TSTC Career Services to host On-the-Go Drive-Thru for TSTC students and alumni

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Office of Career Services at Texas State Technical College is not letting working remotely stop it from helping TSTC students on their path to a new career.

The department is set to host an On-the-Go Drive-Thru from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10, to reiterate to students that despite the fact that most of the TSTC staff is working from home, they are still available to assist whenever and wherever they can.

Office of Career Services director Viviana Espinosa said that the purpose of the event is to benefit students and alumni.

“We want to promote our services to them,” she said. “We actually have a Virtual Job Fair coming up in late March, and employers are eager to connect with our students and alumni.”

The event will follow TSTC’s coronavirus protocols, and while students will not be able to meet with staff indoors that day, they will still be given guidance that they need.

“They will be able to schedule appointments to meet with our Career Services staff face-to-face or virtually after the event,” Espinosa said.

TSTC Career Services associate Ashley Perez said that she hopes students leave the event with a clear understanding of the department.

“We want our TSTC students to become more informed about the services we have to offer,” she said. “This includes resume assistance, interviewing assistance, career placement and job fairs. We want to let students know we are still here to help them, even while working remotely.”

Espinosa shared the same sentiment.

“Our hope is that through this event we will remind students that we are readily available to assist them as they prepare to enter the workforce,” she said. “We want to hear from our students, we want them to stay engaged, and ultimately we want to connect them to all available options.”

To learn more about the event and TSTC’s Office of Career Services, TSTC students and alumni should contact Viviana Espinosa at viviana.espinosa@tstc.edu.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

Training future educators is ‘a calling’ for TSTC instructor

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Myriam Aguila, Texas State Technical College’s Education and Training department chair, for seven years has helped to transform today’s TSTC students into tomorrow’s educators.

Prior to her time at TSTC, she served as a Head Start teacher, diligently working with the curious minds of two-year-old students. She also worked with the Brownsville Independent School District and as an assistant principal across the world at an elementary school in the United Arab Emirates.

Throughout her years in education, Aguila has known one thing is certain: she was born to teach.

“I firmly believe that being an educator is something that you have in your heart, not only in your mind,” she said. “It is a calling and a need to help others.”

Aguila said that she knew what she wanted to do in her life from a very young age.

“I remember wanting to be a teacher at eight years old,” she said. “It probably runs in my veins.”

Being a part of the lives of students who have the same passion for education is very important to her.

“Being able to share my experience with new generations in the field, and seeing how students grow and develop new skills, is wonderful.”

Though she has many favorite moments, there are a few memories at TSTC that stand out in particular.

“Almost every single class session has left me a great memory,” she said. “One of the moments I remember fondly was when our department received five scholarships to attend a training at NASA in Houston. Another was when a group of educators from Honduras came to the Rio Grande Valley for training and observations, and my bilingual students served as interpreters for them in the classroom.”

Her passion for education is not going anywhere, and neither is she.

“After 32 years of teaching, I do not have plans to retire,” she said. “I enjoy my job so much. Being able to interact and communicate with many people … has allowed me the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time.”

TSTC’s Education and Training program at the Harlingen campus offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Certificate 2.

During the month of March, TSTC wants to honor women in history and right on our campuses who work to make strides in STEM fields every day.

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC opened design doors for Rockwell

(WACO, Texas) – An associate degree from Texas State Technical College has opened many doors for Mark Rockwell.

Rockwell graduated in 2007 with a degree in Advertising Design, now Visual Communication Technology, and since then has overseen designs for a professional athlete, a celebrity chef, and a company featured on “Shark Tank.”

“I was a kid looking for guidance when I was thinking about my future. Now I am living in Boston, where they take their higher education seriously,” Rockwell said. “I have a two-year degree, and TSTC set me up for all the success I have had over the years.”

Rockwell’s journey did not start immediately after high school. He admitted he was not sure what he wanted to do with his life. But a trip to TSTC’s Waco campus with a friend led him to instructor Michael Lewis.

“I peeked into the multimedia building and saw a few classes. I really liked what they were doing, so I decided to enroll,” he said.

