More TSTC Programs to Expand Into Evenings This Fall

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is expanding the number of programs that will offer night classes this fall. 

Nathan Cleveland, TSTC’s associate provost, said the goal is to attract more nontraditional  students to the campus to study in programs that can help them update their skills or learn new ones. He said potential students can still work full time and take care of their families while getting an education.

Night classes in Diesel Equipment Technology and Welding Technology will be offered at the Marshall campus for the first time. The Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization and Precision Machining Technology programs will continue with evening classes.

“We are looking to expand into the nontraditional student market,” said Russell Hutcherson, an instructor in the Welding Technology program. “They can work during the day and look to better expand their options by attending TSTC.”

Philip Miller, an instructor in the Welding Technology program, said shifting into the evenings gives students more flexibility.

“It will also help because we only have two labs,unlike Waco and bigger campuses,” he said. “We can effectively multiply our space per day, which of course will help the students.”

The Welding Technology program will add a Structural and Pipe Welding certificate this fall for both day and night students.

The Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program offered its first night cohort in January. First-semester students will continue with the program’s schedule of meeting after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays while taking academic courses online.

“We recognize that we have current and potential students that are trying to build a better future for themselves and for their families,” said Edward Chaney, the program’s lead instructor. “Many of our students and potential students need to work in order to support their families while taking classes. By setting our schedules up in this manner, we offer students the opportunity to take classes and still be able to work a full schedule.”

The first night-class cohort of Precision Machining Technology program students will graduate this summer and fall, said Danny Nixon, a program instructor. He said 11 students are scheduled to earn the program’s certificate and associate degree this year.

“It has been very successful with the first group,” Nixon said. “And, we hope to continue that with the new cohort.”

Registration continues for the summer and fall at TSTC. 

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

TSTC Foundation Receives Financial Contribution for Campus Food Pantry

(WACO, Texas) – The Episcopal Student Center made a $2,000 contribution on Wednesday, May 20, to The TSTC Foundation for use at Texas State Technical College’s student food pantry on the Waco campus.

The money will be used to replenish the food pantry’s stock, which has been depleted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s good to know something we can do will have an impact on the students’ lives,” said the Rev. Keith Pozzuto of the Episcopal Student Center.

Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost, said the contribution will enable Misty Kaska, a coordinator in TSTC’s Advocacy and Resource Center, to continue her important work with students. 

The food pantry is located at TSTC”s  Murray Watson Jr. Student Recreation Center, with a temporary pickup site at the Student Services Center’s Welcome Center.

Kaska said she is grateful for the financial help. 

“There are not a lot of donations going on at this time,” she said.

Kaska said the most important items needed for the food pantry are canned soups, proteins, vegetables, and baby items such as diapers and wipes.

Pozzuto said he learned about the food pantry from TSTC students involved in the Episcopal Student Center’s Canterbury Club, which meets regularly in the Texas Room at TSTC”s  Student Services Center. He then reached out to Kaska to learn more about the project’s needs.

The Episcopal Student Center is on South 10th Street in Waco and is operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

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

TSTC Automotive Technology instructors bring experience to the program

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Students in the Automotive Technology program on the Texas State Technical College campus in Sweetwater listen when their instructors talk.

Mike Myers and Gerod Strother use their different backgrounds to teach the students what to expect on the job. Myers worked in the automotive industry for more than three decades, while Strother once served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army.

“Mike knows what (auto) dealerships are looking for,” Strother said. “All of the students listen to him.”

Myers said knowing what is expected of a mechanic helps the students while they work toward a certificate or Associate of Applied Science degree.

“When I get onto a student about something they did, it is because I know that it could be a fireable offense,” he said.

Strother said Myers is quick to return to the student.

“After a couple of minutes, Mike will go back to that student, put his arm around him and explain what they did wrong,” he said.

Safety is the first lesson students learn in the program. Strother said students must pass the safety course before they are allowed into the lab.

Once students are in the lab, that is where the majority of their time is spent. Myers said students spend two hours in the classroom, but “we then go in the lab and perform what we learned in the classroom.”

Strother’s military career and the lessons he learned while serving the United States play a role in safety.

“I want to focus on people and make sure they are paying attention. It is always about safety for me,” he said.

Both instructors said one of the more difficult lessons is when students have to work on the vehicle’s electrical system.

“Over my 31 years, I went from basic electronics in a car to technology today, with which you can land on the moon. Some vehicles have more technology in them than the capsule that landed on the moon,” Myers said. “We go over all of it and make sure the students know what to do.”

Myers said graduates typically begin working at a dealership’s oil change station. Six to nine months later, students will go through an apprenticeship with a master technician. The final stop is the main goal, according to Myers.

“After working as an apprentice, most of our guys get their own bay at the dealership,” he said. “That is their goal. That is where the big money is for them.”

