Chancellor’s Excellence Award – Melanie Pruett

(FORT BEND) – When the Texas State Technical College Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipient list came out, Melanie Pruett could not believe she was reading her name.

“I was shocked and surprised. I never thought something like this could happen to me,” said the TSTC enrollment specialist.

TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser selects faculty and staff for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and state for this award and are recognized by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD).

“These teammates were nominated by their peers, recommended by their Provosts and Vice Chancellors and chosen as faculty and staff who model excellence in our college every day,” said Reeser. “Their caring and dedicated efforts embolden us all to make a difference in the success of our teams and the lives of our students.”

Pruett has been with TSTC for two years and has extensive experience in the area of higher education.

Before coming to TSTC she worked at the Baylor College of Medicine campus in Houston for 17 years in the Office of Admissions and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

She left higher education to work in the oil and gas industry only to be laid off after 11 years, but her passion and love for students and higher education never diminished.

“I enjoy working with students, getting them into college and seeing them succeed,” said Pruett. “So when I saw TSTC was opening in our area I jumped at the opportunities that were available. I wanted to get back into higher education where I belonged.”

Pruett applied for three different positions before receiving a job offer for her current position. She meets with prospective students daily and assists them with the application process to enroll at TSTC.

Pruett’s supervisor and TSTC’s Executive Director of Admissions Vanessa Vasquez said she was not surprised at all by Pruett’s recognition.

“Melanie brings so much positivity and energy to our team,” she said. “She is always going above and beyond her call of duty and has the best customer service. She treats everyone like they’re her family.”

Vasquez, who has worked with Pruett for two years, added that Pruett’s contributions to the team have not gone unnoticed.

“I knew since I first met Melanie that she would excel in her position and would someday be rewarded for her hard work and dedication to the college, its students and employees,” she said. “You can always count on her.”

Pruett said that the exciting part of her job is meeting new people and building relationships and good rapport with the students she works with.

“Many of the students I meet end up coming back to chit chat or for advice,” she said. “It’s exciting to see them grow.”

The award recipient said she would like to give a big thanks to those who nominated her.

“It’s great to be recognized for your hard work and for who you are,” she said. “I have a great team and I am truly honored to know that they appreciate what I do.”

Pruett said she hopes to continue growing with TSTC and working hard for its prospective and current students.

“I love TSTC. I can honestly say that this was the best choice I ever made,” she said. “I feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of others and to me that is so rewarding.”

Pruett will join the 15 other Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipients in May at the NISOD dinner and celebration in Austin where they will receive their awards.

1936 Ford Donated to TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology Program

(WACO) –Texas State Technical College in Waco’s Auto Collision and Management Technology recently received a 1936 Ford Tudor Sedan as a donation from the Gill family of Lott.

Marye Gill donated her late husband’s favorite project for over 25 years to TSTC in hopes of sharing the same joy it brought to her husband.

“He worked on the car whenever he had the money to, and when he didn’t, he would just stare at it waiting to work on it again,” Gill said.

After Charles Gill passed away in December 2017, Ms. Gill debated selling the vehicle. When she did not receive a quality offer, she elected to celebrate her husband’s life by to donating it to TSTC.

“I prayed about it and talked to friends and decided that it was best to donate it to the folks at TSTC so the students could experience it and let them learn and get joy out of it like he did,” Ms. Gill said.

TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program was honored and excited to receive the gift and will begin restoring the vehicle this fall.

“I think this will make an excellent recruitment tool and showpiece for the department and the school. We will have students do all the work with the help of instructors, but it will be all the students,” said Clint Campbell, the program’s statewide chair.

The restoration will take several years to allow multiple students access and will then be used as a showcase piece and potentially as a fundraiser for the technical program.

“My husband and I, and our three sons, are all college graduates, so we appreciate programs like TSTC that aren’t the four year-university that still give an opportunity to change someone’s life and offer a higher education,” Ms. Gill said.

TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program provides hands-on experience to prepare students for careers in auto body repair and related work fields.

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

TSTC Alumnus Honored Posthumously With Plaque, Scholarship

(WACO) – The compassionate spirit of Antonio Barragan Jr. will live on at Texas State Technical College.

The memory of Barragan was recently honored by his family, friends and the Electrical Power and Controls program’s faculty and staff with a plaque unveiling and scholarship announcement. Barragan was a 2007 TSTC Electrical Systems and Instrumentation graduate who died Sept. 6, 2017.

