TSTC, L3Harris Technologies Celebrate Hiring of TSTC Machining Student

(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and L3Harris Technologies recently gathered to celebrate a new company employee at a recognition ceremony.

Tyler Rochelle, of Whitney, was hired by L3Harris as a computer numerical control machinist for its manufacturing department in Waco. He began in November as a part-time employee, but his work will increase to full time upon graduation this month from TSTC with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology.

“TSTC gave me all the fundamental knowledge to get started on the machines they have,” Rochelle said.

Jon Piatt, the company’s vice president and general manager, told Rochelle his skill set and desire to work will help him get where he wants to go in his career.

“You are coming in at a great time,” Piatt said at the ceremony.

Travis Beach, the company’s manufacturing manager, said Rochelle’s hiring signals a time of growth for the company as it secures new contracts. Recently the U.S. Air Force awarded the company a contract to design, produce and certify a state-of-the-art modernization solution for a fleet of 176 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130H aircraft and a U.S. Navy task order to provide planned maintenance services and in-service repairs on the U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J and T-model aircraft. 

Beach said the last time TSTC students were hired for manufacturing-type jobs at the company was in 2014.

“Hiring Tyler is a big deal,” said Beach, a TSTC graduate.

Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost, said the company can look to hire quality graduates from several of the college’s technical programs, including Aircraft Airframe Technology, Aircraft Powerplant Technology, Avionics Technology and Industrial Systems. 

Mendias called TSTC’s relationship with the company a natural fit because of the physical proximity to each other and the shared missions of excellence, integrity and service. He said the company is a good neighbor.

“We have a track record together,” Mendias said.

Rochelle thought about studying 3D animation and modeling when he was in high school, but he said he is not the type to sit at a desk for several hours at a time. He took a tour of TSTC when he was in high school, looked through the program list and found Precision Machining Technology.

“It honestly caught my eye,” he said. “This is the core of manufacturing with every product made.”

L3Harris is an international aerospace and defense technology company with 48,000 employees and customers in more than 100 countries. The company’s Waco facility specializes in aircraft modifications.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC Welding Technology Student Honored With Campus Award

(WACO, Texas) – Edward Sanchez, of Hubbard, is proud to be a third-generation welder.

“I come in and do the best I can do every day,” he said.

Sanchez graduated this month with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is also the fall semester’s Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award recipient.

“It’s awesome with me being the first in my family to graduate from college and being an older, nontraditional student,” he said. “It’s a humbling feeling.”

Sanchez previously attended TSTC in 2000 to study Occupational Safety Compliance Technology, but did not finish the program.

He returned to TSTC in 2018 to pursue Welding Technology because he wanted to sharpen his skills, learn proper terminology and know how to break down materials. He completed a structural welding certificate in December 2019.

“It was nerve-wracking at first,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez cited Carl Wilmeth, an instructor in TSTC’s Welding Technology program, as an influence for his work. Wilmeth taught him in the first-semester class, Introduction to Blueprint Reading for Welders.

“He is known to be a man of integrity,” Wilmeth said.

Sanchez’s desire is to be a good example for his five sons, ages six to 19.

“I would like to see them get into a trade,” he said.

Sanchez grew up in South Waco riding bicycles with his friends, wading into creeks and playing video games at Safeway. 

“We didn’t know what it was like sitting home playing Xbox,” he said.

Sanchez graduated from the “old” University High School when it was located on Valley Mills Drive.

He worked for eight years at Caterpillar in Waco before the plant shut down in 2017. He was a jack-of-all-trades, working where needed at the facility. The closure led to Sanchez’s going back to college. 

The Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award is given to honor the memory of Waco native Mike Torres Jr., who taught in TSTC’s Digital Media and Design program until his death in 2005. Torres graduated from Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic High School and TSTC’s Commercial Art Advertising and Integrated Digital Image program, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.

