when they graduate. Dustin Moore, site manager for Ulterra, told students about his company’s many job opportunities during a recent employer spotlight. It was the first time Ulterra visited the Abilene campus to discuss their work in the oil and...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Whether being hoisted high above the ground in a cherry picker to clear tree limbs from power lines, or climbing an electrical pole to help restore power, heights are no problem for Texas State Technical College student Joe Rodriguez. Now close to finishing his certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In schools, offices and businesses around the world, whenever anything computer-related goes haywire, it is the IT — information technology — professional who often comes to the rescue. In observance of National IT Professionals Day on Sept. 20, Texas State Technical College recognizes two of its IT professionals, Armando Hernandez and Justin...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For many first-semester Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students at Texas State Technical College, trusting their safety equipment and overcoming a fear of heights are important fundamentals for success in the program. “The importance of safety is always discussed with the students,” said Angel Toledo, a TSTC Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Phillip Taylor grew up learning how to wire and fix things around his parents’ house. It was only natural for him to look for a career with a hands-on approach to repairs. His path to Texas State Technical College’s Electromechanical Technology program started when he suffered an injury that ended his collegiate...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program hosted staff from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners for a student demonstration on Wednesday. Students learned about cross-connection and how this can result in backflow, which is a flow of liquid opposite to the usual or desired direction. Terry Parham, who...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Sunstate Equipment recently gave three pieces of equipment to The TSTC Foundation for Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program at the Marshall campus. The equipment rental agency, which has 20 locations in Texas, gave an SVL97-2 Kubota track-type skid steer, a SkyJack scissor lift, and a power shift transmission with...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Power and Controls, Electromechanical Technology, and Industrial Systems students recently learned about careers in the oil field from representatives of Alamo Pressure Pumping during employer spotlights presented on the Abilene and Sweetwater campuses. Alamo Pressure Pumping representatives Ian Brown and Landon Burton told students about jobs and...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has scheduled several Workforce Training and Continuing Education classes for the spring semester. Cindy Brunett, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education, said the classes will offer students the opportunity to enter the workforce quickly. “We are excited to be providing these opportunities to residents of...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When people make their daily commutes, they sometimes see electrical lineworkers working on power lines to help restore power. Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Dustin Sanchez finds it rewarding to provide that service as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. “My neighbor is an...
(WACO, Texas) – Beginning in fall 2024, Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program will combine mechanical and electrical specialties to meet industry and student needs. Edward Chaney, the Industrial Systems program’s statewide department chair, recently gave a brief description of what the industrial systems industry entails. “(Industrial systems) is the background in industrial manufacturing...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When people make their daily commutes, they sometimes see electrical lineworkers working on power lines to help restore power. Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Dustin Sanchez finds it rewarding to provide that service as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. “My neighbor is an...
(WACO, Texas) – When graduates walk across the stage at a Texas State Technical College graduation ceremony, they do more than receive an associate degree or certificate of completion. Once they start working and contributing to the Texas economy, TSTC gets paid. Once they start working, they help the college get paid by the Texas...
(WACO, Texas) – Juvencio Perez, of Waco, is glad to be working in a growing field without leaving Central Texas. Perez graduated in 2022 from Texas State Technical College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Solar Energy Technology. Within a few weeks after graduating, he began work early last fall as a solar...
