TSTC’s North Texas campus celebrates fall commencement

(RED OAK, Texas) – Thirty-eight students from Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus took to the stage at the Waxahachie Civic Center on Wednesday, Nov. 29, to receive associate degrees or certificates of completion. 

“Pausing to celebrate this accomplishment is very important, and it gives the family and friends, mentors, teachers and support staff the opportunity to celebrate alongside the graduates and wish them well,” Marcus Balch, provost for TSTC’s North Texas campus, said. “It’s a great opportunity to put a capstone on their time at TSTC, and it allows us to help celebrate their accomplishments.”

Balch discussed the importance of the night, as well as the importance of the education that the students have completed.

“This is a great time to be a student with these skills entering the workforce,” Balch said. “They’ve made an excellent choice in choosing TSTC, and we hope that those skills translate very strongly into the workforce for them.”

Hugo Contreras graduated with his certificate of completion in Welding Technology and said he plans to continue his education with TSTC to receive his associate degree.

“I’m a little nervous but excited (about graduating),” he said. “It’s the next step to something bigger.” 

Contreras wanted to encourage others to work hard and keep pushing. 

“If you fall down, pick yourself back up,” he said. “Just keep working. Slow motion is better than no motion.”

Kristyn Hall, a graduate of the Business Management Technology program, echoed Contreras’ advice.

“Never give up,” she said. “Just keep pushing. It’s a challenge in itself, but it’s very rewarding in the end.”

Hall said she hopes to open her own special-needs day care in the future. She said the idea had been inspired by her daughter. 

Both Contreras and Hall said they planned to celebrate their graduation with their families following the ceremony. 

Registration for TSTC’s spring semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.