TSTC alumni passionate about workplace safety

(WACO, Texas) – Shawn Avelar, of West, and John Sprague, of Clifton, have in common the year 2008 at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. That was the year Avelar began teaching at the campus and the year Sprague graduated.

Avelar did not get an opportunity to teach Sprague in what is now the Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program. But as members of TSTC’s Occupational Safety Compliance Technology Advisory Committee, the two are advocates for the importance of workplace safety and want to motivate others to pursue the field.

“Shawn Avelar has a God-given ability to lead by example,” said Martin Knudsen, TSTC’s statewide chair of the Occupational Safety Compliance Technology department. “He has risen to the top of the safety industry through hard work and determination, and he has never once complained about how difficult climbing the corporate ladder has been.” 

“John Sprague has held top management positions from day one after the training he received from the Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program,” Knudsen said. “He is never shy about his opinions on how to improve the program, which is always well received.”

Avelar taught for three years at TSTC and is now a corporate safety manager for the Washington-based NAES Corp. Avelar works remotely from his home in West and oversees 17 plants throughout Texas and other parts of the nation. 

Avelar oversees the safety officers at the plants he works with and ensures that they perform required checks and balances. He also helps carry out the company’s safety programs and works with policy and procedural changes.

“We follow legislation for changes,” he said. “My job is a lot of preparing and writing reports.”

Avelar said the safety field is not going away, which means that there will be good job opportunities in the future, especially for women and minorities. He is supportive of internships that enable students to experience and understand what the safety field entails.

“We have an aging profession,” he said. “We need good, strong-minded safety professionals to push this profession further and to really grow it.”

Avelar grew up in El Paso. When he was considering where he wanted to go to college and was visiting a local community college, he saw a TSTC flyer. At the time, he thought about studying drafting and design. He and his father were scheduled to go to Killeen but also planned a visit to Waco to visit TSTC. 

Avelar went on to earn a certificate in what is now TSTC’s Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology program and an associate degree in what is now TSTC’s Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program.

“I can definitely say I would not be where I am today if it was not for TSTC,” he said.

Sprague is a safety supervisor at Alvin-based Mesa Line Services. He lives in Clifton and travels for work. The company specializes in distribution and transmission services and other facets of the power line industry.

“I enjoy this industry,” he said. “It is a very difficult industry to work in. You have the weather and other conditions. It takes a special breed to get into this industry.”

Sprague is a certified crane inspector and an OSHA-authorized outreach trainer. He is also a certified utility safety professional, which required him to take a difficult exam.

“That was the hardest test I have taken in my entire life,” Sprague said. “I passed it the first time. I can tell you the only reason I passed was because Martin Knudsen was so adamant about us knowing the (OSHA’s General Industry) 1910 regulations that he buried our noses in it. I am so thankful for that.”

Sprague said the keys to being successful in the safety industry are credibility, maturity and respect. He said there is not room for complacency in the field.

“If you want to make money doing safety, you are going to have to get a job that travels,” Sprague said. “If you are going to get a plant job, you are going to get stuck at $50,000-$60,000 a year. Ever since I got my degree, I have made more than $100,000 a year.”

Sprague spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Before enrolling at TSTC, he was a trucking foreman for a Waco company.

“I saw the need for people to do things safety-oriented, and when the company got bought out, I didn’t have any kind of degree,” Sprague said. “The Veterans Administration paid for school.”

Sprague has an associate degree in what is now TSTC’s Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.

“The beauty of TSTC is they are a technical college and they make you bury yourself in the things you need to know,” he said. “I am a strong advocate for TSTC.”

TSTC’s Environmental Technology – Compliance program and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program will merge this fall. The programs’ two associate degrees will be combined to create the new Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance Technology.

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at Texas State Technical College. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC graduate stays in East Texas to work

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Hector Ramirez is glad to continue going to college while working in East Texas. 

Ramirez, a Gilmer resident, graduated from Texas State Technical College in 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization. He returned to TSTC’s Marshall campus to earn an associate degree in Automation and Controls Technology in 2020.

