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(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With nothing but a harness and grit holding them steady, Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students learn that climbing is the foundation of building skills for the job at 40 feet above the ground. Benigno Galvan, Alex Mireles and Diego Viera are in their third semesters of the...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Since his junior year at Breckenridge High School, Thomas Dittmar has been planning a career as a welder. “I knew then that I wanted to learn a trade,” the Texas State Technical College Welding Technology graduate said. Dittmar received a certificate of completion during last month’s commencement and plans to move to...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – By day, Mayra Clemente works as a lab assistant for the Nursing programs at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. By night, she pursues an education in TSTC’s Health Information Technology program to land her dream job of becoming a medical coder. “I earned a certificate in medical office specialist from a...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Despite already being a college graduate, Trenton Patterson began to feel that his major was no longer right for him. When he came across an Instagram post for Texas State Technical College, he enrolled in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program at the Marshall campus. “I was always interested in how...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Austin Dacillo earned his Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity at Texas State Technical College and then decided he wanted to pair the skills with something a little cooler. “I like working with computers, but I like that HVAC is hands-on,” Dacillo said. “I can see an immediate result of my...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jackson Scott has always been a well-rounded individual, from running his own lawn care business, participating in his high school’s agriculture program, and most importantly, a fascination with science.  That fascination led him to enroll in Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations program. “I do a lot of hands-on things myself, so...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What began as internships at iServe Biomedical in Houston for three Biomedical Equipment Technology students from Texas State Technical College have turned into full-time jobs at the company. Chris Hernandez, Juan Hernandez and Anthony Vega, who are candidates for graduation at TSTC’s Spring 2025 Commencement on Friday, April 25, at the Harlingen...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Ever since his first visit as a high school sophomore, Garrett Sweeney knew that Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus was the place for him. “I liked it. I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to come here,” he said. Sweeney enrolled in TSTC’s Industrial...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – There are many reasons why a person will choose a career, from taking over a family business to making money. But for Kate Salas, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance program, that reason is safety education. Salas first learned about the program during a tour of...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – An all-female team of students from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus earned silver medals in a building construction skills competition at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference held April 2-5.  TSTC students Michelle Martinez, Pamela Perez, Esmeralda Reyes and Diana Zuniga competed in the TeamWorks event at SkillsUSA Texas...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jorge Martinez and Autumn Sereno, two Drafting and Design students from Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus, returned from the 2025 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference with gold medals in Additive Manufacturing. “I originally went to SkillsUSA on recommendation from a couple of people — one being Jorge, but I...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Jared Baucom was excited to learn that he could go to college in his hometown. The Brownwood native and Winchell Volunteer Fire Department firefighter is in his first semester of the Emergency Medical Services – EMT program at Texas State Technical College’s Brownwood campus. “When I heard that classes were beginning again,...

(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – Apolinar and Joshua Ruiz share more than family ties in the Texas city of Donna. Apolinar Ruiz, now of Hutto, is the program team lead in the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus. He is a graduate of the same program at the college’s Harlingen...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cole Ogle, a Web Design and Development student at Texas State Technical College, feels like he is on top of the world. Ogle recently received a $5,000 scholarship from the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston, and he completed an internship with the Astoria Media Group in Abilene. “I was honored to be...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – “I’m speechless.” That was the reaction of Madison Gomez, a Welding Technology student at Texas State Technical College, when she learned of receiving her scholarship through the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). “Being from a small town (Rotan in Fisher County), it is an honor,” she said. “And being a woman in this...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jason Merritt grew tired of having to meet ever-increasing sales quotas in his former career. “That’s when I decided I wanted something away from it,” he said. “I tried for several years (but) never had good luck in making good money. I needed something new, so that’s when I decided I needed...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Practicing safety is a key focus in many programs at Texas State Technical College. One program that emphasizes safety at TSTC’s Harlingen campus is Welding Technology. Industry trained welding instructors teach students safety in three key areas: the ironworker machine, scaffolding structure and welding station. An ironworker is an important tool in...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Brendan Hills was given the chance to go back to college after a workplace accident left him unable to perform his duties.  Hills researched several schools within a 200 to 300 mile radius before choosing Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus. “For probably the last 25 years, I’ve been a major gearhead,”...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Case Harris’ journey to Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program started with a family-owned pickup truck. “We own an F-350 pickup called ‘The Beast,’” Harris said. “Our family has owned it since 1999, and it has been a pain.” Harris said someone from his family would start the diesel engine...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Daniel Mann said his late grandfather was his prime motivation to go back to school, leading him to enroll in Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program. “He was always really adamant about me doing well in school, and I would argue that him being a boomer is a large part of why...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Chris Wilcox’s decision to attend Texas State Technical College was based on several factors. But one stood out above the rest. “I like the career placement opportunities TSTC can provide me,” the Welding Technology student said. Wilcox is studying for a certificate of completion and looking forward to learning the different welding...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In today’s fast-paced aviation field, there is demand for highly skilled aircraft mechanics who can contribute to the success and safety of getting airplanes off the ground and into the sky. That is where Texas State Technical College steps in. TSTC’s aviation maintenance program at the Harlingen campus has produced many skilled...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Not many young adults can say they landed an internship days after graduating from high school to get one step closer to their dream job. But Texas State Technical College Drafting and Design student Damian Porras had that opportunity soon after representatives from Garver, an engineering, planning and environmental services firm, observed...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Max Cienfuegos, a Mechatronics Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, is following in the same educational path of his brother, Gabriel, who also is enrolled there. Both were inspired by their parents, who are engineers. “I think it’s great that my older brother and I are building on the...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Avry Conley and Carter Scraver, two Diesel Equipment Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus, both started working on cars as children with their families.  Now they balance their time between classes at TSTC and jobs at Mavis Tires and Brakes in Marshall. Conley, of Hallsville, was motivated to attend...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Alfonso Juarez was surprised to learn that his father had attended Texas State Technical College, and now he plans to surprise his father in return.  Juarez, a Brownsville native, first went to TSTC in Harlingen for Welding Technology.  “My dad is a tool and die worker,” Juarez said. “When I told him...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Much like young athletes playing for the chance to earn bragging rights as new champions, five Auto Collision and Management Technology students from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus will compete for the first time at the 2025 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Corpus Christi next month. Luis Alvarado,...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Rudy Velasquez keeps his first welding project close by. The Texas State Technical College Welding Technology student uses that project to motivate himself. Before beginning the program in August, the Brownwood native had never picked up a welding torch. “The first couple of weeks were tough,” he said. “I dove in full...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Ethan Williams was an engineer until he decided he wanted to be more hands-on. “My father passed, and it got me thinking about how much time people really have,” Williams said. “I got into engineering because I wanted to do hands-on things.” Williams was a programmer at a pressure vessel software company...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Sometimes it takes time for a person to realize that a career change is necessary to revitalize their happiness. For 16 years Jose R. Garcia worked as a respiratory therapist, but eventually he wanted a new job that focused on creativity and innovation. He found that career pathway in the Precision Machining...