TSTC student inspired by sons with muscular dystrophy

By Emily Swartz

(FORT BEND) – Joshua Schott, a Texas State Technical College Robotics Technology student, grew up in less-than ideal circumstances.

“Growing up I had no idea where my next meal was going to come from,” said Schott. “My life was less about success through education and more about survival.”

Schott attended Palacios High School where he received a 2.1 grade-point average.

During that time, school was not a priority.

“I didn’t receive much of a high school education,” said Schott. “I knew that I didn’t have many options as far as higher education, but I ended up getting my degree anyways at ITT Technical Institute.”

At ITT Tech, Schott refocused on his education. He received a 4.0 grade-point average and graduated with an associate degree in Electronics.

The father of four worked menial jobs after earning his degree to provide for his family.Joshua Schott

Without much luck finding a job in his desired field, he made the decision to enroll at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County.

“My wife is the person that inspired me to pursue my education. We did our research together and waited for the Fort Bend campus to open,” said Schott.

The 38-year-old plans to earn his associate degree in Summer 2020 to venture out into the medical field. He wants to help develop new exoskeletal technology to aid in mobility for people that are paraplegic, including his two sons with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is an inherited disorder of progressive muscular weakness typically in boys and in one of the many types of muscular dystrophy.

“My sons are where I get my passion from,” said Schott. “I really want to make a difference for them through my career. “My dream is that all kids confined to wheelchairs are granted this opportunity.”

Darcy Schott, Schott’s wife speaks to his resilience.

“Joshua is a dedicated husband and father. He has never given up,” she said. “He gives his time selflessly and is always willing to help another person in any way he can. Robotics is just another way for him to tirelessly help not only his family, but humanity as a whole.”

Schott’s family members are not the only ones proud of him. TSTC Electronic Power and Controls instructor Jonathan Bonkoske sings praises for the helpful student.

“He is a high quality student who personifies the technical skills education that TSTC provides,” said Bonkoske. “He has always been available to help those who need a hand with class work and I look forward to seeing him excel in our program and his career.”

Schott’s wishes for after graduation are simple.

“I hope to provide enough finances to purchase a house, to no longer rely on government assistance, and take my family on a vacation,” he said.

For more information on the Texas State Technical College Robotics Technology program, visit tstc.edu.

Registration is going on now. First day of class is August 27.

TSTC Wind Energy Technology Program Contributing to Area Economy

(SWEETWATER) — A summer breeze floating through Texas brings a moment of relief for some residents, but thousands of Texans are taking advantage of each gust as a clean energy source.

Texas State Technical College and Nolan County are working together to lead the charge in the nation’s number one renewable energy source: wind energy.

“In Nolan County alone we’ve seen more than 250 jobs emerge because of wind energy,” said Ken Becker, executive director of Sweetwater Economic Development. “Whether it’s maintenance, manufacturing or installation there’s an opportunity in multiple fields and that’s feeding back into the community.”

With no intention of slowing down, the industry is clamoring for more and more people.

“Wind energy is growing,” said Billie Jones, a TSTC Wind Energy Technology instructor. “It’s a renewable energy source, so it’s it going to be here when we run out of other fuel sources which means there is definitely job security.”

Locally, wind energy helps rural communities like Sweetwater with new sources of income and tax revenue. Globally, it provides an opportunity for the more adventurous to travel and work in various locations.

“I accepted a job with KBA and after I graduate in December they will be flying me to Germany for a year of training,” said Kaitlin Sullivan, a TSTC Wind Energy Technology student. “I’m so excited because I get to travel but also because my job options are pretty much limitless in this industry.”

Sullivan grew up watching wind turbines pop up in her hometown of Dumas, but assures that the industry is accepting of anyone willing to learn and interested in clean energy.

“I had already earned a bachelor’s degree in English but couldn’t find a job I liked, so I went back to school at TSTC and found my calling,” said Sullivan.

The wind energy industry has evolved from many field technicians learning as they worked to having specific industry standards, training and certification requirements for all wind turbine technicians.

“Back in 2007 when I entered the wind industry there were no wind turbine training programs and very few experienced wind turbine technicians,” said Tony Robinette, field operations and recruiting manager at SystemOne, which has locations in Amarillo, Dallas and Houston. “Now, training programs like TSTC have created clear paths for entry into the wind industry to meet the rising demand and create more opportunities for wind technicians.”

As global populations grow, so does the demand for energy.

“This industry is here to stay,” Becker said. “We use energy everyday and we need to pursue something sustainable like wind energy because it is renewable and it gives back in a positive way to the surrounding communities.”

TSTC offers the Wind Energy Technician certificate and the Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology.

