TSTC dual enrollment student finds job placement

(RED OAK, Texas) – Caden Hatfield, a Texas State Technical College Industrial Systems dual enrollment student, has already found a commercial electrician job at Amber Electrical Contractors that he will start after his high school graduation.

Hatfield, a senior at Midlothian Heritage High School, began TSTC’s Industrial Systems dual enrollment classes during his junior year and has fully enrolled at TSTC so he can also begin taking two night classes. 

“He really wants to learn,” Jarriet Durham, lead instructor for TSTC’s Industrial Systems program in North Texas, said. “He really strives to understand the content, as well as to do his best with the hands-on portion of the class.”

Hatfield’s favorite part about TSTC happens to be the things he learns and the ways that he learns them. 

“Taking things apart … I just really enjoy doing that, learning how things work,” he said.

Hatfield said the more you know, the better off you are, and that is one of the reasons why he chose Industrial Systems.

“It’s the jack of all trades,” he said. “I’m a big believer in the more knowledge you have, the stronger you are. I’m always asking (the instructors) questions, bugging them about everything, every little thing, just because I want to know how these things work, learn more.”

In the spirit of wanting to learn more, Hatfield wanted a job that would give him beneficial experience for his future career. So he approached Durham and asked if he knew of any available positions. About a month later, Durham mentioned the position at Amber Electrical Contractors.

“He’s hungry and wants to get in there early, and really wants to get a handle on things and get started,” Durham said.

Hatfield said his drive to find and start a job was motivated by the stories of his grandfather growing up and working from a young age.

“I think everybody should have a grasp on what they want to do and work toward that,” he said.

Durham said Hatfield is the first dual enrollment student that he has seen placed in an industry job by the time they graduate from high school. 

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems with Electrical Specialization at the Marshall and North Texas campuses, and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems with Mechanical Specialization at the Abilene, East Williamson County, Fort Bend County and Waco campuses. Several certificates of completion and an occupational skills achievement award are also available.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.