(HARLINGEN) – Mechatronics Technology students at Texas State Technical College will soon have labs equipped with two robotic arms to program and maintain as part of their hands-on training, all thanks to Toyota.

“Toyota’s donation is really important for our college, our program and our students,” said Lead Mechatronics Instructor Eldwin Leija. “This allows us to expand our training and create more marketable graduates.”

The donated robotic arms have been used to build more than two million Toyota Tundras and Tacomas over the last 10 years.

Toyota Human Resources Manpower Planning Specialist Albert Escamilla, who assisted in organizing the donation with TSTC, said the robots reached their lifespan at Toyota and were replaced with updated versions.

“These robots still have plenty of life left in them for use in a classroom setting,” said Escamilla. “And at Toyota, we feel that their introduction into the classroom will yield us a more capable graduate.”

Escamilla also added that Toyota recruits from TSTC statewide, but has hired more graduates from TSTC in Harlingen than any other campus.

“After learning on larger more versatile robots like these, students will graduate better prepared to enter the workforce,” said Escamilla.

Leija noted that the robots will be ready to use as early as Spring 2019, after installation and instructor training.

All training for the robotic arms will be provided by Toyota and will mirror the automotive manufacturer’s employee training.

“We are so thankful to Toyota, not only for the donation, but also for the training,” said Leija.

“They have saved us money and left room in our budget for other things that are also vital for our students. We are very grateful.”

While there is still work to be done in terms of installation and training, Leija said the hardest part of the process is over.

“This has been months in the making and although we still have a ways to go, the hardest part: pickup and delivery, is complete,” he said.

The pickup and delivery was organized and managed by TSTC’s Continuing Education Commercial Driver’s License instructor Juan Hernandez and Transportation Training Center Coordinator Adan Trevino.

“By using our own semi-trucks for this occasion and not outsourcing we not only saved the college more than $5,000, but we also had the opportunity to promote our program,” said Trevino.

“Our trucks are wrapped in TSTC branding and traveled through major cities like Kingsville, Corpus Christi and of course our final destination: San Antonio,” he added.

Leija said him and his Mechatronics Technology team have a lot of people to be grateful for in making this donation possible for the program and its students.

“We send a huge thank you to everyone from our TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez, Trevino and his team from Continuing Education and our hard working staff from Facilities,” said Leija. “It is strong partnerships and teamwork like this that allow us to continue training students, increase skills and help fill the workforce needs across the state.”

For more information on Mechatronics Technology and other programs offered at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

(HARLINGEN) – It was 1982. The United States President was Ronald Reagan, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album was released, E.T. The Extraterrestrial warmed the hearts of millions, a gallon of gas was 91 cents and Jose Salas began his career at Texas State Technical College.

The TSTC Welding Technology instructor was recently honored at TSTC’s Employee Appreciation Day for his 35 years of service to the college.

“I’ve had an amazing career and great opportunities at TSTC,” said Salas. “I wake up ready to work and leave fulfilled every day. TSTC has been good to me.”

The Harlingen native began as a part-time employee in the Central Receiving department.at what was then Texas State Technical Institute.

When he took the job he had just withdrawn from Pan American University, now the University of Rio Grande Valley, where he was studying kinesiology, to help his brother manage the grocery story their parents had left them when they died.

“By 11 years old I had lost both my parents to health issues and it was my grandmother who raised us six kids,” said Salas. “So it was only right that I help my brother out, but I wanted more.”

So, a year later, he took a full-time opportunity with Welding Technology in the tool crib issuing tools, supplies and equipment to welding students and decided to enroll as a welding student as well.

“My father was a welding fabricator in the 1940’s so that’s where my interest in welding comes from,” said Salas. “This was a perfect match for me.”

Salas is proof that it is never too late to earn a degree and make your dream come true.

He didn’t earn his associate degree in Welding Technology until recently in 2004, nearly two decades after he started.

Working by day and taking classes by night, Salas took his time, even gaining other opportunities during his career at TSTC as a maintenance mechanic, welding lab assistant and full-time faculty.

