Rosenberg native serves veterans at TSTC

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Kenneth Buford served his country as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army for eight years, during which time he traveled to such places as the Middle East and South Korea. Recently the Rosenberg native’s worldly experience brought him back home to serve fellow veterans as director of veteran recruitment at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus.

Do you have a favorite TSTC memory so far? 

Right now, given the times, assisting veterans to complete their registration applications during quarantine has been my favorite thing to do.

Is there anything in particular that you feel makes TSTC unique?

The staff and faculty at Texas State Technical College truly believe in providing students every opportunity and resource necessary to ensure their success.

What impact do you hope to have at TSTC?

During my tenure at TSTC, it is my hope to utilize my professional military and civilian experience to assist in the building of long-lasting bonds between the college itself, veteran organizations and the community. These bonds will serve as bridges connecting veterans, their dependents, and the broader community to the types of educational resources and experiences necessary to attain higher-paying employment and financial stability.

If you could give any advice to fellow veterans, what would you tell them about starting college or going back to college? 

Although many of us focus on today, it is important always to look toward the future and plan for tomorrow. The ability to earn a certificate or degree enhances individual marketability and provides us paths to employment and financial freedom.

To learn more about veteran services offered at TSTC, visit https://tstc.edu/veterans.

From left to right: Vlad Hidrovo, Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management, veteran and TSTC Student with Kenneth Buford. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Burford and was taken in early 2020.

 

TSTC student graduates with honors while working full time

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After a perfect first semester at Texas State Technical College, Jianina Sells knew that she could finish the remainder of her years as a Health Information Technology student on the same note. Not only was the Raymondville native able to graduate as a TSTC Board of Regents honor graduate, but she was also able to do it while maintaining a full-time job.

Was it your goal to graduate as a Board of Regents scholar?

When I started college, I never thought that I would graduate with honors. It wasn’t really a goal of mine until the end of my first semester, when I saw that I finished with straight A’s. I’ve always been determined to succeed at anything I set my mind to, so once I decided I wanted to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, I gave it my all and refused to let myself fail.

Were there any challenges you faced while on your journey to a 4.0 GPA?

I was employed full time when I was a student. Working 40 hours a week and being enrolled in college full time was difficult to say the least. I studied during any breaks I had and from the time I got home up until I went to sleep. Balancing my personal life, work and school was challenging.

Why did you decide to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology?

I have been a pharmacy technician since 2013. So I knew if I was going to change my career, I still wanted to stay in health care. I would hear about health information technology programs on the radio, and one day I decided to look into it. I’d heard great things about the online Health Information Technology program that TSTC offers, so I decided to apply.

Who at TSTC had a great impact on you?

My Health Information Technology instructors Katrina Stotts, Randa Weeks and Joni Wallace were always there for me to answer questions I had or clear up anything I was confused about. There were times I would call Ms. Stotts or Ms. Wallace multiple times a day, and they always answered. I love these instructors. Without them, I probably wouldn’t have made it.

What advice would you give to incoming TSTC students who also hope to finish college as Board of Regents honor graduates?

Study hard, but make sure to take breaks. Take notes, and if you think you might not understand, read the chapter again. Make flash cards, and reach out to your instructors. Talk to them about your assignments, and don’t be afraid to speak up.

TSTC Board of Regents Honor Graduate Profile: Mauricio Cruz

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA is no easy task. Graduating with one after serving your country in the U.S. Marines is even harder.

However, for San Benito native Mauricio Cruz, commitment, focus and determination are second nature. Those attributes helped Cruz become one of the few Texas State Technical College students to finish his degree as a TSTC Board of Regents honor graduate.

“I don’t think I ever grew accustomed to the school environment,” he said. “That was the biggest challenge, especially after coming from a military background.”

Cruz was on active duty from 2012 to 2016 before being honorably discharged as a corporal in the Marines.

“I was attached to a unit named Marine Corps Security Forces,” he said of his time in Virginia. “I served as platoon armorer.”

While a military background did pose a challenge in terms of his environment, he kept in mind that the key to success in college was maintaining a keen focus on academics.

“I knew that all I had to do was study, do my homework and pay attention.”

Cruz’s love of the outdoors inspired him to earn an associate degree in agricultural technology.