By Amanda Sotelo (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Fifteen inches of water took it all from Texas State Technical College student Nelda Chavez and her family. “The only way to describe the situation is devastating and overwhelming,” said the 52-year-old. “The image and smell of the mess and debris still haunts me.” The family returned to their...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Matthew Stokes, a native of Liberty who now resides in Harlingen, knew from the age of 11 that he wanted to pursue a career as an aviation maintenance technician. His decision to enroll in the Aircraft Powerplant Technology program at Texas State Technical College was a step in the right direction. Stokes...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Kelly Gomez is a Houston native attending Texas State Technical College at the Fort Bend County campus. Her family has a history in the technical job field, a legacy that she hopes to continue. She is a second-semester student studying Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology. When Gomez was looking for a place...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) -It all started with a Home Improvement 1-2-3 book for Kristen Perales, who was among a group of 40 students who graduated Friday from TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Construction level 1 course. “My family was spending a lot of money doing simple repairs...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jeremy Gaytan, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, recently accepted an internship opportunity at Oncor Electric Delivery in Dallas that he will start in May. He had met some Oncor company representatives during a recent employer spotlight held...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Texas State Technical College Workforce Training and Continuing Education Maritime Welding program has helped train students since its inception in 2021. Individuals learn tough technical concepts during an eight-week period to prepare for the Texas workforce, and to alleviate concerns experienced in the welding industry. Students will learn components such as...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Ulises Perez recalls when at a young age he would observe his grandfather’s craftsmanship as a homebuilder in Mexico. “I found his homebuilding process fascinating,” he said. That fascination, combined with Perez’s interest in fixing household objects when he was growing up, informed his later interest in...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Lineworkers have a prime responsibility to uphold by guaranteeing that customers are provided with electricity year-round, and Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Ernesto Hernandez finds great pride in that accountability. The effort that he provides as a lineworker apprentice in his dream job with Magic Valley Electric...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus recently returned to the college to give back as an instructor in the program. Brandon Dickerson graduated from TSTC’s Marshall campus and in September 2022 returned to become an instructor. He said one of the main reasons he wanted to teach...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Restoring power caused by weather variables and other factors is a high-risk challenge, and it is a job that Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Luis Polanco is committed to. The service that he provides as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board gives him satisfaction....
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – For many students at Texas State Technical College, their education comes as a way to further their careers and open new doors. Such is the case for Brandon Kopecky, a student in the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus. After working for many years, Kopecky began...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Cranes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment are becoming common sights right now in Hutto and Taylor. These are signs of economic growth, which means job opportunities for students at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. “It provides more options for the student,” said Albert Martinez, an instructor in TSTC’s Industrial...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is unique out of the two-year colleges across the state. With greater hands-on learning opportunities and a more affordable cost of attendance, students graduate better prepared for the workforce. The Diesel Equipment Technology program at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus is designed to help students understand not only...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Joel Burnside set a goal when he enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. Studying for a certificate of completion, Burnside wants to spend his time at TSTC learning all he can from the instructors in order to get into the field of welding. “I know that I am only...
(HUTTO, Texas) – ICU Medical Inc., a company in Austin specializing in pure-play infusion therapy, has partnered with Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County’s Industrial Systems program to offer apprenticeships to selected students. “It’s really huge for our program,” said Lance Antilley, lead instructor in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program at the East Williamson...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and The Manufacturing Institute are partnering to pilot a remote virtual reality workforce training initiative aimed at helping transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses prepare for and excel in careers in modern manufacturing. The first cohort is scheduled to start on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. The institute’s...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College representatives connected with Abilene Independent School District students and their parents during the ribbon-cutting of the Leadership and Innovation in Future Technologies (LIFT) Center. TSTC dual enrollment representatives and recruiters will maintain a presence at the LIFT Center, Abilene ISD’s newest facility. During the Sept. 7 event, Abilene...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – If you can imagine yourself standing in the center of a shopping mall — say, for example, the Galleria in Houston, with its corridors full of hundreds of stores and eateries — then you are already on your way to visualizing how many career opportunities Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Power and...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and a Waxahachie insulating glass manufacturer are in the early stages of building a partnership to bolster the career possibilities for Industrial Systems students at TSTC’s North Texas campus. “They have been great about working with us,” said Lily Connolly, Cardinal IG Co.’s recruiting manager in Waxahachie....
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed students back to campus on Friday, Aug. 27, as the fall semester began Monday, Aug. 30. Students who live on campus were welcomed by Lupe Navarrette, housing director, and the resident assistants who will be helping them during the semester. “We wanted to allow students to come...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – As a child, D.J. Kelley liked seeing and hearing diesel trucks on the road. While in high school, he decided to make working on diesel trucks a career. He said he knew the best place to train for that career was at Texas State Technical College. Kelley, who is studying for his...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Now is a great time to become a diesel equipment technician. “Technology in our industry is constantly changing, from hybrid trucks that use electric axles to compressed natural gas engines being used now,” said Matthew Dobbs, lead instructor in the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in North...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College, which has 10 campuses statewide, has been ranked first in Texas and third nationally among two-year institutions by Niche.com, an online market leader focused on education. TSTC received high marks in six categories: diversity, location, professors, safety, student life and value. The technical college was lauded for its...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County is offering Hutto High School students two new technical programs for dual enrollment in the new academic year. Students can take classes to work toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Robotics Technology or a certificate of completion in Structural Welding. Some students...
