TSTC Student Veteran Finds Hope at TSTC

(HARLINGEN) – From youth director to a retired United States Navy veteran, Texas State Technical College student Chris Walters never expected to end up in Texas, much less pursuing a college education.

On Friday, Walters will earn a certificate from the Medical Assistant program joining the other 253 TSTC students who are also earning a certificate or associate degree at the commencement ceremonies at Marine Military Academy.

Walters grew up in Cridersville, Ohio living with his grandmother for most of his life. He graduated from high school in 2006 and immediately enrolled at a nearby college to study Human Services. While in school he worked full-time at a local state community center as a Youth Director, but was laid off during the recession.

“I grew up relatively poor. I’ve had to work for everything I have,” said Walters. “Which means losing my job also meant leaving school.”

The 29-year-old said the military was something he kept at the back of his mind, so he took his situation as a sign to enlist. He was only 20-years-old wheChris Walters, TSTC Student Veteran Graduaten it happened.

“My grandma has always been supportive, but not about me enlisting,” said Walters. “She was worried about me, but I told her I would be okay.”

Walters said he was more than okay, because the Navy is what inspired him to pursue a career as a medical assistant.

The veteran served in the Navy for 5 years, before starting at TSTC in 2015. In the Navy he worked as a Hospital Corpsman and served in Japan humanitarian missions, strategizing and preparing for mass casualty situations such as nuclear warfare or natural disasters while stationed there.

“Before enlisting in the Navy, I never thought of a career in the medical field,” said Walters. “But my job in the Navy was the civilian equivalent of medical assistant and I loved helping people.”

During his last years in the Navy, Walters was placed at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, where he met his wife of 3 years.

It was Walters’ wife who was familiar with TSTC and the type of job opportunities that were available to graduates from the college. She encouraged him to enroll.

“If not for TSTC, I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing,” said Walters. “The college has definitely changed my life. It’s given me hope.”

Walters said he has had the best college experience at TSTC. From the Veterans Center that helped him apply and get his GI Bill in order, to his lectures and hands-on training, he feels prepared to take the medical world by storm beginning with the job offer he has already received from the medical practice of Dr. Roa and Dr. Conchas in Harlingen.

“Everyone was so helpful and truly cares about our success,” said Walters.

The medical assistant graduate will be returning to TSTC in the spring to pursue his associate degree in the same program and complete his general Academic Core so that he can begin working toward a bachelor’s degree in Medical Administration.

“I want to keep growing in the medical field. There’s no stopping now,” said Walters. “I want to be able to help as many people as I can.”

In addition to graduating, Walters was also recently pinned at a ceremony held for all medical assistant graduates symbolizing the hard work he has done, and his dedication and commitment to the field. His wife was privileged to present him with the honor.

“The pinning was extra special because my wife got to do it,” said Walters. “She has been my support and biggest cheerleader. I’ve done all of this for her and my grandma. I want to make them proud.”

TSTC Commencement Ceremonies will be held at Marine Military Academy at Yeckel Hall. There will be two ceremonies: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

TSTC Medical Assistant Students See Their Hard Work Fulfilled

(HARLINGEN) – With tear-filled eyes, Cecilia Mendez’s mother recently had the honor of pinning her daughter during Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2016 Medical Assistant Pinning Ceremony.

“Today reflects the hard work that my daughter has put into her studies,” said Lucero Mendez. “I’m so proud of her. I’ve always dreamed of a special day like this for my daughter. I knew she could do it.”

The pinning ceremony signifies a student’s official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of medical assistants.

Mendez was one of 14 Medical Assistant students who were pinned at the ceremony. She also had the honor of being selected the class’s keynote speaker.

“Speaking to you tonight is a privilege. We have really formed a family,” Mendez told her fellow classmates and instructors. “I want to thank all of you for your support. We’ve done this together. And of course to mCecilia Mendez Medical Asst. Pinning Ceremony F16y parents, thank you for always believing in me and my decisions.”

The 21-year-old was selected as speaker by her Medical Assistant Instructor Cinthya Valdez.

Valdez said Mendez was selected for her leadership and service to the program and community.

“Cecilia always goes that extra mile and shows a true desire to learn,” said Valdez. “She wants to eventually become a nurse and I think she will make an excellent one. We are very proud of her.”

Valdez said Mendez has been actively involved in the Medical Assistant Student Club and has made herself available for every community service event, and has contributed greatly with donations for the annual Christmas toy drive.

Despite her enthusiasm, life was not always easy for Mendez during her time in the program. The Brownsville native worked the graveyard shift at a nursing home in her hometown, giving her an average of only three hours of sleep per night after homework and studying.

