Student Success Profile

(HARLINGEN) – Darryn Klu is a student at Texas State Technical College who will complete his General Academic Core by Spring 2018.

The Dallas native boasts a 3.5 grade-point average and saidDarryn Klu he likes to be active on campus and his community.

The 18-year-old is a member of the Pool Sharks Club at TSTC and he participates in community service, awareness and fundraising projects with the group.

On his free time, Klu also designs clothing with the hopes of owning his own fashion line someday.

What are your plans after graduation?

After completing my basics at TSTC I will transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Speech Communication.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to become an audiologist and help people with hearing issues. I also want to work closely with my twin brother in growing a successful record label.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment while at TSTC has been meeting new people and being a college algebra tutor when my friends and classmates need help. It has really helped me become more outgoing and less reserved.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned that life is about making the right choices. Life is also what you make of it and grabbing the opportunities that come your way.

Who at TSTC has had the most influence on your success?

It’s difficult to name only one person. All of my instructors give me a lot of advice and guide my educational path. And my peers are just as friendly and helpful. I love that everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?    

I want future students to know that college is what you make of it. College can be easy if you put the hard work and dedication it requires into it. Don’t give up.

TSTC Alum Donates to Help Others Find their Dreams

(FORT BEND) – Texas State Technical College gave Steve Hefner an education and helped him find a career he still loves today and now he is giving back to the school that gave him so much.

The 1985 TSTC graduate recently donated $10,000 to the TSTC Texan Success Scholarship that will assist students who are pursuing a career in construction-related industries such as Industrial Maintenance Technology, Welding Technology, HVAC Technology and Precision Machining Technology. The money will help students pay for tuition, books and other expenses.

Steve Hefner

Steve Hefner

“TSTC was a great experience for me and I want someone else to have that same opportunity,” said Hefner.

The 54-year-old earned his associate degree in building construction from TSTC in Waco and is now the senior vice president of construction, facilities and purchasing for Camden Property Trust in Houston where he has worked for 23 years.

“A home is a special thing in someone’s life,” said Hefner. “And my career gives me great pride in being a part of that and it’s all because of TSTC.”

Hefner said TSTC gave him the foundation he needed to be successful in his field and is glad to see that TSTC is still providing the same service.

“At TSTC and in my career I have had great mentors and I want to be that for somebody,” he said. “TSTC is the best opportunity out there to get an education, skills and a trade.”

Throughout Hefner’s 32-year career in the construction industry he has also worked at Worthing Southeast Builders and SpawGlass and Gross Builders earning promotions and working his way to the top.

“And education is what you make of it,” he added. “Students at TSTC have the same opportunity as a four-year university graduate. Everyone starts at the bottom and earns their place at the top and I hope my donation can help students get there.”

TSTC’s Field Development Officer John Kennedy said donations from alumni are a testament to the college.

“It says a lot for a former students to return to help our college because it builds tremendous credibility for what we are doing in the state of the Texas,” said Kennedy. “In essence it is a testament to an alumni’s trust in our programs and effectiveness in our ability to change people’s lives for the better.”

Kennedy also added that donations are critical to the college’s mission of placing more Texans in great paying jobs.

“These dollars are used by our students to learn a skill that they might not have otherwise been able to without donations from the private sector,” he said. “We are grateful for people like Mr. Hefner who see the value in skilled workers and are willing to invest in the future of others.”

Hefner said he hopes to continue working with Kennedy and TSTC to begin an endowment toward TSTC’s construction-related technologies.

 

“My goal is to help students avoid debt and give them the opportunity to find their passion,” he said. “I want to help them pursue a career that will provide for their future and their family’s needs in life.”

For more information on how to donate to TSTC’s Texan Success Scholarship please call 346-239-3402.

 

Registration for Fall 2017 is in progress. To register or apply anytime visit tstc.edu.

TSTC SkillsUSA Gold Medalists Head to Nationals

(HARLINGEN) – Steak, chicken and all of the trimmings were enjoyed and well-deserved by the 32 Texas State Technical College SkillsUSA state gold medal winners during the annual send-off luncheon.

The gold medalists are headed to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky from June 19-23 to compete among other students from across the United States, and the lunch is for good luck.

“On behalf of TSTC we wish you the best. We know you will all represent us well,” TSTC Provost Dr. Stella Garcia told the students.

“You are our state champions and we will be thinking of you and praying for you,” she added.SkillsUSA Luncheon

SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers. Members build these skills through student-led team meetings, contests, leadership conferences and other activities.