Rockwell started with very little design experience but enjoyed Lewis’ teaching style, and they quickly connected.

“Mr. Lewis could identify students who were serious about the class. He would spend more time and attention on them to help foster their development,” Rockwell said. “I was able to form a bond with Mr. Lewis that I still appreciate today.”

Lewis saw potential in Rockwell, calling him one of his most promising graduates.

“I always expected him to achieve a lot of success in our industry because of his passion for design and his high level of skill sets developed while in our program,” Lewis said. “He demonstrated strong leadership skills through the graphic design club student organization. He displayed innovative and creative design skills in his coursework and participation in state and national competitions.”

Rockwell has designed work for former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and Food Network host Guy Fieri.

“People tell me that I graduated from TSTC and designed stuff for Guy Fieri. They say that is really cool,” Rockwell said. “For me, designing things for them was a huge source of pride.”

After working with Edelman’s company, Rockwell was approached by Fieri’s manager.

“I was asked to work with his manager and Guy’s ideas to try to flesh them out. I was able to add what I thought was best for his brand as well,” Rockwell said.

Today Rockwell is helping with efforts to promote the Rocketbook Smart Notebook. The product was featured in a 2017 episode of “Shark Tank” but did not receive an offer.

“I am working to help Rocketbook get to the next step of their growth,” Rockwell said. “I also manage a few other aspects of the company’s creative work.”

Lewis is not surprised at Rockwell’s success.

“It comes as no surprise to me that he would excel professionally,” Lewis said. “Along with that, Mr. Rockwell has been a very hardworking, cooperative and caring person who is able to work with anyone.”

Rockwell said his time at TSTC provided him with a career that has led to work he did not dream of while in high school.

“TSTC prepared me for each project I have worked on. The skills I developed at TSTC gave me the drive to get my clients,” he said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Fallbeck uses knowledge learned at TSTC at new job

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduate Anthony Fallbeck is now giving computer advice.

Fallbeck, who received an associate degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration in 2020, recently started working in the information technology department at Hendrick Health System in Abilene.

“I have learned a lot in the few days I have been here. I learned that not everyone knows how to work a computer,” he said. “The best advice I give people is to always ask questions. You are not going to figure everything out on your own.”

Fallbeck plans to use the teaching style of TSTC instructor Leo Chavez while helping Hendrick employees.

“Leo would always push us in the right direction. He would not give us the answer but would make us search for it,” he said. “He would also give us hints to find the answers.”

Chavez said Fallbeck will be a valuable addition to the Hendrick staff.

“If he doesn’t know something or just needs a nudge in the right direction, you can be sure that he’ll work at learning whatever it is until he understands it fully,” Chavez said. “This is the trait he’s used most to get through his classes, and it’ll be the trait he uses to be even more successful in the future.”

Fallbeck said he was looking for a career change when he chose to go back to school. He decided to leave his job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system and applied to TSTC.

“Honestly, I was looking for a new career field. I had piddled on computers all of my life,” he said. “I would work to see how they worked and decided to earn a degree in the field.”

Fallbeck has been one of the program’s biggest promoters since he graduated.

“I tell people anytime I can that TSTC is the place to be,” he said. “If you want to learn to work on computers, I tell people to check out the course.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Culinary Arts provides dual enrollment opportunity for Hutto High School students

(HUTTO, Texas) – Hutto High School students with an interest in culinary arts have a quicker pathway to earning an associate degree at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus through dual enrollment classes.

“Dual enrollment students have the benefit of seeing the culinary world before having to pay,” said Brian Bohannon, a Culinary Arts teaching lab assistant at TSTC. “It has been great having the dual enrollment students from Hutto.”

Dual enrollment enables high school students to take college-level courses as they work toward high school diplomas and earn college semester-credit hours.

Hutto High School’s Culinary Arts program averages 60 students per year. Freshmen and sophomores choose two prerequisite classes before moving on in the Culinary Arts program. 

There are two levels of classes within the program that high school juniors and seniors can take. When students become juniors, they can also decide whether to enroll in dual enrollment classes with TSTC’s Culinary Arts program. 