Additionally, Mendez suffered the significant losses of a couple of her biggest supporters.

“Both my nephew and my grandmother passed away. They always believed in me,” said Mendez. “My success is their success. I promised them I would finish and make my dreams come true, and that is what I plan on doing for them.”

Mendez is already looking forward to beginning her career at Valley Children’s Center in Harlingen as a medical assistant. She received her job prior to graduating from the program.

What else is in her future?

“I’m already looking into the LVN program here at TSTC,” she said. “I hope I get in. Ultimately though, I dream of becoming a registered nurse.”

The Medical Assistant Pinning Ceremony is held annually to recognize and honor students like Mendez, who have completed all required coursework and clinical hours needed to graduate from the program.

Following the pinning ceremony, students read the medical assistant creed, a vow all aspiring medical assistants take promising to aspire, protect, dedicate, strengthen and remain true to their profession, while holding a lighted candle, which symbolizes service and caring.

“The lighting of the candle is the passing of knowledges and symbolizes the bright light of hope these students will be for their patients,” said Alicia Lugo, medical assistant department chair.

“This is a celebration of the hard work and dedication it takes students to enter the profession,” she said.

Mendez and her peers were among the 253 students who graduated at TSTC’s Commencement Ceremonies Friday night held at Marine Military Academy.

For more information on the Medical Assistant program please call 956-364-4806. Registration for Spring 2017 is in progress. You can apply or register anytime at tstc.edu.

Hospital, TSTC Provide Economic Power in Sweetwater

(SWEETWATER) – Ryan Moore was inspired to study nursing as she saw the care her brother received after a bad automobile accident.

“He was in the hospital for quite a while,” said Moore, 39, of Sweetwater. “The accident was serious and he had to learn how to walk, talk, tie his shoes – he had to learn how to do things for himself all over. Being with him in the hospital setting made me decide that’s what I wanted to do.”

Moore graduated from Texas State Technical College in 2001 with a Certificate 2 in Vocational Nursing. That same year, she began working as a nurse at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater. Moore has worked in medical surgery and now deals with orthopedic patients on surgery preparations, insurance, X-rays and relationship building.

Rolling Plains is one of the top four employers in Sweetwater with more than 300 workers, according to the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development Inc. The medical center has a range of services for Nolan County residents including gynecology, nuclear medicine, physical therapy, sleep examinations and ophthalmology. TSTC graduates are a big part of the hospital’s work in nursing and information technology.

Having a hospital and technical college in the same county is a win for economic development because the city’s core businesses are in health care, manufacturing, conventional and renewable energy, logistics and hospitality. Having local emergency and health care options are factors for companies when deciding where to locate facilities, said Ken Becker, executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development Inc.

“Each of these industry sectors has special needs when it comes to training,” said Becker. “TSTC has developed training programs to meet the specific needs of individual companies to industry sectors. As job opportunities and technology continue to evolve, continuous training will be required for entry-level to advanced manufacturing and everything in between.”

The technical college offers a four-semester Certificate 2 in Vocational Nursing in Sweetwater. Students study anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, neonatal nursing, surgical nursing and other skills. Nursing graduates must be licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing to work in healthcare environments.

LaBritta Rule, 41, of Sweetwater works in internal medicine and has been at the hospital periodically since the mid-1990s when she began in the admissions department. She graduated from TSTC with a Vocational Nursing certificate in 1999.

“I loved my instructors and everything they taught me,” Rule said. “I loved being able to do my clinicals at the hospital and be able to have primary nurses that I knew and was comfortable with teaching me. I loved being able to go to work following graduation at this hospital that I love being part of.”

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

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TSTC Campuses Hold Fall Commencement

(WACO) – More than 480 graduates received certificates and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2016 Commencement held Friday, Dec. 9, at the Waco Convention Center.

Students from TSTC’s campuses in Waco, Williamson County, North Texas and Fort Bend County took part in the ceremony. The Waco campus had 449 graduates, Williamson County had 19 graduates, North Texas had 18 graduates and Fort Bend County had two graduates.

Many of the graduates either have jobs or career offers.

Hobie Horrell, 20, of Edgewood graduated with an associate degree in Diesel Equipment Technology. He described his new job working on diesel equipment at Autoworks Sales and Service in Edgewood as a good opportunity to work in his hometown.

“It feels good to get my life started being that I’m 20,” Horrell said.

Salvador Ceja, 20, of Mansfield said he was excited to receive his associate degree in Diesel Equipment Technology. He will soon start a job at Warner Enterprises Inc. in Dallas.

