TSTC Wind Energy Technology alumni give back to their community

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology alumni Eric Ramirez and Rene Lopez normally spend their days working the wind turbines at Duke Energy in Lyford, but on Thursday they were found working the barbeque grills at the Harlingen Boys and Girls Club.

“I used to spend my summers playing video games and basketball at my hometown Boys and Girls Club in Raymondville,” Ramirez reminisced. “It’s a great place for the kids, and I feel it’s my duty to give back to the place where I grew up.”

Lopez added, “It feels great giving back to the community where I was raised. We’re here to help in any way we can, big or small.”

Both men and a team of their colleagues chopped brisket cooked by Harlingen firemen; packaged trimmings of onions, jalapenos and pickles; and put together plates with brisket, rice, beans and bread for the fundraiser, which was hosted by the United Way of Northern Cameron County. Proceeds benefited 14 nonprofit partnerships, including the local Boys and Girls Club.

“We are so excited to have them here and have Duke Energy as a United Way partner,” said Jessica Belschner, United Way executive director. “They are doing a wonderful job.”

Ramirez and Lopez graduated with certificates in Wind Energy Technology in 2012. Both wind energy technicians have worked with Duke for nearly four years.

The men have had several opportunities to volunteer in the communities where they grew up since graduating from TSTC and joining the Duke Energy family.

“Without TSTC I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Lopez, a Sebastian native. “Studying wind energy was never the plan, but I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

Lopez said that initially he was at TSTC only to finish his basics while he worked at a local roofing company, but when he was introduced to the wind energy program, he was compelled to enroll in it.

“TSTC gave me the opportunity to learn and try new things and to kick-start my career,” said Lopez. “I haven’t been without a good-paying job since then.”

Lopez also holds a Federal Aviation Administration license to be a drone pilot for Duke Energy. He has already assisted in many projects, including hurricane relief efforts in Florida after Hurricane Irma.

As for Ramirez, TSTC’s Wind Energy Technology was a career change and a second chance at a better life.

Ramirez said he worked for many years in trucking, and when he began to see wind farms pop up across the Valley, he knew that was where he was supposed to be.

Immediately after graduating, Ramirez worked for a year and a half with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Sarita before making the move to Duke Energy.

“TSTC was a great experience for me. It provided me with the foundation I needed to enter a field with many job and growth opportunities,” said Ramirez. “It is definitely because of TSTC that I have been able to find great jobs.”

Duke Energy Area Planner for Wind Operations Sotero Regalado is also a TSTC alumnus and is Ramirez and Lopez’s supervisor.

Regalado, who earned his certificate in Wind Energy Technology in 2011, said Ramirez and Lopez are two of the best technicians he has in the field.

“Both men are top-notch. They instill safety in our overall culture at Duke and are great team players,” said Regalado. “There is no doubt that the success they have found with us is because of the training they received at TSTC, (and) their hard work and motivation.”

May is Duke Energy in Action Month for the company, but Regalado said he hopes to continue volunteer efforts throughout the year, especially after seeing how excited Ramirez, Lopez and their team were to help out, and he hopes that they can also mentor or assist other Wind Energy Technology students from TSTC.

For more information on Wind Energy Technology, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC, Belton High School Participate in Joint SkillsUSA Simulation Contest

(WACO) – For Texas State Technical College students Joseph Hermann and Andres Zapata, Friday was a homecoming.

The Belton residents and TSTC Building Construction Technology majors visited Belton High School to take part in a simulated SkillsUSA TeamWorks build with students from their high school alma mater. The two groups will represent Texas at the 2018 National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Louisville, Kentucky.

“I want to see them succeed,” said Craig Sullivan, a construction trades teacher who taught Hermann and Zapata at the high school. “We want TSTC to be national champions as much as I do Belton.”

The groups worked in the shade of the high school’s career technical education building, which has a view of Tiger Field, home of the Belton Tigers. Some students watched as they walked by while changing classes.

“It is bittersweet coming back here,” said Hermann.

Students worked with building plans drawn by Michael Carrillo, a TSTC Building Construction Technology instructor, with input from Sullivan.

Carrillo said he designed the blueprints to be more difficult than what the students will encounter when they compete in Kentucky. The purpose was to develop the students’ decision-making skills and adaptability to various situations.