“Antonio loved you guys so much,” said Maria Barragan, his widow. “I’m proud of the person that he became. He was a very hard worker, a good student. He was very happy to push his family and friends to better themselves in their education and their lives. It made him proud – I know it did. I know he would be really happy that we all came together.”

People entering the Electronics Center’s offices at TSTC will now see a plaque bearing a photo of Barragan. And, future Electrical Power and Controls majors at TSTC will have an opportunity to receive a scholarship in Barragan’s honor. The scholarship will be for second- and third-semester students, said Dan Bateman, senior instructor in the Electrical Power and Controls program.

This semester, two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to TSTC students Colton Janik of Yoakum and Jason Mallory of Rosebud. Bateman described the students as standouts in the program.

Besides Barragan, his sister, brother and four cousins attended TSTC and majored in the same technical program.

“We know that when we serve one student well, it’s not just the one student, it’s their whole family,” TSTC in Waco Provost Adam Hutchison said. “I can’t think of a better example than this family.”

Barragan was born Oct. 8, 1984 in Waco and worked at Brazos Electric, according to his obituary in the Waco Tribune-Herald.

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

Two TSTC Employees in Marshall Honored

(MARSHALL) -Texas State Technical College has announced the recipients of this year’s Chancellor’s Excellence Award, and two Marshall employees were honored.

This year’s Marshall award winners are Melissa Maloney, coordinator of instructional support, and Tonya Holloway, executive assistant to the provost.

Maloney, who has been at TSTC for nearly five years, said she was surprised to receive the award.

“I don’t know that anyone is ever thinking that is going to happen to them, so I was a little shocked,” she said. “I hope it’s because people think I do a good job and try to serve the patrons and people that I work for.”

Maloney has a passion for TSTC’s mission.

“I really do believe in what we do: putting people to work,” she said. “I think there’s something special about the drive that we have to change lives, and I think that’s what we do.”

Holloway was also excited to receive the award.

“It was an honor,” she said. “I never thought I would get chosen for anything like that. But yes, I am very excited about it.”

Holloway said she believes she was nominated because she tries to help make work easier for her colleagues.

“I think I was nominated because I’m a very hard worker, dedicated, and I have a good boss,” Holloway said. “All of the people on campus and all the activities — I try to help with everything. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back or anything, but I just help out where I can.”

Holloway believes in the college’s mission as well, and her two daughters have attended TSTC’s Process Operations program.

“Both of them have been helped tremendously as far as what they’re doing in the program and what paths they should take,” she said. “It’s also the instructors helping them to mature into responsible adults.”

Holloway takes pride in knowing she is making a difference in people’s lives.

“I just know that whatever I do in whatever capacity I serve, I’m changing someone’s life,” she said. “Whether it’s a student, a co-worker or someone that just comes in, I have something to do with changing their lives and the paths that they take.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001, and over the past 15 years nearly 300 TSTC employees have received the honor. Recipients are chosen based on outstanding contributions and achievements, commitment to excellence, and character. Honorees serve as agents of change in the advancement of TSTC initiatives.

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for over 100 positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

TSTC in Sweetwater Hosts Industry Job Fair for Students

(SWEETWATER) – More than 150 Texas State Technical College students learned about job opportunities at the Industry Job Fair held Tuesday morning on the Sweetwater campus.

Roughly 30 employers that attended looked for students to fill welding, industrial painting, drafting and other jobs in high demand.

Robert Schneider, 26, an Automotive Technician certificate major from San Angelo, visited the event to continue job hunting before his April graduation.

“The event is a good thing,” he said. “These young kids need to look at their options and see what is out there.”

Erika Luneau, director of human resources for Koenig and Bauer in Irving, said she was looking out for students studying electrical and mechanical fields who want to do a one-year apprenticeship in Germany and then work for the company. The German company specializes in making printing presses.

“We have been working with TSTC over the last year,” Luneau said. “We have visited several campuses and like the programs. We like how students learn theory and do hands-on. We need to find someone who is adventurous and is okay with the lifestyle of traveling most of the time.”

Christa Valdivia, 28, a nursing major from Colorado City, said it was her first employment event. She is scheduled to graduate in December.

“I actually was curious about occupational nursing,” she said. “I got some information on civilian nursing. I feel like the job fair gives us a leg up. It’s just for TSTC.”

