TSTC welcomes new workforce training project manager

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Joyee Stevenson has returned to her roots in Houston and, in the midst of a career change, she found her calling at Texas State Technical College.

With only a couple of months under her belt at TSTC, the Workforce Training and Continuing Education project manager is already finding that this change was the best decision she could have made.

“I’ve always been an advocate for education,” said Stevenson. “So when I was laid off and I needed to start anew, I decided to combine my past experiences to help others find their dream careers.”

For more than a decade, Stevenson worked as a graphic designer, moving around often to follow job opportunities after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a minor in marketing from the University of South Carolina.

She worked contract and freelance jobs rebranding pharmaceutical companies, and she even had the opportunity to design and advertise for a ramen noodle manufacturer.Joyee Stevenson

“I was infatuated with all aspects of my job,” she said. “The creativity and seeing my ideas and designs come to life kept me going.”

After hitting some bumps in the road as a designer, she returned to South Carolina and worked for a technical college doing graphic design and student recruitment.

“As a single mom, I did what I had to in order to support my daughter,” said Stevenson. “But I never knew that I would enjoy working in higher education so much, that it would spark a career change.”

With her brother in Texas and retired parents who were also ready to move, Stevenson decided to relocate to be closer to family and find better opportunities.

“My mom always told me I would thrive in higher education, but I was stubborn,” she said. “It turns out she was right.”

Stevenson said that soon after she arrived in Houston she noticed the new TSTC campus under construction in Rosenberg and immediately imagined herself working there.

“I’m so glad to be part of the TSTC family,” she said. “I immediately connected with college faculty and staff. It feels like home.”

Stevenson works closely with TSTC industry partners to provide training and opportunities for advancement for their employees.

“We connect with local companies because we feel training is important for everyone and everywhere,” said Stevenson. “What we do affects companies, individuals and families for generations to come.”

Stevenson said she sees a lot of herself in some of the students. Life as a single mom has not been easy. But with a great support system, she has gone far — and she hopes she can offer support to others as well.

“I share my experiences with students; there are no secrets to success,” she said. “I want to share my experiences and knowledge with others so that they can find success too.”

She added that she sees herself growing with TSTC, climbing the ladder but never forgetting what she is advocating for: education.

For more information on the services offered by TSTC Workforce Training and Continuing Education, visit https://tstc.edu/workforce/contact.

Waco Transit System Offers Free Rides to TSTC Students

(WACO, Texas) – Current students at Texas State Technical College can now ride on the Waco Transit System’s fixed routes for free.

TSTC students can get a personalized TSTC/Waco Transit identification card at the campus Student Services Center to begin riding.

“TSTC has partnered with Waco Transit for years to provide service to our campus, but this arrangement expands the service for our students to ride any fixed route on Waco Transit at no cost,” said Adam Hutchison, TSTC’s provost for the Waco campus. “Some of our students don’t have access to reliable transportation on their own, and now they can use Waco Transit anywhere in the city — not just TSTC — for free.”

TSTC is included on Waco Transit’s Route 5, which includes stops at H-E-B, Walmart and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Students can ride on any of the transportation system’s 10 routes encompassing all parts of Waco and some locations spread out in McLennan County.

“We do our best to hit all the time points,” said Joseph Dvorsky, Waco Transit’s director of service development. “We have major construction going on with Interstate 35, and what we do is we detour routes to keep them on time.”

Waco Transit uses a flag-stop system for its routes, which means people can flag down buses to be picked up along fixed routes. Dvorsky said bus drivers can pick up riders if they are on the correct side of the street and if there are not traffic-flow issues.

Waco Transit had 1.3 million unlinked passenger trips in 2018, according to Dvorsky. 

To see Waco Transit’s bus routes, go to waco-texas.com/transit/routes.asp or download the Ride Systems app on a smartphone.

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

TSTC Culinary Arts: Cooking up success

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cooking and baking are only a couple of the skills students learn in Culinary Arts at Texas State Technical College.