He is currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Tyler, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology and a minor in business.

“I didn’t have to go out of state,” he said. “I still get to see my family and friends, work, and not get into debt.”

Ramirez is putting his skills to good use, working in industrial maintenance at Republic Elite in Marshall. 

“You see something different every day,” he said. “It is a cabinet company, and there is a lot of dust. You will get a lot of electrical problems. You have to change out motors and bearings. The equipment we work on is from Germany, so it is interesting seeing the prints.”

Ramirez said skilled technicians like him are vital to ensuring companies’ smooth operations like the one where he works.

“Maintenance is the backbone of companies,” he said. “If you cannot fix a machine by the end of the day or week, the assembly line could shut down. It is important and interesting to me how it all works and makes the company run.”

Ramirez said his two associate degrees make a good combination. He said some of his favorite classes focused on electrical troubleshooting, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

Edward Chaney, TSTC’s statewide chair of the Industrial Systems program, said Ramirez is the kind of student that faculty in the program crave.

“Hector was the type of student that was willing to put forth the effort to learn as much as he could,” Chaney said. “When assignments were delivered, Hector was always willing to help other students in the class.”

Ramirez was born in the state of Queretaro in Mexico. He and his family came to the United States days before he started sixth grade and settled in Gilmer, where they still reside.

“It was tough,” Ramirez said. “We didn’t speak any English at the time. They almost held me back that year because the teachers were suggesting it was for the best. For some reason, they didn’t. I went to seventh grade and started picking up being able to communicate better.”

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

Technology helps prepare TSTC Paramedic students for almost any situation

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Emergency Medical Services program are trained to be prepared for almost anything they might encounter in the field.

By using the iSimulate REALITi simulator in lab sessions, instructor Tim Scalley can program various situations for students to address. The simulator also can mimic the cardiac monitors of area EMS services for future paramedics to train on systems they will use at work.

“There is a lot going on and a lot to remember,” said Paramedic student Anthony Monaco, who works for the Stephenville Fire Department as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician. “The simulator allows me to get the kinks out while I am in class. I am able to work on what I need to do on the equipment we have available.”

Scalley remembered when students used decommissioned equipment, but technology has advanced to train paramedics with REALITi.

“In the past, we would train with decommissioned equipment. A lot of them did the same thing, but the companies’ equipment is not always the same,” he said. “It is nice to have the technology available for people to learn their system.”

Scalley said many students complete the program and begin working for Lifeguard Ambulance Service in Brownwood. He uses the simulator to program a patient’s situation and walks students through treatment from start to finish.

“Sometimes he will throw a curveball at us, and that is what happens in the field,” Monaco said. “I like to practice in the lab. I know that practice makes perfect.”

Scalley will relay vital signs that he has programmed to students to make adjustments on the patient.

“The life of a patient can change on the fly,” he said.

But not everything in the EMS lab is done on a manikin-style patient.

During a recent session, paramedic students were able to talk to young children and their parents about simulated symptoms. The scenario included all coronavirus safety protocols, and Scalley said it was similar to a doctor’s visit.

“We have to complete visual assessments with children, and we are able to do that with local families,” he said. “All of the training will pay off for the students.”

Scalley also has a stress reliever for the class. He likes to pull out the CPR dummies attached to a computer program for a competition to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

“It provides the students with good, accurate information on how they are performing CPR while also involved in a friendly competition,” Scalley said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC hosts welding competition for high school students

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Welders are naturally competitive.

Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor Stephen Hope decided to use a competition to promote the program and offer scholarships. High school students from New Castle and Trent competed on March 24 for a chance to win a welding scholarship.

On March 31, the competition will continue with high school students from Breckenridge, Rochester, and Seymour, with each student welding a 6-by-6-inch cube. The top three students who earn the highest scores will receive scholarships for TSTC’s Welding Technology program in Breckenridge. Each of the 17 competitors will receive a gift from TSTC.