Randy Pittenger, president of the Belton Independent School District’s Board of Trustees, was one of the few school district leaders stopping by to see the build.

“It’s just interesting to see how they motivate each other,” he said. “SkillsUSA is a great program to prepare for job readiness.”

The TSTC group won first place at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held in early April in Waco. Besides Hermann and Zapata, the team is made up of recent TSTC BCT graduate William Chance and electrical construction student Ricardo Delgado.

Delgado, 25, a lead electrician at Britco Structures USA in Waco, is new to SkillsUSA.

“This is the first practice, so I’m getting the feel of what will happen at nationals,” he said.

Hermann and Zapata said the team needed more practice before traveling to Kentucky.

“This has been a big wake-up call,” Zapata said. “Expectations are high. It feels good to work with this group again.”

Hermann and Zapata were on last year’s high school team that won the state and national TeamWorks titles.

The Belton group placed first at the state secondary SkillsUSA TeamWorks contest in early April in Corpus Christi. The team includes seniors Bailey Eickenloff, Antonio Hernandez, William Glaser and Lyhue Penny.

“At Belton High School, we believe SkillsUSA and TeamWorks give skills and experience to students to walk out of the classroom and go into the workforce,” said Jill Ross, principal.

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

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

TSTC swears in new Board of Regents members

(FORT BEND) – Administration officials at Texas State Technical College welcomed two new regents to the TSTC family during a dinner and special meeting of its Board of Regents at the college’s Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg last week.

The two new regents, Charles “Pat” McDonald of Richmond and Tiffany Tremont of New Braunfels, were sworn in after being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in February for terms ending in February 2023.

TSTC Board of Regents Chairman John K. Hatchel of Woodway was also reappointed by the governor; he was first appointed to the board in September 2011.

“TSTC is a great college that does great things,” said McDonald. “I’m honored to be part of the work they’re already doing, and my goal is to work closely with the board members in getting the legislative funding we need.”

TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser described McDonald as an asset to the board.

“Mr. McDonald’s extensive professional experience in the not-for-profit sector and in economic development will be a great resource for the Board of Regents,” said Reeser. “We’re especially honored to have representation from Fort Bend County, which is home to our newest TSTC campus.”

McDonald, who holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, serves as president and chief executive officer of the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation. He is also a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, director of the Morton Cemetery Association and the Winston Foundation, and is a former trustee and chair of the George Foundation.

Tremont, who is founder, president and CEO of Silotech Group Inc., said she is excited about her new appointment.

“I’m honored to have been trusted by the governor’s office for this appointment,” said Tremont, a service-disabled veteran of the U.S. Air Force. “My goal is to grow the number of women who pursue cybersecurity and science, technology, engineering and mathematics educations and careers.”

Tremont holds a Bachelor of Science degree in information systems management from the University of Maryland University College, where she is completing a Master of Science degree in cybersecurity management and policy. She is a former vice president of the Young Alamo chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and a former president of the National Association for Female Executives San Antonio.

“Ms. Tremont brings leading-edge-level technical experience and has achieved an outstanding level of professional success,” said Reeser. “Likewise, TSTC has robust offerings in IT and cybersecurity, so we’re excited to have her unique perspective as part of our governing body.”

Hatchel, who is serving his second term, is also the former chairman of the TSTC Board of Regents’ Finance Committee.

Before retirement, Hatchel served for 33 years in municipal administration in various cities in Texas, including Abilene, Plainview and Waco.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University). He is a life member of the Texas City Management Association and the International City Management Association, and a member of the Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Texas Legal Board of Directors and the State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Minimum Continuing Legal Education.

“I am very pleased and glad that I was appointed for another term,” said Hatchel. “It’s great being a part of the TSTC family and working toward creating a quality workforce for Texas. I am very passionate about what the college does, and I sing praises about TSTC wherever I go.”

Hatchel added, “I always tell people that the way you spell TSTC is J-O-B-S.”

Leaving the board is Joe M. Gurecky of Rosenberg, appointed in 2006 and reappointed in 2011, and Joe Hearne of Dallas, appointed in 2006 and reappointed in 2011.

TSTC Looks to Expand Team

(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College is looking to expand its Marshall campus team and is hiring for several instructor and staff positions.

Jamee Quaid, a TSTC human resources manager, said she hopes interested applicants will believe in TSTC’s role in strengthening the Texas workforce.

