(WACO) – There is a special art piece on a wall in Rudy Cervantez’s office in the Kultgen Automotive Center at Texas State Technical College.

The pencil drawing on white paper depicts a sleek, modern bus drawn by one of Cervantez’s former students, Caleb Grisham of Robinson. Cervantez is statewide chair for TSTC Auto Repair, and at one time taught Grisham in dual credit automotive technology classes when he was a student at Robinson High School.

“He’s really talented and so sharp,” Cervantez said. “He just has that artistic knack.”

Grisham, 25, used that motivation and creativity to earn an associate degree in Automotive Technology  at TSTC and open Precision Wraps on Franklin Avenue in Waco. The small business specializes in designing and installing large-scale vinyl wraps for automobiles, trucks, boats, trailers and businesses.

Grisham was inspired to open the business three years ago while working for an automobile trim business in Waco.

“I saw a niche for wraps here,” he said. “I got certifications and started a limited liability company. I had a good client base for window tinting, so that kept me afloat the first couple of months. I started graphics on the side in college and taught myself the programs. It’s second nature now.”

Grisham has three employees who work with customers on design and installation. He said he takes pride in offering on-site installations for customers statewide, even as far away as Laredo on the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Most weeks we are trying to cram in new projects so we can grow faster,” Grisham said.

Grisham learned his work ethic from his family. He grew up on 22 acres of family land in Golinda.

“My sisters went the university route and have master’s degrees,” he said. “My father has had his own business. There is kind of a freedom owning your own business, and I’ve probably wanted to be like him. We are an extremely competitive family.”

Grisham was a gifted and talented student throughout his school career in the Robinson Independent School District. He played trombone in Robinson High School’s music program, was on the powerlifting team and worked at a grocery store.

“I finished high school my junior year, so I had to add classes,” he said. “I had taken Advanced Placement classes through McLennan Community College the year before. I was really interested in working on and customizing cars.”

During his senior year, Grisham took morning classes at Robinson High School and drove to take afternoon automotive classes at the old Midway High School building (now Midway Middle School).

“I do promote dual enrollment,” Grisham said. “It’s cheaper than paying for a semester of college. You need to work hard and apply yourself.”

Cervantez was his teacher and used the same course plan for his technical college and high school students.

“He is a really good guy,” Grisham said. “He encouraged me to do a summer semester at TSTC. I took a couple of classes and stayed.”

Grisham commuted from home to take TSTC classes and said he enjoyed being around classmates who had common interests.

“I liked the hands-on part of my classes,” he said.

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

(WACO) – Daylin Dixon, 21, of Hallettsville in Lavaca County is majoring in Computer Networking and Systems Administration and Cloud and Data Center Management at Texas State Technical College in Waco. He will work on CompTIA Network+ certification this summer and finish academic work to graduate in August.

Dixon is a 2013 graduate of Hallettsville High School, where he played on the football team’s offensive line.

What was it like growing up in Hallettsville? “Hallettsville is great. It’s a close-knit community. Everybody helps everybody be successful. A lot of the kids I graduated with have become successful. Lavaca County is more of an agricultural county. It’s a lot of farms and cattle raising. Our high school counselor did a good job of giving us options for careers and colleges.”

How did you learn about TSTC? “I had a friend I graduated with from high school who came here and majored in the same degrees that I am. I visited TSTC in July 2015 and started classes that next month. I have always liked technology. I really like the feel of the campus. It was convenient to live on campus my first year here.”

What do you enjoy about attending TSTC? “I like how the professors know you. I like how they work with you and they encourage you to get as many degrees as you can. You get briefed on what you are doing and put it to work. I’m a hands-on guy, especially after I read it in the book and understand it. But when I do it, it clicks.”

Are you doing an internship? “I started an internship as a PC analyst at the Texas Farm Bureau’s headquarters in Waco on Feb. 22. I get to image computers, do work orders for the other farm bureau county offices that have computer problems, test equipment and talk to HP and Dell about warranty issues. I set up computers for in-house people. In the two months I have worked at Texas Farm Bureau, everything I have learned has definitely helped me because the knowledge can be applied anywhere.”

What is your career vision? “I would really like to work in Austin or Dallas. I want to see if I can get into a cloud area first. Cloud is in its early stage of transforming and I want to get into it and have hopefully a successful career.”

What advice would you give to high school students? “I would tell them to find out what you truly love to do in a field and do something to spark you. Don’t procrastinate. Do your research and get a degree plan. When you pick your degree, print it out and post it somewhere so you see what your goal is and how to reach it.”

Some of the career fields that students can pursue include computer network architecture, solutions architecture, computer systems analysis, and network and computer systems administration, said Andy Kroll, lead instructor in TSTC’s Cloud and Data Center Management program.