Students in Skills USA participate in hands-on competitions in various fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, building construction and culinary arts.

Luis Moya is one of the students competing at nationals. He set his foundation and earned his way to nationals brick by brick.

The 20-year-old won a gold medal back in March in masonry and will be competing in the same category at nationals.

“I’ve literally been practicing by laying brick,” he said. “It’s been a lot of evenings and weekends preparing but I’m excited and ready.”

This is Moya’s first time competing at nationals, but he is no stranger to the SkillsUSA world. He competed often in high school for building construction before pursuing it as a career at TSTC.

“All of my high school teachers told me TSTC was the best place in town to go for building construction,” said Moya. “And they were right. I’ve had so many opportunities here; going to Kentucky is my latest one. I’ve never been out of Texas.”

For many students like Moya, SkillsUSA opens the doors of travel and networking with professionals in the industry, which leads to career opportunities down the road.

All of the gold medalists were presented and honored during the send-off luncheon with certificates for their first-place win at the state level.

“Go for the gold,” Garcia encouraged. “But just know that no matter the outcome, TSTC is proud of you and you are champions in our eyes.”

With TSTC’s campuses in Waco and West Texas, there are a total of 76 students competing at the SkillsUSA national competition.

TSTC in Waco SkillsUSA Students Honored at Luncheon

(WACO) – Several Texas State Technical College in Waco students and faculty members were honored Friday with a fries and hamburger lunch before departing this weekend for Louisville, Kentucky to take part in SkillsUSA’s 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference.

TSTC in Waco will send 41 students to the conference which brings together more than 6,000 high school and college students nationwide to compete in contests ranging from automotive technology to welding from June 19-23 at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center.

“Hopefully we are going to bring home some medals,” said James Matus, TSTC statewide SkillsUSA manager.

Marcus Crespin, 21, of Victoria will return to the conference to take part in the Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance contest which he won the national gold medal for in 2016. Crespin is a Computer Networking and Systems Administration major scheduled to graduate in August.

“I know what I’m capable of,” Crespin said. “I’m hoping for a bit more competition to test the skills I have.”

The national conference will mark Boyd native Logan Moore’s last work with TSTC. He graduated in the spring with an associate degree in Culinary Arts and will give up his SkillsUSA state presidency after the conference.

Moore, 21, finished sixth in last year’s SkillsUSA Restaurant Service contest which he will take part in again this year. He has practiced for the contest in recent days with TSTC Culinary Arts faculty members.

“I’m ready to compete and improve on what I did last year,” Moore said.

Moore is eager to collect pins from SkillsUSA delegations. He said he was successful last year getting pins from all 50 states and U.S. territories and hopes to repeat the feat this year.

The TSTC students qualified for the national conference by placing first in SkillsUSA’s Texas postsecondary competitions held in the spring in Waco.

The group is scheduled to return to Waco on Saturday, June 24.

For more information on SkillsUSA, go to skillsusa.org.

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

_DSC0601 waco skills june 16, 2017

 

TWC Grant Partners Jonell and TSTC for Job Training

(BRECKENRIDGE) – More than 100 employees at Jonell Filtration Products Inc. will receive valuable job training from instructors at Texas State Technical College, thanks to a $210,320 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.

TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez presented the check to representatives from Jonell and TSTC in a ceremony held Friday afternoon at the company’s Breckenridge facility.

Jonell specializes in the development and manufacturing of filtration and separation products for the oil and gas industry, including offshore exploration and production, gas production and transmission, refinery and petrochemical applications and power generation.

The grant will provide customized training for 106 new and incumbent workers in the West Central Texas area during a period of 12 months.

“The workers will receive training in classes aimed at improving the skills of maintenance technicians and operators,” said John Dosher, executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education at TSTC.

Dosher explained that classes will focus on general plant safety along with mechanical and electrical safety. Other classes will be taught to improve the skills of front office and sales staff and leadership classes will teach employees about conflict resolution and active listening skills.

Virgil Moore III, executive director of the Breckenridge Economic Development Corp., commented on the importance of the grant’s impact on the community.

“Jonell is Breckenridge and Stephens County’s largest private employer and has been a vital part of the local economy for many years,” he noted. “This training will improve the quality of Jonell’s employees, resulting in higher quality products and service and a stronger local company that successfully competes in an international market.”

Steve Bell, Jonell’s production manager, said his company strives to be the preferred employer in Breckenridge and the grant will help it achieve that goal. He added that TSTC has offered to be flexible around the company’s plant schedules and has been supportive throughout the entire process, resulting in positive feedback from employees.