Myers said he receives phone calls and text messages from former students telling him about their journey. He also gets a call or two a month from some of them needing help.

“It amazes me that students still call or text me about something they are working on. I listen to them, and we discuss what they have and have not done,” Myers said. “Then it clicks, and they know what to do. That is what I appreciate.”

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

TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology instructors preparing for enrollment surge

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When oil prices decline, eventually they will increase. The biggest question is when.

When oil production increases, the demand for diesel specialists also increases. Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in heavy truck specialization and two certificates in heavy truck specialization.

“We are looking for a really good enrollment this fall, especially with the economy the way it is,” said instructor Shannon Weir. “The oil field is going to bounce back eventually, and companies will need people to work on the trucks and equipment.”

Some graduates of the Diesel Equipment Technology program are employed by established companies like Caterpillar, Peterbilt and Freightliner.

“Our students will be able to get work when they graduate,” he said.

Weir said most graduates have jobs prior to the end of their final semester. That is one of the selling points for the program, he said.

“Most of our graduates from Sweetwater get jobs in the oil field,” Weir said. “People trust our graduates.”

Students spend a majority of the time in the lab. Earlier this month, students returned to the Sweetwater campus to finish spring semester lab sessions.

“It is good to get back to work. This is a very hands-on class,” said second-year student Jacob Rambo of Wichita Falls.

With registration for the fall semester underway, Weir said instructors are preparing for changes.

“When the students returned this month, we did not have any issues. Everyone is following the rules,” he said, adding that those rules include wearing a face covering at all times. “We are going to make sure to practice all of the safety guidelines in place. Safety is our top priority.”

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

TSTC Alumni Keep Longview Technologically Together

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Three graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus are helping to keep the city of Longview safe and technologically advancing.

“There are a lot of positive aspects to working in the public sector,” said Amy Hertel, an instructor in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program. “Government jobs not only allow for great work experience, but allow for benefits like job security, health insurance, retirement and allotted vacation time. Information technology departments normally work in groups, so it’s a great opportunity for team building and a collaborative work environment.”

Joshua Allen, Blake Gore and Rhonda Haydel work in Longview’s information systems department.

Allen has associate degrees in Computer Systems Desktop Support Technology and Computer Networking and Systems Administration and holds a CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) A+ certification.

He joined Longview’s municipal staff in 2014 and said he enjoys giving employees the tools to do their jobs. Allen’s days revolve around audits, data migration, work orders and department phone systems.

“I work on modifying people’s phones, such as changing speed-dial buttons, and some of the more complicated stuff like call trees and options that you are presented with on a call tree,” Allen said. 

He said he did not become interested in technology until he was in high school.

“I just kind of stuck with it,” Allen said. “Mainly, I knew it was an industry that was not going away. There is job security.”

Gore is an applications manager for the city. His role is to oversee the city’s applications, data analysis and geographic information systems groups. Part of his job includes what he calls “issue escalation” when software needs to be evaluated, migrated or replaced in municipal departments.

Gore said the work is rewarding.

“You are empowering people that serve the community,” he said.

Gore graduated with an associate degree in Computer Systems Networking and Technology. He said he enjoyed learning about computer hardware, programming and troubleshooting.

Gore’s advice for people wanting to pursue technology fields is to learn and understand as much as possible.

“Technology is not going anywhere,” he said. “That is what I have thought since going to TSTC. We are getting more technical, more computer-based.”

Gore became interested in technology by building computers beginning in middle school. And, it was this curiosity that solidified his decision to attend TSTC. 

“I knew somebody who was a high school teacher that recommended TSTC for certain students that he taught,” Gore said. “He spoke highly of it, and I went in that direction.”

Gore also considers himself a certification addict. Some of the certifications he has include CompTIA Server+ and CompTIA A+.

“Certifications focus you on a particular area and show you have knowledge about that particular subject,” he said.

Haydel is an information technology specialist primarily working with the Longview Police Department. She began working for the city in 2007 as a city public safety dispatcher and later attended TSTC while working full time. 

“You could easily follow the money trail to the private sector, but if you want the stability and well-rounded job security, looking outside of the private sector businesses and moving to the government side would be a better choice,” Haydel said.

She also earned associate degrees in Computer Desktop Support Technology and Computer Networking and Systems Administration from TSTC’s Marshall campus.

“TSTC had a focus on where I wanted to be,” she said.

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

TSTC Culinary Arts: Options Abound for Meat Substitutes

(WACO, Texas) – Consumers who find limits on purchasing their favorite meats at the grocery store can look for options to make meals satisfying.

Mark Schneider, Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts division director, said those who are interested in shifting from meat should not do so cold turkey. He advises cooks to create one or two meatless dishes, then increase the number of such meals as they become comfortable.

Schneider also advises consumers to read the labels on meatless products.