Emma Creps, TSTC Culinary Arts lead instructor, said with an industry that is growing, graduates from the program can find opportunities to begin their careers.TSTC Culinary Arts

“Many of our graduates are placed in leadership positions within the food industry immediately after graduating,” said Creps. “And a lot of that has to do with the type of training they receive in our program. From technical to soft skills, we focus on making sure they are job-ready.”

Creps went on to explain what a TSTC Culinary Arts student can expect while in the program.

What is the length of the program?

Culinary Arts offers two pathways. A student can earn either a certificate in three semesters or one year, or an associate degree in five semesters or two years.

What can students expect when they graduate?

Before even graduating from Culinary Arts, program faculty and staff host a Culinary Arts job fair to expose students to different employment opportunities, resume building, and interview skills workshops to set them up toward a path of good-paying careers. A mentorship program that students and alumni can take advantage of if they have any questions or need advice is also offered.   

What skills do students learn in Culinary Arts?

Students learn a multitude of skills that include cooking and baking processes and techniques, knife skills and food preparation, but program faculty also focus on teaching soft skills such as time management, organization, leadership and communication, which are all essential when working in the food industry.

What types of technologies are used to learn these skills?

To learn these skills, students use an industrial-standard kitchen fully equipped with the tools they need to practice their skills. They also have access to a point-of-sale system, similar to what they will find in the real world, and a video tutorial they can reference.

Students also have the opportunity of participating in cooking and baking competitions hosted by the program, and they also attend community events where they can meet with clients, create a menu and follow through with executing the event.

How do these skills prepare a student for the workforce?

By learning these skills, they not only master the technical kitchen skills, but they also learn how to lead and interact with people, which affects a graduate’s success. They can be masters in the kitchen, but it’s the team you work with and your customers that help make a graduate successful. So everything they learn helps them become well-rounded and effective leaders.

What types of positions can a graduate from this program obtain?

Culinary Arts graduates can work as sous chefs, restaurant/kitchen managers, instructors, personal chefs and institutional chefs in places such as hospitals, nursing homes and detention centers. They can even open their own restaurants or catering businesses.

Local restaurants or organizations that have hired TSTC Culinary Arts graduates include the Harlingen Country Club, Valley Baptist Medical Center, Colletti’s Italian Restaurant, Stefano’s Brooklyn Pizza, Healthcare Services Group, and Healthcare Support Services.

TSTC Police Department welcomes new officer

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Texas State Technical College Police Department added a new police officer to its force and officially swore her in this week in a ceremony attended by her family and friends, as well as TSTC faculty and staff.

Lleana Granados is the newest officer to join the TSTC family. She graduated from the police academy in 2018, and her first job application went to TSTC.

“I’ve always known that TSTC has a very community-, family-oriented environment, and that’s what I wanted to be a part of and do,” said the 24-year-old.

With a brother who used to work at TSTC as a police officer, she was somewhat familiar with the college.TSTC Police Officer Lleana Granados

TSTC Police Chief Eduardo Patino said he first met the Los Fresnos native during the interview process and, after speaking with her, knew that she was the right person for the job.

“Working for a community-oriented police department requires a special person that can be both a guardian and warrior to the community members we serve,” said Patino. “She has the competencies needed to be a police officer for our college.”

Sworn in by Judge Eloy Cano Jr., Granados took an oath to serve and protect the TSTC community and she said she is more than ready to do just that.

“My goal is that anyone who steps foot on our campus feels safe,” said Granados. “And I’m ready to serve TSTC under its core values of excellence, accountability, service and integrity.”

Patino said Granados, who is the second female officer on the force, has already proven that she has what it takes to be successful.

“She’s eager and willing to learn. So I’ve challenged her supervisors, as part of our succession planning, to coach her and mentor her,” he said. “I’m happy to have Officer Granados as a member of the department and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”

Granados said she has always loved serving and helping others in any way she can.