TSTC will announce scholarship recipients on March 31.

“Our goal was to get more exposure to our program and to have some fun,” Hope said. “When we first started talking about doing a competition, we knew it would be a good way to get more kids into our facility.”

During the competition, everyone followed coronavirus safety protocols, and only five of the welding bays were used. The March 31 event will be divided into two sessions to ensure safety.

The students worked for up to two hours to make their cubes. Once the cubes were complete, Hope checked them for leaks, which accounted for the majority of points. TSTC Welding instructors Daniel Aguirre and Greg Nicholas then checked the cubes for clean welds, spatter removal, how they fit together, and quality.

At the end of the first day of the competition, Hope said he was pleased with the students’ efforts.

“The quality was really good for these students. I was really pleased with what I saw them accomplish,” he said.

Hope said the competition was initially scheduled to be held virtually. But after additional discussion, it was decided that allowing a certain number of students to come to campus would help promote the program.

“The most important thing was to get the students here and use the equipment,” said Chris Johnson, TSTC’s lead student recruitment representative for West Texas. “Using the equipment and seeing what we offer shows everyone why we are so special. It is also cool for the students.”

Raquel Mata, TSTC’s associate provost in West Texas, said it gave students the chance to meet instructors.

“The students were able to talk to our instructors, and we added the element of a competition,” she said. “Welders are known for their competitiveness, and we wanted to offer a fun event.”

A similar competition is scheduled for April 12 in Brownwood.

“This will be a great chance for me and the other instructors to talk to students about what we offer,” Aguirre said. “I am excited to see what the response will be like.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC alumnus uses Business Management Technology skills daily

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – The skills that Josh Barron learned in Texas State Technical College’s Business Management Technology program are paying off daily.

Barron earned his associate degree in 2016 and is currently a training specialist for the Center for Life Resources in Brownwood. He also helps with the company’s grant writing process and credits TSTC for his success.

“I manage the training for each department at Center for Life Resources,” he said. “I am in charge of recording all the certification for those training sessions. I have a lot to do when it comes to documents, the policies and procedures for the training department, and getting everyone scheduled for training.”

Barron began working for the Center for Life Resources through a grant. He was first responsible for helping veterans with utilities and rent. Once the grant expired, he remained with the company in his current position.

“I decided I wanted to stay because it is a great company to work for,” he said.

Barron credits the skills he learned at TSTC for helping him today. He said his time studying at TSTC were two great years.

“Getting to learn something new was awesome, especially since I was the only member of my family to graduate from college,” he said.

His skills are paying off in different ways.

“I have encountered several people who do not have the same technical skills I learned at TSTC,” Barron said. “I assist them with many different issues on a daily basis.”

It took Barron some time to decide to enroll in college.

“I wanted to go to college for my family and myself,” he said.

He is glad that he chose to enroll at TSTC and was pleased with how well his time was spent on campus.

“Everyone was very welcoming, nice, kind, and offered to assist me,” Barron said, adding that he wanted to help others by being part of the work-study program.

When people learn that Barron earned an associate degree, they want to know more about TSTC and the degree programs. He is quick to point them toward TSTC.

“I always guide them to more information,” he said. “The culture and atmosphere are great at TSTC. I think for anyone looking to further their education, TSTC is the best place to start.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Del Toro’s welding confidence grows at TSTC

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Like some Welding Technology students, Rogelio Del Toro did not have much welding experience before enrolling at Texas State Technical College.

His inexperience did not stop him from setting a goal of earning a certificate and finding a job, however.

“My father did some welding, and I tried it in middle school,” Del Toro said. “I figured after high school I would study welding, and I plan to work on wind turbines.”

Del Toro’s inexperience is turning into confidence, according to TSTC welding instructor Daniel Aguirre.

“He has shown a lot of improvement since his first semester,” he said.

Del Toro plans to earn his certificate and graduate in August. He wants to prove to himself that he can work as a welder.

