TSTC Host Third Annual Counselor Update

(FORT BEND) – More than 70 high school counselors from across the Gulf Coast region, as far away as Goliad, attended Texas State Technical College’s Third Annual Counselor Update at its Fort Bend County campus on Friday.

The half-day program offered counselors a first-hand look into the technologies and services TSTC has to offer with a tour of the campus, including its newest building, the Brazos Center.

TSTC Director of Recruitment Dora Colvin said the goal of the update is to educate counselors on the importance of a technical education and what TSTC has to offer Fort Bend County and surrounding areas with its new campus.

“We are a fully accredited technical institution with passionate staff and faculty ready to provide an education that leads to a successful career,” said Colvin. “And we need the counselors to help us by taking information back to their students and parents about our campus and programs, so they can make an informed decision.”

3rd Annual TSTC Counselor Update

Throughout the day counselors were introduced to TSTC’s recruitment team, programs, certification and degree plans, admission processes and student eligibility requirements.

And TSTC Admissions, Dual Enrollment and Financial Aid set up resource tables for the counselors to visit with representatives from each department.

Madalina Noth, a counselor at Hastings High School from outside Houston said this is her second year participating in TSTC’s Counselor Update because she loved it so much the first time she decided to return.

“This is an excellent event that many of us look forward to,” she said. “A lot of my students have enrolled at TSTC and what they are doing for our area is great. I believe in the power of a technical education and what TSTC has to offer.”

Counselors were also treated to a lunch catered by TSTC Culinary Arts graduate Ben Pustejovsky, owner of the popular Ben’s Chuckwagon in Wallis, Texas.

Other activities included a student and departmental faculty lead panel representing the 10 programs offered at the campus with a question and answer session for the counselors.

“I’ve been working closely with TSTC for some time now and what I love is the passion that everyone on campus exudes. You can tell they love what they do and that’s how I know it’s an excellent place to send my students,” said Noth.

TSTC Student Recruitment Coordinator Marigold Sagrado said she hopes this update will give counselors a better understanding of what TSTC offers and will establish a long-term collaboration between TSTC and the surrounding school districts.

“We want to continue growing our partnerships in the area so that we can serve our community the best way we can, and that is to provide the technical training needed to helps students succeed and place more Texans, she said.

Colvin added that the she is thankful for what counselors do every day for their students and the college.

“Many times these counselors encourage students to enroll at TSTC, but most of all to go to college in general,” she said. “They do a lot and we appreciate them.”

For more information on the programs offered at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

International Visitors Tour TSTC Radiation Protection Program

 

(WACO) – Twenty visitors from 10 countries toured several instructional programs at Texas State Technical College on Wednesday, Oct. 25, as part of a joint collaboration between TSTC and the Nuclear Power Institute at Texas A&M University that began in 2007.

The visitors are industry professionals representing a variety of international government organizations and institutions of higher learning.

The one-day stop at TSTC was part of an International Atomic Energy Agency interregional training course designed to familiarize participants with the physics and technology behind water-cooled nuclear reactors.

Jacob Navar, TSTC Radiation Protection Technology instructor, led a campus tour that included the radiation lab and the Welding Technology and Electrical Power and Controls programs.

“My goal is to facilitate relationships and education about radiation protection,” Navar said. “It’s helpful for them to come and learn about it so they can take back what they have learned.”

Navar gave the participants a short history of TSTC and the Radiation Protection program before introducing Adam Hutchison, provost of TSTC’s Waco campus.

“What you’re experiencing today on this campus is not only a Texas partnership with our local legislature and institutions like Texas A&M, but it’s truly a global partnership,” Hutchison told the attendees. “The skills that we teach our students we hope prepare them for the world of work no matter where they are. We can serve the state of Texas and truly the entire world with the training the students get here.”

Mamadou Kanoute, a visitor from Senegal’s Ministry of Energy, voiced his excitement at visiting TSTC and seeing equipment firsthand.

“I’m delighted to be here at TSTC,” he said. “I’m a nuclear engineer. I am very happy because I have only seen (this) equipment in video. This is very useful to me because I can see the equipment in person. I will go back and inform the ministry about all I have seen. I want to send students from my country so they can study here.”

Texas District 56 Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson was also in attendance to welcome the group.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas has the second most Environmental Science and Protection Technicians in the nation, with O*Net Online reporting that the state’s percentage of jobs in the field is expected to grow by 22 percent through 2024.

