TSTC student reaps benefits of attending Virtual Industry Job Fair

(WACO, Texas) – Brandon Bozarth, of San Antonio, did not know when he logged in to Texas State Technical College’s Virtual Industry Job Fair last spring that it would lead to an internship and, later, a full-time career.

Bozarth, an online Engineering student at TSTC, is a testing supervisor and project manager at POWER Engineers Inc., a worldwide global firm specializing in engineering and environmental consulting. He is based at the company’s San Antonio office.

Bozarth’s professional background includes experience in computers, project management and web development. He enrolled at TSTC’s Harlingen campus to study Mechatronics Technology, but his presence at the Virtual Industry Job Fair and his conversations with the company factored into his decision to switch technical programs.

“I looked at the list of the companies attending and did a lot of research on them,” Bozarth said. “I was being pretty picky. They (POWER Engineers Inc.) were my top choice.”

Once in the internship, Bozarth quickly got to work.

“They threw me into doing the job right off the bat,” he said. “I had not worked in the utility industry specifically. I took about 130 hours of training during the internship to get me up to speed.”

He is scheduled to graduate from TSTC with an Associate of Science degree in Engineering in 2023. 

Bozarth, who is also TSTC’s statewide Student Government Association president, and some of his co-workers spent this week visiting TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls programs in Abilene, Fort Bend County and Waco. The visits were meant to acquaint students with the company and encourage them to attend the upcoming Virtual Industry Job Fair hosted by TSTC’s Career Services department.

“That is something I am promoting to the students while I am here,” Bozarth said. “They need to just start in the first or second semester to get their profile set up and go to all of the job fairs.”

He said future plans call for company engineers and subject matter experts to visit the campuses once a month and give insight during classes. Plans also call for working with high schools near TSTC’s campuses to encourage students to pursue technical education, particularly those who have an interest in the Drafting and Design and Electrical Power and Controls programs.

“We are starting something big at TSTC,” Bozarth said. “This is the first step of us building a relationship where we are helping to bridge the gap between the classroom and a real job.”

POWER Engineers Inc. will be one of the companies attending the three-day fall statewide Virtual Industry Job Fair for TSTC students and alumni. The online event will take place Oct. 26-28.

Hannah Luce, director of planning and special events in TSTC Career Services, said more than 70 companies are registered to participate.

“We are spreading the event over three days to give our students and graduates a chance to talk to more employers,” she said. “We are glad that we have still been able to connect students and graduates with employers throughout the last year.”

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