(WACO) – More than 20 Automotive Technology majors at Texas State Technical College will receive a financial boost this semester from a San Antonio-based automotive organization.
The non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs CarFest in San Antonio, recently awarded a $30,000 check for scholarships and equipment for the participation of Waco’s Automotive Technology students in the 2018 event.
TSTC in Waco students who took part in CarFest and participated in SkillsUSA last year were eligible for the $500 scholarships. TSTC in Waco and Harlingen Automotive Technology majors who have at least a 3.25 grade point average were also eligible, said Chris Perales, an instructor in TSTC in Waco’s Automotive Technology program.
“This is to help them buy what they need to continue their education,” Perales said.
Gabriella Villarreal, 20, of Brownwood attended last year’s CarFest and said the experience was beneficial because she learned about door and tire mechanisms.
She said the scholarship will be put to good use.
“It’s helping me with my living accommodation,” Villarreal said. “I have to pay rent. It’s helping me to continue in school.”
Patrick Bruce, 25, of Waco is benefitting from a scholarship because of his grade-point average. He said the money will help pay for classes as he and his fiancé prepare to buy a house.
Other TSTC in Waco Automotive Technology majors that received scholarships are David Davis, Ramiro Hernandez, Jaeshon Jackson, Patrick Kaltenbach, Kevin Le, Krystal Marshall, Jens Moen, Joel Ramirez, Samuel Shimek, Shelby Terry, Ricardo Villegas and Andrew Whatley.
TSTC in Harlingen students who received scholarships are Christopher Aguilar, Luis Barrientos, Christopher Machado, Jose Munoz, Noel Soto and Joshua Vasquez.
TSTC in Waco’s Automotive Technology students will participate in this year’s CarFest 2019 from April 5-7 at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio.
For more information on CarFest, go to carfestsa.org
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
(WACO) – Hipolito Galan is already putting a spark in his future career.
Galan, 18, is a senior who spends mornings at Waco High School and afternoons at the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy, or GWAMA. His days are a combination of textbooks and hands-on learning with welding equipment.
“It’s something different every day,” said Galan, who plans to enroll this fall in the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College.
Students in GWAMA’s welding program can earn dual enrollment credits good for use at TSTC.
Galan said he has come to enjoy fabrication work while attending the academy.
“I like to build things that can be used,” he said.
Besides welding, GWAMA also offers courses in robotics and electronics, along with construction.
“It gives them an advantage to the beginning of a career,” said Brandon McMahan, an instructor in TSTC’s Robotics Technology program. “They have the hunger to learn.”
The high school students use professional-level equipment in their classes, such as 3D printers to create parts for small rockets.
“They are using the same type of robots we have here and in industry,” McMahan said. “We want to maintain a strong relationship with that school. Their students are doing what we want to teach them.”
The academy has about 200 juniors and seniors from more than 10 area high schools, the farthest being in Mexia.
“I get to see people who have the same interests that I do,” Galan said.
GWAMA’s classes enable small, rural school districts who cannot afford to have an array of technical education classes to be able to give students high-quality experiences that can spark curiosity.
“This whole concept was designed for surrounding districts to share the costs of having a program of this magnitude,” said Donna McKethan, director of career and technical education for the Waco Independent School District.
McKethan said the academy’s precision metal manufacturing program will be tweaked this fall to include an emphasis on computer-aided design. And, the architecture program currently at Waco High School will be moved this fall to GWAMA for all interested students to participate in.
GWAMA’s plans do not stop beyond the fall.
McKethan said a new academy focusing on cyber security and networking will have a dual enrollment component with TSTC and another two-year college starting in 2020. McKethan said the number of students is expected to be capped at 40 juniors and seniors a year.
“A lot of what you see is years of working with TSTC and some hard lessons on what can work with the students,” McKethan said.
For more information on the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy, go to wacoisd.org/gwama.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
(Brownwood) – Education means opportunity, and no one values that more than Alan Acosta, a Welding Technology student at Texas State Technical College in Brownwood.
Acosta plans to be the first member of his immediate family, who immigrated from Mexico when he was 6, to earn a college degree. He started working on that goal while still a Brownwood High School student, earning college credit through TSTC’s dual enrollment program in welding.