“TSTC is the ‘Jewel of the Valley,’ that’s what I call it,” said Salas. “We are in the business of changing students’ lives and their journey becomes ours.”

Salas said his favorite part of his job is watching his students grow and lead successful lives and careers.

“It’s my students who keep me going,” he said. “People tell me I’ll never be rich doing what I do, but I always tell them that I don’t need to be rich. I’m happy, I’m making a difference and to me that’s rewarding.”

TSTC Welding Instructor Kenny Moore has known Salas for nearly 30 years and has worked with him for at least two decades.

Moore first met Salas as a welding student in the 1980’s.

“Jose would issue us our tools. His care for us as students was always evident in the way he would go above and beyond,” said Moore. “Little did I know that I would get to work with him someday and I’m so happy to be able to work side by side a man of integrity who still cares so much about his students.”

Moore added, “I hope our department and TSTC is lucky enough to have him around for a few more years. I couldn’t ask for a better guy to work with.”

The 60-year-old Salas said his goal is to hit 40 years at TSTC.

“I plan on staying around as long as I am able to and there is room for me,” said Salas. “I’m not done doing my job just yet.”

Salas added, “But when I do retire, I look forward to spending more time with my family, especially my wife Sylvia, who also retired from TSTC’s Business Office after 35 years.”

TSTC prides itself on being a great place to work and is listed as one of Harlingen’s top employers. For more information on job opportunities at TSTC, go online at: tstc.edu/about/employment.

By Emily Swartz

Flavio Tello is a Mechatronics Technology student at Texas State Technical College. The McKinney native and his family moved to Harlingen to be closer to their relatives. Tello maintains a 3.8 grade-point-average and expects to graduate Spring 2019 with his associate degree.

What are you plans after graduation?

After graduation, I am interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University. I want to specialize in the robotics field. TSTC has helped me prepare for higher education and I am ready to pursue it.

What’s your dream job?

In all honesty, I couldn’t tell you what I want to be yet. I can tell you that Robotics is where my interest lies and that I am interested in Toyota as a company, particularly in assembling, processing and manufacturing. They often come to recruit students here so I know a lot about them.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

I have two accomplishments that I’m proud of. First, getting an A on my math final was one of them, and second is helping my instructor create machines to display at TSTC during our recruitment events. I love showing prospective students what you can accomplish under the right guidance, and it gives me a sense of pride creating something that TSTC is proud to showcase.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success.

My Mechatronics Technology Instructor Eutiquio Calderon and Mechatronics Technology Lab Assistant Alberto Perez have had the most influence. They encourage me to keep doing what I like when I feel like giving up.

What is your advice for TSTC students?

Focus on your studies, even throughout high school. You will be better prepared for what is ahead and you will have more opportunities. What you do in the beginning of your educational career will affect your grade-point-average in the future.

(HARLINGEN) – The Rio Grande Valley Partnership recently presented Texas State Technical College in Harlingen with a donation in the amount of $18,800 for the Texan Success Scholarship fund to be used for Vocational Nursing and Registered Nursing scholarships.

The initial donation was $9,400 and was matched dollar-for-dollar by TSTC’s Foundation and came from an endowment that the RGV Partnership started in 2014.

Brent Baldree, RGV Partnership Foundation chairman and chief lending officer and South Texas regional market president at Texas Regional Bank, said the endowment was first started as part of the foundation’s mission to promote education in the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley: Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy.

“We have a long-time partnership with TSTC and they have always provided our workforce with quality graduates and it’s important that we continue assisting with their mission,” said Baldree.

Baldree added that since the inception of the RGV Partnership Foundation they have contributed nearly $160,000 to post-secondary institutions Valley wide.

“One of our main focuses is to raise funds that will continually support the youth in the RGV,” he said. “With the intent and hope they (students) stay to fill skills gaps in our area.”

A financial endowment is a donation of money to a non-profit organization and is designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the interest collected over time for charitable efforts such as scholarships.