“It has been awesome at TSTC,” Ceja said. “You get to make some good money in my field.”

Some graduates are still making plans.

Ty Webb, 20, of Corpus Christi graduated with two associate degrees in Instrumentation Technology and Electrical Power and Controls. He chose the fields to study because of his relatives’ work. Webb said his time at TSTC was a challenge but one he enjoyed. The Tuloso-Midway High School graduate said he is job hunting but also thinking about pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

TSTC had more than 900 graduates this fall across the state.

TSTC has graduated more than 100,000 students in its history.

For more information, log on to tstc.edu.

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Area Company Hires Five TSTC Welders

welding(BRECKENRIDGE) – Christmas came early for five TSTC Welding Technology students who will graduate Monday with job offers from 1954 Manufacturing, a company based in nearby Graham, Texas.
One student, who grew up in Graham, interviewed with the company on his own and relayed to his classmates that they were interested in hiring more welders. Monday, Welding instructor Gregory Nicholas packed up five of his students to visit the company.
“I took them because most of them didn’t have the gas money to drive out there. It’s a little harder when you’re a full-time student,” Nicholas said. “So I said ‘Alright, let’s load up and go!’ and I took them out there.”
Nicholas said he hoped the trip would make a difference for his students.
“I wanted to help change their lives and help them get their career started in what they came to do,” he said.
The students interviewed and toured the company, and were all offered jobs.
“When the instructor brought in the other students, they were more than qualified. We’ve had people apply from [another welding school] but they haven’t been as qualified,” said 1954 Manufacturing Manager Courtney Hayes. “After they took our weld test, we were interested in bringing them on.”
Hayes said the company hopes to bring on more TSTC graduates in the future.
“The instructor was very helpful. We’re definitely interested in partnering with TSTC and interested in any candidates coming through his class that he thinks would be a good fit,” Hayes said. “If they all have training like the other applicants that came in, it’s exactly what we’re looking for.”
The company, which was founded in 2014, focuses on building truck bodies. They expect to hire another 10 to 20 welders next month.
“We have a sister company in California and we’re moving our entire water tank department here in January, which is why we’re trying to ramp up and hire more welders,” Hayes said. “Once we make that transition, we’ll be looking for more people to put in those positions and we foresee continued growth.”
According to Onetonline.org, Texas will see a 13 percent increase in jobs for welders over the next eight years.
The two-semester welding program will teach students multiple welding processes including oxy-fuel welding (OFW) and cutting, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
TSTC is enrolling now for Spring 2017. To apply, or for more information, visit tstc.edu.
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Veteran to Graduate from TSTC with New Career

chris-sheehan(RED OAK) – When hundreds of thousands lost their oil field jobs in 2015, Texas State Technical College Logistics student Chris Sheehan was no different. The army veteran had worked off the coast in the oil industry for 12 years and found himself looking for employment.

“I went and talked to a counselor, and they mentioned this great school — TSTC in North Texas — and asked if I wanted to go have a look, maybe start a new career,” Sheehan said. “So that’s exactly what I did. I went to talk to the instructors and I really liked the school. I could see opportunity in the field.”

Sheehan was chosen to complete an internship with Walmart, working at their distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas.

“It’s because of TSTC that I was selected to attend the internship with Walmart,” he said. “It was highly competitive. I was competing against students from Baylor, TCU and UT. They only select a handful of people to attend — one person per distribution center. ”

The experience gave Sheehan a look into the world of logistics.

“You don’t have squadrons of interns walking around serving coffee; you actually get to know the job,” Sheehan said. “They give you the opportunity to see what you can produce. Typically 90 percent of the people that intern are offered a job. Because you’ve already been selected to attend the internship, they already know they want you to work for them. They just wanted to see if you fit with the organization, their values and everything else.”

After completing his internship, Sheehan was offered a position as area manager. He began working at the Walmart distribution center in Terrell, Texas, in September.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Sheehan said. “It’s a challenge. It’s a great stepping stone into the field of logistics. You’ll learn a lot from this company. I like the potential.”

Sheehan credits his instructors with helping him get to where he is.

“I liked the fact that the instructors are willing to work with you,” he said. “I could not have done this without them. Being able to work full time and go to school full time, there’s no way. TSTC was more than willing to help me because they realized that this was a really good opportunity.”

Friday, Sheehan will join 17 other TSTC in North Texas students in receiving their diplomas at the commencement ceremony in Waco. The ceremony, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be held at the Waco Convention Center in downtown Waco.