(ABILENE, Texas) – When Lucas Robirds returns to Texas A&M University this fall, he will be able to tell his friends that he learned a new skill. Robirds, an aerospace engineering student at Texas A&M, is spending his summer break studying Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. He is participating in the Bachelor’s+ Program,...
(WACO, Texas) – Luke Markham, of Belton, grew up with an appreciation for automobiles, but he also liked diesel equipment. The students with whom he interacted during his time in home school thought he would pursue mechanical engineering. But Markham said the field did not interest him. “I don’t mind standing out,” he said. Markham...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in North Texas will work with four high schools, a charter school and two affiliates of the Texas Home School Coalition to offer dual enrollment classes in the upcoming academic year. Students will take classes at TSTC’s North Texas campus in Red Oak, at their home campuses...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently hosted 50 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, during their two-day visit to the Harlingen campus. The soldiers, who are in the Army Recovery Care Program’s Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU), toured TSTC programs and enjoyed lunch at TSTC’s Cultural Arts Center. Kenneth Buford, TSTC’s statewide...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What does a group of employees at law offices, restaurant chains, retail giants, insurance providers, school districts and banks have in common? They are all recent alumni who graduated from Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program — and that is not counting individuals who have positions at information technology and security-centric companies....
(WACO, Texas) – Seven U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, completed on Thursday the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program taught for the first time at Texas State Technical College. The 12-week program enabled soldiers to travel to Waco four days a week to take classes in mechatronics, with a focus on electrical systems,...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County is hosting three Texas A&M University engineering students taking classes this summer. Jacob Algaze, Preston Hackney and Grant Stinson are taking nine weeks of classes in the TSTC Welding Technology program in Hutto. The students are part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s...
Welding is one of several choices for summer courses (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Vanessa Perez is getting some advice during her summer welding program at Texas State Technical College from an unusual source: her grandfather. “My grandpa was a welder in the Port of Brownsville for many years, so he would always tell me about it,”...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – A July 22 tour of the facilities at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus may have, at first glance, seemed simple. In reality, however, it represented a wealth of possibilities for partnerships between TSTC and some Texas A&M Engineering programs to benefit the region. “The TSTC you were working with...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Team members from Frito-Lay visited Texas State Technical College Industrial Systems students on TSTC’s campus in Fort Bend County to share a new opportunity: maintenance internships. The initiative will offer flexible, well-paid positions at the company’s nearby Rosenberg plant for students currently enrolled in maintenance courses, like TSTC’s Industrial Systems program. “It’s...
Christopher Biello gained relevant training through TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program (ROSENBERG, Texas) – An automated machine shop in a U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan, gave Christopher Biello an idea of what he would do after his military career. “I was thoroughly impressed with what they were doing in there,” he recalled. Once...
HVAC maintenance recommended as seasons change (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Fort Bend County is no stranger to the wily show of winter that Texas stages each year. “If you’re not happy with the weather, wait a minute — it’s going to change,” said Keith Klix, a Texas State Technical College Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The word mechatronics comes from two words: mechanical and electronics, creating a powerful combination of skill and detail for workers. The career field of mechatronics combines computer-controlled systems, electrical systems, instrumentation and robotics. Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology program in Harlingen requires students to have an ability to do hands-on work,...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Tatum McFarland is striving to become the best welder she can by watching and learning from everyone. McFarland, of Abilene, is studying for a certificate of completion in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College with the hope of starting a career. Her venture into welding is nothing new for her, but...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Graduates of Texas State Technical College‘s Welding Technology program are well positioned to fill welding jobs that are being vacated by retiring baby boomers. Jesus Gonzalez, of Harlingen, will graduate from the program this semester with an Associate of Applied Science degree and is excited about the promising job opportunities that await...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Frederick Hoeffliger left his home state of Oregon to study at Texas State Technical College. Hoeffliger, who is working toward Associate of Applied Science degrees in both Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology, has been happy with his decision. “I was planning to go to school in Oregon, but it was...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some 50 students from Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs at the Harlingen campus experienced a tour of aerospace manufacturer SpaceX’s launch facility in Brownsville Wednesday, March 16. They were greeted with a spectacular view from outside the facility of a Stargate base and three...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Beta Beta Phi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Texas State Technical College held its induction ceremony for the spring semester earlier this week in Marshall. Fourteen students were inducted into the organization, which is for students at two-year colleges. Only seven students were able to attend the...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Laughter, music and several games of pool filled Texas State Technical College’s Wellness and Recreation Center in Sweetwater this month. Joni Coons, intramural programs coordinator, lined her calendar with activities for students who live on campus. It all started with a spirited pool tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 15. “We have been looking...