“I have always enjoyed agriculture, such as cattle and the outdoors,” he said. “I figured if I was going to start college, it would have to be for something I enjoy.”

Cruz’s journey to the finish line would not have been the same without an instructor who had quite an impact on him.

“Mr. (Sammy) Gavito was hands down the best Instructor I have ever had,” Cruz said. “Not just as a teacher, but as a person, he was just amazing and very passionate when he would pass down his knowledge to his students.”

While Cruz dedicated earlier years in service to his country, he is not quite done yet.

“I hope to one day work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” he said. “It is not a short process, but it is something I will be striving for.”

With many students getting ready to start college in the fall, Cruz offered advice on how they too can achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA.

“Pay attention in class, take notes, do your homework and stay focused,” he said. “Do that, and you will be just fine.”

Cruz’s hobbies do not stray too far from what he was studying.

“I enjoy my time off caring for my chickens and cattle,” he said. “I’m always making sure they stay at their best.”

Fall registration is currently underway. To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

 

 

Retired lineworker finds new adventure as TSTC instructor

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After spending 22 years with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board as a certified lineworker, Candelario Deanda is ready to climb to new heights as an Electrical Lineworker Technology instructor when Texas State Technical College introduces the program at its Harlingen campus this fall.

“We are still in the process of getting everything ready,” Deanda said. “I will be an instructor for courses in obtaining the certificate, as well as the associate of applied science degree.”

The program will entail both online learning and labs, which will include the hands-on learning that TSTC is known for.

“Students will get to climb the poles and work with transformers,” he said. “It will never get boring.”

Lineworkers are often the first responders during power outages and major storms, making the hands-on learning not only fundamentally important, but also essential.

“If power lines go out, we fix the problem,” Deanda said. “Outside of weather circumstances, a lineworker’s day consists of work orders, digging for underground lines, setting the poles for new lines in subdivisions — all of that.”

It is no secret that the South Texas heat keeps people confined in their air-conditioned homes throughout the year, and it is because of such conditions that lineworkers are in demand.

“There is always going to be a need for lineworkers,” he said. “There will always be a need for somebody to ensure the power is on and running.”

While Deanda has two decades of experience under his workman’s belt, the main lesson he hopes to pass on to his students is the importance of being safe in the field.

“I hope my students learn that safety is vital,” he said. “I will teach them the importance of wearing their gear and their gloves; that’s my priority. I want to ensure that I teach them everything I can.”

For more information about TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program, visit https://tstc.edu/programs/ElectricalLineworkerTechnology.

TSTC instructor says Chemical Dependency Counseling offers students more than a degree

(ABILENE, Texas) – Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Chemical Dependency Counseling program learn more about themselves, according to Patty Bundick, the program’s department chair.

Bundick said the need for licensed counselors is always high and students range in age from high school graduates to older students.

“Some of our students are hungry to know more about themselves,” Bundick said. “The one thing I always think about, even if the student does not go to work in the field, is that the program has made a difference in their life.”

Bundick’s philosophy is only natural.

“I am a counselor at heart. I see students come in and know that what I teach them will help not only them, but it will help someone else,” she said.

The five-semester Associate of Applied Science degree program covers several topics, including working with families and family intervention.

“You will learn all aspects of treatment,” Bundick said.

Students also discuss current issues during class. Bundick said topics have ranged from Child Protective Services to HIV and other diseases.

The program also allows Bundick to teach students how the body processes a drug and the behaviors it might cause.

Today, she said more high school graduates are showing an interest in the program.

She said some students recovered from their addiction and want to help others do the same.

Graduates have found employment at different facilities in West Texas, including the Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Homeward Bound, Serenity House, the Taylor County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Bundick said she hopes the program continues to grow when it is available online only starting in the fall of 2021. TSTC offers the program in Abilene, Breckenridge and Brownwood. 

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

TSTC graduate has lifelong interest in computers

(ABILENE, Texas) – Harold Mason Jr. has always been interested in computers.

That interest led him to Texas State Technical College, where he received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration this spring.

“I have been into computers since I was 11 years old,” said Mason, a native of Abilene.

His father gave him his first computer, and Mason said it needed a CD-ROM.