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

First Cohort of Gerdau Workers to Graduate from TSTC

(RED OAK) – The first cohort of workers from Gerdau’s Midlothian Steel Mill will walk the stage at Texas State Technical College’s first Commencement on Monday, Aug. 20, in Waxahachie.

The company began sending employees to further their training at the campus in 2015. The eight students who will walk the stage Monday worked full-time while attending TSTC to earn their associate degrees in Industrial Maintenance.

TSTC Provost Marcus Balch said the college is looking forward to celebrating the occasion.

“We are very excited to not only be able to host our first ever Commencement ceremony here in North Texas, but also to have the opportunity to celebrate the first cohort of Gerdau employees graduating with the AAS in Industrial Maintenance,” he said.

Ryan Hube, Gerdau Midlothian Human Resources Manager, said the employees are already benefiting from their training.

“Many of them have already accepted maintenance apprenticeship positions throughout the mill,” he said. “With continued hands-on training they will hopefully have long careers as industrial millwrights or electricians here at Gerdau.”

Balch said he is proud to see area companies investing in their employees.

“What a tremendous accomplishment, and, what a great company Gerdau is to invest in their employees and provide opportunities for these employees to grow within their organization,” he said. “We at TSTC couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this partnership.”

Sixty students are eligible to graduate from eight of the college’s 10 programs in Red Oak.

The Summer 2018 commencement will be at 6 p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center.

TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser will be the featured speaker at the event.

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Student Receives Nationwide Aviation Scholarship

(WACO) – James Floyd is soaring not only in his studies at Texas State Technical College, but also in receiving a financial boost.

Floyd was one of two college students nationwide to recently receive a $2,000 scholarship from Mesa Airlines and the international coed aviation fraternity Alpha Eta Rho.

“It will help with supplies, books and tuition,” said Floyd, 32. “I am blessed. I’ve worked hard. This will be my 11th semester at TSTC.”

Floyd is president of the Alpha Eta Rho’s Alpha Pi Chapter based at TSTC.

“People want to naturally follow him,” said Robert Capps, a TSTC aviation maintenance instructor. “He was always a cool head.”

Floyd is scheduled to graduate in 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Avionics Technology. This will be his fourth associate degree from TSTC.

“I wanted to expand my knowledge to work on any part of the aircraft,” said Floyd.

Floyd grew up in Round Rock and graduated from homeschooling in 2003.

He was in the U.S. Air Force from 2004 to 2010 and left the service as a senior airman. He did three deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq and a support deployment to the United Arab Emirates.

“I wanted to serve my country to do my part to ensure our U.S. Constitution is upheld,” said Floyd.

After the military, he worked for an armored courier service but realized he needed other skills to  ensure his success.

In 2014, he enrolled at TSTC in Williamson County and graduated two years later with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology.

“TSTC in general came highly recommended from my parents, friends and elders,” Floyd said. “I wanted a trade I could fall back on.”

He said he enjoyed precision tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding and learn it can be used in the aviation field. In fall 2016, he transferred to TSTC in Waco and began studying aviation maintenance.

Floyd finished associate degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology earlier this year.

“You need the A&P (airframe and powerplant) before you touch an aircraft,” he said. “I think I adapted pretty quickly, especially to the airframe side. I had worked with metal before when I was in welding.”

Martin Seagraves, the lead instructor in TSTC’s Avionics Technology department, said graduates having the Aircraft Airframe Technology, Aircraft Powerplant Technology and Avionics Technology degrees means they can fix anything on an aircraft.

“These graduates are in very high demand,” said Seagraves. “Employers come find them.”

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

Registration for fall classes is ongoing through the end of the month.

Student to Graduate from High School and TSTC Simultaneously

(WACO) — How do you get ahead of the competition?

According to Texas State Technical College student Josie Price, it is by graduating high school a month before graduating college at 18 years old.  

Price, of Mt. Calm,  is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Communication Technology at TSTC’s Summer 2018 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, at the Waco Convention Center.

Just a month ago, she earned her high school diploma through homeschooling. Price credited her nearly simultaneous graduations to dual credit hours at TSTC and the flexibility offered with homeschooling.

“TSTC was phenomenal in allowing me to get everything done quickly but thoroughly,” Price said. “It really allowed me to get more accomplished to be ahead in life and stay ahead.”

On top of her studies, Price balances working at an antique shop, an internship and serving as a writer and member of the board for a startup website, Temple of Geek.

“I just can’t stand to be still,” Price said. “I’ve learned so many things from each job that are molding me into a better professional and allowing me to pursue my passions.”

Price’s dedication and ambition resonate with her instructors and even surprises them when they learn of her age.

