(MARSHALL, Texas) – Owen Shreve enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment program at the Marshall campus after moving to Elysian Fields from Bremerton, Washington. He now balances his education with a full-time job as a field service technician.
“When I moved to Texas, I discovered the school,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed fixing things. I found out this program had an off-highway program and said, ‘It’s time to do something with my life.’”
Assisted by Workforce Solutions East Texas in Marshall, Shreve got an internship with Thee Road Service, a truck repair company, shortly after enrolling at TSTC. Later on he was hired by the company for a position as an on-call field service technician.
“It’s really beneficial because I’m getting practical knowledge here (at TSTC), which then ties into the field knowledge I get out there, and to me that’s huge,” he said. “There hasn’t been a day that I’ve been here when I’ve walked away without learning something.”
Leticia Hollins, Shreve’s work-based learning coordinator at Workforce Solutions East Texas, said she has seen Shreve develop in both his education and employment.
“As he has progressed in his academic journey, his confidence and competence in handling complex tasks have noticeably increased,” Hollins said. “Professionally, Owen has taken on more responsibilities and consistently met challenges with determination and maturity.”
Shreve plans to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC in May 2026.
“Being a student is absolutely rewarding because without this program I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now,” he said. “It’s opened so many doors for me already.”
According to onetonline.org, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn a median salary of $57,870 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 13% between 2022 and 2032.
The Diesel Equipment program is available at TSTC’s Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program offers several associate degrees and certificates of completion, depending on location.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.