“I have a lot of successful students that have gone through my program and have graduated from TSTC’s program,” Said Farraje, a Culinary Arts instructor at Hutto High School, said. “It is something to be proud of.”

Alexis Gamboa is in his second semester in the Culinary Arts program at TSTC. The Hutto High School graduate took dual enrollment classes.

“I didn’t know that the classes had dual enrollment at the start, but when I found out how useful it was, I was elated,” he said. “The classes really helped me be prepared for TSTC and make it so much easier to enroll.”

Gamboa said his TSTC classes have been a good experience.

“The program that we have used for online learning has been very easy to work with and makes classes much easier,” Gamboa said. “I have enjoyed the program so much that I am excited for the next semester and to see what new things I will learn.”

Farraje said he sees a need for trained culinary workers to fill positions as Austin and its suburbs grow. He said having a degree provides graduates with the expertise, knowledge and skills to progress within the culinary industry’s ranks.

“When you get a formal education, it reinforces whatever you are doing,” Farraje said.

TSTC in East Williamson County also has dual enrollment partnerships with Dillard McCollum High School in San Antonio for Automotive Technology, Jubilee Academy in San Antonio for Business Management Technology, Jubilee Academy in Wells Branch for Medical Office Specialist, Liberty Hill High School for Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology and Digital Media Design, and Texas Can Academy in San Antonio for Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology.

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, more than 151,000 Texas high school students took dual enrollment classes in fall 2017.

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

Students adjust to new way of dorm life

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – For many students at Texas State Technical College, the adjustment to campus living has taken on an additional aspect with COVID-19 safety measures.

Living in the Sweetwater dorms with the protocols in place is not what students wanted to experience, but they are making the most of what is available.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students could make their way to the Student Center and enjoy a meal, workout or basketball game. With the gym area closed, students have become more resourceful with their time away from class.

“I was an athlete in high school before an injury in football,” said Tanner Tankersley, of Rotan, who is also a resident assistant in the dorms. “I had put on a little weight, but I knew the Student Center would not be open. It was not a big deal for me because I learned to do other things.”

Tankersley said if he is not in his Automotive Technology classes, he spends time in his room watching videos or television, playing games or doing homework.

He said being isolated is nothing new for him, but he hopes the protocols in place are eventually lifted.

“This is not how I expected my college life to be, but it is not that big of an issue,” he said. “There is another RA that I talk to, and we hang out and observe social distancing. The way we are having to communicate with people is different.”

Fellow RA Ricardo Pacheco, a student in the Electromechanical Technology program, said the housing department has been helpful to students.

“They are doing the best they can to provide all of us with a better college experience,” he said. “It could be worse, but they are allowing us to do some stuff, like get together and visit.”

Pacheco said students living in the dorm are following all safety protocols.

“I have noticed a lot more people around campus wearing masks, even when they are alone,” he said.

The one question Pacheco hears the most is when the gym is going to open.

“Until it does, we all find different ways to work out,” he said. 

Housing director Jose Navarrette said safety is the most important thing he stresses to students.

“Safety is the key for us,” he said. “We want students to know that we have things in place for their safety and the safety of everyone on campus.”

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

Trejo enrolls in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology to expand mechanical knowledge

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Amarillo’s Adrian Trejo wants to work on more than just automobiles.

The Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology student always liked to work on cars and knew he could turn it into a career. He is now pursuing a certificate in the TSTC program to expand his knowledge.

“I knew I wanted to be a mechanic since I was a kid. My mom was my inspiration because she would always work on cars,” he said.

After obtaining his mechanic certification, Trejo went to work. He said he knew his education would continue.

“I knew that was not going to be enough for me. I knew I wanted to do more,” he said. “I wanted to work on the big highway trucks and construction equipment.”

When he began looking for a school, his father offered a suggestion. Trejo’s father worked in Sweetwater and knew about the TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology program.

“My dad told me that a lot of employers like to hire TSTC graduates,” Trejo said. “I found out that TSTC graduates are very hirable, and people look for them. TSTC graduates are more appealing to employers.”

