NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — As instructor William Ogburn called each student’s name, the certificate and handshake came with a personal nickname: Big Unc, Captain America, Big Red.
“This is a lively group. They’re very passionate, but they’re also very hardworking,” Ogburn said of the class’s collective character. “Their personalities are great. They work well together, and they were always willing to learn.”
Family members, friends and Texas State Technical College staff gathered at Gigafactory Texas on Friday, Sept. 25, to celebrate a group of Tesla employees completed their apprenticeship training.
Through the program, Tesla employees transitioned from production roles to high-skilled maintenance technician positions. This class is the first to complete the program through TSTC’s New Braunfels campus. The apprentices completed 10 months of training, spending three days a week at Gigafactory Texas and two days at TSTC in New Braunfels.
“The biggest part is working with employers to help upskill current employees,” said Jesus Ramirez, a representative with TSTC’s Accelerated Training Solutions team. “Helping them shape their skills and growing them within their company. That’s a big part of it.”
Participants trained in electrical systems, pneumatics, mechanical power systems, welding, industrial maintenance, print reading, rigging and OSHA safety.
TSTC Program Team Lead Will Beck said the college worked with Tesla to shape the training around the company’s maintenance needs.
“William Ogburn actually came directly from Tesla. He was one of their lead maintenance techs. And so he got to pass it on,” Beck said. “He’s been instrumental in continuously improving the training.”
Ogburn was one of four instructors who taught the apprentices, alongside Joe Crowley, John Garcia and Jesus Sifuentes. During the ceremony, he told the graduates he hoped the program would give them “a launching point” for their careers.
“The biggest thing about these guys is that they came and made my life a lot easier, a lot more joyful, to come in,” Ogburn said during the ceremony.
“Not only do we get to help the needs of the industry of Texas, but we also get to partner with some really exciting industries,” Beck said, speaking of why TSTC’s partnership with Tesla is important. “Tesla is one of the biggest companies on Earth, and hugely instrumental in the innovation of automotive, solar panels, and things that are going to change the world.”
TSTC and Tesla have continued their collaboration since the first cohort from TSTC’s Williamson County campus graduated earlier this year. The New Braunfels class marks the program’s first graduating group from that campus.
“We’re growing and growing. We have two new cohorts that have come in in July. And we’re even in more talks about expansion,” Beck said.