TSTC Student Awarded Houston-Based Scholarship

(WACO) – Hillary Taber is not one to shy away from creativity and hard work.

Taber, 23, of Wichita Falls and a student at Texas State Technical College, recently received the Baxter + Korge Education Fund Scholarship from the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston and the American Advertising Federation – Houston. She will use the scholarship to pay for two classes she is taking this summer. And, she is the first student from TSTC to win the scholarship.

The scholarship was presented at a luncheon the organizations hosted in April at the Junior League of Houston. The organizations announced $60,000 in scholarships being awarded to recipients in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and a portion of Louisiana.

“I met the other winners and it was really amazing to get that kind of recognition,” said Taber.

Taber credited Michael Lewis, department chair in Visual Communication Technology, for encouraging her to apply. He wrote her letter of recommendation for the scholarship application.

“She has a strong sense of deadlines and works well under pressure and is highly organized,” Lewis said. “She is able to interpret instructions and return a design that accomplishes the stated objectives. She is flexible enough to re-evaluate a design and change it in the middle of the process if the client’s needs change or the creative team decides to approach the project from a different direction.”

Taber is scheduled to receive an Associate in Visual Communication Technology – Technology Design Specialization in August and will be eligible to participate in Fall Commencement in December.

She said her passion for graphic design grew in classes like Basic Graphic Design, Digital Publishing and Publication Design. Her classes involve a heavy use of the Adobe Creative Cloud. And, her appreciation for fashion and bright colors inspires her work.

Taber graduated in 2009 from Wichita Falls High School. The next year she accompanied her father to a photography workshop in San Antonio which she credited for growing an interest in photography. Her first camera was a Canon Rebel XTI.

Taber and her husband David moved from Wichita Falls to Waco so he could study automobile body repair. The couple learned about TSTC in Waco through mutual friends.

“The greatest thing is Waco is bigger but it does not have tons of traffic,” she said. “But we are on our own.”

She noticed on TSTC’s website an Associate in Visual Communication Technology – Photography Specialization was offered and eventually received the degree in 2014. She liked how project-based the classes for both her degrees were.

Taber said she was glad to take advantage of on-campus housing for her husband and two young children.

Her plans after graduation are to continue studying graphic design in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“Eventually I want to work for a cool design team where I can be a good fit,” Taber said. “I want to be part of a big team for a major company.”

For more information about the Visual Communication Technology program contact 254-867-3310 or michael.lewis@tstc.edu.

Registration for Fall Semester continues at TSTC. For more information log on to tstc.edu.

 

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Scholarship Campaign Kicks Off at TSTC

(HUTTO) – Texas State Technical College in Williamson County is raising money for a new scholarship by having its first Welding Pro-Am and Show & Shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 11 at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

The event includes a welding pro-am judged competition and tours of TSTC’s welding labs.

“We will be hosting welding professionals, industry partners and vendors from all over the state who will team up with our students and show off some of the coolest welding equipment the industry has to offer,” said Edgar Padilla, provost of TSTC in Williamson County.

Proceeds will go toward the Make a Texas-Sized Difference campaign developed by The TSTC Foundation to raise money for the Texan Success Scholarship. TSTC will match each donation made – dollar per dollar.

The community has the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of TSTC students  throughout the campaign.

“The goal is to grow TSTC, get our students in school and on track to complete a program and eventually enter the Texas workforce,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Beth Wooten said. “This is bigger than just TSTC. This is about filling the skills gap in Texas and providing industry with the skilled workers desperately needed.”

Technical degrees and certificates will be critical to have in the next decade. Wind turbine service technology and health care jobs in physical therapy, home health and ambulance driving are predicted to be some of the fastest growing occupations by 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“A large number of well-paying jobs go unfilled in Texas because employers cannot find workers with the right blend of technical skills,” TSTC Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Mike Reeser said. “At TSTC we teach those skills needed for these great jobs. We hope more students will be encouraged to consider the benefits of a technical education and the great jobs that result from them.”

New, incoming students can receive the non-need referral based $1,000 scholarship at TSTC’s 10 campuses. TSTC recruiters, faculty members and high school counselors can make recommendations for students to receive the money.

“I’ve had the privilege to speak to most of our community and many area employers about the Texan Success Scholarship,” said Padilla. “We are very excited about a scholarship campaign that will specifically benefit TSTC students at our EWCHEC location.”

TSTC in Williamson County has 11 technical programs offering certificates and associate degrees in technical areas from computer tech support to welding technology.

For more information on the welding contest, contact instructors Brooke Williams or Keith Armentrout at 512-759-5632.