Having alumni in the field is something instructor Shannon Weir takes pride in each day. Some graduates of the program are employed by established companies like Caterpillar, Freightliner, and Peterbilt.

“Our students will be able to get work when they graduate,” he said.

Another aspect that Trejo said drew him to TSTC was the Career Services department, which helps students prepare for job interviews.

“That is awesome to know people are here to help. This includes building a resume, something I do not think about a lot,” he said.

Once Trejo enrolled, he quickly learned that the instructors were preparing him for work.

“Having veteran instructors is one of the best things about this program,” he said. “Anytime you can learn from people who spent a great amount of time in the field, it is going to be a great learning experience. They have been able to teach us the ins and outs and what we are doing right and wrong.”

Trejo said everything is taught with a straightforward approach.

“We know that we have to keep up with our assignments,” he said. “If you want to learn a technical trade, TSTC is the right place to be. You will get a great education and will be prepared for the career you choose.”

In addition to Sweetwater, the Diesel Equipment Technology program is offered at the Fort Bend County, Marshall, North Texas, and Waco campuses.

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

TSTC works with Texas school districts to offer dual enrollment classes

(RED OAK, Texas) – Red Oak High School students do not have far to go for dual enrollment classes. All they have to do is walk across a parking lot to Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus.

Dual enrollment enables high school students to take college-level courses as they work toward high school diplomas and earn college semester-credit hours.

Red Oak High School students are taking classes this year in the Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology, Automotive Technology, Computer Networking and Systems Administration, Digital Media Design, Electrical Power and Controls, and Welding Technology programs. Classes are taught by TSTC-accredited teachers at Red Oak High School, at TSTC or online.

Lisa Menton, the Red Oak Independent School District’s career and technical education director, said dual enrollment offerings are decided upon using employment data from the Texas Workforce Commission, along with information forecasting high-demand careers in the future. Student interest can also factor into decisions.

Menton said the district’s goals for the future are to grow the number of students taking Electrical Power and Controls and Precision Machining Technology classes.

“We will offer more opportunities for our students as we begin to see if those can fit in pathways to meet career needs in our area,” Menton said. “That makes it easier and more convenient. Students can do the online learning and work it into their schedule.”

Besides Red Oak ISD, TSTC in North Texas is working with the Castleberry Independent School District, Texas Can Academies and two home schools to provide dual enrollment opportunities.

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, more than 151,000 Texas high school students took dual enrollment classes in fall 2017. The percentage of Hispanic students taking dual enrollment classes grew from 38 percent in fall 2007 to 46 percent in fall 2017, according to the THECB.

Some of TSTC’s most popular dual enrollment programs statewide include Automotive Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Media Design and Welding Technology. The classes can be taught by TSTC-accredited teachers at the students’ home campuses, or students can travel to a TSTC campus. High school students can also take some dual enrollment classes online.

“Our main goal with dual enrollment is matriculation, to expose them (the students) to TSTC earlier so they can pick a career they can go into and matriculate to one of our campuses,” said Kadie Svrcek, TSTC’s dual enrollment recruitment representative. “Students are able to have that freedom to have dual enrollment with us and continue on with us while online.”

Spring is the time when private schools, along with charter and public schools, can reach out to TSTC to inquire about dual enrollment opportunities in time for fall. The TSTC programs that schools are interested in for their students are vetted to ensure that there is no overlap with neighboring colleges.

“For us, it is all about exposure,” Svrcek said.

COVID-19 has impacted dual enrollment for students in the past year. But Svrcek is optimistic about the future.

“I think now everyone has gotten a grasp and handle on what their plans are, and they are more comfortable pivoting from an in-person setting to a 100 percent online or a hybrid setting,” Svrcek said. “Our school districts are coming around and being more active.”

As we close out Career and Technical Education Month, TSTC is proud to showcase the students, staff and faculty who support its mission of being the “most sophisticated technical institute in the country” every day. To learn more about the programs offered at TSTC, go to tstc.edu/programs.