Heather Kumpe, economic development specialist for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, was also representing the San Angelo Regional Manufacturers Alliance. Kumpe had a lot to talk about with students. She said San Angelo has more than 80 manufacturers and a 3.2 percent unemployment rate.

Kumpe said specific San Angelo employers were seeking nurses, mechanics and industrial sandblasters.

“Our job is to get more companies to come to San Angelo,” Kumpe said. “But, we need the workers. This is the first time we have done a job fair.”

Employees from ONE Gas, a natural gas distribution company with more than two million customers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, brought a mobile telemetry unit used to monitor pressure at oil and gas locations and a field meter set to show students.

Tony Peterson, a foreman for ONE Gas, said he was seeking job candidates to move to the Permian Basin to work.

“Retention is a challenge,” he said.

Some employer tables had TSTC alumni answering questions from students.

Brandi Riley, a registered nurse and outpatient/surgery services manager at Eastland Memorial Hospital in Eastland, graduated in 2017 from TSTC in Sweetwater. She said finding qualified nurses is a challenge.

“Working in a small facility, you know everyone,” Riley said. “I know the names of my patients and co-workers by first name.”

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

TSTC, Texas Music Café award recording contract to local TSTC student

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College student Christopher Briones has become a local celebrity with his first-place win during the Texas Music Café PBS TV Show and TSTC’s Talent Search, bringing the award home to Harlingen for the third year in row.

Briones, who started singing five years ago in high school and currently sings at a local church, was awarded a $2,500 recording contract with E-Cleff Productions, Inc. after his award-winning performance during Wednesday night’s finals held at TSTC’s Waco campus.

It was there where the 19-year-old belted out the notes to “Resurrecting,” by Elevated Worship.

“My worst fear during this contest was rejection. Rejection because of my choice of songs,” he said. “But my love for the gospel and worship ended up being received well and led me to a new chapter in my music career.”

The San Benito native first auditioned for his spot at finals during Harlingen’s Texas Music Café and Talent Search regional competition event last month, singing “Reckless” by Cory Asbury.

To earn a spot at finals, Briones had to be in the top five among 33 performers from TSTC’s campuses across the state.

Briones earned more than 300 “Likes” on YouTube and qualified to join Brooke Baily from TSTC Abilene, Caroline Herman from TSTC Marshall, Samuel Self from TSTC Waco and Brandon Felts and John Ward from TSTC Fort Bend County at the competition’s finals.

“I never expected to make it this far, much less win first place,” said Briones. “There was so much talent in one room. I was shocked, surprised and excited when I heard the judges call my name. I couldn’t believe it.”

In the coming months, Briones will travel back to Waco for his session in the recording studio with an assigned producer. He will record two original songs, one titled, “The One,” an ode to God for never leaving his side and a second one that is still a work in progress.

“I started working on these songs immediately after arriving from Waco, same night actually,” he said. “I’m excited to share my songs with the world and I hope they can make an impact in someone’s life.”

Briones’ tracks will be featured on the Texas Music Café website, radio program and PBS. He will also have the opportunity to perform as the opening act for a live taping of Texas Music Café.

“This is about to take my music career to a new level,” said Briones. “I hope this opens up other performance and recording opportunities. This is a dream come true.”

Student Life Coordinator Belinda Palomino said she is proud of every contestant who participated this year.

“Every year I am amazed at the amount of talent we have on campus and across the state,” she said. “I would seriously hate to be a judge. It’s a hard decision for them every time.”

She said the partnership between TSTC, Texas Music Café and its executive producer Chris Ermoian is invaluable because of the opportunities it presents to students. They have been working together since 2016.

“As a technical school many think we have no musical talent, but this lets us showcase what we have and get our students’ names out there and expose them to a world they may not get the chance to see in the classroom or outside of these walls.”

Palomino said she is excited to see the partnership continue to flourish and she hopes someday every TSTC campus can host a show and that the number of participants continues to grow.

As for Briones, he said he is thankful to TSTC and Texas Music Café for this opportunity, but even more thankful to his family and friends who pushed him to do it in the first place.

TSTC students spend spring break rebuilding lives

(HARLINGEN) – Trading in flip-flops for hammers and drills, four Texas State Technical College Building Construction Technology students volunteered with Eight Days of Hope over spring break to help rebuild for those displaced by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Yaquelin Gonzalez, Kristen Perales, Lidia Hernandez and Susana Sierra jumped in a car, packed their tents and bags and headed northeast to Houston for three days to join more than 4,000 other volunteers from across the United States during the organization’s two-week event.