The Nuclear Power Institute is a unique statewide partnership led by the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and headquartered at Texas A&M.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Culinary Arts Student Awarded $2,500 Grant

(ABILENE) – Gissell Lomas Tavarez, a Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts student, recently was awarded a $2,500 grant from the National Restaurant Association.

Tavarez said the application process involved completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), writing an essay and getting three letters of recommendation.

“It does take a lot of work, but I finished it, and the association was really nice,” Tavarez said. “The essay, if you like doing what you do, you’ll write brilliantly about it.”

Chef Kayleen Moon, a TSTC Culinary Arts instructor, said that Tavarez absolutely deserved the grant.

“She’s very diligent. She had to go through a few more hoops to get here than most,” Moon said. “She’s very independent and still manages to do well in school. I’m very impressed with her. She worked really hard to get this scholarship.”

Tavarez said the money helped her take a break from work and focus on her studies.

“I was so excited,” Tavarez said. “I knew I wasn’t going to struggle as much. It’s so hard because after a while you’re like, ‘How am I going to do it? I’ll have to work more.’ So I was happy to know that I can take time off work and focus on my school because I know I have that backup money.”

She also used some of the money to help buy supplies for class.

“You think you’re going to be able to use it on yourself, but you use it always for school. I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to buy myself something nice!’ No,” she laughed. “It really helped me get my books. Our pants and our shoes are done in like three months because we walk so much, and our knives are very expensive, so I used a lot of that money for that.”

After Tavarez graduates in May, she hopes to help her mother grow her business, Rossy’s Cafe, in the Texas Panhandle city of Hereford.

“My mom owns a little business already, and I think I want to expand it,” Tavarez said. “That’s why I came here, to get more of the information on how to actually manage it. I just wanted to take over a little bit because it is stressful owning your own business, very stressful. So I want to co-work with her, and hopefully we can do way more.”

Tavarez said the cafe shows potential.

“It’s a kind of diner place, very chill and relaxed, but there can be way more added to it,” she said. “It’s just hard when you’re trying to pay for what you already have and expand. So hopefully after this I can help Mom make it bigger. I know it can be way bigger than what it is.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College and the Culinary Arts program, visit tstc.edu.

Student Success Profile

(HARLINGEN) – Claudia TorresTexas State Technical College Computer Maintenance Technology student Claudia Torres is the Secretary and active member of her program’s club where the 21-year-old helps organize fundraisers and participates in community service activities.

The Rio Hondo native earned her Nursing Assistant certification in high school and is three classes shy of receiving an associate degree in Biology from TSTC, but said although it took her awhile, she finally found her calling to be in the computer/cyber world.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate with my associate degree next fall, I plan on returning to TSTC to pursue degrees in Computer Networking and Security Technology and Cyber Security.

What is your dream job?

In high school I took some law enforcement classes that have stuck with me, so someday I would love to work for the FBI or CIA doing computer networking and system work or analytics.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment while at TSTC has been finding my passion working with computers and realizing how far I have gotten and how much I have been able to achieve.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is that if I set my mind to something I can persevere and achieve anything I want.

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

The person at TSTC who has influenced my success the most is my sister Tracy Vallejo, enrollment specialist at the registrars and records department. She always pushes me to follow my dreams and accomplish my goals and supports me in everything I do.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is to keep reaching for your goal. D not give up. Remember that hard work and determination will pay off in the end.

Employee Spotlight: Robert Hernandez

(HARLINGEN) – For 17 years Robert Hernandez has dedicated himself to educating students and guiding them to a successful career in the chemical environmental field. It is this commitment and his enthusiasm that has earned him the Texas State Technical College October Employee Spotlight honor.

The Houston native is the lead instructor for the Chemical Technology program at TSTC and comes to the college with extensive experience in the field.

The 48-year-old’s passion for chemistry began in high school at a Houston-area magnet school he attended.

“I grew up in a part of Houston where I saw chemical plants flourish,” said Hernandez. “I was always curious and when I received the opportunity to intern at Shell as a senior, I knew in an instant this is what I was meant to do.”