After graduating high school in May 2018, Acosta became a full-time TSTC student working toward a structural welding certificate.
“I first tried welding in middle school and was fascinated by it, but I was pretty horrible,” Acosta said. “But after the classes in high school, I felt a lot more confident, and I’m learning faster now in college.”
The partnership between TSTC and Brownwood High School allows high school students to experience college courses before committing as a full-time traditional student.
“Dual enrollment students become much more experienced in college coursework than other students entering college having never attended a college class, not knowing what to expect,” Rene Ralston, TSTC director of dual enrollment, said. “Brownwood High School is in TSTC’s backyard, so it makes sense to partner with the school.”
TSTC welding instructor Stephen Hope believes that dual enrollment allows students the chance to figure out what they want to do in life and learn what opportunities are available.
“Alan is a determined young man, and he works so hard because he knows that there are so many job opportunities waiting for him,” Hope said. “He will go far because of his determination, and I’m proud of him.”
Acosta encourages anyone interested in getting a well-paying job to pursue their education. “If you have the ambition, you can do it. It may be hard, but you will learn it,” Acosta said. “And the people at TSTC are so helpful and willing to be there for you.”
Acosta’s younger brother, Domingo, is following in his footsteps and is currently enrolled in the welding dual enrollment program at Brownwood High.
Alan Acosta plans to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at TSTC in Abilene and hopes to graduate in April 2020.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, log on to tstc.edu.
TSTC in Brownwood student Alan Acosta is working on a structural welding certificate after completing the welding dual credit program with TSTC and Brownwood High School.
(Sweetwater) – There is change in the air: a change toward renewable energy. And Texas State Technical College alumnus John Nichols is a driving force behind that change.
Nichols graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology from TSTC in Sweetwater in 2010.
He is now employed by North Dakota-based Wanzek Construction. He served as the company’s vice president of renewable energy from 2016 to 2018 and is now its senior director of business development.
Nichols credits his time at TSTC, coupled with hard work, for his success in helping to lead the charge for wind energy. He encourages others to take advantage of the rewarding industry.
“Wind energy is something exciting to be part of, and there is no better time than now to be part of the renewable energy revolution,” Nichols said.
Nichols was a nontraditional student who sold his successful real estate business in 2007 to pursue his passion for renewable energy.
“I remember John very well,” Rick Denbow, TSTC in West Texas provost, said. “Wind energy was an emerging industry at the time in far West Texas, but John saw how a technical degree from TSTC could prepare him for a great-paying career in the wind industry. I am not surprised by his success.”
After graduating from TSTC, Nichols worked for Siemens Gamesa, where he was promoted five times in six years, eventually becoming field engineering manager.
“I got to travel the world while moving up in the company,” Nichols said. “I spent 18 months in Brazil, Chile, Peru and other parts of Latin America working on wind energy projects.”
At Wanzek Construction, Nichols plays an active role in identifying new and creative ways to keep wind competitive in the renewable energy market.
“With new technology coming and the offshore market growing, we’re seeing a decrease in cost for wind energy, which makes it even more competitive with fossil fuels,” Nichols said.
In Texas, wind energy makes up 14.89 percent of energy produced statewide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“It’s an industry on the upswing, and it’s an industry people from all walks of life can be successful in,” Billie Jones, TSTC Wind Energy Technology statewide department chair, said.
Part of Nichols’ success, and what he looks for when recruiting new talent, is common sense and life experience.
“It’s important to have a passion and interest for this field. But also to be a good technician you have to have some common sense and be comfortable around machinery. You need to be reliable and be willing to do the work,” said Nichols.
Nichols hopes others will recognize the potential available to them in wind energy.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, log on to tstc.edu.
TSTC in Sweetwater alumnus John Nichols helps to lead the charge for wind energy.
(RED OAK) – Orlando Chavez of Red Oak did not look far to make his college decision.
Chavez is a Precision Machining Technology major at Texas State Technical College, which is next door to Red Oak High School, where he graduated in 2018.
“I have enjoyed getting to learn how to use the milling machines and lathe,” Chavez said. “It was a major learning curve, but it was the best thing I learned so far.”
Theo Comer, an instructor in TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program, said Chavez has been a joy to teach.
“He shows an energy to learn and the effort to do it correctly,” Comer said.