“It’s so sad to see that after seven months there are still people trying to pick up the pieces after such a devastating storm,” said Sierra. “Helping at such a large scale event was something we’ve been wanting to do for a while now and I’m so glad we got this opportunity.”

Eight Days of Hope is a Christian, non-profit organization in Houston that serves communities affected by natural disasters by assisting with rapid response and disaster relief. The organization operates with the help of volunteers and donations.

Volunteers, like TSTC’s building construction students, have restored or rebuilt close to 2,000 homes since 2005. To date, the organization has completed more than $30 million dollars of work for free.

Gonzalez, Perales, Hernandez and Sierra were assigned to assist with kitchen and bathroom cabinet assembly and worked closely with the homeowners, who were also helping the volunteers.

“The experience was great. On top of getting field experience, we also got to spend time with and speak to the victims of the flooding,” said Sierra. “To see hope and gratitude in their eyes was the best feeling ever.”

The sentiment was shared across the board.

“We had families telling us that we were their sign of hope,” said Gonzalez. “That’s so touching. They’ve been through so much and I’m glad I took the opportunity to help.”

Hernandez added, “The experience was worthwhile. Our contribution was making a difference and that in itself was rewarding.”

TSTC’s Building Construction Technology Instructor Rolando Cuellar said he is proud of his students for taking the initiative to help out a community in need.

“It was spring break and they could have gone anywhere and done anything,” he said. “But instead they made the choice to work and go where their help was needed. They really went above and beyond their call of duty.”

The women’s three-day adventure went beyond assembling cabinets. They bonded as a group while sleeping outside of a church in tents and were rewarded with a live concert featuring gospel singer Ryan Stevenson.

The students all agree that the next time they get a call for help they will be there. They said there is no greater feeling than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.

To learn more about Building Construction Technology at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Chancellor’s Excellence Award – Paul Lopez

(HARLINGEN) – Paul Lopez has belonged to the Texas State Technical College family for 13 years, troubleshooting and solving problems as an Application Administrator for the Office of Information Technology (OIT), and this year he is being recognized for the problem solver he is with a 2018 Chancellor’s Excellence Award.

“I thought someone was playing a joke on me. I thought how cruel,” he said with a laugh. “I couldn’t believe I was actually getting one of these (awards). I never expected it.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award is given by TSTC’s Chancellor Mike Reeser to select faculty and staff for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and their state.

“These teammates were nominated by their peers, recommended by their Provosts and Vice Chancellor’s and chosen as faculty and staff who model excellence in our college every day,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Their caring and dedicated efforts embolden us all to make a difference in the success of our teams and the lives of our students.”

The San Benito native graduated from TSTC’s Computer Science program with an associate degree in 1996 and worked with Rio Hondo Independent School District and Region One Education Center in Edinburg as a lead technician/interim technology coordinator and help desk developer, respectively, before returning to TSTC.

“I have to credit the mentors I’ve had along the way,” he said. “Because of them I’ve been able to be successful in my career for so long. Every piece of advice I have taken to heart and have carried with me.”

Lopez has 20 years of experience in the information technology world.

And for at least four years during the Windows XP era in the early 2000’s, Lopez worked as an instructor with TSTC’s Corporate College, which is now Workforce Training and Continuing Education.

He helped train industry leaders and their employees, ranging from assembly line workers to supervisors.

“This was definitely a learning experience for me,” he said. “I loved teaching and sharing my knowledge and seeing faces light up when they learned something new and understood it.”

In 2005, Lopez made the full transition to TSTC and began his journey at the TSTC Help Desk, moved up to a network technician II and eventually into his current role.

As an applications administrator he has worked on both the support and project side of the house, initiating and maintaining various projects for departments such as TSTC’s Learning Resource Center, Police Department and HVAC program.

Senior Executive Director of Infrastructure for OIT and also Lopez’s supervisor Rick Collatos said this award is long overdue for Lopez.

“Paul is a dedicated employee who goes the extra mile for everyone he works with,” said Collatos. “He demonstrates an excellence in customer service every day and has so for many years. Congratulations Paul.”

Collatos also said that Lopez is an innovator for TSTC, always thinking ahead and dedicating himself to projects that will take the college to the next level.

