(MARSHALL, Texas) – Chase Noble’s heart has always been with his family, but finding the right way to provide for them proved difficult. That changed when Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus began offering the Building Construction program.
“I wanted to learn more and be more handy,” Noble said. “I have my own projects around the house that need attention.”
Noble said the Building Construction program has increased his confidence and he takes pride in being part of the first cohort in his hometown.
“I hope I’m setting a good example as a student and as an ambassador to the program,” he said.
Todd Holloway, a Building Construction instructor, said Noble’s commitment shows in his achievements and his strong academic record.
“What makes Chase’s success even more remarkable is his ability to balance rigorous academic demands with significant personal responsibilities,” Holloway said. “As a devoted husband and father, Chase exemplifies exceptional time management and resilience. His best shot is clearly yielding results, proving that he possesses the discipline required to succeed in high-pressure environments.”
For Noble, the most rewarding part of the program is taking his new construction skills home with him. Not only is he building a workshop in his backyard, but he gets to teach his children what he is learning.
“I’ve had to go purchase a toolbelt for my son, and my daughter, she’s got her little toolbox with a little hammer,” he said. “She’ll go put her little projects together with the scrap pieces, and then my son, he’ll actually climb up there and I can explain to him what I’m doing.”
Noble is on track to receive his certificate of completion in August. He is interested in enrolling the Electrical Construction program once it debuts in Marshall this fall.
He hopes to one day specialize in a specific form of construction, such as chimneys or roof framing.
“TSTC is definitely a place where I can improve myself and get out of it what I put in,” Noble said. “It’s a wonderful tool. It’s a great place. It’s here in my hometown and I don’t have to go far. I’m having a good time.”
Building Construction is available at TSTC’s Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, New Braunfels, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program offers two associate degrees and a certificate of completion.
Registration for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.