The award signifies qualities that Torres was known for: courage, honesty and integrity. The award is given each semester at commencement to a candidate for graduation who is nominated by TSTC faculty and staff members. It was first given in fall 2011, according to TSTC archival information.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC December grads celebrated with drive-thru ceremony

(HARLINGEN, Texas) –  Honks and cheers filled the Texas State Technical College campus on Wednesday to celebrate fall 2020 graduates during the “Grad Swag Pickup.”

Students received a TSTC yard sign and a diploma cover during the drive-thru event.

Enrollment management senior staff assistant Lisa Garza said that celebrating the accomplishments of TSTC students is vital to the college.

“It is important to remind our graduates that we are like a family,” she said. “We are always here to support and celebrate them and their accomplishments. We are proud to see these students overcome obstacles, accomplish their goals and represent TSTC in the workforce.”

TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez greeted each car with a message of congratulations that she was ecstatic to give each passing student.

“Congratulations, graduates!” she said. “This milestone is no small achievement, and it is the beginning of your journey toward a fruitful and fulfilling career.”

She added that TSTC will be there to guide them even after the end of their time as students.

“TSTC was there for you during your application process and through your educational commitment, with success coaches, faculty and staff,” she said. “Now TSTC will continue to be here for you to help you achieve your career goals through the TSTC Career Services department.”

Garza added that despite any obstacles that graduates might have had to face, they should be proud that they made it to the finish line.

“I’m sure some of our graduates thought that obtaining a degree in the middle of a pandemic seemed nearly impossible at times, but they did it,” she said.

Although their college chapter may be closing, Garza said that learning is one facet of the graduates’ lives that will never stop.

“Make each opportunity a learning experience,” she said. “Learning is the one thing nobody can take away from you. Don’t forget that with hard work, resilience and a positive mindset, you are capable of anything and everything.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

De Leon says goodbye to TSTC after 33 years

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Javier De Leon has called Texas State Technical College home for 33 years. He will retire from TSTC at the end of this month.

In his three decades at TSTC, he has served as the college’s vice president of College Readiness and Workforce Training, and most recently as its executive vice president of Government Affairs.

De Leon has many memories at TSTC that will make it hard for him to say goodbye, but one thing is certain: TSTC changed his life.

Among his notable achievements at TSTC are his recommendation for a College Readiness division and the implementation of the Challenger Learning Centers in Harlingen and Waco.

“Bringing the Challenger Learning Centers to those campuses was one of my proudest accomplishments,” he said.

In addition to his many professional achievements, De Leon also has his fair share of personal memories at TSTC.

“It’s very hard to think that the individuals that I’ve worked with for so many years will no longer be in my day-to-day life,” he said. “This just showed me that once a TSTC family member, always a TSTC family member.”

Those memories have also been shared with many TSTC students who he has seen make it to the finish line.

“For me, the biggest joy is when their parents, siblings or even neighbors tell me a story about a student and how proud they are that they get to see that person now financially self-sufficient and with a confidence that they did not have before,” he said. “It showed me that TSTC is not just making a difference by giving them an education, but also a huge financial difference in their lives.”

De Leon leaves behind relationships with colleagues he has come to know on a personal level — colleagues he said he will never forget.

“I would like to thank them for always being there for me and allowing me to be a small part of the difference we are making for students,” he said. “I’m retiring from TSTC, but I will never stop supporting and promoting this great college.”

His TSTC family feels the same way. Provost Cledia Hernandez said that the efforts he has put into TSTC will continue.

“I have had the honor of working alongside Javier for the last seven years of his 33 years of service,” she said. “His dedication to TSTC and the success of our students is admirable. During his time here, he has helped lead various programs, each having a unique impact on student success. We know that the programs he established will continue to give guidance because of him and the team he developed to continue the work that he started.”

De Leon’s next path will take him to the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce to serve as president and CEO. His passion for representing TSTC will not be far behind.