Those who nominated Lopez for this award have remained anonymous, but he has a special message for them.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Lopez. “I don’t get out of my office, everyone I have contact with is over the phone or video conference, so I appreciate people taking notice of my work and recognizing me for it. It’s a true honor.”

So what is next for Lopez?

Lopez said he hopes to go back to school and finish what he started: a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He also hopes to move back into teaching at TSTC and share his knowledge and skills with others.

Lopez will join the other 16 Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipients from across TSTC’s 10 campuses in May for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin where the honorees will receive their award.

TSTC Graduates Help Rebuild Puerto Rico Power Grid

(MARSHALL) – In the wake of last year’s Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was in shambles. With many residents left without electricity, some of Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker graduates working for Oncor wanted to help restore power to the storm-ravaged island.

TSTC alumni Sawyer Prestridge, a 2015 graduate, and Paul Sheppard, a 2013 graduate, are among many Oncor employees recently sent by the electric service provider to assist in the island’s recovery efforts.

Prestridge left for Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in January to help rebuild the electrical grid. He volunteered to help restore the grid because he wanted to help the residents.

“It felt really good,” he said. “It was definitely a humbling experience working there. It was hard work.”

Sheppard worked in the same city in February.

“I wanted to help out,” he said. “I wanted to use the skills I was given to help the people there get the lights on. It’s a good deed.”

Prestridge said the concrete houses he saw weren’t too badly damaged, but power lines were down and wreckage was far and wide.

“There was debris everywhere,” he said. “Downed trees were stacked up 70 feet high. We mainly picked up wire and changed out electrical poles.”

Sheppard shared the same sentiments.

“It was still pretty bad,” Sheppard said. “We were sent to one of the most mountainous areas there, so not everything is accessible by truck. Trees had to be cut, but the vegetation grows back every day because it rains every day. The humidity is 100 percent. It looked like nobody had been there.”

Sheppard said the change in environment made the work difficult.

“It was definitely the hardest work I’ve done in my life,” he said. “Here in East Texas, I’m not used to all the mountains and stuff like that. It was definitely a different type of work area. The infrastructure is totally different there than it is here. The weather — it rains every single day. It may rain for 45 minutes and stop for an hour or two and then rain again. It was a totally different experience from working here in East Texas.”

TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Statewide Department Chair Eric Carithers said he is very proud of the graduates for volunteering to work on the island.

“The dedication that it takes to not only do line work, but being young in your career and being away from home for weeks to months at a time, is challenging — especially if it’s their first time being away from their families like that,” Carithers said.

Oncor has sent 80 employees to help restore power to the territory.

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC in Fort Bend’s Annual Open House a Success

(FORT BEND COUNTY) – Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County held its annual open house Friday, opening its campus for program tours and meetings with faculty. The event, designed for prospective students who want to learn more about the college, hosted more than 200 visitors.

Coordinator of student recruitment Marigold Sagrado said she hoped the open house event would help give the college more visibility.

“I want to help spread the word about TSTC in the Houston and greater surrounding areas,” she said. “I also hope they took away that technical education is important and can offer a high-paying career.”

Visitors touring the campus’ 10 programs were able to participate in hands-on activities.

“In our Precision Machining program, our guests had the opportunity to create keychains on our CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machines,” Sagrado said. “They got to see students climbing poles in Electrical Lineworker Technology. Robotics demoed the robots for visitors, and Electrical Power & Controls did a demonstration on electricity. It was a lot of fun.”

Sagrado said the college’s unique programs are what drew many of the visitors.

“Our attendees are looking for programs in these fields, but there aren’t a lot of schools offering them,” she said. “I think that piqued their interest to check out more.”

Other guests heard about the college by word of mouth.

“People are talking about their experience at TSTC and how the learning experience is different from any other college or university,” Sagrado said.

TSTC’s Student Recruitment office made some changes to open house this year hoping reach a broader audience.

“This year, our event lasted until 7 p.m.,” she said. “We wanted to try to reach some of the nontraditional students who may work during the day.”

Isaac Rush, an attendee who has now decided to enroll at TSTC in the fall, said he found the event beneficial.

“Not only were the teachers very helpful, but the student volunteers were just as helpful too,” he said. “The students were intertwined with their field of study, which helped me in selecting what I want to major in at TSTC. All in all, TSTC is a great environment.”

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on the college, visit tstc.edu.

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