Upgrade: Nontraditional Automation and Controls Students Rebuild Their Careers

Life is full of upgrades and change. As many Texas companies adopt automated machinery to increase production speed and efficiency, the demand for skilled technicians continues to grow. In response, Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus developed the Automation and Controls program, giving nontraditional students the opportunity to return to school and strengthen their career prospects.

Chandler Giddings, Johnathan Hamilton, and Zackary Williams are three nontraditional Automation and Controls students who are already seeing the results of their hard work.

Chandler Giddings: Preparing for a Future Family

Society often places pressure on teenagers to decide their lifelong career path before they even step onto a college campus. As a result, many 18-year-olds enter the next stage of life unsure of what they truly want to pursue.

When Chandler Giddings of Waskom graduated from high school in 2021, he was no exception. At the same time, he was in a serious relationship with his girlfriend, which led him to think more seriously about how he would one day support a family. He tried attending a four-year university, worked in fast food, and even took a job at a bank, but none of those paths felt like a true career.

Then a simple conversation changed everything.

“I asked somebody that goes to my church for career advice, and he works with SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), which is part of Automation and Controls,” Chandler said. “He looked at TSTC and told me to join Automation and Controls, so that’s what kickstarted my ambition for this program.”

Chandler admitted he began the program without fully understanding what Automation and Controls entailed. Today, however, he walks around TSTC’s Marshall campus with a near-perfect grade-point average.

“It’s blown my expectations,” he said of the program. “The classes are really structured well. The professors line up the skills we need to learn perfectly.”

Chandler’s uncertainty about his future is now behind him. He has secured a paid internship with semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments and hopes to transition into a full-time role with the company.

Chandler and his girlfriend—now his fiancée—are set to marry in November, making his plans for a future family feel closer than ever. Knowing he can provide for them has deepened his appreciation for his education.

“This is a golden opportunity that won’t go away—you can make a great living,” Chandler said. “Knowing that I’ll have a stable career and endless job opportunities is what inspired me to hit the ground running.”

Johnathan Hamilton: Making His Father Proud

One moment, Johnathan Hamilton of Beckville was celebrating 15 years in the oil and gas industry; the next, he was battling an insurance company to secure coverage for an on-the-job back injury. Without coverage for the surgery he needed—and without surgery, no way to return to work—it felt as though there was no clear path forward. But Johnathan’s father refused to let him give up.

“He was the one who really pushed me to go back to school while I was trying to get my back fixed,” Johnathan said.

Even before his injury, Johnathan had noticed how much automation had transformed the oil and gas industry in just a decade. Recognizing automation’s stability and long-term potential, he decided to explore whether the college in Marshall—where he had attended summer camp at age 14—offered training in the field.

Though he had experience in nearly every aspect of oil and gas production, automation was largely new territory for him. Still, like Chandler, he found his footing in TSTC’s program, excelling to the point of earning a near-perfect grade-point average.

“The most rewarding part has been the learning experience as a whole,” Johnathan said. “I’ve never done this kind of work before, so learning something new has been an incredible opportunity.”

Like Chandler, Johnathan will soon begin a paid internship with Texas Instruments. While he awaits surgery, he has taken control of his future and ensured his father’s encouragement did not go to waste.

“He has worked hard his entire life and worked hard to put me through school,” Johnathan said. “He’s helped me tremendously through my issues with my back. I would not be where I am if it weren’t for him.”

Zackary Williams: Getting With the Times

When discussing his background, Zackary Williams admitted that he was two things; suited for technology and not interested in furthering his education. Before enrolling at TSTC, his lack of interest in college led him straight into the workforce, where he hoped to climb the career ladder the traditional way. However, he quickly discovered that the one thing he disliked more than school was working with outdated technology at his manufacturing job.

“They were so behind the times, and I wanted to move forward with automation,” Zackary said. “I’m all about automating things if it makes them run more efficiently.”

In his hometown of Jefferson, Zackary said TSTC is widely regarded as the top choice for tech-minded individuals like himself. He also learned that TSTC’s Marshall campus is one of the few colleges in Texas offering a program in automation.

Enrolling at TSTC completely shifted Zackary’s perspective on education. He went from feeling indifferent about school to becoming a high-achieving student.

“I enjoy everything I’m learning,” he said. “I enjoy who I’m learning with and my instructors. Coming from being the guy dealing with issues on the plant floor, it’s really nice that they’re teaching the basics of what could happen.”

When he’s not in class, Zackary spends his time assisting students in the food pantry at TSTC’s Marshall campus or interning with TexPatAI and Data Solutions, a contractor for renewable lumber producer West Fraser.

“I’m working in data analytics right now—kind of predictive modeling and quality control—but once I graduate, they’ll move me more into what I’m studying,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of jobs, but this is honestly the first one I’ve genuinely enjoyed.”

Chandler, Johnathan, and Zackary will all graduate in August with Associate of Applied Science degrees from TSTC’s Automation and Controls program.