(HUTTO, Texas) – For Peter Wilson, of Georgetown, it is the best maintenance job he said he has ever had. “It’s something new every day, and we are constantly learning,” he said. Wilson, a graduate of Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems – Mechanical Specialization program in East Williamson County, is a mechanic at ICU...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Wanting to learn to work on more than automobiles and diesel engines, Michael Dupre and Jordan Grisham are hoping to soar in the aviation industry. Dupre and Grisham each are studying for Associate of Applied Science degrees in both Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at Texas State Technical College. Dupre...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When he earned his degree in December 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic nearly derailed Texas State Technical College Precision Machining Technology graduate Andrew Butschek’s plans for his career. But a few months — and a quick refresher course from a TSTC machining instructor — later, the Katy resident got hired and started succeeding...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has received two grants from the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling for Education (TRUE) Institutional Capacity Grants program for workforce training. The money is available through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. TSTC has received $129,987 to support the college’s statewide effort to expand industrial training opportunities by adding...
Jose Reyes, of Harlingen, grew up with a unique connection to electronics, from building basic electronic kits as a child with his father to observing the robotics club events at his former high school. Those interests in mechanical and electronic engineering led him to enroll at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, where he is...
Exciting changes and new opportunities are on the horizon through the Advocacy and Resource Center at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus this semester. TSTC’s Advocacy and Resource Center will host a grand opening for its new center Feb. 2. “One of the biggest projects we are excited for is remodeling and expanding our Advocacy...
Shaun Davis, of San Benito, demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit of establishing his own business in his early 20s. He graduated from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus in May 2001 with a certificate of completion in Computerized Bookkeeping. “I was excellent at handling money,” he said. “I sold auto parts for vehicles and motorcycles as...
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Helena “Lani” Orr does not look like a typical electrical technician. But once she earns her Associate of Applied Science degree in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Power and Controls program, she hopes she can help change that — particularly since the industry resonates with her and comes with an added bonus...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduates agreed that hard work paid off after receiving their diplomas during the West Texas commencement ceremony Monday, Dec. 13, at the Abilene Convention Center. More than 100 fall 2021 graduates walked the stage to receive their diplomas during the first in-person TSTC commencement ceremony since fall 2019....
(WACO, Texas) – More than 300 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received certificates and associate degrees at TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Saturday, Dec. 11, at The BASE at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. Jeff Kilgore, interim provost of TSTC’s Waco campus and statewide vice chancellor and chief academic officer, was...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus has produced many graduates who have made their mark on the industry. One such alumnus is AJ Tijerina. He has been employed as a meter lab electrician with American Electric Power in Corpus Christi for five years and resides in Brownsville....
(RED, OAK, Texas) – More than 30 graduates received certificates and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Waxahachie Civic Center. Marcus Balch, provost of TSTC’s North Texas campus, was excited for the first in-person ceremony held since fall 2019. “It feels like forever,” he said....
(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students have the opportunity to be part of something big. TSTC’s Career Services department hosted a virtual industry spotlight event Wednesday, Dec. 1, alongside Texas Instruments, which hopes to hire for a number of careers. “We hope that you find something that interests you,” said Katie Peebles, an...
(WACO, Texas) – Five U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Kansas and Texas completed the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program Thursday, Nov. 18, making up the second such cohort to attend classes at Texas State Technical College. The 12-week program enabled soldiers to travel to Waco four days a week to take classes in mechatronics,...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduate Kaitlin Sullivan recently returned to TSTC to tell a group of current students about her successful internship in Germany with printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer that led to her current job at the company’s Dallas facility. During a recent industry spotlight at the college, Sullivan, who...
(WACO, Texas) – Ethan White, of George West, is working on associate degrees in Instrumentation Technology and Electrical Power and Controls at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus and is scheduled to graduate in summer 2022. He is also an online tutor at TSTC, working with students in Instrumentation Technology classes. White, a graduate of...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is partnering with the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative to provide workforce training for soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. “We are extremely happy to be able to give back in a small way to these guys for their sacrifices,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of...
