(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With pride and ambition in their hearts, more than 480 Texas State Technical College graduates walked the Harlingen Convention Center stage on Friday, April 25, to receive certificates of completion or associate degrees at TSTC’s Spring 2025 Commencement.
For some of them, the celebration carried extra meaning. One became the first in his family to earn a college degree, while two others overcame personal hardships and persevered to graduate from TSTC.
Nasario Castillo, of Progreso, is a first-generation college student who graduated with a certificate of completion in Auto Collision Refinishing.
“I hope my college degree shows my younger siblings that I followed through with my passion for refinishing automobiles and motivates them to go to college,” he said.
Chris Cedillo, of Donna, turned a personal hardship into a triumph by graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
“During the summer I was in an accident where I broke my left leg after driving an all-terrain vehicle,” he said. “I reflected on that day in the weeks that followed after I had surgery. I did my best to focus on the goal of finishing the program. I’m happy to say I did it.”
Laura Torres, of Edinburg, overcame two personal hardships and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology.
“I didn’t have a vehicle to make it to class,” she said. “I managed to save up enough money to purchase a different car. Another situation was when my cousin died. It was tough to deal with, but I focused on my studies and was able to graduate.”
Eladio Jaimez, provost at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, addressed the assembled graduates.
“You’ve gained more than knowledge,” Jaimez said. “You’ve gained the power to lead, to innovate and to shape the future.”
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