“What we do here, ‘Place More Texans,’ is a mission that all of us believe in,” Quaid said. “We offer a tremendous asset to our local community by providing qualified students as our community’s next generation of employees. We are always looking for dedicated teammates who share the vision of changing lives by providing our students with great career opportunities.”

Patty Lopez, coordinator of student recruitment, needs another recruiter for her team.

“The student recruiter position is one of the most fulfilling positions because you get to work with individuals who are looking to take the next step in their education,” Lopez said. “Whether it is working with nontraditional students or high school students, each day in the recruitment office is totally different. If you enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life, the student recruitment office is a great place to be.”

TSTC Provost Bart Day said he hopes those interested in joining TSTC will gain more than just a job.

“There is a universal thought I always like to express to folks when they consider joining any piece of the TSTC team: I came here for the mission and stayed for the people,” Day said. “The family atmosphere, teamwork and true sense of purpose drive every aspect of what we do.”

TSTC has 10 campuses statewide in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco and Williamson County. Each campus provides a unique atmosphere with programs chosen to suit the area’s employment needs.

Quaid said part of what makes working at TSTC so great is the relationship between co-workers.

“We encompass a family atmosphere that not only extends to our employees, but also to our students,” she said. “Our leadership is so dedicated to making TSTC a greater place to work, that it is now one of our top strategic goals.”

TSTC offers benefits such as retirement, medical, dental, vision and more.

For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

Lorena Business Owner Uses TSTC Drafting and Design Experience for Construction Work

(WACO) – There are two years that have been pivotal in Charlie Montgomery’s career.

One was 1978, the year he graduated from what was Texas State Technical Institute (now Texas State Technical College) with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Architectural Drafting and Design.

“I was able to gain knowledge to go forward in life,” said Montgomery, 60, of Lorena.

Then there was 1988. Montgomery’s brother committed suicide, and he felt the need to stop what he was doing and move as far as he could from Waco. So, he moved to Fort Worth, where he lived and worked for four years.

But Waco pulled him back.

“This was home,” he said. “It was where all my family was. I started to get my life in order again.”

He started C.O. Montgomery Construction Services LLC in Lorena in 1995 with a pickup truck, a handsaw and tools, and no employees. He learned quickly how well-developed people skills can help build a business.

“The thing that helped me the most was the Jarrell tornado,” Montgomery said. “I started to learn how to weld. I designed and sold 63 storm shelters.”

He said one of the hardest parts of having a business is the management, from taxes to insurance.

His company has 10 employees and also hires subcontractors. He wants to work with TSTC’s Building Construction Technology program to provide internships and fill needs for estimators.

“Us older guys are dying out,” Montgomery said. “In our day, we sacrificed to do what we had to do to get the job done.”

One of the jobs Montgomery’s company is doing is building Bush’s Chicken locations throughout Texas. The restaurant being built in China Spring is how Bobby Horner, a city of Waco inspection supervisor and classmate of Montgomery’s at TSTC, reconnected after years of taking different career pathways.

“It was neat to see Charlie around,” Horner said. “Charlie has done everything we have asked with the project.”

Keith Bush, founder of Bush’s Chicken, said Montgomery is his preferred builder. Bush’s Chicken uses a standard 3,000-square-foot design for all locations.

“It’s so comfortable and reassuring knowing Charlie is on your project because you don’t have to worry,” Bush said. “With other contractors, you have to worry they will do something that is not in your best interest. He does what is in the best interest in the buildings he builds and the work he does.”

Montgomery grew up in McLennan County and graduated in 1976 from Midway High School.

“I was always artistic and did a lot of drawing,” he said.

He said taking drafting classes at Midway helped prepare him for TSTC.

“The trades are completely ignored,” Montgomery said. “If the schools focused on that, it would help prepare the students.”

He was hired for a drafting job after his first semester in college and after graduation worked for Centurion Mobile Homes in Waco designing mobile homes. One project he remembered was building their own hydraulics testing mechanisms for trusses.

“I had a knack for designing things and laying things out and making it work,” he said.

Montgomery said his later work drafting and designing at Bob Hoover Construction in Waco opened his eyes to the construction side of designing. He said he valued his time observing the building process on-site at projects.

“We need drafting and construction taught together,” Montgomery said. “Each needs to know about the other.”