(WACO, Texas) – Two Mechanical/Electrical Drafting Technology students at Texas State Technical College will be the first to represent the Waco campus in the Additive Manufacturing contest at the 55th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Kentucky. Brandon Lund of Millsap and Cody White of China Spring were put together...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The most recent expansion project in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program involved adding 40 new welding stations and a new metal building for advanced fabrication. The growth was needed to accommodate students in a field that is booming in the Rio Grande Valley as companies expand and other companies relocate...
(ABILENE, Texas) – When someone is in need, you can count on Texas State Technical College students to answer the call. On Friday morning, more than 25 TSTC students, faculty and staff, along with some of their family members, volunteered their time with local nonprofit organization Houses for Healing. Houses for Healing provides free temporary...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Power and Controls instructor Kevin Staton has one goal for his students. “We are training Texans to work in Texas,” he said. “When students graduate from our program, they can work in almost any state or foreign country. Anywhere there is control work, there is a job...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Juan Trujillo thought about becoming a doctor. But after touring Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus, he changed his mind. Trujillo said the Diesel Equipment Technology program caught his attention. After deciding not to focus on medicine as a career, he turned to his first love: vehicles. He will graduate in the...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus continues to strengthen relationships with municipalities throughout Ellis County. Midlothian, in the northwest part of the county, has proven to be a supportive partner in promoting technical education to residents. “There has been a lot of collaboration with Midlothian,” said Marcus Balch, TSTC’s provost....
(WACO, Texas) – With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in hand, Kory Dyer of Bellville wanted to make himself more marketable. “I went home and just wanted to weigh out what all my options were. During the internship (for the degree), I came to realize that engineers are expected, going into the field coming...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – A fascination with chemistry, environmental science, health and safety can lead to jobs in Texas for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators. Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations program in Marshall can pursue these jobs, along with those at chemical, gas and petroleum plants. The program exposes students...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cristobal Davila served his country for eight years. Today, he is helping veterans transition to civilian life at Texas State Technical College. On a daily basis, Davila, who is a Department of Veterans Affairs school certifying official at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, processes college applications, as well as showing veterans how to apply...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Today’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians need to know more than basic electrical theory and refrigeration principles. As technology evolves, so does the need to be familiar with how smart technology is being used in HVAC systems. Jorge Cabrera, lead instructor in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program in Harlingen, said fifth-semester students...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The road to commencement was no easy journey for recent Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology graduate Hugo Gamboa, but he overcame the hurdles and received his associate degree on Friday night. The 20-year-old was one of nearly 300 students who received a certificate or associate degree during TSTC’s Commencement at the...
(WACO, Texas) – More than 400 graduates received certificates and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2019 Commencement held Friday, Dec. 6, at the Waco Convention Center. Many of the graduates already have jobs. Spencer Brown of Austin came to TSTC after working in automotive and construction jobs. He received the Associate of...
(WACO, Texas) – Nathan Craig of Hamilton found his footing on Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, following the path of a few family members. Coming from a family of first responders, Craig, 21, has a strong interest in the emergency services field. When he came to TSTC, he was unsure of what route to...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Being a full-time student is no easy task. Add working full time and caring for a family, and you might start to wonder how there could be enough hours in a day. But Texas State Technical College student veteran Andrew Rowlette wouldn’t have it any other way. Rowlette is an Air Force...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Safety will be the top priority at Texas State Technical College when the fall semester begins Aug. 31. The four West Texas campuses, located in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater, will have a different look this year. Students who need to complete labs will be allowed on campus, but all other instruction...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With commencement only a few months away, Texas State Technical College student Gabriel Flores still can’t believe that he’ll become a college graduate at only 19-years-old. The Precision Machining Technology student said college was always the only option in his home, but when got to his senior year in high school panic...
(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College police officer was among four local law enforcement officers honored Tuesday by the Lacy Lakeview City Council. TSTC police officer Landon Rowell, along with Lacy Lakeview Police Department officer Scott Dent, received the Blackinton Commendation Bar, Life Saving for their work in helping to keep a woman...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Nicholas Delaurelle of Longview is relieved that he has been hired for a job before he graduates from Texas State Technical College. “It is reassuring making some money, because I have bills to pay,” he said. “I’ll be moving into an apartment the day after graduation.” Delaurelle is one of more than...