In this case, RGV Partnership wanted nursing students to be able to use this money for tuition, room and board or books sooner rather than later and decided to move the monies to the TSTC Texan Success Scholarship Fund.

And with the reintroduction of the Vocational Nursing to Registered Nursing transition program it was agreed that this was perfect timing.

“We’re beyond grateful for the RGV Partnership recognizing how these funds will have a positive impact on our students,” said TSTC Senior Development Officer Amy Lynch. “They are great advocates for our college and we’re excited to be working hand-in-hand in creating a stronger, skilled workforce for our state.”

First-time TSTC students who are enrolled in vocational and registered nursing are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Those who are awarded will receive $1,000 for the year; $500 for the Fall Semester and $500 for the Spring Semester.

TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez said with the demand for nurses increasing these scholarships will help fill a gap.

“You can’t put a dollar amount on the impact RGV Partnership is making,” she said. “There is a shortage of nurses across the Valley and the state and this donation is one step closer to closing the gap by giving us the opportunity to train the skilled workforce we need.”

Already, with this donation, five nursing students have been awarded a Texan Success Scholarship for the Fall 2018 Semester.

To date, the Texan Success Scholarship has helped more than 660 students statewide and TSTC Foundation has raised more than $746,000.

“This money removes a burden from our students and allows them to focus on their studies to get to the career they have their eyes set on,” said Hernandez. “It’s important that our students know they have us at TSTC and in our community supporting them and cheering them on.”

For more information on how you or your company can give to fund student scholarships, call TSTC Foundation at 956-364-4500.

(HARLINGEN) – The last time Texas State Technical College featured student Sylvia Cleary she was studying biology at TSTC with two of her children and waiting for the inaugural Registered Nursing courses to start.

Now one year later she is part of the first graduating cohort of the program and its first valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Last night, the 50-year-old and 29 of her classmates earned their associate degrees during TSTC’s Commencement Ceremonies at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, joining the nearly 300 other students who earned a certificate or associate degree from the college.

“It’s still so surreal. I can’t believe that I can check this off my bucket list,” said Cleary. “My personal goal was to become a registered nurse by the time I turned 50. And here I am.”

The Rio Hondo native, who worked two decades as a licensed vocational nurse before returning to school, said she thought being accepted into the program was a long shot, especially at her age.

“It was scary returning to school and being the oldest in all of my classes,” said Cleary. “But I had a goal and wanted to prove to myself and my children that success is possible at any age.”

So in 2015, Cleary quit her job and devoted 100 percent of her time to school.

And although her family was supportive of her decision and desire to apply to TSTC’s first registered nursing program, she still kept the application process a secret.

“I secretly applied last year in case I didn’t get in. I didn’t want to have to disappoint anyone,” she said. “But fortunately I was one of 30 students to get accepted. It was a competitive bunch.”

Throughout the program, graduating was a distant and sometimes impossible goal for Cleary who struggled and was close to giving up on several occasions.

“This was a huge sacrifice, like for many, for my family and me,” she said. “And things got tough. At times I was torn between my two loves: family and nursing.”

Cleary is a mother of four and also her husband’s full-time caregiver. He is a decorated army veteran who earned a purple heart for his service, but suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I didn’t want to falter as a wife or a mother, so I pushed myself at home and at school and it eventually takes a toll,” she said. “Most of the time I did my homework while my 15-year-old did his just so we could spend time together.”

Cleary said she credits the support and care she received from her instructors in the program for her will to continue pushing forward.

Shirley Byrd, Registered Nursing program director, said she is proud of Cleary and all she has accomplished in the past few years and months.

“She is an inspiration to me and everyone in our program,” said Byrd. “It takes a lot to come back to school after being away for so long, but she really devoted herself and made it through.”

Byrd added, “She was one of our best students and I can’t wait to see her succeed like I know she will. She is definitely going to be a leader in the nursing profession.”

Clearly has a few ideas of where she wants to work now that she has graduated, but is waiting to pass her National Council Licensure Examination, which she will take in the next few days.