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

TSTC Alum Returns as New IT Field Tech

(MARSHALL) – When Scott Hodkinson joined the Texas State Technical College team earlier this month, it was like coming back home.

Hodkinson, a graduate of TSTC’s Computer Networking & Systems Administration and Cyber Security programs, began working as a field tech in the Office of Information Technology at the Marshall campus on April 16.

Hodkinson graduated from TSTC in August 2017 but worked as a restaurant manager for the last six years. He chose to go into information technology because it is something he has always been interested in.

“I’ve always wanted to do IT,” Hodkinson said. “I was doing restaurant management to get by until I found something that I really wanted to do. The hours and the stress level at a steady job are so much less than I’m used to — it’s amazing.”

The main part of Hodkinson’s job is keeping the campus’ computer network up and running.

“My main duty is to fix anything that breaks as it comes up,” he said. “I’m trying to make sure that everyone has what they need to succeed on their end of things.”

Hodkinson said he was happy to join the TSTC team.

“This campus feels like home,” he said. “Everyone knows everybody. We’re all one big family here at the Marshall campus. It just feels comfortable. It really is the people that make TSTC my favorite — my coworkers.”

Terrye Newcomb, OIT Manager III, said she is happy that Scott joined the organization.

“Scott is a great asset to the Marshall campus,” she said. “He knows the technical field, and he has jumped on board with the rest of the employees. I am glad that he was chosen to be on my team.”

TSTC Provost Bart Day also said he was proud to have Scott join the team.

“It’s especially great to add another TSTC graduate to our full-time family,” Day said. “Scott brought a terrific can-do attitude to the team and has been making a great impact since his first day with us.”

So far, Hodkinson’s favorite part of the job is the challenges he sees daily.

“I like the challenge of having to come up with something to make things work,” he said. “Sometimes I have to try to make something out of nothing, but that’s what I like.”

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and offers benefits such as retirement, medical, dental and vision. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

TSTC machining lab dedicated to regent, local leader

(FORT BEND) – In what was an emotional Texas State Technical College Board of Regents meeting, outgoing regent Joe M. Gurecky was recognized for his service to the college, the manufacturing industry and the community.

At that special meeting a resolution of appreciation was presented to Gurecky and in a rare and distinguished tribute the lab inside the Industrial Technology Center was named the Joe M. Gurecky Machining Laboratory.

“I am overwhelmed and moved with emotion,” said Gurecky. “I never expected to have the lab named after me. It is a true honor.”

Gurecky was appointed as a TSTC Regent by Governor Rick Perry on June 9, 2006, and reappointed on September 1, 2011, serving more than a decade.

It was also some 15 years ago, as Mayor of Rosenberg and sitting on the Rosenberg City Council, that he worked diligently to bring TSTC to the community.

“It is impossible to state the importance Joe Gurecky has had on TSTC,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “And I want to note that without his contribution, TSTC in Fort Bend County may have never happened.”

TSTC Board of Regent Chairman John Hatchel shared Reeser’s sentiment.

TSTC Regent Joe Gurecky and wife Doris Gurecky

“It’s going to be difficult to replace Joe,” said Hatchel. “He added stability and wisdom to our decisions.”

A product of technical education, Gurecky knows first-hand the impact it can have on a person’s life and calls it a privilege to provide the same opportunity to the community.

“The doors of opportunities that opened for me because of my technical education was remarkable,” said Gurecky. “And I, along with my wife Doris, want to give the same opportunities to the students of TSTC.”

Gurecky and his wife have donated more than $100,000 for scholarships and the Chancellor’s discretionary fund, which is used to facilitate the institution’s needs.

Gurecky always gives credit where credit is due; he said he could not have spent the last 12 years as a regent, or the last six decades pursuing his career, without the support from his wife and family.

“I couldn’t have done what I have done alone,” he said. “This is as much their accomplishment and honor as it is mine.”

Gurecky spent 27 years working for Baroid Corporation, a Houston-based oil and gas industry production company, before using his family’s life-savings in 1983 to open Gurecky Manufacturing, which operated out of his garage with only three machines.

Since then, the company has undergone significant growth and is now housed in a 40,000-square-foot-facility filled with state-of-art precision manufacturing machines.

And although Gurecky will no longer serve as regent, he said he will continue to work closely and share his experiences and advice with TSTC as a mentor for students, and assist with recruitment efforts.