“Most vegetarians are very conscious of what they are doing and ingesting,” Schneider said.

David Ray, an instructor in TSTC’s Culinary Arts program in Waco, said students learn in the first-semester Nutrition for the Food Service Professional class about amino acids, complete proteins and vitamins in food. Also in the first semester, students learn in the Sanitation and Safety class how to avoid contamination and be mindful of cooking for those with food and gluten allergies.

Ray said beans, nuts and rice can be combined in a variety of ways to give people essential amino acids and protein. He said soybeans and quinoa are also great sources of complete protein.

“Asian dishes and Indian dishes have beans and rice and a little of animal protein in them,” Ray said. “It’s not nearly as much as we eat. They stretch the protein way out.”

Eggplant and portobello mushrooms can be used to substitute for meat in recipes, Schneider said.

“Both of those are great,” he said. “You can definitely make a vegetarian burger that is natural. A lot of time, that will include portobellos and grains like barley and oats. You can grind everything together and make a decent burger.”

Schneider also said tempeh is a good alternative. Tempeh is made of compressed soybeans that are fermented and shaped into a block held together with mycelia, according to The Vegan Society. Tempeh is popular in Indonesian cuisine.

“I really like tempeh,” Schneider said. “I cut it up into bite-size pieces and use it as a stir-fry or as a filler for pasta. Instead of cooking it in the dish, cook it first, then add to the dish.”

Tofu is another go-to for cooks.

“It is great,” Schneider said. “It takes on the flavor of what you are cooking. I try to marinate it first. I use the firm, hard tofu that gives it a little more substance. You can even press that and get it a little firmer. You get a better chew, or bite.”

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

TSTC Candidate for Graduation Increases Marketability for Workforce

(WACO, Texas) – With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in hand, Kory Dyer of Bellville wanted to make himself more marketable.

“I went home and just wanted to weigh out what all my options were. During the internship (for the degree), I came to realize that engineers are expected, going into the field coming out of school, to be proficient in AutoCAD and all the major computer-aided drafting software,” he said.

Dyer decided to go back to college, this time traveling to Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. Now he is a spring candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechanical-Electrical Drafting Technology.

Dyer will start a new job in mid-June at RODS Subsurface Utility Engineering Inc. in Spring in the Houston area.

“I am very excited about it,” he said. “It is a great company.”

While at TSTC, Dyer learned about computer-aided drafting, machine drafting, parametric design and modeling, and other topics.

“The instructors are very knowledgeable,” he said. “One thing I love about TSTC is they have real work experience. There are people that have been out in the industry for 20, 30 years and retired, and decided to come back and share their knowledge with the next generation of workers. That is a valuable asset that you cannot get just anywhere.”

Dyer spent more than a year as a campus tutor.

“Kory has tutored students in drafting and math, and he has contributed immensely to TSTC by providing instructional support to our students,” said Kassie Harrington, TSTC’s tutoring coordinator. “He is an individual who shows up earlier than asked, works hard, and is always willing to go above and beyond in his studies.”

Dyer said the job challenged him to figure out what worked to communicate with students to get them to understand their problem areas. He said these skills can transition into his future workplace.

“I applied for the tutoring job because I needed a job,” he said. “I wanted to try to get a job on campus because I know, from working in my undergraduate career, it is so much easier when you have a job on campus. They are willing to work around your schedule. They understand studying comes first.”

Dyer’s motivation comes from proving to his high school classmates that he could succeed in college and provide for his future family.

“I want to be able to prove that I can succeed in life,” he said.

Dyer is a graduate of Bellville High School and Texas A&M University Kingsville.

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

TSTC student ready to get to work after pandemic

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Roxanna “Roxy” Marfileno is studying Surgical Technology at Texas State Technical College and recently hit a roadblock in her studies because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The lack of personal protective equipment around the country has led facilities to recommend that students stop visiting hospitals at this time. However, despite her clinicals being on pause, the 31-year-old Harlingen native is ready to get to work as soon as her time at TSTC comes to a close.

Why did you decide to study at TSTC?

It’s close to home, and I had heard great things about the variety of different programs offered.

What are some of the things you most enjoy about TSTC?

I like how the campus buildings are close together. The class sizes are small and you get personalized attention, which is helpful and makes it easier to learn.

Why did you decide to study Surgical Technology?

I have always been interested in working in the health care industry. I have a background in the field and previously worked at Valley Baptist Medical Center, and I loved my job, but I knew I was meant to do more for patients than registration. Being given the opportunity to be a part of the Surgical Technology program is a great experience. When I first started class, I had no idea what I was doing. After eight months of being in the program, I can say that I have gained the knowledge and confidence I need. There is always going to be room for improvement, but I believe that this program has given me the skills and hands-on experience to have the confidence in this profession.

Who at TSTC has had a large impact on you?

