TSTC in Marshall chosen as best by local newspaper readers

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Readers of the Marshall News Messenger have given their opinion that Texas State Technical College in Marshall is technically better.

The campus was named Hometown Best College/University for 2021 in the newspaper’s annual readers poll. The formal announcement was made in Sunday’s edition of the News Messenger.

“This is a very humbling recognition for the outstanding work all of our teammates do in support of our mission to Place More Texans in Great-Paying Jobs,” said Barton Day, provost of TSTC’s Marshall campus. “We are truly honored to have been selected.”

TSTC’s Marshall campus has seven programs taught in a hybrid format of online classes and in-person labs. Two of the programs, Diesel Equipment Technology and Electrical Lineworker Technology, are part of the college’s Money-Back Guarantee initiative. This program for associate degree students enables them to receive a refund for their time at TSTC if they do not get a job in their field within six months of graduation.

TSTC’s Career Services department houses the Money-Back Guarantee program.

“We have some very strong relationships with industry partners that make TSTC their first stop in hiring their employees,” said Hannah Luce, TSTC’s director of planning and special events for Career Services. “My department tries to teach the students the soft skills they need to enter the workforce and help the students be ready for an interview with resume writing help and mock interviews.”

TSTC also offers workforce training to upskill East Texas workers or teach new skills, such as commercial driver’s license training.  

“The success of workforce training for TSTC in Marshall is not financial,” said Dirk Hughes, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training. “It is sitting back and realizing that the efforts that we have done have impacted the life of the student.”

Students also have access to 16 online programs, including Biology and Web Design and Development.

The News Messenger has held the Hometown Best recognitions for many years, said Johnnie Fancher, the newspaper’s multimedia sales executive.

Fancher said registration forms are printed in the newspaper in late May, with readers checking off their picks on who is the best in Marshall. Those receiving the most votes in each category are the winners. Fancher said each winner receives a certificate.

Registration for the fall semester at TSTC is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.