“I saved my allowance, went to the store, and went home and installed it myself. I was able to do it all on my own, and I fell in love with computers,” he said. “Ever since then, I knew I was going to be able to do things with computers.”

After graduating from Jim Ned High School in 2000, Mason had planned to attend TSTC to focus on computers.

“I had a lot of issues and ended up not going. But I always told myself I would go back,” he said.

He enrolled several years later, and he said the curriculum was challenging.

“You had to know the basics of computers. I knew a lot about computers, and the instructors were always willing to help,” Mason said.

The help was appreciated, he said.

“It changed me as a person. It helped me grow,” he said.

Mason said he worked hard at TSTC and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the largest honor society in American higher education.

“I would recommend people look at TSTC. It offers so much,” Mason said. “The instructors will work with you.”

Mason said instructor involvement was one of the reasons he appreciates TSTC.

“You can talk to the instructors at any time. They are going to make time for you,” he said. “If you have any issues, they will gladly work with you.”

Mason said he is looking for a job, knowing his degree will be the first step in the door.

“I have a lot of calls out there and have been weighing my options. I know I will find my career in computers,” he said.

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

TSTC Emphasizes Construction Safety to Students

(WACO, Texas) – The construction industry needs well-trained workers who have a safety-first mentality. Texas State Technical College prepares them for that. 

“We are short on workers and losing them regularly due to the retirement age,” said K. Paul Holt, president and chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America’s Central Texas Chapter in Waco. “The construction field has evolved to the point where young people getting involved in building construction technology with a construction science or engineering degree enter at a higher level and are better prepared to become leaders.”

Students in TSTC’s Building Construction Technology, Electrical Construction, Energy Efficiency Specialist, Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology and Solar Energy Technology programs take classes on building codes and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

 Hugh Whitted, an instructor in TSTC’s Solar Energy Technology program, said safety is the first thing discussed with students in all of the construction-related programs.

“Most of the students we get are students who come from rural areas and small schools that have strong vocational programs,” he said. “So, they are already fascinated with the trades anyway, and they bring that with them to TSTC.”

Bobby Horner, a graduate of TSTC’s Architectural Drafting and Design program and an inspection supervisor for the city of Waco, said students who want to pursue the construction field or its specialties need to know about International Code Council and OSHA guidelines. 

“If someone leaves TSTC and wants to be a construction manager, they are kind of geared to thinking that way,” Horner said. “They need to know the safety features.”

Holt said it is important for construction students to pay attention to what they are being taught about building codes. He said learning how to maintain safety the first time will help once they are working on job sites.

“The main thing is most construction safety is based upon common sense,” Holt said. “We have a habit of sometimes picking up bad habits or shortcuts that we don’t necessarily think about.”

The United States’ construction industry had more than 1,000 on-the-job deaths in 2018, according to OSHA, which estimates more than 500 workers’ lives could have been saved with more attention to safety.

The National Safety Council recommends that people reduce falls by not leaning or reaching while on ladders, working in inclement weather, or setting up heavy equipment on unlevel ground.

Holt said following safety and construction guidelines can mean quicker completion time for projects.

“The combination of less time off for injuries and accidents and lower insurance rates winds up being a win-win for the contractor,” Holt said.

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

First Cohort of Tesla START Program Students Graduate at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College held a graduation ceremony earlier this month for its first cohort of graduates.

The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in March to learn the skills necessary to become electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla paid hourly internship, the students developed technical expertise and earned certifications through a blended approach of in-class theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.

All students who successfully completed the nationwide program go on to work at a Tesla Service Center in North America.

“We are excited about this group graduating,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s interim executive director of Workforce Training in Waco.

The program’s classes are held at the Kultgen Automotive Center on the Waco campus, but due to safety precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, some lessons were shifted online and to the Tesla Service Center in Dallas.

Graduates from the program’s first cohort include: Jason Hobbs of Waco, Jeremy Holmes of Sorento, Illinois, Chris McCain of El Paso, Jesus Rojas of Dallas, Aaron Rox of Frisco and Ruben Sanchez of Abilene.

