Dustin Schenstrom, a Precision Machining student at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus, spent 24 years in the U.S. Army before enrolling to expand upon his hobby of three-dimensional printing. (Photo courtesy of TSTC.)

(RED OAK, Texas) U.S. Army veteran Dustin Schenstrom and his son, Ethan Schenstrom, of Canton, enrolled at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus together. 

“During my 24 years in the Army, I was gone a lot,” Dustin Schenstrom said. “I spent a lot of time away from my family, but now I get to be here with my family and go to school with my son. It’s something I’m treasuring and valuing very much.”

After he retired from the Army, Dustin Schenstrom spent three years developing a new skill in three-dimensional printing. This led him to enroll in TSTC’s Precision Machining program.

“A lot of the employers, they’re asking for one to 10 years of experience to hire into most positions, so getting that year and a half under my belt will definitely improve my chances,” he said.

Ethan Schenstrom said he enrolled in TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program after gaining an interest in electricity while studying earth science in high school.

“We did a unit on electricity to understand how it worked, and I thought the equations and laws that went into it, and the stuff it did, and what it could do were really cool,” he said. “I figured it would best suit my strengths and what I could be the most interested in.”

Both men said they are enjoying discovering new aspects of their fields and credited TSTC’s instructors and staff who have helped them along the way. 

Ethan Schenstrom said his parents encouraged him to make the most of educational opportunities while he was young, and he enjoys watching his father take advantage of them as well.

“It feels pretty cool being able to say ‘Hi’ to him while I’m in school and he’s in school, and to talk to each other about each other’s day after we go home together,” he said.

Dustin Schenstrom plans to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in fall 2026. Ethan Schenstrom plans to earn his associate degree in spring 2027.

“One thing I learned in life is that you can’t just sit around, you’ve got to do something in order to have a decent life,” Ethan Schenstrom said. “Always keep on going.”

Electrical Power and Controls is available at TSTC’s Abilene, Fort Bend County, North Texas and Waco campuses. Precision Machining is offered at the Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses. 

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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Ethan Schenstrom is an Electrical Power and Controls student at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus, attending at the same time as his father. (Photo courtesy of TSTC.)