(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment program in Harlingen buzzed with excitement Tuesday, Sept. 2, as the campus’s first cohort of students entered the Transportation Technologies Center to kick off the fall semester.
Anticipation ran high as 31 Diesel Equipment students met their new instructors and stepped into the diesel lab for the first time.
Among those students were Destiney Casanova, Cielo Gonzalez and Damian Trejo.
Casanova, of Harlingen, is pursuing a Diesel Equipment – Heavy Truck certificate of completion. She viewed the opportunity to learn about diesel engines as a rewarding challenge.
“I just graduated from TSTC’s Aviation Maintenance program in August, and I wanted to learn more about different types of engines,” she said. “I’m also determined to show that women are just as capable as men to succeed in this field.”
Gonzalez, of Mercedes, is working toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Diesel Equipment – Heavy Truck Specialization. She said the program appealed to her because she grew up around various types of automobiles.
“I’ve picked up some knowledge about automobiles from my father,” she said. “I’m excited to learn about diesel trucks and their engines.”
Trejo, of Lyford, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in the program. He said he looks forward to starting hands-on training.
“After taking automotive classes in high school, I wanted to take a different path in college,” he said. “I’m excited to learn everything I can about this trade.”
Miguel Zoleta, TSTC’s Diesel Equipment lead instructor in Harlingen, said his team was delighted to meet their students for the first time.
“We’ve been preparing for this moment, and the wait is over,” he said. “Seeing the look on the students’ faces when they saw the diesel equipment was priceless. We’re excited to begin training our students.”
According to onetonline.org, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Texas earn a median salary of $57,870 a year. The website projected that there would be a 13% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2022 to 2032.
For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.