Robert Puls, business development consultant at Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas, said that Jonell offers quality employment opportunities in the area.

“The hands-on technical training will enhance the skills of current workers in performing maintenance and supporting changing industry and customer requirements,” he said.

Trainees at Jonell will include application engineers, assemblers, machine operators, material handlers, mechanical designers, packaging clerks, production control engineers and shipping clerks.

For more information on Jonell, visit jonellinc.com

Registration Rally events for TSTC’s fall semester will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 20, July 20 and Aug. 3 at the TSTC Welcome Center on the Breckenridge campus at 307 N. Breckenridge.

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

020 breckenridge twc june 16, 2017

TSTC Student Q&A with Amariya Taylor of Dallas

(RED OAK) – Amariya Taylor, 20, of Dallas is a Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology major at Texas State Technical College in North Texas scheduled to graduate with an associate degree in spring 2018.

She is a 2015 graduate of Skyline High School in Dallas, where she was in the National Honor Society and played volleyball.

How did you learn about Texas State Technical College? “I was originally going to school for prelaw, but one of my teachers said I was good at mathematics and said I should go somewhere else for college. My godfather heard about the technical college from a friend. I visited the campus first and then applied.”

How did you become interested in Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology? “I like designing and I’m very creative. This is a program where you can design and create, and I have the software programs to do it. It was great once I got adjusted to the work.”

What is your plan for after graduation? “I want to go to work, but I also want to get a bachelor’s degree in engineering or architecture.”

What advice would you give to high school students thinking about attending college? “If you declare a major and then change it, you are starting all over. You have to stay on top of the financial information and not turn your work in at the last minute. You have to talk to your success coach.”

What do you like to do away from classes and studying? “I like to work out at the gym. I go to church and like to take part in church activities. I enjoy going to museums and amusement parks.”

Some of the careers that students who study Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology can pursue include architectural drafting, civil drafting, electrical drafting, architecture and computer engineering, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

TSTC in North Texas will host summer Registration Rally events from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 20, July 13 and Aug. 8 for prospective students to enroll for the fall semester.

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

_DSC0590 north texas q and a photo june 15, 2017

 

TSTC Student Q&A with Timothy Hays of Waco

(WACO) – Timothy Hays, 66, moved from Manor to Waco to study for Aircraft Airframe Technician and Aircraft Powerplant Technician certificates at Texas State Technical College in Waco. He is scheduled to receive his first certificate in August.

Hays grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and has studied fine arts and education at universities in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

What have been some of your previous careers? “I was an elementary school teacher and middle school teacher. I was a professor for teachers coming back for a master’s program. I was a civilian employee in the U.S. Coast Guard in Yorktown, Virginia, and left in 2005.”

What made you decide to study at TSTC? “I have a private pilot’s license and have become interested in kit building since I retired. There was a lot I didn’t have experience in.”

How are you enjoying studying aviation maintenance? “It draws on a lot of the fine arts. I was doing painting and focused on three-dimensional design. I am really enjoying the classes. I just got done purchasing a kit plane. I flew to Missouri and rented a moving truck and picked it up and brought it home. Some of the students helped me unload it. Everything I’m learning has a direct impact on the kit I will build. I have learned a lot about hydraulics.”

Why should other retirees consider going back to college? “I would encourage them to go back and do it if they are interested and passionate. Now they have the time and probably have the money. It may be a good second or third life. Don’t let the grass grow under your feet too long.”

TSTC offers certificates and associate degrees for Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology. Some of the classes students take in the technical programs include Aviation Physics, Landing Gear Systems, Aircraft Welding and Airframe Inspection.

TSTC will host summer Registration Rally events on June 23, July 14 and Aug. 11. For more information, go to tstc.edu/rally.

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

_DSC0577 aviation maintenance q and a timothy hays waco

 

TSTC Registration Rallies Encourage Student to Register Early

(HARLINGEN) – Registration at Texas State Technical College for Fall 2017 is in progress and to make it an easy process for students, the college will be hosting a registration rally Wednesday, June 13 at the Student Services Center.

TSTC’s Registration Rally gives new and returning students the resources they need to complete the application and registration processes conveniently located in one place.

Registration Rallies are a new initiative at TSTC that started for the Fall 2016 semester. All 10 campuses statewide host this event with hundreds of students taking advantage of the assistance offered by faculty, staff and student volunteers.

TSTC Director of Recruitment Dora Colvin said the idTSTC Registration Rallyea behind registration rallies is to encourage students to register early and make new semesters an easy transition for them.