“Joe and Doris are pillars of this community and to have Joe serve as a regent has been a distinct privilege for TSTC,” said TSTC Field Development Officer John Kennedy. “He has brought a unique perspective to the board and we will forever be grateful for his years of service to the college.”

Kennedy added, “Joe and Doris are financially vested in TSTC. As a result of their generosity more than 150 students have been able to attend classes at our Fort Bend County campus.”

Community Celebrates TSTC Growth in Fort Bend County

(FORT BEND) – Residents and community leaders of the Fort Bend County community toured the new Brazos Center today as part of an Open House for the new building on the Texas State Technical College campus.

The Brazos Center, a 57-thousand-square-foot building, first opened for classes in Fall 2017 and a dedication had been scheduled for last October, but was postponed due to Hurricane Harvey.

“We’re late celebrating this new building but no less excited to be here and have new offerings for the students of this region,” said Provost Randy Wooten. “Nature is bigger than we are but we bounced back with little negative impact to enrollment.”

The Brazos Center houses four new programs: Robotics Technology, Electrical Power & Controls, Environmental Technology – Compliance specialization and Electrical Lineworker Technology. There are now a total of 10 programs being offered at the Fort Bend County campus.

“The programs were all chosen strictly to serve market demand,” explained Associate Vice President of Student Learning Bryan Bowling. “We work closely with industry and have chosen high performing and high placement programs to meet industry demand and assure there’s a job for every graduate.”

TSTC Brazos Center Open House

The Brazos Center also provides space for various student support services, including recruiting, student accounting, veterans’ programs, financial aid, admissions, bookstore and a learning resource center.

But it was the state-of-the-art equipment that most impressed one touring guest. Enrico R. Giannetti, president of Dorian Tool International, which specializes in the research and development of highly technical, innovative tooling, has already hired a graduate from the Precision Machining program and his own son recently started attending classes at TSTC.

“This is outstanding. The technology here is great. It’s the future of technology and manufacturing in Texas. The region, the state, we’re all going to benefit from having TSTC here,” said Giannetti.

TSTC’s Fort Bend campus has been built with the financial support from the city of Rosenberg, city of Richmond, city of Sugarland, Fort Bend County, Sprint Waste Services, the George Foundation and the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation. The municipalities and foundations made more than $40 million in contributions to help TSTC expand its educational opportunities in the region.

This summer there are 300 students enrolled in classes and that number will jump to 500 in the fall. TSTC enrollment is on track with growth predictions and Provost Wooten is already planning ahead.

“We have exceeded expectations. We anticipate outgrowing our space and needing building number three in about three years,” explained Wooten. “We’re already meeting, talking about need and starting the groundwork for future growth.”

Ultimately, the TSTC campus in Fort Bend County will boast six to eight buildings and be able to serve a projected enrollment of 5,000 students.

TSTC serves Texas through 10 campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco and Williamson County. TSTC has graduated more than 100,000 students into the state workforce in its 50-year history.

For more information on TSTC in Fort Bend, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC offers first children’s STEM Summer Camp

(HARLINGEN) – From magnetic slime and rocket launches to robotic race cars, the Texas State Technical College Challenger Learning Center has two weeks of summer fun lined up in June with their first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp.

“We are so excited for this program. It’s a great opportunity for our Valley students,” said Yvette
Mendoza, TSTC College Readiness coordinator. “STEM is a huge focus right now and with this
program we want to help the school districts keep students engaged in STEM fields and learning even during summer break.”

The pilot program begins June 12 for ages six to 14 and is a half-day summer camp that teaches
about astronomy, rocketry and robotics through hands-on experiences and age-appropriate
activities.

There are four different camps specific to age group: Atlantis, ages six and seven; Discovery,
ages eight and nine; Endeavor, ages 10-12; and Challenger, ages 13 and 14.

Atlantis and Discovery will make magnetic slime and launch rockets respectively, and also complete TSTC’s Micronauts program, which offers kindergarten through fourth-grade students the opportunity to learn science through hands-on projects such as experimenting with magnets and microscopes and learning about computer coding and the solar system with TSTC’s planetarium.

Endeavor and Challenger teams will get to complete Challenger space shuttle flight missions and build and race robotic cars.

“Providing hands-on experiences during this program is an important factor for us,” said Rose
Serafin Corley, TSTC College Readiness program advisor. “This is exciting for the children, it
makes their time with us more meaningful and gives them something to take home as a
memento.”

