(WACO, Texas) – Women are making their presence known in Texas State Technical College’s Avionics Technology program.
More than five women are candidates for graduation in TSTC’s Spring 2025 Commencement set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at the BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. The students will add to the 13 other women who have graduated from the program from spring 2014 to spring 2024, according to TSTC’s Business Analytics and Reporting department.
“When I think of anything technical, I think of it as more male-dominated stuff, so I am glad I am able to have the community to connect with women like that,” said avionics student Sophia Castillo, of Temple.
Castillo had an interest in the aviation field before she arrived at TSTC.
“I toured the Avionics Technology program, and it just caught my eye on how in-depth and technically detailed the avionics systems were,” she said.
Castillo said her first semester was a challenge in learning how to take lecture notes. She said she has enjoyed group work, along with learning how to manipulate wire and do soldering. She has also learned about basic electricity, how to read schematics and how to build circuits.
Castillo is looking for opportunities to work in Central Texas.
“I am very excited to go out in the field and apply what I have learned,” she said. “Hopefully I will be able to learn more things.”
Calleigh Chau, of Hewitt, grew up with an interest in the aerospace industry and space exploration.
“During the first semester, it definitely felt like I was doing something I had never done before, and it was pretty new to me,” she said. “I really enjoyed learning more about how things actually work.”
Chau said she found learning maritime law and the rules that radio operators need to abide by as being the most difficult parts of the program.
After graduation, Chau wants to look for internship opportunities and also study engineering at McLennan Community College.
“I would love to work in the aerospace industry, whether it is with satellites, rockets, unmanned space vehicles — really anything,” she said.
Amy Nolasco, of Corsicana, said she wants to work in Texas to be near her family.
“It’s good money, and there are not that many avionics people in the industry,” Nolasco said. “You have a good chance of getting hired. There are people willing to hire you because it is easier to mold you.”
Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