For more information on the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign and other ways to contribute to TSTC, log on to tstc.edu/tstcfoundation or call 254-867-3900.

 

 

TSTC Student Powers Through Learning

(WACO) – The fall semester of 2014 is one that Alexander Gonzalez may not forget.

The 29-year-old was finishing his first semester at Texas State Technical College as Michelle Gonzalez, his wife and a TSTC employee, had their daughter Natalia. He juggled taking finals, visiting his wife and newborn daughter at the hospital and working on their home in Bellmead to get it move-in ready.

“She has always been big on education and motivating people to get an education,” he said about his wife. “I saw her study and earn a psychology degree at Baylor University and I wanted to have something as well.”

Gonzalez and more than 460 other students will graduate at Texas State Technical College’s Spring Commencement at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Waco Convention Center. He will receive an associate degree in Electrical Power and Controls.

Gonzalez got hands-on experience with low and high voltage systems, power line design and other aspects of electricity in his courses.

“They have the labs that really start you right off with good experiences,” he said.

Dan Bateman, program chair of Electrical Power and Controls, said his job would be easy if he had more students like Gonzalez.

“I don’t think he missed a class,” Bateman said. “He turned the assignments in on time. I think any company would be lucky to have him.”

Graduates with Electrical Power and Controls degrees can work for utility companies, government entities and computer and electronic manufacturing companies. The career field is expected to grow in Texas through 2022 by more than 2,500 workers, according to projectionscentral.com. The average median wage nationwide was $61,130 in 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gonzalez is currently interviewing for jobs and hopes to work in the Waco area.

He and his wife want to be good examples for their daughter. He hopes that one day his daughter, and future TSTC students, will get assignments and studying done on time and listen to the advice of instructors.

“I think we are definitely going to encourage her and have her see the payoff in going to school,” he said.

Gonzalez likes to work on his house and play guitar when he is not studying.

Gonzalez is a 2004 graduate of La Vega High School in Waco. Shortly after high school he met his future wife, who is a college outreach representative in New Student Outreach/Admissions at TSTC.

He worked in the insurance field and at other jobs to support her as she studied at Baylor.

“He has supported every aspiration and goal I have had both educationally and professionally,” Michelle Gonzalez said. “It has been my absolute joy to return that support and love as he has worked so hard to obtain this degree. I have no doubt that he will do great in his field and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him professionally.”

Registration is going on now for Summer and Fall semesters. Go to tstc.edu for more information.

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Area Companies Using TSTC for Workplace Training

(MARSHALL) – Area companies have turned to Texas State Technical College for training workers to improve their skills in manufacturing and production.

“We do have a training capacity for the local area within a 50-mile range,” said Bryan Maertins, executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education at TSTC in Marshall. “We have started a statewide direct marketing campaign geared toward companies.”

Cabot Norit Activated Carbon Americas in Marshall has sent workers to learn about different kinds of welding and process training. The training began in January and ended in April with another session scheduled to start in June. This was the first time the company has partnered with the college.

“Their goal is to run 35 people through the training,” said Maertins.

Master Woodcraft Cabinetry in Marshall continues to send six workers to train for mechanical troubleshooting, motor controls, programmable logic controls and the basics of electricity.

The company makes enough cabinets to fill the equivalent of 65 tractor-trailers a week and sent to 35 states. Some of the equipment workers use include computerized chop and gang rip saws and water-based ultraviolet cured finishing lines.

“In maintenance, the machinery we buy is very sophisticated and highly technical and computerized,” said Mark Trexler, the company’s president and chief executive officer. “We have to continue to educate these guys to work on the more complicated equipment.”

Trexler said having TSTC in Marshall was an asset in utilizing faculty expertise and equipment.

“We are very happy or we would not continue to do it,” Trexler said. “They (workers) have to work their shift and they go over to TSTC for training,” he said. “It’s a huge benefit to have them local. If we had to send them to Longview or Shreveport, we would probably not do it.”

Earlier this year, LP Building Products of Carthage sent eight workers to learn more about programmable logic control systems and hydraulics theory, troubleshooting and design. Maertins said the company requested an assessment of its workers before and after the training to see how much they have developed.

Edward Chaney, an instructor and assistant department chair in Industrial Maintenance/Engineering, said workplace safety comes from respecting the equipment being used and repaired.

“Understanding the how’s and why’s give technicians a better understanding of troubleshooting and a better of understanding of how to design and upgrade equipment efficiency,” he said. “With this knowledge comes a better technical team and a safer team.”

To learn more about workforce training opportunities contact Bryan Maertins, executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education at 903-923-3442.