“Serving is my passion, and I’ve always known that I could do that as a police officer,” she said. “I have watched my brother serve as a police officer for TSTC and now as a state trooper, and he is my inspiration. He has been my mentor and role model through this entire process.”

She added that she feels extremely proud to have been chosen to become TSTC’s newest officer and is grateful that she was able to share this prestigious moment with her family.

“My family has been my greatest support system,” she said. “And my hopes are that I make them proud by serving TSTC well and growing the department.”

The TSTC Police Department is made up of 10 full-time peace officers.

TSTC drafting and design course to offer evening classes

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For the first time, Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology will expand its offerings with evening classes beginning Spring 2020.

TSTC Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics statewide department chair Samuel Pizano said the change comes at a time when students are seeking flexibility, and evening and online courses are growing in popularity.

In fact, the program has already seen its first registrants for evening classes.

“We’ve recently seen a lot more interest in our program from students who are unable to attend classes during the day because of other obligations,” said Pizano. “So this program expansion has been in the works for nearly a year, allowing us to cater even more to nontraditional students.”TSTC Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics

The program’s associate degree plan can be completed 100% in the evening, with classrooms and labs open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

“Our goal is to help students create degree plans that fit their lives so that they can become college graduates and start their careers,” said Pizano. “And this is the first step toward that.”

Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics also offers the program fully online, and Pizano said evening courses will also benefit those students.

“Having our labs opened later will also allow online students to stop by and practice their skills in the lab, ask questions or have a one-on-one with an instructor,” said Pizano. “Overall, we’re giving our students options they want.”

Pizano added that offering evening and online courses is also a stepping stone toward the program’s performance-based education model that will begin Fall 2021.

Performance-based education will allow students not only to have flexibility with their schedules, but also set themselves up to graduates quicker.

Under performance-based education, the program will offer a new block of courses every midterm for those who accelerate their studies.

“Essentially we are giving students control of their schedules and timeline,” said Pizano. “And no matter which path they choose, they will learn from industry-trained instructors and gain the skills they need and can implement in the real world.”

Pizano said with the regional and statewide job market growing exponentially, the program’s graduates are in high demand by employers.

“Our No. 1 goal is to produce highly trained students who can transfer the skills they’ve learned to industry to have a successful career,” he said. “We are producing graduates that industry wants to hire, while giving students the education they deserve and desire.”

Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics is also offered as an online class at TSTC’s West Texas locations and, beginning Fall 2020, will be onsite at TSTC’s Red Oak and Marshall campuses.

For more information on Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology and the pathways available, call 956-364-4973 or visit https://tstc.edu/programs/DraftingDesign.

 

Groesbeck Students Look to TSTC for Career Goals

(WACO, Texas) – Jake Pringle and Fernando Venegas have known each other for as long as they can remember.

They grew up together attending Groesbeck schools and now are attending Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus where they are in the Welding Technology program. Pringle is working toward a certificate, and Venegas is studying for an associate degree.

“It’s the best welding program in Texas,” Pringle said.

Pringle was inspired to pursue welding because his father has oil field work experience. Venegas said he developed an interest in welding in high school.

The students said stick welding is their favorite. And, they both said they do better with hands-on learning.

Pringle and Venegas are joined by at least 10 other students from Groesbeck attending TSTC this semester. Other programs the students are studying include Biomedical Equipment Technology, Computer Networking and Systems Administration, and Cybersecurity.

All students in the Groesbeck Independent School District get their hands on technology. Students in pre-kindergarten use school district-issued iPads, while students in kindergarten to 12th grade use school district-issued laptops.

“It is a piece of what we do every day,” said Diana Freeman, assistant superintendent of the Groesbeck Independent School District. “We do this because when they go to work, wherever they go to work, they are going to have to be able to do some kind of technology.”

The school district has a strong history in teaching agriculture and welding.