Chavez also serves as a TSTC student ambassador. Applicants for that position are interviewed by campus student recruitment staff and chosen for their academic work, along with their communication and leadership skills. He works at campus events, such as the recent Spring Counselors Update, gives tours to campus visitors and assists potential students with their TSTC applications.
“He’s not only gaining the technical skills needed to be a successful machinist, but he is also gaining valuable soft skills to enhance his employability,” said Marcus Balch, TSTC provost.
After graduation in December, Chavez wants to work in an area maintenance shop and possibly pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
He said the first time he walked into TSTC in North Texas’ Industrial Technology Center was during a spring open house event.
“I would have to say TSTC was very convenient for me,” Chavez said. “I didn’t want to go to a university because the environment was very different. I didn’t want to go as big. It’s close to home, and I didn’t really have to spend as much as at other universities.”
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
(Sweetwater) – It’s time to start the engines and drive toward the future for many area high school students.Thanks to a partnership between their schools and Texas State Technical College, students can earn early college credit.
TSTC established a dual enrollment Automotive Technology program for Brownwood and Snyder high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in the fall of 2018, at no cost to the students themselves.
Those students can earn up to 12 college credit hours toward a certificate or an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology and work at a local internship.
“I feel it’s important for schools to show every viable option to our students and give them a heads-up,” Lindsay Smith, assistant principal at Brownwood High School, said. “Our long-term hope is that we can get these students internships at facilities in Brownwood and eventually fill a need for auto techs in the community.”
Students attend class at their high school facilities but follow a carefully structured curriculum created by Rudy Cervantez, the statewide department chair for TSTC Automotive Technology.
The curriculum follows the Automotive Service Excellence Educational Foundation Alliance for Maintenance and Light Repair Standards. Students spend their sophomore and junior years working on the curriculum and their senior year working at an internship.
“Since these schools already offer shop class, why not jump-start these students and have something to show their families that they’re working toward their futures?” Cervantez asked.
TSTC works with the instructors to ensure that they are Automotive Service Excellence-certified and the facilities have the right equipment.
“This is great for the students because it allows them to start early and complete early, and start earning money early,” Brian Lee, automotive instructor at Brownwood High School, said. “They can find their niche and know they’ve got a lot of jobs waiting on them because there is a huge need for technicians.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas is the second-leading state employing automotive service technicians and mechanics.
“It allows us to promote different higher education and career opportunities to the students, which encourages them to do well in school now so they can pursue all the options available to them,” Janell Martin, principal at Snyder High School, said.
Students follow the same syllabi and curriculum as they would if they were in an actual classroom at TSTC.
Brownwood High School has 30 students in the program, while Snyder High School has nine.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, log on to tstc.edu.
Snyder High School students enrolled in the Automotive dual credit program with TSTC in Sweetwater replace an old car battery.
Two Education and
Training program instructors from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen
recently garnered some national attention in Washington, D.C., when they made a
presentation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) conference.
“This was our chance to
share all of the things that make our program unique and highlight the work
we’re doing at TSTC,” said Myriam Aguila, TSTC Education and Training
department chair. “There are wonderful things happening at our college, and we
wanted to recognize that.”
NAEYC is one of the
largest early childhood education nonprofit associations in the U.S. It
represents nearly 60,000 teachers, para-educators, center directors, trainers,
college educators, policymakers and advocates from all over the world.
At the annual NAEYC
conference, educators gather to share lessons, classroom strategies and ideas.
Aguila, who has
presented internationally and serves as a board member for the NAEYC chapter in
Texas and as president for the Rio Grande Valley chapter, and instructor Mary
Elizabeth Hollmann not only were chosen from among hundreds who submitted
presentation proposals, but also were the only ones from the RGV.
“It’s prestigious to get
selected,” said Hollmann. “We presented to people from all over the world. It
was a great experience.”
Their presentation,
which was part of the conference’s Spanish track, was titled “All Children Can
Learn Through Dramatic Play.” It focused on how classroom play centers that
imitate places like kitchens, post offices and doctors’ offices encourage
speaking, vocabulary, reading, spelling and writing.
“Just as it’s important
to include hands-on learning for our college students, it’s of the same
importance for our little ones, if not more,” said Hollmann. “This type of play
and learning allows the children to exercise different parts of the brain, and
also encourages social and problem-solving skills.”
