TSTC’s TechFest to showcase hands-on opportunities for Abilene community

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will showcase six of its programs during the inaugural TechFest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at the Taylor County Expo Center.

The free event will provide residents of Abilene and surrounding areas with the opportunity to try some of the equipment that TSTC students use on a daily basis during their training.

“TechFest is a celebration — a celebration not only of the information, technology and innovation TSTC provides, but it is also a celebration of the courage, strength and resiliency of the community that TSTC serves,” said Kenneth Buford, TSTC’s state director of Veteran Recruitment. “TechFest will serve as a means to bring all of West Texas, from industry partners, community partners and our military members, together in celebration not of what is or once was, but in hope of what is yet to come.”

Zach Swinney, a veteran recruiter at TSTC’s Abilene campus, said TechFest is designed for TSTC to introduce different programs to active-duty and retired military veterans.

“This is designed for veterans to experience something they may not have thought about doing after they retire,” Swinney said. “Military veterans have those intangible skills that many employers are looking for. TSTC is able to translate those skills into the workforce faster than anyone.”

The programs that will provide hands-on experiences will be Automotive Technology, Aviation Maintenance, Emergency Medical Services, Industrial Systems, Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance, and Wind Energy Technology. The experiences will include a Jeep simulator, aviation engine trainers, a CPR manikin, a hydraulics training simulator, a fire extinguisher trainer, and a wind tower simulator.

“This will be an opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the technology provided at TSTC,” said Josh Pedroza, a student recruitment representative at TSTC’s Abilene campus. “We want to show the people in West Texas how easy it is to earn a degree and then begin a career.”

Buford said TechFest will provide people with a unique experience.

“I encourage everyone to come out and come together, sharing an experience to be a part of something greater than any one person or group of people,” he said. “Come out and experience TechFest, and come out and celebrate West Texas.”

Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.