“My new role at the chamber will allow me to continue to be a champion, cheerleader and huge advocate for the best technical college in the nation: TSTC.”

Adversity no match for TSTC Education and Training student

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Sheila Guajardo is no stranger to overcoming adversity.

She expects to complete her Associate of Applied Science degree in Education and Training this December.

Deciding which program to study was an easy choice for Guajardo, who was already familiar with the world of learning.

“I have substituted and worked in early child care centers in the past,” she said. “Teaching has always been involved in my life since I was a child. My mom was a teacher, so it wasn’t a surprise for me to naturally want to be in this field.”

The road to completing her education has not been easy. Guajardo faced personal struggles on her way to obtaining a degree that could have easily ended her time in school. In 2016, she suffered a stroke that made her pause her studies.

“When I had a stroke, it took me out of everything for about a year or two,” she said. “When I was back to myself, I said that I would finish school, no matter what. It was difficult with some changes and difficulties that stayed with me after my stroke.”

Guajardo said that with help from her husband and the resources available to her at TSTC, she made it through every challenge.

“My husband went from supporting me in the hospital to supporting me in school,” she said. “He never let me feel like I could not accomplish what I set out to do, no matter how difficult. TSTC’s Access and Learning Accommodations also made sure that I had everything I needed in order to be successful.”

One of Guajardo’s Education and Training instructors, Myriam Aguila, knows that Guajardo is more than ready to start a career as an educator.

“I would like to congratulate Sheila not only for this achievement, but also for the hard work and dedication that she put throughout each assignment, project, lesson and participation in all her Education and Training classes,” she said. “She has the commitment, enthusiasm and passion for what she does and what she believes in. It gives me peace of mind knowing that our young learners are in the best hands.”

Guajardo was not only learning more academically through her time at TSTC, she was also learning more about herself.

“The biggest thing I can take away from my experience in college is knowing that I can do what I set my mind to do,” she said. “I can’t even count how many times I’ve cried, saying that things were too much and that I could not handle it anymore. Now I know that I have been there before, I accomplished what I set out to and I can do it again.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC honors fall graduates with virtual celebration

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College honored its fall graduating class with a virtual celebration Thursday, Dec. 10.

The virtual celebration honored students at each campus and included a video message from TSTC Chancellor and CEO Mike Reeser. TSTC had 1,091 candidates for graduation for the fall semester.

“Today we celebrate. We celebrate your commitment, your perseverance and your hard work that led you to this rare accomplishment,” Reeser said. “In the midst of your training, our state suffered an unprecedented pandemic, and yet you persevered through. Relish in the fact that all the choices and sacrifices you’ve made along the way culminate in this special moment in time.”

Reeser said the graduates will make an immediate impact on helping Texas recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During the years ahead, we may face some uncertainties, but one thing we know with conviction is that we are going to need Texans like you — talented people who can and will apply superlative, hands-on skills to improve our state and help build our economic recovery,” he said.

Candidates for graduation thanked members of the TSTC faculty and staff for their support in messages posted to social media.

Waco Welding Technology student Tyler Eller said he now has a path to being successful.

“I appreciate TSTC for being a reliable steppingstone and creating an opportunity to manifest a brighter future for myself,” he said.

Sweetwater Wind Energy Technology student Christopher Boyd also said TSTC led him to a career.

“I am extremely grateful for the job opportunity I have acquired after coming to TSTC,” Boyd said. “It has changed my life forever. Thank you to all of my professors for shaping me to be the best I can be for my career.”

Cybersecurity student Edward Luna Sr. agreed with Boyd’s comment.

“TSTC has opened so many more opportunities for me,” Luna said after completing the program at the Fort Bend County campus.

Amy Trevino said TSTC offered her flexibility while studying Education and Training at the Harlingen campus.

“TSTC has given me the opportunity to pursue a degree with flexible scheduling, and without that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this achievement,” she said.

