(RED OAK, Texas) – Despite having worked in maintenance for over 20 years, Darius Holmes had never earned a degree in his field. That changed when he received his Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Power and Controls at TSTC’s recent Summer 2025 Commencement at the North Texas campus.
“I really wanted to get a degree in the line of work that I’m doing so I could make more money,” he said.
Holmes, of Glenn Heights, said balancing his education, full-time job and family was not easy but he was determined to get the education he wished he had received 20 years ago.
Jeremy Deadmon, an Electrical Power and Controls instructor at TSTC’s North Texas campus, said Holmes is a remarkable example of determination and growth.
“He came into TSTC with a new mindset, ready to gain a skill and build a future,” Deadmon said. “Darius’ story reminds us that with the right mindset, focus and perseverance, challenges can be turned into stepping stones for greater success.”
During his first semester at TSTC, Holmes attended the college’s biannual job fair and met some representatives from Schneider Electric, a global company that specializes in energy management and automation. He was hired as an assembler for the company’s Red Oak location on the same day.
“Within three months I went from being an assembler to a sales lead, which is a major bump in pay, and within another three months I went from being a cell lead to a (production) supervisor,” Holmes said. “Taking classes at TSTC really rewarded me with a very high-paying job.”
Besides North Texas, the Electrical Power and Controls program is available at TSTC’s Abilene, Fort Bend County and Waco campuses.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.