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(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Giovanni Guerra, a recent Welding Technology graduate and a current Precision Machining Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, turned his challenge with dyslexia into motivation to prepare for a future job in the workforce. Guerra, a Mission native, made full use of the college’s academic resources during his time...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran Mario Benavides and U.S. Navy veteran Jacob Mendoza are combining some of their military discipline and video gaming strategies in their education in the Cybersecurity program at Texas State Technical College. The two students are honing the skills necessary to prevent cyberattacks and meet the demands of today’s cybersecurity...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus prepares its students to think like engineers for future roles in complex electrical jobs. Students like Jalissa Alanis, Sophia Galvan and Erica Sanderson have been gaining expertise in areas such as troubleshooting, programming and control systems. Alanis and Galvan, former Mechatronics...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – At Texas State Technical College, Dental Hygiene students learn that their future jobs as dental hygienists extend far beyond providing teeth cleanings. They also serve as advocates for promoting oral health in the community and empower patients through education on proper oral hygiene, diet and disease prevention. Jocelyn Castaneda, who is working...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – When a storm swept through Jacob Knuckols’ hometown of Daingerfield, Southwestern Electric Power Co. rushed to the scene. Tired of working in the oil field, he asked one of SWEPCO’s lineworkers how he could join their field. “He said, ‘You’ve got to go to school and do it,’” Knuckols recalled. “I went...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Driven by a passion for sustainability and a strong job outlook, students in the Wind Energy Technology program at Texas State Technical College are training to harness the power of renewable energy to help shape a cleaner tomorrow. Students in the program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus can look forward to an expanded...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Carley Lopez is a young woman who knows what she wants to do and how to do it. Lopez, from Coupland, is a second-semester student in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program at the Williamson County campus. She discovered the program after attending an America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) Bootcamp, a...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After being captivated by paint jobs on vintage and modern automobiles at an area car show and in auto refinishing videos on social media, Jessica Reyna knew that she had found her calling. “I liked how enthusiastic vehicle owners are when they talk about their car or truck,” Reyna said. “I said...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When a powerful March storm swept through the Rio Grande Valley, six inches of rain flooded every room in the Harlingen home of U.S. Navy veteran Tomas Vasquez. Vasquez, a Building Construction Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, received support from some of his classmates in the program’s Future...

(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...