(MARSHALL, Texas) – Barzilai Arellano, a Process Operations graduate from Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus, received the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award at the recent Spring 2025 Commencement.
“The award, not given out every semester, recognizes students who go above and beyond in helping others achieve their goals — service before self,” Bart Day, provost for the Marshall campus, said. “Barzi set himself apart by doing just that.”
Arellano discovered the Process Operations program during a tour of TSTC’s Marshall campus in his senior year of high school. He enrolled and enjoyed the hands-on lessons that the program offered.
“I had a blast,” Arellano said of his time at TSTC, where he was a resident assistant as well as a Testing Center student worker while pursuing his Associate of Applied Science degree.
Danyelle Jackson, senior testing administrator for TSTC’s Marshall campus, nominated Arellano for the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
“Barzilai, or Barzi as we called him, is the true definition of excellence,” she wrote when nominating him.
Arellano said he had already felt accomplished on the night of commencement, unaware of the award that he would receive.
“I was really shocked,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I was definitely honored. TSTC, to me, means better opportunities and the chance to improve yourself.”
Process Operations is offered exclusively at TSTC’s Marshall campus.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.