According to O*NET OnLine, Texas expects a 16 percent increase in jobs for logisticians over the next eight years. TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Logistics exclusively at the North Texas campus.

TSTC offers specialized, hands-on instructional courses leading to Associate of Applied Science degrees and Certificates of Completion in areas such as computer-aided drafting and design, cyber security, diesel equipment technology, HVAC technology, welding and more.

Across Texas, TSTC has more than 900 candidates for graduation this semester and is enrolling now for spring 2017. To apply, visit tstc.edu.

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What: Texas State Technical College Fall Commencement Ceremony
When: Friday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Avenue, Waco

TSTC, Longview Company Unite for Workforce Training

(MARSHALL) – Sixteen employees at Longview-based Network Communications Inc. recently started an 84-hour comprehensive networking and cyber security course for workforce development at Texas State Technical College.

The Texas Workforce Commission is providing $35,000 to cover the pay of TSTC instructors, along with books, supplies and other training costs. The one-day-a-week training began in November and ends in May.

“Some workers deal directly with networking, and the training will align with what they are doing,” said Benjamin Cantu, business relationship manager for TSTC’s Workforce Training office. “Other Network Communications workers have known networking their whole life and are understanding the back-end work of it.”

Keith Lloyd, Network Communications’ general manager, said he is happy about the convenience of having the training close by. This is the first time the company has used TSTC for workforce development.

“We are excited to use this for our people because we know a year from now it will be beneficial to everyone involved,” Lloyd said. “The fact that TSTC can do this is huge for us. We were going to have to figure out how to piecemeal it. It is an expensive proposition to train people, but it is nice to see those types of dollars available to help us grow our business.”

Network Communications has about 50 employees and is locally owned. The company provides commercial office automation, prepaid telephone cards, high-speed internet using fiber-optic networks and telephone services to Henderson, Kilgore, Longview and Marshall.

The company donated earlier this year to TSTC’s Make a Texas-Sized Difference campaign for the Texan Success Scholarship developed by The TSTC Foundation and has been part of TSTC’s Industry Career Day.

“People don’t realize what we have in our backyard with TSTC,” Lloyd said. “Training is available. The effort that is put in putting kids into the school and then in good careers is valuable.”

The training is an amendment to a TWC Skills Development Fund grant the technical college received in 2015 for more than 250 employees at The Crosby Group in Longview.

“If you love our graduates, you will love our training,” Cantu said. “It will help the bottom dollar and help with company efficiency.”

For more information on Network Communications Inc., go networkcommunications.com.

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

Former Oil Field Workers to Receive Degrees From TSTC at Fall Commencement

(MARSHALL) – Joshua Anderson of Waskom and Joshua Jackson of Longview have gone from the oil fields to the classroom.

Now, the two friends will walk across the stage together to receive Associate of Applied Science degrees in Computer Networking and Systems Administration from Texas State Technical College at Fall Commencement on Friday, Dec. 9.

“Joshua and Joshua have both been outstanding students with respectful attitudes, exceptional critical thinking skills and dedication to follow through until a problem is solved,” said Amy L. Hertel, an information technology studies instructor at TSTC. “They have both taken on leadership roles at TSTC and have been a great example to our incoming students. I’m looking forward to watching them enter their career field and excel.”

Anderson grew up in Marshall. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1998, he went to work in the oil fields and along the way studied emergency medical technology and receive firefighter certification.

“Then I decided I didn’t like firefighting and went back to the oil fields and met Joshua,” Anderson said. “After the oil fields, I figured I would come back to school again.”

Jackson was born in Houston and grew up in Southern California. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked with bombs and missiles. After he left the military in 2001, he was hired for oil field work in Kilgore and moved to Longview.

Anderson and Jackson worked in Texas and offshore in Louisiana. The two were laid off from their jobs in 2015.

“Being laid off was a blessing in disguise,” Jackson said. “I really wanted to go back to school and had I not been laid off I probably would not have.”

Anderson was familiar with TSTC and visited with staff members about technical programs. He told Jackson about the college, and the two registered to start classes in May 2015.

“We worked it out with our class advisor and made sure we had the same schedule to take the same classes together and study,” Anderson said.

While Anderson had been in college before, this was the first time Jackson sat in college-level classes.

“I went to school and worked full time,” Jackson said. “Being older and coming back to school is intimidating. I didn’t know how I would fare. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.”

Jackson began an internship in September at Marshall’s SEVEN Networks, where he helps manage Linux and Microsoft Windows servers and handles cables.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “The internship teaches me something new every day. It gives me some real-world experience.”

Anderson and Jackson were TSTC student ambassadors who gave tours and told visitors about the mission and technical programs.