Aguila and Hollmann also
included some of their students’ work, such as prop boxes, to showcase in their
presentation. The prop boxes included themed learning tools used as educational
materials at TSTC’s NINOS Head Start program.
“The prop boxes were a
hit with the people in our presentation,” said Aguila. “We had professionals
enjoying the learning tools and playing with the props inside. Many said this
was something they wanted to utilize with their students.”
TSTC in Harlingen’s
Education and Training program is the only one of its kind among the college’s
10 campuses. It focuses on early childhood education through sixth grade, and
offers certificates and associate degree tracks.
It is one of the largest
programs at TSTC, with more than 400 TSTC students and close to 200 high school
dual-enrollment students from school districts in Harlingen, Los Fresnos and
San Benito.
The program also has a
long-standing partnership with Texas A&M University-Kingsville, allowing
credits to transfer so students can pursue a bachelor’s degree in education.
“Many of our students
find positions at the schools where they complete their practicums,” said
Aguila. “And this is great for our students and our program; this is how they
craft their profession. But, as educators, we want them to reach for more. So
we provide them with opportunities.”
Education and Training
also offers evening and weekend classes so every student has the chance to be
successful.
As for Aguila and Hollmann,
they are already preparing their presentation proposal for this year’s NAEYC
conference in Tennessee.
Robert Piña is a
Business Management Technology student at Texas State Technical College and
expects to earn his associate degree in Summer 2019.
The 43-year-old San
Benito native, boasts a 3.5 grade-point average and also already holds two
associate degrees from TSTC’s Building Construction Technology and Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) programs.
The husband and father of four is also a student worker in TSTC’s Talent Management and Career Services Office and volunteers when has spare time as a Tech Day campus tour leader.
What are your plans
after you graduate?
After I graduate I hope
to find a position with a school district office or at TSTC.
What’s your dream job?
My dream job is to
establish a career here at TSTC in an office setting. Everyone has been so
welcoming and helpful, that I want to be that for someone else and help others
achieve their dreams.
What has been your
greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?
As a first-generation
college graduate, my greatest accomplishment has been earning my degrees and
showing my children that it is never too late to fulfill your dream of an
education.
What greatest lesson
have you learned about yourself or life?
The lesson I have
learned is that perseverance does pay off. I worked in the hospitality industry
for more than a decade, when I was laid off I decided to come back to school.
It was scary and a challenge, but hard work and being opened to change has
brought me a long way.
Who at TSTC has
influenced your success the most?
The person who has
influenced my success is TSTC Talent Management and Career Services Director
Viviana Espinosa. She has been a great supervisor, always motivating. I see how
successful she is and how hard she is working toward a graduate degree and it
inspires me. She has inspired me to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
What is your advice for
future TSTC students?
My advice for future
TSTC students is to stay focused and to not get discouraged. If you stay on
point and stay positive, everything is possible. All hard works pays off in the
end.
When Sessia Wyche III is
teaching and leading ministries he is changing lives, and for these
contributions and more to the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas State Technical
College Mathematics instructor was recently presented with a House of
Representatives Congressional Record recognition by U.S. Congressman Filemon
Vela.
“When I received the call about receiving this
honor I felt like it was the milestone of my life,” said the 73-year-old Bay
City native. “Everything I’ve done is a calling from the Lord. My calling is to
teach. I do what I do because I love it, not because I expect anything in
return.”
A Congressional Record
is the official record of proceedings and debates of the United States Congress
and is published daily when congress is in session. Wyche was recognized during
a Black History Month Celebration.
Wyche was one of 12
other community leaders honored.
The Congressional Record
of proceedings and debates of the 116th Congress, recognized Wyche
for his contributions to the state’s 34th Congressional
District; it reads: “He is a dedicated educator in the Rio Grande
Valley…He is a role model for our children and we are thankful for his
compassion to serve those in need.”
“I am thankful I had the
privilege of highlighting and honoring Sessia as an upstanding member of the
community,” said Vela. “His commitment to community through education, service
to others and unyielding faith serves as a shining example of the people that make
up our great community.”
Wyche began his teaching
career at TSTC in 1982, back when it was Texas State Technical Institute, after
a four-year stint with Southwestern Bell as a programmer.