MHS Alumna, TSTC Student Setting an Example for Females

(MARSHALL) – Chastity Rhodes is going for her own triple crown at Texas State Technical College.

Rhodes, 33, of Marshall will receive associate degrees in Computer Networking and Security Technology and Cyber Security at the college’s Spring Commencement at 6 p.m. Friday at Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel at Wiley College.

She already graduated with an associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology in 2014 at TSTC.

“I want to make sure I have a wide range of skills to make money for me and my children,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes discovered an interest in network support when she took networking classes for the Biomedical Equipment Technology degree.

“I kind of always wanted to work in a hospital setting but I’m not the nurse type,” she said. “I’m a very technical and analytical person. When I heard about this degree plan that lets you work on medical machines and networking in hospitals and you have to do a lot of security with HIPA (Health Information Privacy Act) too, it was everything I wanted actually.”

Alan Towery, an instructor in the Cyber Security program, said Rhodes was one of the hardest working students he has had.

“She would come up here to campus as much as she could to get help and even when she was not in class,” he said. “She was always asking questions to understand the material more.”

Towery said TSTC in Marshall’s cyber security graduates have gone on to work for school districts, hospitals and communication companies since the program began in the 2011-12 academic year.

Rhodes has been moved up from an internship to full-time employee at Seven Networks LLC in Marshall. Her internship involved server room network administration, cyber security work and network monitoring.

“The only way I have gotten to where I am at is to push myself and not be completely satisfied and work to do better,” she said. “My hopes are to keep this job and grow with this company and get tons of experience and exposure and hopefully have this real awesome career.”

She said she wanted to be an inspiration to younger females to pursue networking and technology as a career.

“I got into biomedical and the other two programs because they are predominately male. That to me is a challenge,” she said. “If they can do it, I can do it. If I would give any advice to any young lady coming out of high school, it is if you are good at mathematics, science, computers and even if you just like that kind of stuff, get involved and do something with your brain. In the end, your brain is going to be the only thing that matters. It’s an exciting field and there are advantages to females being in the IT field or any technology field.”

Rhodes graduated in 2000 from Marshall High School.

She visited TSTC when she came to the realization six years ago that a college degree was a necessity. She has appreciated the encouragement that faculty members gave her to succeed.

Her future academic plans include earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

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Scholarship Campaign Kicks Off at TSTC

(MARSHALL) – The community has the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Texas State Technical College students working toward an education.

The new Make a Texas-Sized Difference campaign was developed by The TSTC Foundation to raise money for the Texan Success Scholarship.

“The goal is to grow TSTC, get our students in school and on track to complete a program and eventually enter the Texas workforce,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Beth Wooten said. “This is bigger than just TSTC. This is about filling the skills gap in Texas and providing industry with the skilled workers desperately needed.”

Technical degrees and certificates will be critical to have in the next decade. Wind turbine service technology and health care jobs in physical therapy, home health and ambulance driving are predicted to be some of the fastest growing occupations by 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“A large number of well-paying jobs go unfilled in Texas because employers cannot find workers with the right blend of technical skills,” TSTC Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Mike Reeser said. “At TSTC we teach those skills needed for these great jobs. We hope more students will be encouraged to consider the benefits of a technical education and the great jobs that result from them.”

New, incoming students can receive the non-need referral based $1,000 scholarship at TSTC’s 10 campuses. TSTC recruiters, faculty member and high school counselors can make recommendations for students to receive the money to pay for two semesters. Each dollar contributed will be matched by the college.

Provost Bart Day said students are notified with a letter that they have received the scholarship.

“The TSS is a great way for us all to invest in students with the potential to be successful in the broad range of programs TSTC has to offer,” he said. “Getting a student beyond that first hurdle can result in a long-term win for the student, the college and the state of Texas. That’s what we’re here for.”

TSTC in Marshall has 14 certificate and associate degree programs in technical areas from biomedical equipment technology to welding.

For more information on the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign and other ways to contribute to TSTC, log on to tstc.edu/tstcfoundation or call 903-923-3209.

TSTC, Longview Company Partner on TWC Grant

(MARSHALL) – Representatives from Texas State Technical College, the Texas Workforce Commission and The Crosby Group in Longview gathered Friday morning to commemorate their partnership providing workforce training and development.

The TWC formally announced a $192,179 Skills Development Grant will be used for training 263 Crosby Group workers in blueprint reading and sketching, computer numerical controlled machining, advanced gas tungsten arc welding and machining, mathematics, measurements and safety. TSTC faculty members will provide the training.

