(HUTTO, Texas) – Carley Lopez is a young woman who knows what she wants to do and how to do it.
Lopez, from Coupland, is a second-semester student in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program at the Williamson County campus. She discovered the program after attending an America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) Bootcamp, a five-day intensive course designed to introduce high school students to the machining profession, during the summer of 2024.
“My dad does machining stuff for the oil industry, so I knew about it before,” Lopez said. “Bonifacio (Velasquez) taught me how to use the machines during the ACE bootcamp, and I wanted to keep working with him. That sealed coming to TSTC for me.”
Velasquez, a Precision Machining Technology instructor at TSTC’s Williamson County campus, said Lopez was fearless when it came to learning new skills at the bootcamp.
“She got between me and the controller for the CNC (computer numerical control) machine and said, ‘Let me do it,’” he said. “I let her. She caught on really fast. She’s really motivated.”
Lopez said the motivation comes from her family, especially her father.
“My dad came from nothing and made his wealth in this industry,” she said. “He doesn’t want me or my siblings to worry. He wanted to make sure we were secure in our lives, and this field provided that. I want to do what he does.”
Lopez graduated early from high school in December 2024, specifically to start her technical education in January 2025. She turned 18 this spring and is about to begin her first industry job.
“I had the credits in high school to graduate, and I didn’t see a reason to stay,” she said. “I wanted to make progress toward my future. I’m starting my second semester right now, and I already have a job offer for $20 an hour to work part time while I’m in school.”
Precision Machining Technology is available at TSTC’s Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses. The program is also one of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee programs.
ACE Bootcamp will be held on the Williamson County campus June 23-27. To register, go to tstc.tfaforms.net/217838.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.