Hernandez went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992, earning a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

He quickly rose through the ranks in the field accepting job offers with Shell’s research center in Houston and later with the Department of Health in Austin as a chemist testing environmental, fish and drinking water samples.Robert Hernandez

While Hernandez had a successful career in industry, the father of four said it was time to be closer to family, making the move to Harlingen nearly two decades ago.

“I truly feel like this move was meant to be,” he said. “The career change came at the right time and TSTC and the program was a great fit for me.”

Hernandez said he has been at TSTC for so long that he considers the Chemical Technology program his baby.

“It’s so important for me to see this program and my students succeed,” he added. “The chemical field is expanding and so are the opportunities, and my team and I are ready to meet that demand.”

It is this enthusiasm that his colleagues say make him the outstanding instructor and person they love.

“He cares for the chemistry department with all he has. He will do anything in his power to solve all issues and he does it gracefully,” read one comment on Hernandez’s certificate.

Another read, “He goes above and beyond for his students and staff by bringing cupcakes, pizza and doughnuts to celebrate someone’s special day all out of his own pocket.”

Lastly, “Robert is the most kindhearted individual you’ll ever meet. He is a great instructor and goes to great lengths to ensure that his students learn and understand the material they are given and is always receptive to questions. He never turns away a student or team member seeking help.”

Hernandez said he is grateful to hear all of the kind words his colleagues have for him. He calls this award a true honor.

“There are so many wonderful, dedicated people on this campus and to be recognized as one of them is so meaningful. It makes this reward that much more rewarding,” said Hernandez. “Thank you to those that nominated me, it is truly an honor.”

TSTC Opens the World of Humanities and Art to Students with Symposium

(HARLINGEN) – The Third Annual Humanities and Arts Symposium at Texas State Technical College will be a week-long event celebrating cross-cultural writers and artists.

The symposium begins October 23 and runs through October 26 with all events being coordinated by college faculty and staff.

Dr. Richard Kirk, TSTC Social and Behavioral Science and Humanities professor said the symposium serves as a way of generating awareness on the impact the Arts and Humanities and the artists and writers who contribute to the field have on our lives.

“The purpose of the symposium is to provide awareness and appreciation for the contributions that the Arts and Humanities have made to learning, especially in the areas of creative thinking and action,” said Kirk.

Events throughout the week consist of hands-on workshops such as Frida Fest, Retablo Workshop, Papel Picado Workshop and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar setup, where students will have the opportunity of creating a Frida art image, painting devotional Mexican folk art, crafting paper into elaborate designs or designing an altar in honor of someone who has passed, respectively.TSTC Humanities Symposium

The workshops will be conducted by Jennifer Rodriguez and Rene Garza, instructors in the TSTC Humanities Department.  Workshops are open to the public, but may be limited due to space and availability of supplies.

“I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the activities we’ll be hosting,” said Kirk. “It’s a great way of gaining a better understanding of cultures and traditions. And I’m glad we have the opportunity to do that here at TSTC.”

And for the first time at TSTC and in the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Writers Exhibition will be on display during the symposium, until November 17, at the TSTC Learning Resource Center.

The exhibit, made possible by a $1,000 Humanities of Texas grant awarded to TSTC, will survey the vitality and breadth of creative writing in Texas from the mid-twentieth century to the turn of the twenty-first century.

The exhibit will kick off October 23 with an opening reception and panel presentations made up of local writers and poets and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Arts and Humanities faculty, which are open to the public.

“We are so excited to share this experience with our students and community,” said Kirk. “This type of event allows us to expand our resources and promote Texas writers in our community and sustain the work our city already does in promoting the humanities and arts.”

For more information on the Humanities and Arts Symposium, the Texas Writers Exhibit or for a schedule of events call 956-364-4758.

TSTC Veterans Receive Another $75,000 Gift from EMA Electromechanics

(SWEETWATER) – EMA Electromechanics donated $75,000 to Texas State Technical College in a check signing ceremony Friday, Oct. 20. The donation brings EMA contributions to TSTC to a total of $150,000.

The gift funds an account called Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education, which was established in 2015 when EMA gave the first gift of $75,000. Funds will go toward helping veterans complete their technical training at the college’s West Texas campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater.

EMA created the account as a way to honor area veterans.

“We want to give back to them for what they do for us,” said EMA Manager Gabriel Acosta. “The way we see it is that we enjoy freedom in the U.S. because of their efforts.”