“The earlier a student registers, the more likely it is they get the classes they need before they fill up and a schedule they are happy with,” she said. “This is a one-stop shop for our new and current students.”

And a one-stop shop it is. Enrollment representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, Advisement, Support Services, the Veterans Center and Student Life will be on hand to guide those attending the event. Tours of the college will also be available throughout the day.

“We want to help students by providing the resources and opportunities they need to finish the application and registration processes for the next semester,” said Colvin.  “We hope that having faculty and staff present will help make this process easier for students,” she added. “They’ll have a chance to learn about the services we offer and get the help they need.”

To complete the registration process students must bring their completed admissions application, GED scores if applicable, recent high school or college transcripts, and proof of their bacterial meningitis vaccination if under 22 years of age.

TSTC’s registration rally is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Student Services Center (EK Building). Parents are welcome to attend. There will be two more registration rallies later this summer on July 12 and August 3.

Fall registration ends August 21 and the first day of class is August 28.

To apply or register visit tstc.edu or call the TSTC Student Recruitment Office at 956-364-4118.

 

Student Success Profile – Darryl Klu

(HARLINGEN) – Darryl Klu is pursuing his General Academic Core at Texas State Technical College and currently boasts a 3.5 grade-point average. The Dallas native expects to complete his academics in Spring 2018.

The 18-year-old said he chose to attend TSTC because it is affordable and close to home. Klu added that he plans on making the best of his college experience and since finishing his first year in college he is motivated to become active on camDarryl Klupus by becoming a member of the Anime Manga Gamers Club.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I plan on transferring to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and Communication Disorders to become a speech therapist.

What is your dream job?

My dream is to be able to help people overcome obstacles that come with hearing issues, because without communication and hearing it is difficult to establish the relationships and trust we need in life. In addition, I would like to own a record label and help people achieve their musical dreams. Music is a hobby for me and has always been a part of my life.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

In high school I was on the honor roll, and being able to carry that over to college has been a huge achievement for me. Because of my hard work and studying, I have the honor of being on the dean’s list.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned that it is important to be yourself; not be a follower, but a leader; and do what you are passionate about.

Who at TSTC has had the most influence on your success?

It’s difficult to name only one person because all of the people I have met at TSTC, from my instructors to peers, have taught me something different.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want to tell students to stay out of trouble, go to class and do all of your work. This is your future, and it is too important to gamble with it.

TSTC Registration Rallies Encourage Early College Registration

(FORT BEND) – To alleviate the stress that comes with college applications and registration, Texas State Technical College will host a registration rally Thursday, June 15, at the TSTC Industrial Technology Center in Rosenberg.

TSTC’s registration rallies give new and returning students the opportunity to receive the resources they need to complete the application and registration processes all under one roof.

This initiative was started by TSTC in Fall 2016. All 10 campuses statewide host this event with hundreds of students taking advantageTSTC Registration Rally of the assistance offered by faculty, staff and student volunteers.

TSTC Director of Recruitment Dora Colvin calls this event a one-stop shop for students.

“We want to help students by providing the resources they need to finish the application and registration processes for the next semester in one centralized location,” she said.

Enrollment representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, Advisement, Support Services and Testing will be on hand to guide those attending the event. Tours of the college will also be available throughout the day.

“We hope that having faculty and staff present will help make this process easier for students,” said Colvin.

Student Recruitment Coordinator Marigold Sagrado added that this event also helps her team encourage students to register early.

“The earlier a student registers, the more likely it is they get the classes they need and will be happy with their schedule,” said Sagrado. “They will also have the opportunity to meet their instructors and get book lists early. After this event they (students) will officially be ready for the fall semester.”

To complete the registration process, students must complete an admissions application and bring their GED scores (if applicable), recent high school or college transcripts, and proof of their bacterial meningitis vaccination if under 22 years of age.

New and current students at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus also have four new programs to look forward to this fall with the opening of TSTC’s newest building, the Brazos Center: Electrical Lineworker Technology, Robotics/Industrial Automation Technology, Electrical Power and Controls Technology and Environmental Technology – Compliance Specialization.

TSTC’s registration rally will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the TSTC Industrial Technology Center located at 26706 Southwest Freeway in Rosenberg, Texas. Parents are welcome to attend. There will be two more registration rallies later this summer on July 20 and August 10.

Fall registration ends August 21, and the first day of classes is August 28.

To apply or register, visit tstc.edu or call the Admissions Office at 346-239-3414.