“For us, everybody starts in agriculture, and then you kind of make your choice whether you want to study animals, plants or welding,” said Freeman.

The school district has had 17 high school seniors graduate with an American Welding Society certification, Freeman said. The school district also offers career and technical education classes in business, culinary arts, construction, graphic design and health science.

Groesbeck High School has two counselors, with one dedicated to the career and technical education needs of its more than 400 students.

“TSTC is a place you can go and get that certificate or associate degree — you can get that training to go out and get a job you can do well with,” Freeman said.

After graduating from TSTC, Pringle wants to weld on power lines and will go  wherever there is a good job. Venegas said he wants to do pipeline work after graduation.

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

TSTC’s Waco Campus Has New FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus is now home to a Federal Aviation Administration designated mechanic examiner (DME).

Carl Stutsman, a TSTC aviation maintenance instructor, attended an FAA training school in Oklahoma City in late 2018 and was officially notified this summer about his DME status.

“To have a DME on staff means the graduates have the option of going to the DME that is right here so they don’t have to travel farther,” Stutsman said.

Stutsman can only work in the FAA’s North Texas Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)  encompassing a portion of northeast Texas. The state’s other FSDO’s are based in Houston, Lubbock and San Antonio.

He does his FAA work after 5 p.m. on days he is teaching and on weekends. He said teaching aviation maintenance courses is still his top priority at TSTC.

“I love aviation. And for me what keeps me teaching is taking a student who has a haze over their eyes and they struggle to understand, and the light bulb turns on and their eyes are bright and they understand,” Stutsman said. “That is a thrill.”

Stutsmanis obligated to test any aviation maintenance graduate as long as they have permission from their FSDO. People who pass the FAA’s testing receive temporary certification, with the FAA issuing permanent certificates to become aviation mechanics.

“They should expect to receive their permanent certificates in about 120 days,” Stutsman said. “As long as they continually work on aircraft and are signing off on aircraft at least six months out of the past 24, they are good.”

Adam Hutchison, TSTC’s provost for the Waco campus, said the DME certification means the FAA is affirming Stutsman’s judgment and professionalism to help certify the next generation of workers.

“It confirms what TSTC students have known for years, and that is Mr. Stutsman trains men and women to perform the highest-quality service to keep aircraft operating safely,” Hutchison said.

Robert Capps, TSTC’s statewide chair of the aviation maintenance department, said having Stutsman’s role on campus means another marketability option for attracting students.

“It lowers the barriers for our students to get this certification done,” he said.

Stutsman had previous experience as a designated mechanic examiner in Colorado, where he administered more than 200 oral and practical exams.

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

TSTC Students Volunteer With Houses for Healing

(ABILENE, Texas) – When someone is in need, you can count on Texas State Technical College students to answer the call. 

 

On Friday morning, more than 25 TSTC students, faculty and staff, along with some of their family members, volunteered their time with local nonprofit organization Houses for Healing. 

 

Houses for Healing provides free temporary housing to those who are receiving medical treatment away from home.

 

Michael Leroux, coordinator of Student Retention Services for TSTC’s West Texas campuses, said he was more than happy to partner with the organization. 

 

“I think that it is important that the school gives back to the community it is part of, and it’s important for the students to experience this,” Leroux said. “When we decided to work with Houses for Healing, I discovered the founder, Brian Massey, is a TSTC alum. So I think this makes it an even better opportunity for the students to see someone who has gone through what they have and to learn from him.”

 

Massey graduated in 1991 from the Sweetwater campus after earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automation Robotics. Following a successful career, he felt called to do something else with his skills.

 

“We are supposed to love our neighbor, really love them. And after talking and praying about it with our church, we decided this would be how we would embrace that charge,” he said. 

 

Massey said Houses for Healing plans to construct 20 mini-houses total, one for each county of the Big Country, plus a home specifically for veterans. The organization has four homes completed.