TSTC College Readiness Director Neri Balli said this program is taking TSTC’s Challenger
Learning Center to the next level.

“This program allows us to expand our services into more areas of STEM and increase our
community involvement at our center,” said Balli. “It lets us open up the world of STEM to even
the youngest learners and open their eyes to the opportunities available to them in the field.”

The goal for the TSTC Challenger Learning Center team is to grow this new program into an
annual tradition that is also offered during winter break and spring break, while also showcasing the campus and STEM fields of study offered.

“TSTC and the Challenger Learning Center really do fit together and go hand-in- hand,” said
Balli. “One of NASA’s goals is to get to Mars and it is the students with an interest in STEM-

related fields and those who have trade-related skills, who will have the opportunity to help make this happen.”

Applications for the STEM Summer Camp are already being accepted. The camp fee is $20 and
will include lunch. There are two sessions available per age group, June 12-15 and June 19-22.

The TSTC Challenger Learning Center STEM Summer Camp is also being offered at TSTC’s
Waco campus.

To register your child, to get more information or pick up an application, call 956-364- 4125.

TSTC alum builds career with SpawGlass

(HARLINGEN) – May 14, 2018 will be a special day for Harlingen native Sebastian Tovar. It will be the day he begins the career he has been working toward since enrolling at Texas State Technical College in 2016.

The 21-year-old just graduated from TSTC with an associate degree in Building Construction Technology and with a job offer from SpawGlass, a Texas-based commercial and civil contractor, as an assistant superintendent in San Antonio.

“Before getting the job offer I felt like every other college student, worried about what was next,” said Tovar. “But when I got the call, there was a big weight lifted off. I was excited, it was everything I had worked for.”

As a former intern with SpawGlass in Harlingen, Tovar credits his new career to SpawGlass Project Manager and his former supervisor Danny Hawkins.

While an intern, Tovar worked on the Texas Regional Bank construction project, said Hawkins, site supervisor who encouraged Tovar to take on new challenges.

“Sebastian was a hard worker and quick learner,” said Hawkins. “It was impressive on how engaged and willing he was to learn new things. He grew fast in the few months he was with us. There is no doubt he has a bright future with our company. He is a great asset and we miss him here in Harlingen.”

During his internship with SpawGlass t, Tovar went from shadowing project managers and superintendents to leading safety meetings and managing site teams.

“Danny really helped me move out of my comfort zone and challenge myself,” said Tovar. “I really learned a lot from him and in the field. I’m ready for my new adventure. It’s been a long time coming.”

When Tovar graduated from high school in 2015, the Eagle Scout who wanted to serve his country, joined the Army reserves.

After a year of basic training, he enrolled at a south Texas university. For a man who grew up working with his father, who is a welder, at construction sites and enjoys working outside and with his hands, university life was not for him.

“I changed majors a couple of times: music and political science,” said Tovar. “But I didn’t like it. I felt like I didn’t belong. I was only a number, so I dropped out and moved back home.”

Enticed by the opportunity to learn by doing, Tovar enrolled at TSTC.

“My experience at TSTC was so different from that at the university. It was so much better,” he said. “My instructors actually know my name, they care about my success, our success, as students. And nothing tops hands-on training.”

Tovar said TSTC helped him find his purpose in life and gave him the foundation he needed to start a career.

“Everything I learned in the classroom I applied during my internship and I’m positive I’m going to use it all in my new job. TSTC prepares you for the real-world and I’m excited for my future,” he said.

At TSTC, Tovar had the opportunity to also earn a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Level 1 carpentry, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 and forklift certifications through TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education department.

“These additional certifications not only make me a more knowledgeable employee, but they make me more competitive in an already competitive market,” said Tovar.

When it is all said and done, Tovar said he is glad he is no longer living with regret about dropping out of the university and that he’s been able to make his family and girlfriend Serena Hernandez, who have encouraged and supported him along the way, proud.

“I feel good, I’m ready,” he said. “My stars have aligned and everything has fallen into place and I can’t wait to work with SpawGlass and grow in the industry and with the company.”

Tovar and Hernandez have already made the move to San Antonio.

For more information Building Construction Technology, offered at TSTC’s Waco and Harlingen campuses, visit tstc.edu.

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