(WACO, Texas) – Annie Briggs sees big-city challenges but still has her small-town grit. Briggs, a master technician at TA Truck Service near Atlanta, Georgia, got her professional start at TravelCenters of America in Hillsboro after graduating in 2014 from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. “Atlanta is crazy,” Briggs said. “It was like exponential...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It was 1991 when Ester Bodnar began her career at Texas State Technical State College as a work study employee, never imagining it would be a place she still calls home 30 years later. Bodnar was recently recognized for her three decades of service to the college during TSTC’s Employee Appreciation Day...
(HARLINGEN) – Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics are in high demand across the region and the state with a projected growth of 15 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And EMS instructor Ruben Ramirez said Texas State Technical College is working to fill...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cristobal Davila, 41, is a two-time Texas State Technical College graduate. In 2015 he earned an associate degree in Business Management Technology and a certificate in Automotive Technology in 2018. The single dad of two boys worked mostly as a security officer before attending TSTC, and said he finally found his dream...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To earn a spot at this year’s SkillsUSA national competition, Texas State Technical College Mechatronics students and teammates Ricardo Vera and Maria Lara worked diligently for six hours building, wiring and programming their programmable logic controller, or PLC, during the SkillsUSA state competition earlier this month at TSTC in Waco. “The competition...
(Sweetwater) – April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and Texas State Technical College is helping to raise awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence by partnering with representatives from Hendrick Medical Center and Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital to provide information seminars. A session was held on the TSTC campus in Sweetwater on Friday, April 12,...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Lauren Caprio got her first welding job in 2016 shortly after graduating with a certificate from the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County. Caprio, 33, of Pflugerville is a level III ultra-high-purity welder at Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions in Austin, where she works in a humidity-controlled clean room...
(RED OAK, Texas) – More than 40 educators on Friday learned about Texas State Technical College’s mission to help students earn certificates and associate degrees that could lead to great-paying jobs. The Spring Counselors Update focused on dual enrollment, in-demand jobs and other components of TSTC. The gathering’s goal was to arm educators with new...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus will see differences in how they learn and interact as they start the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 31. Nathan Cleveland, TSTC’s associate provost, said students will notice lots of signage pertaining to campus health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Computer Networking and Systems Administration program and Cybersecurity program at the North Texas campus will move to an all-online format this fall. For the 2020-21 academic year, TSTC’s health protocols have caused changes in how many classes are delivered. Some programs are moving to a hybrid format...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted two groups from the Killeen area for campus tours on Thursday. Twenty soldiers in the Army Recovery Care Program’s Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Hood toured several TSTC programs and ate lunch on campus at the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center in Waco. The SRU enables...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology program equips students with the essential skills needed to succeed in a career that is expected to grow through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mechatronics, whose name derives from combining the words mechanical and electronics, is the study and use of multiple...
(WACO, Texas) – Instrumentation plays a critical role in the operation of oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, and power generation plants. Workers use programmable logic controllers, calibrate equipment, and maintain the control of flows, levels, temperatures, and pressures for production. Many of Texas State Technical College’s Instrumentation Technology graduates either have jobs before they graduate or...
Adilene Camarena has applied culinary knowledge to business (WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts graduate Adilene Camarena launched her Waco bakery, Around the World, in April 2020, with high hopes, fierce determination and a generous helping of optimism. The bakery is at Union Hall in downtown Waco. One year later, the Hillsboro...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Hector Ramirez is glad to continue going to college while working in East Texas. Ramirez, a Gilmer resident, graduated from Texas State Technical College in 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization. He returned to TSTC’s Marshall campus to earn an associate degree in Automation...
(RED OAK, Texas) – The coronavirus pandemic has not slowed down diesel equipment work in North Texas. “The main thing that comes to mind about our program is that the students who have graduated and were working during this pandemic never lost any wages,” said Matthew Dobbs, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Hutto High School students with an interest in culinary arts have a quicker pathway to earning an associate degree at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus through dual enrollment classes. “Dual enrollment students have the benefit of seeing the culinary world before having to pay,” said Brian Bohannon, a Culinary...
TSTC encouraging safety, distancing to students in dorms (SWEETWATER, Texas) – For many students at Texas State Technical College, the adjustment to campus living has taken on an additional aspect with COVID-19 safety measures. Living in the Sweetwater dorms with the protocols in place is not what students wanted to experience, but they are making...