Her journey with school is also not stopping with TSTC. She hopes to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing and eventually a master’s degree so she can return to TSTC as a nursing instructor.

“It is my family that keeps me going. Everything I do, I do for them,” said Cleary. “My son John who is legally blind has overcome so much and is my biggest inspiration. If he can do it, so can I.”

Her son John is studying Education and Training at TSTC, and her daughter Logan who also received her associate degree in Biology from TSTC and has recently been accepted to medical school at the island of Antigua, were last featured with Cleary.

Cleary will officially be sworn into the nursing profession on August 4, during TSTC’s Registered Nursing Pinning Ceremony at the TSTC Cultural Arts Center.

For more information on TSTC’s Registered Nursing program, visit tstc.edu.

(HARLINGEN) – Left for dead during an armed robbery, Leonel Garza Jr. believes he was given a second chance at life for a reason and, with the help of Texas State Technical College, he has set out to make it the best life he can.

Tonight, the 33-year-old McAllen native will put on his cap and gown and walk the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium stage to receive his associate degree in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) from Texas State Technical College.

“The fact that I’m graduating hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Garza. “I’m excited and proud, but it’s all still so surreal.”

Surreal because Garza almost didn’t make it to see this graduation day.

On April 28, 2016 at 6:45 a.m., Garza still remembers every detail of the day, an armed robber entered his apartment in Irving, Texas.

“My roommate, who I called ‘Abuelo,’ or grandfather, and I were getting ready for work and throwing out trash, when we forgot to lock our front door,” said Garza. “A simple mistake nearly cost us our lives.”

Garza and his 65-year-old roommate were shot by a would-be robber.  ‘Abuelo’ was shot in the chest and Garza was shot five times on his right side and back as the gunman demanded money and items.

“By the grace of God I was able to call 911,” said Garza. “I couldn’t feel my legs so I crawled to ‘Abuelo’ who was laying on the ground. This is the day I realized who I was as a person. I could have easily given up, but I didn’t.”

Garza said he remembers thinking that he had to live for ‘Abuelo,’ who survived the attack, and for himself.

“At that moment I realized I wasn’t ready to die. There was more to life. I wanted a career, to be a husband and a father. That’s why I fought hard to live,” he said.

Garza had only been in Arlington a few months on that fateful day. He had recently left  a 10-year job as a security guard with the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, was celebrating the completion of his HVAC certificate at an Irving vocational institute and was looking to start a new career.

The gunman was never arrested and Garza was left to slowly recuperate with three bullets forever lodged in his body. The incident also affected him emotionally and mentally.

“Physically I was a mess. I couldn’t walk without a walker or a cane and I was advised not to work for at least a year to allow my body to recuperate,” said Garza. “But I also wake up every day with the fear of being shot.”

Since then, Garza has returned to the Rio Grande Valley, married and now has a one-year-old son, but he struggles daily with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. But that has not stopped him from achieving his goals and living his life to the fullest.

Garza said TSTC, his instructors and classmates have helped him more than they will ever know.

“For a person like me who lives in constant fear, everyone at TSTC has given me the power to overcome it,” he said. “They have helped me move forward with my life and my education. They have helped me gain my life back.”

During his time at TSTC, Garza maintained a 3.75 grade-point average allowing him to graduate with honors, served as president for TSTC’s SkillsUSA chapter and parliamentarian for the Texas SkillsUSA chapter, even traveling to Louisville, Kentucky last month for the SkillsUSA national conference.

Garza has also already interviewed with local HVAC companies and is waiting to get a call back.  He hopes to gain experience in the field for a few years before pursuing his ultimate goal.

“Someday I plan on returning to TSTC as an HVAC instructor,” said Garza. “I hope to follow in my instructors’ footsteps and help other students the way everyone has helped me.”

Nearly 300 students will receive certificates or associate degrees during TSTC’s Commencement Ceremonies tonight at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

For more information on HVAC Technology, visit tstc.edu.