And with a bachelor’s
and master’s degree in mathematics, physics and computer science from Texas
A&I University, now Texas A&M – Kingsville, it was only fitting he
teach younger generations the art of math.
He was with TSTI for
five years before transitioning to a local university where he spent 22 years
teaching before retiring.
Upon retiring, Wyche
decided he was not done and returned to TSTC. He has now been with the college
since 2009.
“Every morning I wake up
and pray that the Holy Spirit fills me as I teach and that my students
understand what I am teaching them,” said Wyche. “It’s a great feeling when I
see my students’ eyes light up when they get it. That’s what makes this job
fulfilling. The key is to stay positive.”
In addition to being a
long-time educator, Wyche also uses his spare time to play dominoes every
night, but most importantly, minister to those in need.
Since 2004, Wyche has
led a prison ministry in Raymondville twice a week, at the juvenile detention
center in San Benito every Thursday and has served as a volunteer chaplain at
Valley Baptist Medical Center and Harlingen Medical Center.
“In the bible there is a
verse, ‘Go therefore…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you,’ and reading this I knew serving others was my purpose,” said Wyche.
“Serving others has been such a blessing. I live to serve.”
After a prostate cancer
diagnosis in 2012, he was forced to slow down, but said it was through Psalm
1:18 – “I shall not die, but live, and declare the words of the Lord,” that he
found healing and continued his work. Wyche continues to remain cancer free.
“My faith keeps me
going, but so does my family,” he said. “I would not be able to do anything
without the support of my family. My wife, children and grandchildren keep me
going. A lot of what I have accomplished is because of them.”
Through the years Wyche
has received numerous awards and promotions for his success as an instructor
and professor, but said he credits a life-changing moment when he was 12, for
who he has become.
“If you’re blessed, you bless others. And as a young boy, who attended a segregated school, I didn’t even have two cents for a chocolate milk,” he said. “But while cutting wood to build a fire for my family, a man stopped, observed my work and gave me 25 cents. I was the happiest boy because I could now afford chocolate milk. And since that day I knew I would help others the way this man helped me.”
When he was in high
school, Brandon Foster discovered he was interested in pursuing a career in
diesel mechanics. Now, a decade later, he is a Diesel Equipment Technology
instructor at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County.
Foster appreciates
TSTC’s mission of “placing more Texans in high-paying jobs” and being part of a
gateway to better opportunity for students.
“My vision for my
students is that they come to class excited, engaged and ready to ask
questions,” he said. “And what I love about TSTC is that everyone is here for
the student, and the student is encouraged to learn and be successful
thereafter.”
The Goldthwaite native
began his career as a part-time mechanic’s helper at a company his stepfather
worked with at the time. He was still in high school when he received that
opportunity, and it was a pivotal moment for him.
“This is the moment I
knew I wanted to pursue a career in diesel mechanics,” said the 27-year-old.
“Everything was bigger, better and louder. And the technical side is what keeps
me going. There are so many advances always happening.”
After a stint working in
the oil fields, which he said were not a good fit for him, he earned his
associate degree in diesel mechanics in 2016 from a Central Texas college.
Driven by a constant
motivation and interest in learning more, Foster now holds an Automotive
Service Excellence Medium-Heavy Truck master certification, as well as a
universal certification to work on automotive and residential air conditioning.
“No matter what you do,
there is always room for improvement,” said Foster. “You have to continue
learning if you want to be successful in your field.”
Foster has extensive
experience working for diesel service centers, but the owner of a particular
shop in Lampasas where he worked pushed him to continue his education and
showed him what it means to keep learning.
“I owe this guy a lot.
He shaped my life,” he said. “He introduced me to all of the possibilities and
opportunities I could work for in this field. I’ll never forget how kind he was
and what he taught me.”
Currently Foster is
working toward a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology.
He said his career has
taken him full circle, from industry to the classroom, and he knows that his
purpose is to help others be successful.
Foster said his goal as
an instructor is to share his knowledge and experience, and to create critical
thinkers, problem-solvers and lifelong learners.
“I love watching
students learn and have that “aha” moment when everything comes together for
them,” said Foster. “This is what makes teaching so fulfilling and meaningful
to me.”
Diesel Equipment
Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco
campuses.