 

TSTC welding student Daniel Trevino said it was a great opportunity to get involved in the community.

 

“I love doing stuff like this. After learning what this company was about, it makes me feel even better to be here,” he said. 

 

The volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., clearing away debris and a fallen structure, as well as gutting the interior of an older home on the property. The land is where the next 16 homes will be built.  

 

For aviation maintenance student Omar Alvarez and welding student Curtis Sonstegard, it was a day to meet fellow classmates while doing some good. 

 

“We get to help people who need it. Of course we wanted to be here, and it’s great to be meeting other students and working with our hands,” Alvarez said.  

 

As the event finished, TSTC students and employees alike agreed it was the perfect way to spend a Friday morning.    

 

For more information about TSTC, log on to tstc.edu.

Some Texas State Technical College students and employees, along with some of their family members, volunteered their time with Houses for Healing Friday morning.

 

TSTC Active-Duty Student Hopes to Save Lives

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – After 20 years of serving his country in the military, Paul Cuellar is ready to continue serving his community as a civilian. 

 

Cuellar is both an active-duty member of the National Guard and a full-time student at Texas State Technical College in the Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Technician program. 

 

“Everything is crazy right now because I’m in the process of retiring, so I am balancing full-time work and full-time school and family. But I know this is the field I want to be in when I get out, so it will be worth it,” Cuellar said. 

 

Cuellar said he knew that working as an EMT was the right choice for him because of the skills he learned in the military. 

 

“I had to learn some of these skills during a couple deployments, and I really enjoyed learning them. So when I was exploring what I wanted to do after the military, I saw that TSTC was right here in Brownwood and had the degree I wanted,” he said. 

 

Cuellar and his family live in Brownwood, and he hopes to work locally after graduation.

 

“I’m used to commuting and traveling for work, so I want to be working in Brownwood and serve the Brownwood community,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar’s dedication to serving his community has not gone unnoticed by his instructor, Stephen Sharp.

 

“Brownwood is home for me. And as a community member and as a paramedic for this area, we need people like Paul who are ready to serve. I think he will do great things, and I’m very proud of him for balancing school with his military service,” Sharp said. 

 

Cuellar is expected to graduate this December as an EMT. 

 

Registration for the Spring 2020 semester is underway. For more information about TSTC, go online at tstc.edu.

Paul Cuellar is an active-duty member of the National Guard and a Texas State Technical College student in the Emergency Medical Technician program at the Brownwood campus.

TSTC Student Veteran Balances School, Work and Family

(ABILENE, Texas) – Being a full-time student is no easy task. Add working full time and caring for a family, and you might start to wonder how there could be enough hours in a day. 

 

But Texas State Technical College student veteran Andrew Rowlette wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Rowlette is an Air Force veteran who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in the Electrical Power and Controls program at the Abilene campus.

 

“I wanted to better myself. I always knew TSTC was good. And now that I’m here, I love that everyone here is all about bettering yourself and pushing others to better themselves,” Rowlette said. 

 

After serving for six years as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force, Rowlette started working at Cargill Inc. in Abilene as maintenance supervisor. There, he found a passion for electrical work. 

 

“We were recently doing some upgrades to electrical automation equipment, and I really enjoyed it. So I came in (to TSTC) and signed up,” Rowlette said.  

 

Rowlette is in his first semester and attributes his time in the military to helping prepare him for school.

 

“It was hard to get back in the swing of being in school because I had been out for so long. But I think the military really helped in the process because it taught me to be responsible and show up on time, and how to study,” Rowlette said.  

 

Rowlette is excited for what the future holds for him, and encourages others to look into TSTC.  

 

“I have a family, and my daughter is my world, so this is great to set an example for her and be better for them,” Rowlette said. 

 

For more information about TSTC, log on to tstc.edu.

Texas State Technical College student veteran Andrew Rowlette is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in the Electrical Power and Controls program.