Semien brings facilities management expertise to TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Kevin Semien knew that the recent weather events experienced in Texas were not something to take chances with.

Semien is executive vice president of facilities and maintenance, as well as interim airport operations manager, at Texas State Technical College. 

During the weather crisis, he worked with TSTC’s physical plant, custodial and maintenance staff to identify power issues that affected TSTC’s campuses statewide. He was grateful that some staff members could get to their campuses to check on buildings.

Edgar Padilla, TSTC’s provost in Waco, said Semien was a key member of the Waco campus’ incident command team, which met several times daily to ensure the health and safety of all students.

“His calm, thoughtful and expert insight proved to be invaluable not only to the facilities and maintenance considerations, but also the student services, housing, public safety and communication pieces of the event,” Padilla said. “His commitment to TSTC will pay dividends for years to come.”

Semien sees the root of his work as having a desire to solve problems. He likes to get an idea of what is happening on each campus.

“You can’t know every single thing, but you can keep me in the loop for anything outside the norm,” Semien said.

Some of Semien’s goals at TSTC include creating standards to be used in support departments at all of TSTC’s campuses. He wants to encourage employees to be open to new ideas to make work easier. Semien wants to build relationships and foster a teamwork concept that easily allows directors and staff members to make suggestions and have productive discussions.

“He (Semien) has great ideas,” said Arturo Aguilar, TSTC’s custodial supervisor in Waco. “Overall, he is a great leader and also great as a person to work with.”

Terry Pritchett, the TSTC physical plant’s senior executive director in Waco, said Semien brings a high measure of professionalism to his position.

“He is down-to-earth and easy to talk with, whether in a work or personal matter,” Pritchett said. “He is understanding and caring of the TSTC mission and makes his decisions based on our organizational goals. I look forward to many years of service under his leadership.”

Semien said his advice for people interested in the facilities and maintenance field is to be ready to learn and work well with other people.

“The opportunity is there if they jump into it early,” he said.

Semien’s previous work has been in the casino and health care industries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

“All of the experiences have rolled into the opportunity here,” Semien said.

Semien is a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont.

During the month of February, TSTC wants to honor the Black students, staff and faculty who make TSTC a special place to learn.

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

TSTC campus police at the helm during unprecedented weather

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Texas State Technical College buckled down to prepare for the unprecedented winter storm that recently made its way across the state, TSTC campus police immediately answered the call to ensure that both the campus and its residents were safe.

The TSTC Incident Command Post (ICP) team began preparations for the storm well in advance of the storm and developed an action plan to prepare for any situations that arose because of the weather.

TSTC Chief of Police Eduardo Patino is not only proud of his team for being responsive during critical moments such as this, but also for their dedication to service at TSTC.

“The safety and well-being of all members within our community are very important to us,” he said. “Our preparation for all incidents is a year-round process.”

Through the duration of the power outages and icy roads, Patino’s team worked diligently to ensure that situations on campus were handled as smoothly as possible, while also dealing with no electricity or water at their own homes.

“My team was on-site, maintaining the safety and security of the campus while being responsive to our housing residents,” Patino said. “The officers that make up the team are dependable and hold themselves to higher standards. Accountability is one of our core values, which all members in my team truly live up to.”

He said that this work ethic makes the ultimate difference.

“When individuals adopt and live up to such values, it fosters a great working environment and is essential in building a cohesive team. Being responsive to all calls while maintaining visibility is part of our daily police operations.”

TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez appreciates the team’s efforts, which included one officer staying overnight to keep a close eye on the students and their needs on campus. .

“The officer stayed for safety purposes,” she said. “To say our police department is always prepared would be an understatement. They are the lead and front line in every emergency situation. They understand that they are the exemption to the rule of campus closures.”

Hernandez added that the campus is grateful for what the police department, and other TSTC departments, contribute to the college.

“The team we have built in Harlingen is amazing,” she said. “Seeing our staff and faculty rise to the occasion is what makes us an efficient team. From facilities to information technology to the police department, we work with one goal: the safety and well-being of our TSTC family and our TSTC home.”

To learn more about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.