Tara Nugent, a Welding Technology student in Marshall, said she learned more than just a trade.

“I have not only gained many skills in my trade, I have learned so much more about myself,” she said. “With the impact TSTC had on me, I have decided to continue furthering my education and will be doing so right here with my TSTC family.”

East Williamson County student Juan Jaramillo can now call himself a chef after completing the Culinary Arts program.

“I am so thankful for TSTC for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime, and thankful for my instructors that were there for me all the way,” he said.

Ashleigh Humphrey earned an associate degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration, as well as an associate degree in Cybersecurity. She credited the North Texas and Waco faculty for helping her reach that goal.

“This could not have been done without you and your amazing staff. Thank you for all the support and encouragement, forever,” she said.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Dual enrollment opportunity leads Heatley to continue education at TSTC

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Breckenridge High School senior M.T. Heatley does not want to stop studying Welding Technology when he graduates in May.

Heatley plans to continue his education at Texas State Technical College, where he is a dual enrollment student, to pursue an associate degree. He said that will set him up for a brighter future.

“I am working on my certificate and decided that if I was that far, I should continue for the associate,” he said. “I know it will help me in looking for a job.”

TSTC Welding Technology instructor Stephen Hope said he knew Heatley would excel in the program.

“He came in here during his junior year and really took hold of things,” Hope said. “His skills in this trade have grown so much. I knew early on he had a future as a welder.”

Heatley has taken on the role of mentor and wants to see every student do well.

“It feels good to help the younger guys. They are working hard in the lab,” he said. “I want to see them succeed.”

About two dozen Breckenridge High School students are taking dual enrollment welding classes at TSTC. The agreement is seen as a positive for everyone involved, said Breckenridge High School principal William Paul.

“The program is very popular with our students. Just as important is our partnership with the Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation, led by Virgil Moore, who has committed funds to ensure our TSTC student costs are covered,” Paul said. “The BEDC is committed to ensuring we are promoting a skilled workforce within Breckenridge, and we value that.”

The dual enrollment opportunity, according to Paul, is a way for the high school to fulfill its mission of preparing students for life after school.

“Our partnership with TSTC is an extremely important part of achieving that goal as it gives students the opportunity to learn a valuable skill, such as welding,” he said. “Students who enroll in our dual enrollment TSTC welding classes can get a jump-start on a career by earning TSTC dual credit hours prior to graduation and have some of the welding curriculum completed when they graduate.”

Heatley said Hope makes the class experience easy.

“He is very helpful and will make arrangements for any of us,” he said. “Everyone in the class has learned a lot from him.”

Heatley may be one of Hope’s best recruiters at the high school.

“I talked to my cousin, who is a sophomore, and he plans to start the program next year,” he said. “I hope more students begin it. This is something that will change your life.”

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Student Uses Her Education to Advance in Workplace

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Natasha Davis had a stable job at the company where she enjoys working, but she knew she needed to learn more.

She chose to attend Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus to further her education and earn increased responsibilities at her employer, Conterra Networks in Longview. She continued to work full time while attending classes.

Davis is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration at TSTC. She completes her studies this month.

“As I took my classes at TSTC, it was explained to me how the things I have been privy to came to be and how it works,” she said. “It is exciting to relate the information I was learning to what I already knew.”

Amy Hertel, an instructor in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program, taught Davis in some of her classes.

“It is not enough for her to just complete assignments; she wants to understand how everything works, take notes, take time to study and push herself,” Hertel said.

Davis was recently promoted from working in customer service to assisting customers in the company’s 24-hour network operations center. The work involves giving troubleshooting assistance for internet, ethernet and phone services.

“I have already talked to my new boss about what kind of things I can do to progress in my career and what kind of things that come in hand in the position I am in,” she said. “This is really just a starting point.”

Davis said she knows it can be a rarity for someone seeking telecommunications assistance to hear a woman giving guidance.