Honestly, everyone that I have met while being a student has impacted me in a different way. Previous instructors that I’ve had have been very helpful in my learning process.

What has been one of your favorite memories at TSTC so far?

I have made many great memories while attending TSTC, but the best memories are the ones I have made with my classmates and instructors in the Surgical Tech program.

Do you have any words of inspiration for other students who may be facing hard times right now because of COVID-19?

Do not give up! Times are hard, but this will pass. Just keep pushing.

What advice do you have for students about to enter college in the fall?

It’s never too late to continue your education and become what you want to be. After 10 years of not going to school, I decided to continue my education. And believe me, it was the best decision I ever made.

To learn more about programs at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

Childhood dream comes true for TSTC Culinary Arts alum

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Casandra Mendiola was a child, most children her age wanted to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. Not her. She wanted to cook.

Fast-forward to today. Mendiola now credits the Culinary Arts degree she received in 2009 from Texas State Technical College with helping her gain the knowledge, leadership and skills needed for her new position with IDEA Public Schools as a culinary supervisor.

Mendiola said she chose to attend TSTC because of the Culinary Arts program’s excellent reputation, as well as the fact that the campus was close to home.

“TSTC has a great culinary arts reputation, and the smaller class sizes made it easier to focus.”

Her passion for cuisine was something she gravitated to when she was very young, and eventually she decided to make it her career.

“When a child wakes up on Saturday mornings to cook, as opposed to watching cartoons, it only makes sense that you follow your knack for cooking,” she said. “I decided I couldn’t set aside my love for food, or making it, and wanted it to become part of my everyday life.”

Her time at TSTC not only cultivated her expertise in culinary arts, but it also equipped her well for life outside the classroom.

“Hands-on learning was a daily practice that gave us real-world experiences,” she said. “From the local community events to the on-campus weekly luncheons, TSTC was able to give me a feel for the demand of the field.”

The hands-on experience will come in handy when she begins her new position with IDEA Public Schools.

“I’ll help contribute to the creation and implementation of kitchen training, menu creations and recipes for the schools,” she said. “My areas are Texas and Louisiana, but I will be supervising additional states in the next few years.”

Throughout her collegiate journey, and next chapter, the common denominator in her life always has been and will be the importance of family.

“They’re my motivation. Everything I do is for them.”

To learn more about TSTC’s Culinary Arts program, visit tstc.edu/programs/CulinaryArts.

TSTC alum inspires students through aviation classes

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Inspired to go to college by advice he received while in an unemployment line, Leo Guajardo studied aviation maintenance at Texas State Technical College and graduated in 2010. Now, his career as a TSTC instructor is helping the students he meets in the classroom make their own dreams come true.

“I had to do something different,” said the Freer native when discussing the beginning of his college journey. “I was laid off in 2008, and there was a man I met in the unemployment line who asked me, ‘What makes you different?’”

The question not only inspired Guajardo to enroll at TSTC, but also encouraged him to try a different career route as an aircraft airframe technician.

“I actually heard about TSTC through the workforce, and I needed to go into something that made me more marketable,” he said.

Ultimately it was a phone call from TSTC lead Aviation Maintenance instructor Tom Cross that changed his life.

“I maintained relationships with my instructors, and Mr. Cross called me about an opportunity in Harlingen,” he said. “They needed some help in the aircraft airframe toolroom, and I worked my way up from there to becoming a full-time instructor. He’s not only a colleague, but also my friend and mentor now.”

Currently Guajardo is an instructor for half the courses required to complete both the Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs at TSTC. His success is measured not only by his accomplishments, but also by the accomplishments of his students.

“Having the ability to help other people succeed is so rewarding,” he said. “I see my face in the faces of my students, and I’m just so proud of them.”

Guajardo relishes the anecdotes that his former students tell him once they are well into their careers.

“I had a student use the airline miles he received from his job to fly to Germany to eat at a restaurant he saw on the Food Network,” he said. “He flew there to eat and flew right back the next day. I’m living vicariously through my students.”

Ely Cortina, a soon-to-be TSTC graduate, appreciates the impact that Guajardo has had on her time in college.

“He really knows how to connect with all his students,” she said. “We all come from different backgrounds, and our points of view reflect that. But Mr. Guajardo knows how to speak to us as individuals, not just as a classroom.”

The lessons Guajardo gives to his students extend far beyond the chapters in a book.

“During lectures, he also went over life skills that he believed would ensure our success not only as future employees, but also as functional citizens in our communities,” Cortina said. “He’s much more than an instructor; he’s an amazing mentor as well.”

While Guajardo has impacted the lives of his students, he also reiterated that his students have had a profound impact on him.

“I’m fighting alongside them all the way to the finish line,” he said. “We have small class sizes, and I get to know them and their families. It becomes a relationship that is so beneficial, and it truly is a support system that we build here.”

To learn more about programs at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.