“It is TSTC’s mission to enable the growth of the state’s economic engine through workforce education, and in over 50 years of dedicated service to the state of Texas, our industries and our students, we’ve built a well-earned reputation for doing that,” TSTC Provost Bart Day said.

People taking advantage of the training include maintenance technicians, forge operators, production welders, machine and drill press operators, technicians and others. The average wage for the trainees will be $21.41 per hour.

Bob Livingston, TSTC’s vice president of industry relations, said the training would improve product quality and stimulate good morale.

“It is our mission to train Texans,” he said. “That is what we do every day.”

The Crosby Group is based in Tulsa, Okla. and specializes in lifting, rigging and material handling applications.

“We are right now in the middle of an interesting transition,” Plant Manager Christopher Burbick said. “We are moving into a new facility and updating equipment with automation and robots along with having a cultural transformation. This grant is important because it raises the skill level for a new generation.”

Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, said TSTC had a critical importance in the region providing students with the skills and knowledge to drive economic development. He said he was pleased the partnership was taking place in east Texas.

“Texas is great not only because of the government, but the people who use their freedom responsibly,” Simpson said.

TSTC in Marshall offers 14 certificate and associate degree programs ranging from biomedical equipment technology to welding.

Julian Alvarez III, a TWC Commissioner Representing Labor, was attending his first check presentation since being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in February. Alvarez has ties to TSTC: he is an alumnus and was once director of college information at the Harlingen campus.

“TSTC is a model,” said Alvarez. “This is one of the many checks that will TSTC will be on the receiving end.”

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TSTC Welcomes New Instructor, New Program

(FORT BEND COUNTY) – The August 2016 opening of Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus is around the corner and Alfonso Medrano is the newest addition to the faculty team.

The Houston native has been named the Telecommunications Technology instructor and he comes to the college classroom with extensive field experience.

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“I’ve only been with TSTC a short time, but I’m so impressed already,” said Medrano. “I’ve met great people with such positive attitudes. They are what make every day a great day to come to work.”

Medrano began his career in Telecommunications with Time Warner Cable after earning his associate degree in 1999 from Education America in Electronics and Computer Technology. He worked for Time Warner for 15 years, before deciding to make the change into education.

At Time Warner, the TSTC instructor started as a technician, became a certified technician within one year and moved up the ladder as an electronics technician, contract coordinator, before finally ending his career with Time Warner as an analyst for their Center of Excellence.

“I loved my career, I loved what I was doing,” said Medrano. “But I also felt the need to teach my skills. To make a difference in someone’s life and his/her career. It was time for me to share my knowledge, challenges and experiences. That’s what brought me to TSTC.”

Medrano said he has big goals for his students and his classroom. He said the most important job duty he has is making his students and their education a number one priority.

“It’s my job to make sure that my students understand everything I teach them,” said Medrano. “I need to make sure they are ready and fully prepared for the field. It’s my duty to expose them to all of the tools they will use in the industry and make sure they receive the best hands-on training, which TSTC already offers.”

Another one of Medrano’s main goals is to maintain and create new contacts in the telecommunications industry to help his students find good-paying jobs straight out of his program.

“My job doesn’t stop in the classroom,” said Medrano. “I need to help these students find jobs to begin their career. And ultimately, I want industry to be calling us requesting our students because of how skilled they are.”

Telecommunication Technology is a new program at TSTC in Fort Bend County that will begin in August with the opening of the new campus, and Medrano said he is honored to be the founding instructor.

When Medrano is not working, he is busy being a student himself. He is currently attending Walden University online to complete his doctorate in General Psychology and is already working on his dissertation.

Medrano also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and a master’s degree in Psychology.

“It’s always been a life goal of mine to earn a PhD,” said Medrano. “It’s been a challenge because I’m a family man, so studying time has definitely cut into family time. But my wife and kids have been very supportive and I’m so close to finishing.”

Medrano is married with two children, a daughter who is 13-years-old and a son who is 11. On his time off he enjoys spending quality time with them and coaching boxing and baseball, two activities his children are actively involved in respectively.

“My kids are awesome, they’re my life,” said Medrano. “There is always something to do and they teach me something new every day.”

Ultimately, Medrano hopes to grow with TSTC and eventually earn a department chair title, but for now he is thankful for the opportunity he has been given to share his skill and knowledge with the future employees of the telecommunications field.

For more information on Telecommunications Technology call 832-223-0608.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2016 is already in progress. To register or apply anytime visit tstc.edu.

Scholarship Campaign Kicks Off at TSTC

(WACO) – The community has the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Texas State Technical College students working toward an education, all through a new scholarship campaign.

The new Make a Texas-Sized Difference campaign was developed by The TSTC Foundation to raise money for the Texan Success Scholarship. TSTC will match each donation made – dollar per dollar.