Anderson and Jackson will continue their educations working on associate degrees in Cyber Security at TSTC during the spring semester.

“Everything they teach at TSTC is for local jobs,” Anderson said. “It’s to help build the community.”

More than 60 graduates will receive certificates and associate degrees at TSTC’s Fall Commencement at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, at Wiley College’s Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel at 711 Wiley Ave. in Marshall.

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

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Student Success Profile – John Ramos

(HARLINGEN) – John Ramos is revving the engine on his education and is currently on the path to earning his associate degree in Automotive Technology this spring.  The 22-year-old San Benito native fell in love with automobiles at a very young age, and has his sights set on working with Ford Motor Company.

What are your plans after graduation?

 I want to be an automotive technician and eventually specialize in diesel engines.  I love working on maintaining vehicles, and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.

What’s your dream job?

 I would love to work for Ford.  I went to a car show when I was 8-years-old and was able to sit in the Shelby Mustang GT500 from the movie, “Gone in 60 Seconds,” and ever since that day, I’ve been hooked on all things Ford. I would love to own a car like that eventually.

What has been your John Ramosgreatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

 I’m a stronger person not just physically, but mentally as well.  I feel like I’ve grown into a leader while I’ve been here, and I’m very proud of that.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

 I’ve learned that I love to help other people.  I’ve become involved at TSTC, especially at the Wellness and Sports Center.  I like to train and get people closer to their weight goal. It gives them confidence and changes their lives.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success.

 My friend Robert Rodriguez, who I have known since middle school, has inspired me to work hard in Automotive Technology. He graduated from the program and loves his job, so it motivated me to work hard to get to that point also.  I have another friend, Lisa Garza, who has also helped keep me focused. Both of us will be graduating together next year.  Joe Garza and Efrain Villarreal, who coach at the Wellness and Sports Center, have also helped me out whenever I needed it.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

 Don’t lose hope when things get hard and don’t give up. You’re here, you’re enrolled and it’s now time to finish what you started.

TSTC’s Developmental Education Initiatives See Success

(HARLINGEN) – Developmental math initiatives and their success at Texas State Technical College were recently highlighted at the College Academic Support Programs in Texas (CASP) Conference held in October in Corpus Christi.

TSTC Office of Student Life Coordinator Orlando Peñuelas and Department Lead for Developmental Education and Instructor Michael Murphy presented sessions about the developmental math initiatives that have been created and implemented at the college to faculty, staff and administrators from two-year colleges and four-year universities from across Texas.

“It has taken campus synergy to enhance our developmental math curriculums,” said Peñuelas. “All the work we’ve done is for the benefit of the students to accelerate them through developmental courses with a better understanding, while maintaining rigor and caliber.”

Developmental math courses are intended for entering college students who are considered not to be college-math-ready due to low scores on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment. These courseDevelopmental Math Staff and Facultys must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in college algebra.

Previously, TSTC students who were required to take developmental math courses had to take a total of four semesters. Now, with the creation of math combos, students can complete developmental math in half the time.

Peñuelas and Murphy introduced these math combos at the conference: 2-Step, Math Emporium and MAMBO. The course combos include Developmental Math 50 and 100, Math 100 and 200, and Math 200 and College Algebra, respectively.

“These courses were inspired to help students move through math much faster so they can get their certificate or degree quicker,” said Murphy. “We have seen great success rates with these programs, and as we continue to offer them we will work hard to improve them for the best interest of our students.”

According to Peñuelas, the passing rate for MAMBO averaged around 85 percent for Summer 2016, up nearly 23 percent from algebra classes in Summer 2015.

Both higher education professionals credit MAMBO and 2-Step’s success to “My Math Lab,” an online component included in all developmental math courses that consists of built-in online tutoring, class electronic notes and videos to get students engaged in learning both in the classroom and online.

“Our success also comes with having our administration, faculty and staff on board with these strategies and initiatives campus wide,” said Peñuelas. “Our enrollment for MAMBO and passing rates keep increasing, and it’s because of the support we receive.”

TSTC’s developmental math initiatives received positive feedback at the conference, with many attendees calling it an innovative, inspirational and fun way to learn and be successful in math.

In Spring 2017 the developmental education department will expand to include a new combo course already being used at TSTC’s Waco campus. The combo course will include College Algebra with a non-course-based math option to tutor students who are struggling.

For more information on developmental courses at TSTC, call 956-364-4613.

Registration for Spring 2017 is in progress. The last day to register is January 3, and classes begin on January 9.

To register or apply anytime, visit tstc.edu.