TSTC student hopes to work on diesel trucks, construction equipment (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Amarillo’s Adrian Trejo wants to work on more than just automobiles. The Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology student always liked to work on cars and knew he could turn it into a career. He is now pursuing a certificate in...
(WACO, Texas) – Sunday’s snow and ice caused face-to-face classes to be canceled on Monday at Texas State Technical College, though online classes went on as scheduled. This caused some students to have their first day of classes for the spring semester on Tuesday. TSTC students, faculty and staff continue to follow Centers for Disease...
(ABILENE, Texas) – Mother Nature delayed the beginning of Texas State Technical College’s in-person spring semester classes this week. With more than seven inches of snow recorded in West Texas, the college’s administration closed the campus on Monday to keep faculty, staff and students from driving on hazardous roads. TSTC’s online and remote learning began...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Travis Miller, of Georgetown, is happy to start the next stage in his professional life. He received this month an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology from Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. “I could not be more excited to be learning and growing in the field,”...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Representatives of The TSTC Foundation and the Hutto Education Foundation gathered virtually on Wednesday morning to honor recipients of a jointly sponsored scholarship for Hutto residents. “The most significant thing with this partnership is that we are talking about retention,” said Beth Wooten, chief executive officer of The TSTC Foundation. “There are...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College teaches students the skills needed to thrive in the fast-growing career. Instructors Manuel Ahumada and Mark Casares are on a mission to ensure that their students not only are familiar with the world of welding, but also are confident in their abilities from day one...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Prospective Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students can have the opportunity to learn about the program firsthand during the program’s open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. “Potential students will get a look into our new and updated welding building during their visit to campus,” said assistant...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently welcomed representatives from the Mercedes Independent School District to tour its Automotive Technology and Precision Machining Technology program facilities. Several Mercedes Academic Academy students are currently enrolled in TSTC’s Dual Enrollment program, which teaches them the skills needed to excel in their careers after high school. Mercedes...
(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Precision Machining Technology instructor Isaac Gonzalez has been teaching at Texas State Technical College for 10 years. Precision Machining Technology is an intense, hands-on program in which students learn skills such as precision measurement, blueprint reading and the heat treatment of metals, making them highly employable and work-ready from day one. Graduates...
(WACO, Texas) – Daniel Gormley and Travis Kight have known each other since they were in middle school in Boerne. Now they are in their fourth semester as Texas State Technical College students studying Welding Technology. The students are completing a special project that is sure to make Dorman Vick, their former welding instructor at...
(HUTTO, Texas) – The Texas aviation and aerospace industry is responsible for creating more than 778,000 jobs and a payroll of more than $30 billion, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2018 Texas Aviation Economic Impact Study. “Aviation is a huge, growing field,” said Michael Smith, senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation...
(RED OAK, Texas) – Companies looking to move to cities need an available workforce and job training options. Warren Ketteman, president and chief executive officer of the Waxahachie Economic Development Corp., said Texas State Technical College is important to the city’s economic development because of its training and technical programs. “Without TSTC and other partners,...
(WACO, Texas) – Emily Sanford did not pick up a welding torch until she was a student at Madisonville High School in East Texas. During that time, she did a lot of gas metal arc welding. “I was raised around 4-H and FFA, but it was not welding at all,” she said. “None of my...
(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program has started using a supplemental curriculum from the National Tool &Machining Association this fall to teach students. Darren Block, TSTC’s statewide program lead, said students will get a more thorough education in machining, combined with the professional knowledge that faculty members bring to labs...
(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It was a different sight for many returning students at Texas State Technical College this week. Students were greeted with entrance and exit signs, social distancing markers, and signs detailing TSTC’s COVID-19 safety protocols. “Because of this pandemic, we have to follow these rules,” said Keith Aguirri, a Diesel Equipment Technology instructor...
(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program has completed an expansion just in time for the start of the fall semester on Aug. 31. Forty spacious welding booths have been built in an area once used by the Precision Machining Technology program. The welding area will be used by classes and also...
(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus hosted a visit Tuesday by state Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, who represents the newly redrawn District 7 at the state Capitol. Dean’s visit was his first to the Marshall campus. “It has been a very impressive trip to visit the facilities and visit the faculty and...