Aguirre’s teaching style and learning by watching other students is part of Del Toro’s strategy to succeed.

“I like the way Daniel teaches us things. He has been out in the field and tells us what to expect,” he said. “I like the way we can talk to each other and look at the different techniques in class. That helps us improve as students.”

During the course of his studies, Del Toro has noticed a change in his approach before taking a project to Aguirre for review.

“I have learned how to inspect my own work before showing it to Daniel. We need to be confident in our work,” he said.

Aguirre said one thing he wants all of his students to have is confidence.

“Students need to build and maintain that confidence all the time,” he said.

Del Toro, who was raised in Brownwood, hopes more people will look at the Welding Technology program, which is available at all 10 of TSTC’s campuses around the state.

“This is a good program that will teach you a career,” he said.

A career opportunity for Del Toro was another reason he enrolled at TSTC.

“The hands-on aspect is great, and I really liked having people available to help me with resumes and interviews,” he said. “I have been able to learn and achieve a lot of things in school that I would not have dreamt of before. TSTC has made that possible.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC instructor eager to teach students the realm of information technology

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Computer Networking and Systems Administration is the process of ensuring that the world is connected at any given moment. Texas State Technical College equips students in the program with the skills needed to conquer the ever-growing field.

Department chair Emanuel Palacios has been sharing his vast knowledge of the field with TSTC students for nine years after having spent time working in both information technology and as a systems specialist.

What inspired you to get into education?

Sharing what I know with others has always inspired me. A colleague who I think very highly of said I would do great as an instructor. I didn’t pay much mind to it at the time because I consider myself an introvert. The idea of speaking in front of others made me nervous. But I’ve always had a zeal for helping others, and technology is a passion of mine, so it came much easier than I had imagined when teaching others about technology.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I wholeheartedly enjoy having the opportunity to be a servant and a resource to students and colleagues. Seeing someone accomplish a goal is very gratifying.

Why is Computer Networking and Systems Administration important?

As time progresses, so will technology. It is easy to see the importance of the field, which will continue growing. The demand for skilled technicians to maintain those systems and networks will be par for the course.

Do you have any favorite TSTC memories?

No memory compares to the excitement of success and accomplishment that is witnessed as each student you taught walks the stage at their commencement ceremony.

To learn more about Computer Networking and Systems Administration, visit tstc.edu.

 

 

San Benito Industrial Foundation sets up scholarship fund for San Benito residents attending TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The San Benito Industrial Foundation Inc. is making the collegiate dreams of some San Benito residents come true with a gift of $75,000 through the TSTC Foundation for scholarships to attend Texas State Technical College.

The scholarship money will help fund tuition, course materials, uniforms, and testing fees for students residing within the city of San Benito or within the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District.

Founded in 1964 by a group of business owners, the San Benito Industrial Foundation focuses on promoting business and industry in the Resaca City.

San Benito Industrial Foundation Vice President Ben Fry said that education is an important component of the organization’s mission.

“We felt that scholarships to our San Benito residents attending TSTC would have a direct and positive impact on our young citizens,” he said. “Education provides a markedly higher lifetime income. It benefits the student, and also the city in which that student lives, in countless ways.”

TSTC Senior Field Development Officer Richard Mesquias knows that the scholarship will change lives.

“This amazing gift from the San Benito Industrial Foundation will greatly impact residents of San Benito,” he said. “We are thrilled to have their support for this initiative that will provide critical financial assistance to TSTC students.”

Fry said that student encouragement will go a long way.

“Every young person needs support when they are beginning to think of a career,” he said. “We are very blessed  to have such an excellent educational facility such as TSTC so close to our homes.”

Ultimately Fry wants residents of San Benito to know that they will have others in their corner in their pursuit of higher education.

“Our San Benito residents need to be made aware that our organization encourages education, and we are providing these scholarships to encourage and provide financial support to our young citizens,” he said. “With the education that TSTC can provide, our San Benito students can earn a good salary to comfortably support their families and become a great benefit to our city and its population.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Photo caption: The San Benito Industrial Foundation Inc. scholarship will benefit TSTC students residing within the San Benito city limits. (Photo courtesy of TSTC.)