“If she hadn’t told me she was high school school student I wouldn’t have known,” said Stacie Buterbaugh, a TSTC Visual Communication Technology instructor. “She’s so mature, confident and talented. She’s such a great communicator and a real motivated self learner.”

According to the Texas Home School Coalition, it is not uncommon for homeschoolers to graduate early or even obtain a college degree at younger ages.

“If I have learned anything, it’s that hard work trumps talent every time. You are competing against yourself and only if you push yourself to be better will you succeed,” Price said.

For more information about TSTC, log onto tstc.edu.

TSTC Student Carries on Family Tradition

(WACO) – Fear of heights may be one of the most common phobias, but for Texas State Technical College student Logan Godino, being up high has become his second home.

Godino, from Canadian in the Texas Panhandle,  is a candidate for graduation for an Electrical Lineworker Technology certificate at TSTC. He is scheduled to graduate at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, at the Waco Convention Center.

Godino, 19, currently works part-time at North Plains Electric Cooperative in Canadian with his father. After graduation, Godino will move to the office in Perryton as an apprentice lineman.

“I’ve been practicing climbing power poles since I was a teenager,” Godino said. “We had one in the backyard and my dad has been in this industry for 25 years, so I’ve been interested in this for years and the people in it are like family.”

While Godino has always known that he wanted to be a lineman, his first week at school was different than most.

“Hurricane Harvey hit and they needed guys who could help get the power back on,” Godino said. “So I asked my instructor if I could skip the first week of class to go down and help, and he said sure.”

TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology Instructor Bobby Mitchell was very pleased knowing Godino would be in the field helping others and saw it as a perfect learning opportunity.

“I knew he wouldn’t miss anything he couldn’t make up, so I was okay with it and I was proud of him,” Mitchell said. “I learned he’s just that kind of guy that works and helps others when he can, whether its those in need or assisting the other students.”

NPEC is ready to welcome Godino as a full-time employee and looks forward to seeing him growing with the company.

“We love Logan, he has been one of ours his whole life,” said Jennifer Roberts, manager of finance and benefits administration at NPEC.

For more information about Texas State Technical College, log onto tstc.edu.

Student Overcomes Obstacles to Reach TSTC Graduation

(HUTTO) – When Texas State Technical College student Damian Helmbold walks the stage Friday at the Summer 2018 Commencement, he will be reaching a goal he has worked towards for more than  two years.

Helmbold was born in Kingston, New York,  but moved to Texas in 1997. Three years ago, he experienced health issues and decided he wanted to make a change in his life.

“I had a fibrosis growing under my kidney and had a major surgery on my abdomen,” Helmbold said. “I got through that, and then I had back surgery. After that I decided I wanted to do more.”

So after learning about TSTC from some of his colleagues at the city of Georgetown, Helmbold enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance program.

“My coworkers went to TSTC in Waco and graduated from there maybe 10 years ago,” he said. “They’re in the field that I wanted to be in. That’s what made me choose this.”

Helmbold worked for the city of Georgetown’s water department for nine years. He credits his upcoming degree for his new position with the city — supervisory control and data acquisition I&C technician. He began working in the new position six months ago.

“We maintain all the stations in the system for the city of Georgetown,” he said. “It could be water or electrical substations and wastewater plants. We deal with all the communications, the programming on the PLCs and the communications back to the control center via radio and fiber optics.”

Juggling working full time, going to school at night and spending time with his wife and kids, Helmbold was happy to take evening classes.

“I wouldn’t have been able to finish if I couldn’t do it at my own pace,” he said.

Helmbold will graduate with honors and credits two things for maintaining his high GPA: his work ethic and his wife.

“I made sure to allocate enough time to do my work, any studying and any research I had to do,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without my wife, of course, having two boys. Her help allowed me to step away to go to school, while both kids are in sports and with all the school activities.”

His advice to those considering the school is to meet with the instructors.

“Come in and talk to the teachers themselves,” he said. “They’re a big reason I chose to come here and stay the whole eight semesters it took me to do this part time. It’s a big accomplishment to finish something like this.”

Helmbold is one of 23 students eligible to walk at the college’s Commencement exercises  on Friday. The ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC EMS Student Sets a High Bar

(BROWNWOOD) – Christopher Michael of Comanche worked jobs as a bartender and band tour manager after high school, but he knew he wanted to do more with his life.

The job he had as a volunteer firefighter lit the spark, which led to him to enroll at Texas State Technical College.

“I was looking for something more long-term and stable,” he said.

Michael is a candidate for graduation for the Certificate 2 – Emergency Medical Services Paramedic at Texas State Technical College’s Summer 2018 Commencement on Friday, Aug. 17, at the Abilene Convention Center.

