(WACO, Texas) – Kiewit Corp. supported Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment program by donating 14 tool kits to The TSTC Foundation. The kits benefitted students who began the program this semester.
“We’ve found it’s more valuable to donate to the programs than to donate to a fund,” said Marcus Bray, an equipment director for Kiewit. “As we continued to push the TSTC leadership team for something tangible that we could provide to the program, it was agreed upon that the tool kit would be a great starting point.”
The tool kits were distributed evenly among the seven TSTC campuses that offer the Diesel Equipment program. Those locations are Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco.
Jill Crocker, the development officer for TSTC’s Marshall campus, teamed up with the construction and engineering company to organize the donation.
“A lot of times we focus on tuition scholarships, and we forget that there’s another hurdle they have to climb, and that is getting tool kits,” Crocker said. “With a lot of scholarships, it is written in the gift agreement ‘tuition only.’ That leaves a lot of money that students have to pay for tool kits. It would be my dream for students to come and get an education and not spend a dime, so that’s what we’ll work toward.”
To apply for a tool kit, students were instructed to submit a three- to five-minute video on the impact receiving the prize would make on their education. The program team leads and director of alignment received 33 applications statewide.
Antonio Gay, of Dallas, was one of the two students who received a tool kit at TSTC’s North Texas campus. He said his family is full of mechanics, and he wanted to continue that legacy.
“I’m on an e-bike and I have a daily commute of 34 miles to get here and 34 miles back. My biggest worry was how I was going to get all my tools to school,” he said. “A big burden off my shoulders was lifted that I wouldn’t have to spend more money on tools and then figure out how to get the tools over here.”
Other students who received tool kits include:
- Abilene: Merry Alice Bertram and Brayson Parker Heath
- Fort Bend: Bryan Keith Givens and Brett Fisher Payne
- Harlingen: Enrique Aparacio Canales and Alejandro Martinez Jr.
- Marshall: Kiefer Dayton Phillips and Hayden Monroe Ritchson
- North Texas: Zion Lee Moore
- Sweetwater: Jordan Lane Jernigan and Abel Jimenez
- Waco: Jacob Burleson and Karson Landry Ferguson
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, TSTC’s Marshall campus held a Tool Kit Reveal in the Diesel Power Technologies Center to thank Kiewit and to honor the students.
“When I think about opportunities like the moment we celebrate today, I think of three things; partnership, generosity and student success,” Bart Day, provost of TSTC’s Marshall campus, said at the event. “I offer a very heartfelt thank you to our friends at Kiewit.”
Kiewit plans to donate additional tool kits in 2027. Bray said the company’s goal is to build a long-lasting relationship with TSTC.
“The dedication that this school has shown to the technology and education requirements of the industry today is unmatched,” he said.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.