(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Two graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus each recently received a TSTC Trailblazer Award.
A lengthy nomination and interview process was held to select TSTC graduates who exemplify the college’s building blocks of accountability, excellence, integrity, and service. The awards are being given this year as part of the college’s 60th anniversary celebration.
Maria Aguirre, of Sweetwater, and Annie Guevara, of Austin, were honored at the Summer 2025 Commencement held for the West Texas campuses on Aug. 14 in Abilene.
“Maria and Annie exemplify what someone with a TSTC education can achieve,” said Andy Weaver, provost of TSTC’s West Texas campuses. “They are mentors and leaders in their career fields. It was my honor to recognize these two outstanding alumnae.”
Aguirre is TSTC’s vice president of marketing operations. She has previous experience in administrative technology, admissions, and enrollment management in her four decades of service at TSTC.
“I’ve dedicated my career to education and technical education, working to ensure that TSTC’s mission and the opportunities it provides are accessible to every student,” Aguirre said. “This award truly represents the culmination of a lifelong commitment to the college and its mission to build a skilled Texas workforce.”
Aguirre is a member of the Hispanic Leadership Council of Abilene and the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education. She is a graduate of Del Rio High School has two associate degrees and a certificate of completion from TSTC. She also has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wayland Baptist University.
Guevara is a senior CAD (computer-aided design) specialist at The University of Texas at Austin and owner of amg designs. Her career has involved teaching on the college level, along with doing design work for electrical transformers, high-end cabinets and packaging.
“I’ve always had a love for drawing, design, technology and construction; my career path shows that,” Guevara said. “So, to be honored, … I am really just blown away. I am both humbled and honored to receive the award. It is truly a crowning moment in my career.”
Guevara is a graduate of Central High School in San Angelo and holds two associate degrees from TSTC. She is also an artist, having illustrated two children’s books and had a one-woman art show featuring her sketches.
Twenty TSTC alumni will be honored this year at the Harlingen, Marshall, Waco and West Texas campuses as part of summer and fall graduation ceremonies.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.