“By dual majoring, the student only has to take a few extra classes to receive both degrees, and they will be better prepared for the workforce and be more attractive to employers with their additional knowledge set,” Kroll said.

Some of the certifications that computer students can earn while at TSTC include Cisco Certified Network Associate and Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1.

Kroll said Computer Networking and Cloud and Data Center Management majors starting in the fall will take a class in Amazon Web Services to lead into testing for Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification.

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

(WACO) – Omar Francia learned about work responsibility early in his young life.

Francia, 19, began work at 16 at a Corsicana grocery store as a stocker, cashier and clerk. The money helped pay for some of his books and classes at Texas State Technical College in Waco, where he will graduate in May with an associate degree in Cloud and Data Center Management.

“I like the feeling of graduating at 19,” Francia said. “I am young and I have lots to do.”

Andy Kroll, lead instructor in TSTC’s Cloud and Data Center Management program, taught Francia in classes focusing on Amazon Web Services and the open-source operating system Linux.

“He has been able to learn and implement advanced concepts quickly and then turn around and explain it to his fellow students, which shows great understanding and leadership,” Kroll said. “He has consistently been on top of his work, and the work he submits is always top quality. We will be sad to see Omar leave us, but we know he will accomplish great things with the knowledge he has gained at TSTC.”

Some of his most challenging classes were Introduction to Scripting Languages and Administering SQL Server because of the amount of new material he had to learn.

“My instructors are all down-to-earth people you can talk to,” Francia said. “They know what to do and are able to teach really efficiently.”

Francia has gotten experience away from his classes by working up to 20 hours a week in a paid internship in Information Technology and Systems at Baylor University. His work involves setting up desktop computers for laboratories and working with faculty and staff on their technology needs.

Francia grew up in Corsicana and graduated in 2015 from Corsicana High School. He likes playing video games with his friends when he goes home.

“It was nice growing up there,” he said. “I grew up with the same people my entire life. Out of my group of friends, I was the go-to techie kid.”

His brother first told him to consider TSTC when he was in high school. Francia toured the campus and was attracted to the data center on the first floor of the John B. Connally Technology Center that is used by technology students.

“I chose TSTC because it’s straight to the point,” Francia said.

He wants to work in the technology field in the Austin or Dallas areas after graduation.

“Don’t be scared to do what you think you want to do,” he said.

Candidates for graduation from TSTC’s Fort Bend County, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses will gather for Spring Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1, at the Waco Convention Center at 100 Washington Ave.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

(WACO) – Three longtime Texas State Technical College employees in Waco have been honored by the college for their skills and contributions to technical education.

Jennette Alvarez, David Kofnovec and Rosie Smiley have received this year’s Chancellor’s Excellence Award.

“Those selected model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s new direction,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the success of our students.”

Alvarez of Waco has worked as a bookstore specialist for 13 years. Some of her tasks include working with instructors at the Fort Bend County, North Texas and Waco campuses in adopting and ordering books and ensuring books are organized on shelves. Alvarez also works with vendors on credits and invoicing.

“I live my life the way I was raised,” she said. “Do your best every day, treat people the way you want to be treated, never judge, give and you shall receive. I am me and will be the best me I can be.”

Alvarez, 50, is a native of Waco and a graduate of University High School and McLennan Community College, where she studied business accounting.

Kofnovec is a senior financial analyst in the Finance, Analytics and Budget Office. He has been at TSTC for 19 years and has served as a vice president of financial services and held accounting positions in the TSTC system.

Kofnovec, 60, works with the chancellor’s office on legislative financial reporting, which includes fiscal notes, appropriation requests, cost studies and performance measures. He also studies the accuracy and integrity of financial data and reporting, makes recommendations for monetary adjustments and manages projects.

The work has evolved from a time when he and co-workers used penciled ledgers and spreadsheets in the late 1990s to now using desktop programs to consolidate accounting tasks.

“I enjoy the sense of everyone around you making you feel like a family,” Kofnovec said. “No matter which of our many locations you visit, that same feeling always exists. The family feeling energizes you to plow through your daily trials and tribulations knowing you are contributing to the common good of the family.”

Kofnovec is a native of Abbott and a graduate of Abbott High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas. He lives on land that is part of his family’s farm in Hill County.

The third campus award recipient, Rosie Smiley, is executive director of the Physical Plant. She has worked for seven years at TSTC and said working with the campus community is what she enjoys most about her job.

Smiley, 37, of Elm Mott is a graduate of Chilton High School in Falls County. She has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station.

Award recipients will be invited to attend the annual National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in May in Austin.

This is the 17th year the recognition has been given to employees across the 10-campus system.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.