“The goal is to grow TSTC, get our students in school and on track to complete a program and eventually enter the Texas workforce,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Beth Wooten said. “This is bigger than just TSTC. This is about filling the skills gap in Texas and providing industry with the skilled workers desperately needed.”

Technical degrees and certificates will be critical to have in the next decade. Wind turbine service technology and health care jobs in physical therapy, home health and ambulance driving are predicted to be some of the fastest growing occupations by 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“A large number of well-paying jobs go unfilled in Texas because employers cannot find workers with the right blend of technical skills,” TSTC Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Mike Reeser said. “At TSTC we teach those skills needed for these great jobs. We hope more students will be encouraged to consider the benefits of a technical education and the great jobs that result from them.”

New, incoming students can receive the non-need referral based $1,000 scholarship at TSTC’s 10 campuses. TSTC recruiters, faculty members and high school counselors can make recommendations for students to receive the money.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Acting Provost Rob Wolaver said students are notified with a letter that they have received the scholarship.

“This is an incentive for students to decide on what their education choice will be,” he said.

TSTC in Waco has more than 45 technical programs offering certificates and associate degrees in technical areas from air traffic controller to welding technology.

For more information on the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign and other ways to contribute to TSTC, log on to tstc.edu/tstcfoundation or call 254-867-3900.

 

TSTC Employee, Student Realizes Goal of a College Education

(HARLINGEN) – Graduation has been a long time coming for Texas State Technical College student and employee Monica Zuniga, but the journey was not always easy.

The wife and mother of two daughters will be graduating April 29 with her associate degree in Education and Training, a career she said has always been interested in because of her love for children.

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“I didn’t think I would ever see the day I would graduate,” said Zuniga. “There have been so many obstacles that have discouraged me, but now I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m so excited.”

The 32-year-old is a 2002 graduate of Harlingen High School, but because her parents were migrant workers, Zuniga would fall behind in school. Adding to the challenge, Zuniga was already living on her own, making work a necessity.

“I was in high school and working a part-time job,” said Zuniga. “College was never encouraged when I was growing up, so I felt my only option after high school was to find a full-time job to support myself.”

Zuniga’s aunts were custodians at TSTC at the time of her high school graduation so they helped her apply, marking the beginning of her TSTC career in 2002. Because this was Zuniga’s first job, she did not have a car to get to work, and she did not always have a ride. Many of her days were spent walking to and from work. It would be 11 years, before Zuniga would realize she could do more with her life.

“Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about being a custodian, but I wanted to be more for myself and for my daughters,” said Zuniga. “It wasn’t always easy though.”

So in 2013, Zuniga applied for the cashier position she currently holds and it opened an entirely new chapter in her life. She enrolled at TSTC as a student, but she describes her college experience as a rollercoaster.

“I had ups and downs and there was always a twist or turn,” said Zuniga. “One of my daughters got very sick and ended up needing three surgeries. I was in and out of class and work; she was my priority. I had to take care of her. It definitely pushed me back though and there were days I felt like just giving up.”

Zuniga credits two of her colleagues for giving her the encouragement to keep going. She said Adela Alaniz, student accounting assistant and Lynda Lopez, executive director of Communications, were always my support.

“They both never let me give up,” said Zuniga. “Sometimes they were brutally honest with me, but that’s what got me through. I didn’t have that support anywhere else, and knowing they believed in me and what I could do meant a lot.”

With the support of Alaniz, Lopez, her husband, daughters and instructors, Zuniga has been able to realize the goal she set for herself, which is becoming a college graduate. She is currently completing her practicum in a third grade classroom at Ben Milam Elementary School in Harlingen to earn the last of the credits she needs before graduation.

“I’ve learned so much during my time at TSTC. The hands-on training I’ve received has prepared me for my career and future,” said Zuniga. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great teacher during my practicum. I’ve gotten great exposure to a classroom environment and have learned so many new techniques.”

Although Zuniga will continue working at TSTC after graduation, she plans on attending one of the universities available to her through TSTC’s University Center to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

“I want current and prospective TSTC students to know that nothing is impossible,” said Zuniga. “TSTC is full of people who are ready to help you succeed if you’re willing to try hard and never give up. If I can do it, so can they.”

Zuniga is one of 392 graduates who will earn certificates and associate degrees at TSTC’s Commencement Ceremony on April 29 at Marine Military Academy’s Yeckel Memorial Auditorium. Ceremonies are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

For more information on Education and Training call 956-364-4747.

Registration is in progress for Summer and Fall 2016. Apply or register anytime at tstc.edu.