Since 2015, 36 veterans have benefited from the Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education. TSTC currently serves 68 veterans across its four West Texas campuses.

EMA hopes the gift will ease the transition veterans face when returning from service.

“The purpose of this gift is to make sure that they have a chance to go back to civilian life with some help if they need some, to go back and get a career or improve their knowledge,” Acosta said.

Robert Schneider, an Air Force veteran who is an Automotive student at TSTC, was one of the recipients of the scholarship.

“I will forever be grateful for EMA being a helping hand in a time of need,” Schneider said. “I probably speak on behalf of many veterans when I say thank you. Being able to receive help from this company has lifted a lot of burden off of my shoulders at very crucial times.”

EMA was founded in 1952 in Argentina, but in 2010 it expanded to open its Sweetwater location, where it develops and manufactures specialized electromechanical equipment for wind generation.

TSTC Interim Provost Rick Denbow said the college is grateful for EMA and its contribution.

“TSTC is very thankful to EMA Electromechanics’ gift to our veteran students,” said Denbow. “Relationships like these not only strengthen TSTC, but bolster our students and community as well.”

For information on making a difference for TSTC students, visit tstc.edu/tstcfoundation.

 

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TSTC Hosts Women in Technology Day

(WACO) – Sylvia Howard, 14, visited Texas State Technical College for the first time Thursday.
And, she was pleased with what she saw.
“It was good,” said Howard, a freshman Project Link student at La Vega High School. “I learned about computers and how to use them. I enjoyed working with the video games. Definitely, college is in my future.”
Howard was among several Project Link students from La Vega, University and Waco high schools to attend TSTC’s Women in Technology Day. They were among more than 250 females from area high schools seeing firsthand several technical career possibilities, from Avionics Technology to Visual Communication Technology.
“We had a successful event, and this was probably one of the biggest crowds at a Women in Technology Day,” said Angela Evilia, assistant director of TSTC’s Advisement Center and an event organizer.
TSTC faculty members and students gave tours and worked alongside the high school visitors with hands-on demonstrations. In Building Construction Technology, students worked with premade wood carvings and learned tool safety while the visit to Aviation Maintenance consisted of stepping into the cockpit of a parked jet on the flight line at the technical college’s airport.
Skylar Shaw, 17, a senior at Oglesby High School in Coryell and McLennan counties, said she enjoyed seeing the possibilities of nontraditional careers for women. Shaw said she liked her visit to the Electrical Power and Controls program, where she learned about wiring.
“It got me out of my bubble,” she said.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

 

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TSTC Q&A with Jennifer Dickman of China Spring

(WACO) – Jennifer Dickman, 24, of China Spring is an Avionics Technology major at Texas State Technical College.

She enrolled at TSTC in January and is scheduled to graduate in summer 2018 with an associate degree.

Dickman grew up in Newburgh, New York and graduated in 2011 from Newburgh Free Academy. She spent five years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

How did you become interested in the military? “I always admired a person in uniform. Growing up, I was drawn to military members.”

What was your job in the Marine Corps? “I was an aviation electrician for F18s. It was something I got put into. I worked on the flight line, where I did troubleshooting and a lot of harnessing. I would also check the aircraft before taking off.”

How did you learn about TSTC? “I recently moved to China Spring because my husband is in the Marine Corps as a recruiter in Hewitt. I was in a slump and I wrote on a veterans help page on Facebook. A Navy veteran messaged me and said with my background and being a woman and a minority that I should get my education. She looked up colleges in the area and told me about TSTC and the Avionics Technology program. I am using the GI Bill to go to college.”

How do you like studying Avionics Technology? “A lot of what I have noticed is component-based. It’s more in-depth learning here. If I didn’t do an electronics field in the Marine Corps, I would have had trouble having a technical mind. It would have been a cultural shock.”

Do you work on campus? “I am a work-study in the Veteran Center in the Student Services Center. I get to work with veterans and have a commonality that a lot of people don’t get to share.”

What advice would you give to women thinking of studying in a technology field? “Reach out to people currently in the field. It’s something doable and something to learn. It’s something that changes all the time and it’s a great chance for a career.”

The number of avionics technicians is expected to grow nationally to 17,500 jobs through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Texas had 1,890 avionics technicians as of May 2016 with an average mean wage of $57,800. Avionics jobs in Texas are centered in the Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio areas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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