 

Computer Programming at TSTC prepares students for booming career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Coding, JavaScript, and Python may seem like foreign languages to some, but for Texas State Technical College students enrolled in Computer Programming, they are as easy as the alphabet.

The program, which is taught online, prepares students to become problem solvers behind the scenes while not forgetting other vital components of career training, like project management and communication skills.

TSTC statewide department chair Shannon Ferguson and instructor Shelby Coffman discussed the program’s benefits and what students can expect to learn.

“Students enrolled in Computer Programming technology will work with industry-standard development tools and resources,” Coffman said. “Throughout their coursework, students use these tools to complete projects that simulate real-world scenarios. We want our students to achieve mastery by demonstrating their proficiency on the topics we cover.”

Ferguson added that the impact of a computer programmer is a lot closer than most people would assume.

“Behind every software, website, game and mobile application is a computer programmer who makes things happen,” he said. “Programmers are needed in every facet of business and industry. We live in a world where we have access to products, information, and resources to help us in our daily lives at the click of a mouse. Computer programmers make this possible.”

Ferguson and Coffman both agree that the quality curriculum available at TSTC makes a great impact on the learning outcomes of students.

“Technology, as well as industry demand, is continually changing and evolving,” Ferguson said. “Like most programs at TSTC, the Computer Programming department regularly reevaluates and adjusts our curriculum to meet the needs of industry partners and demand.”

Coffman said that the department also makes sure to stay competitive in the industry.

“We work closely with our departmental advisory board to ensure we teach the skills and topics that industry is looking for in prospective employees,” he said. “Our goal is to produce graduates that are ready for the workforce.”

According to the Texas Workforce Commission and https://www.onetonline.org/, the field is expected to grow by at least 10 percent over the next 10 years.

Both instructors have advice for students who are curious about the program.

“If you are interested in technology, how software works and can approach problems as solvable challenges, then you can be successful as a computer programmer.”

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

Photo caption: Computer Programming at TSTC is offered 100 percent online. (Photo courtesy of TSTC.)

TSTC Business Management Technology prepares students for a range of career options

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s online Business Management Technology program prepares students for a wide range of career options.

Graduates of the program have worked in different areas of business, from accounting to business management. Earning an associate degree or certificate has opened doors for many of the program’s graduates.

Ron Howard is now working for the Taylor County Veterans’ Service Office after earning an associate degree in 2019.

“Everything I learned in the program is helping me tremendously in my job. It has helped me with all of the computer skills and with Word documents,” he said. “My job all day is working on a computer.”

Howard said he could not have succeeded without the help of the TSTC instructors.

“The one-on-one time they give you is great. They do not tell you, ‘Here is the work, go do it’; they make sure you understand what to do,” he said. “The instructors will set you up to succeed.”

Howard would visit his former instructors before the coronavirus pandemic and now communicates with them via email.

“I hope we can get together again. They helped me so much,” the U.S. Marine Corps veteran said.

Instructor Duston Brooks said many students, including Howard, take the learning further by earning a bachelor’s degree.

With TSTC offering a certification and degree program online, Brooks said the cost is minimal.

“Students will need a laptop and good internet access, of course,” he said. 

Brooks said students would learn the skills needed for a business to succeed. These include a clear understanding of accounting and principles; efficient management processes; practical verbal, electronic, and visual communication skills, work; how to work with supervisors, customers, employees, and stakeholders; and knowledge of computer software, including word processing spreadsheets, and presentation software.

Small-business owners have taken the course to improve the company’s management end, Brooks said. He also has had students who worked in physical labor positions but took the course to work in an office.

Howard said the program offers people career choices.

“I think people should embrace what they learn in the program. They will succeed,” he said. “TSTC’s Business Management Technology program is the best out there.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.