Michael is already a graduate of TSTC, having finished his Certificate 1 – Emergency Medical Services EMT in 2017.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “The instructors we have here have been helpful inside and outside the classroom. You spend so much time working together that it’s like a family.”

Stephanie Young, a TSTC Emergency Medical Services instructor, said Michael set a standard of professionalism among his classmates.

“He is just a wonderful advocate for our program,” she said. “He’s never late, has a 4.0 grade point average, which is not easy in the medical field. He is outstanding in his clinicals. He really sets the standard.”

Michael, 36, currently works for Lifeguard Emergency Medical Services in Brownwood.

“We answer 911 calls in Brown County and take transfers across the state,” he said. “I can work on classwork between calls. I have to push through it. It’s a grueling schedule with school and clinicals.”

Michael’s clinical work was in Abilene and split between ambulance services and hospitals. He said he enjoyed being in the operating rooms the most, learning about anatomy and medical procedures.

“The students learn quality patient care and professionalism that really sets them apart from others,” Young said. “We teach in a flip classroom, which means it is all scenario-based education. It is real world, real-life scenarios from mock phone calls to action in the field. There is an extreme demand for paramedics, so much so that they are being offered hiring bonuses.”

Michael will be among the first Emergency Medical Services students attending classes in late August in the new Industrial Technology Center at TSTC in Abilene. The EMS program is relocating to the new building from the East Highway 80 campus in Abilene.

“Right now I am at another stepping stone to be a flight medic,” said Michael. “I could not have picked a better college.”

Michael is a 2000 graduate of Comanche High School.

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

 

TSTC and Evans Enterprises Inc. Celebrate TWC Skills Development Grant

(WACO) – Leaders from Texas State Technical College, the Texas Workforce Commission and Evans Enterprises Inc., a company specializing in wind turbine repairs, gathered Monday to commemorate a $155,128 Skills Development Fund grant.

The grant will create or upgrade 78 industrial jobs at the company’s Abilene, Waco and Wichita Falls facilities.

“The mission of TSTC and the Texas Workforce Commission intersect at the most critical point – the employer,” said Adam Hutchison, TSTC provost. “By working together with Evans Enterprises Inc., we’re able to leverage our technical education expertise with TWC funds to train more workers, upgrade their skills and make Evans a better and more profitable company. This is how TSTC helps drive economic development in Texas.”

Jerry Boroff, a graduate of TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program and plant manager for Evans’ three sites in Texas, said workers have already learned about basic electrical theory and electrical safety. Evans employees from Abilene and Wichita Falls travel to the Waco facility for training.

“We get to educate the guys and they feel more comfortable in their jobs,” Boroff said.

TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez III said TSTC’s work with the wind turbine industry signals the diversification of the state’s economy.

“You have customized training for industry need,” Alvarez said.

The Skills Development Fund has been used since 1996 to localize workforce training for companies. This enables companies to work directly with local partners to develop training tailored to employees’ needs. The fund has helped to create or upgrade more than 342,400 jobs in Texas. The fund has assisted more than 4,200 employers statewide.

Evans Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1954 and has 10 plants in four states.

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

 

Student Success Profile – Joesaline Orta

(HARLINGEN) – Joesaline OrtaJoesaline M. Orta is one of two women studying Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College. The Brownsville native rises to the occasion with an outstanding grade-point average of 3.7 and plans to graduate with her associate degree in Spring 2019.

What are your plans after graduation?

I am looking forward to working for three to five years after graduation.  I’m aiming to end up in the Houston or San Antonio area. Ideally, I’m interested in working for a company like Toyota or Tenaris in the manufacturing department. Eventually, I would like to come back to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What’s your dream job?

I aspire to open a business where I can apply my knowledge in mechatronics. I have an idea of what this business would look like: it would be a one-stop shop where manufacturers are able to purchase parts usually only available online, immediately. It would be a quicker, more efficient way to shop.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment is obtaining my position as a work study where I am able to attend recruitment events where we reach out to high school students to spark their interest in mechatronics. It is important to reach out not only to high schools, but undecided students here at TSTC. I represent only one of two women in the program, so it is important to spread awareness.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned to never give up. I know that I have the capability to do something, even when it is challenging. In mechatronics, you often have to troubleshoot when your project isn’t functioning in the desired way. Repeating this process over and over becomes frustrating, but pushing through and finding the solution is the most rewarding part of the process.

Name a TSTC person who most influences your success.

The instructors at TSTC encourage me immensely. Mechatronics Technology Lab Assistant Adalberto Perez, in particular, helped me when I didn’t believe in my own abilities. He helped me find solutions and motivated me to push myself.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice to future TSTC students is to not procrastinate, accept help from your instructors, because they will always make themselves available to you, and most importantly, always believe in yourself and your abilities.