Hobbs graduated from TSTC’s Waco campus in 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Solar Energy Technology and certificates in Energy Efficiency Specialist and Electrical Construction. He worked in Dallas before learning about the Tesla START program and applying. Hobbs said he believes in Tesla’s mission to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

Hobbs said the electrical lessons he learned at TSTC have been critical in preparing him for success in the Tesla program. He will begin work in mid-June at a Tesla Service Center in Palo Alto, California.

“It’s very real with all the preparations to move across the country,” Hobbs said. “I plan on staying with Tesla a long time.”

McCain learned about automotive technology at a college in El Paso. He was working in government when he was laid off and looked for a new career path.

McCain said his favorite part of the Tesla START program was learning the theory of how Tesla vehicles look and operate. He will begin work in mid-June at a Tesla Service Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I am excited for the move and starting something new,” McCain said.

Sanchez graduated in 2019 from TSTC’s Abilene campus with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology. He learned about the Tesla START program from the TSTC Alumni Network.

Sanchez said he was drawn to an interest in Tesla and its founder Elon Musk’s work.

“The (company’s) vision for the future is awesome since nobody has done this before,” he said. “It is exciting to be part of.”

Sanchez said he hopes one day to use his welding skills at SpaceX, another Musk-owned company. Meanwhile, he will begin work in late June at a Tesla Service Center in Clarkston, Michigan.

There are currently seven other Tesla START partnerships with colleges in California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. The program launched in 2018 and has had more than 300 graduates to date.

The program’s second cohort is scheduled to begin in August, with more cohorts to follow in 2021.

For more information on Tesla START, go to tesla.com/careers/tesla-start.

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

TSTC celebrates its Fort Bend County campus graduates

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – One of the greatest milestones of a college career is reaching the finish line at commencement. While Texas State Technical College had to do things a little differently this semester, the team at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus wanted to give its best to the spring 2020 graduates one more time as they set off into their new careers.

 A small, socially distant celebration was held Friday, June 19, to celebrate the accomplishments of graduates who once again proved that TSTC students are nothing short of resilient.

 

“When we heard we would have to cancel spring commencement due to the pandemic, we knew we needed to do something to highlight the huge milestone for our spring graduates,” said TSTC campus enrollment executive Georgeann Calzada. “Celebrating something positive during this pandemic is something we were all happy to do. I hope the graduates know that we will always be here to support them, encourage them, and join in on what we know will be a lifetime of accomplishments.”

 

TSTC’s director of veteran recruitment in Fort Bend County, Kenneth Buford, reiterated that TSTC prides itself on maintaining connections with students, even after their time on campus is over.

“Our graduates are about to become members of a family dedicated to their success,” he said. “Their TSTC family will always be here to guide, support and encourage them.”

Christina Vargas, a TSTC assistant director of enrollment management, also offered congratulations for the graduating class.

 

“Every graduating class is special,” she said. “We honor every class for their hard work, but this particular group overcame some unique challenges. The pandemic took a chunk of their graduating semester and turned it upside down.”

 

Despite the adversity faced by students, Vargas does not doubt that they are ready for whatever their futures may bring.

 

“The fact that they were able to rise to the challenge and complete their degrees proves that they are more than just trained in their craft,” she said. “They have the heart and spirit to rise above adversity. That is as valuable, if not more, than any other quality.”

 

Fall registration is currently underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

 

TSTC program chair finds fulfillment in helping students across the state

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Seventeen years at Texas State Technical College have brought Sarah Brooks many moments she will never forget. Serving as program chair for Health Information Technology, she not only has found a meaningful career but also has guided students toward fulfilling aspirations of their own.

What inspired you to take on a role in the medical field?

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the health care field, but not necessarily with direct patient contact. I was very excited to learn about the many different job opportunities available in the health information field. This career path also allowed me to have a normal work schedule while having a busy family life.

Do you have a favorite TSTC memory?

There are so many it is difficult to choose just one. My most treasured memories all stem from previous students who have contacted me to share their career successes. I love hearing the excitement and pride in their voices.

What do you enjoy most about working with students?

Being an online instructor allows me the opportunity to interact with many students from different areas across the state with a variety of life experiences. It is so rewarding to watch our students learn, develop, and then apply the knowledge and skills that I had a hand in teaching and mentoring them. It is such a privilege to watch these students grow and realize their own capabilities.

To learn more about Health Information Technology at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/programs/HealthInformationTechnology.