“It is hilarious to hear their reactions,” she said. “They are not trying to be biased, but they are thrown off.”

Davis said her career advice for other women is to stand out in the workplace, be dependable and make connections.

“You want to build relationships with everybody so they feel a sense of community,” she said. “They feel like they are a part of something bigger when they talk to you.”

Due to the pandemic, TSTC’s Marshall campus is having a virtual graduation celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, on the TSTC in Marshall Facebook page.

Graduates can pick up their “Grad Swag” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at the campus’ Administration Building.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC Candidate for Graduation Helps Keep Jefferson ISD Secure

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jasmonae’ Mosby grew up in San Augustine, where she began doing external repairs to people’s smartphones while in high school.

“For some reason my phone would always mess up. So I ended up repairing screens, and that is what drew me,” she said. “I started getting my own clients at home. I thought if I could do that on phones, I could do it with computers.”

Mosby is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus. She will complete her studies this month.

“Jasmonae’ is the kind of student who stands out in a crowd,” said Amy Hertel, an instructor in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program in Marshall. 

Mosby chose TSTC because it was close to her hometown and was affordable. She was one of the few women in her classes.

“Growing up, I have always been with guys, and it just became a natural thing,” she said. “It didn’t bother me at all.”

Mosby got an internship earlier this year at the Jefferson Independent School District’s information technology department. The internship turned into a full-time job. The department’s staff handles preventive maintenance and work orders submitted by district employees.

“I love working here,” she said. “I get exposed to various things, especially those that are hands-on.”

Mosby’s advice for women interested in pursuing the networking field is to have a passion for the work.

Due to the pandemic, TSTC’s Marshall campus is having a virtual graduation celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, on the TSTC in Marshall Facebook page.

Graduates can pick up their complimentary “Grad Swag” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at the campus Administration Building.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Looks to TSTC to Help Fill Jobs

(HUTTO, Texas) – Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock is providing big opportunities not only for fun, but also for jobs for Texas State Technical College students.

“Kalahari’s presence is a game-changer for the entire hospitality sector, and especially our Culinary Arts program,” said Michael Smith, senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation at TSTC’s Williamson County campus in Hutto. 

“The fact that they are only five miles from campus and offer a wide array of culinary- and hospitality-related careers is a huge benefit to our students and TSTC,” he said. 

Kalahari opened in mid-November and bills itself as America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Resort, with a convention center, spa, restaurants, shopping, live entertainment and 975 guest rooms. The resort is projected to create 1,000 jobs.

“Kalahari is a company that not only takes care of the employees that work for them, but the community as a whole,” said Nelson Adams, an instructor in TSTC’s Culinary Arts program on the Williamson County campus.

Chad Blunston, Kalahari’s executive director of culinary, said workers are hired and trained in a home kitchen or department on the property. When all of the hiring is complete, the resort will have more than 200 cooks, leaders and supervisors.

“It is really a great place for a young culinarian or experienced culinarian who wants to explore other avenues,” he said. “There are opportunities for growth in our resort. You have it all under one roof.”

Julio Diego Vazquez of Hutto, a TSTC Culinary Arts student, began working at the resort less than two months ago. He works with banquet events and also food preparation for the restaurants.

“I am learning a lot,” Vazquez said. “It’s a big place to grow.”

Adams and Blunston knew each other through the American Culinary Federation’s Austin chapter. Blunston mentioned to Adams about needing a place to train employees as the resort was under construction.

Adams told Blunston about an unused kitchen lab on the third floor of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

“With both TSTC and Kalahari collaborating on the development, we soon had a brand-new kitchen designed specifically for the purpose of putting more Texans to work,” Adams said. 

Blunston said there are more opportunities at the resort for TSTC graduates.

“You can imagine the water pumps and infrastructure our building has,” he said. “You can imagine what the HVAC system looks like. There are many different elements that TSTC graduates can enjoy.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.