TSTC boot camps focus on cybersecurity, software engineering

(ABILENE, Texas) – Cybersecurity jobs have been increasing over the years.

With an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs expected in the United States by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, Texas State Technical College has scheduled two different fast-paced boot camps to fill those positions.

A Cybersecurity Analytics online boot camp, which will be conducted over 13 weeks, is scheduled to begin Feb. 16. Software Engineering will be the focus of a 20-week online boot camp beginning March 1.

TSTC officials said the goal is to prepare people to work remotely and secure a high-demand, high-wage job in the IT field. These fast-paced offerings will be rigorous, according to Edgar Padilla, TSTC’s senior vice president in the Office of Strategic Partnerships and provost at the East Williamson County campus.

“The boot camps are set up with an accelerated, rigorous process for the students to complete. I am very confident of the results for our students,” Padilla said.

Online information sessions will allow prospective students to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The first is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov.18 and the second for 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.

Padilla said, “TSTC’s mission is to help fill Texas’ workforce with qualified employees, and the boot camps fit that model.”

“Our job is to ensure we provide Texans with instructional support if they want to change careers. We know these (cybersecurity and software engineering) careers are out there,” he said. “This is going to provide a unique value to our students. They will be leaving the boot camp and getting a job. We believe this will result in a lot of good jobs for Texans.”

In West Texas, more than 100 cybersecurity jobs are posted, and completing these boot camps can provide future employees with something valuable.

“These programs will allow students to gain the training and competency to do the job,” he said.

Students in the Cybersecurity Analytics curriculum will learn to set traps and catch threats through real-world lab environments that are paired with industry-grade curriculum.

Through the Software Engineering boot camp, students will gain the necessary expertise in both back-end and front-end programming technologies to become full-stack developers.

Software development jobs are among the top 10 in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. The magazine’s report for 2020 estimated that developers’ median salary was $103,620.

Once the boot camp is complete, Padilla said TSTC Career Services will work with students on preparing resumes and looking for a career.

“We want to make sure there is placement for our students. We want to have opportunities waiting for them,” Padilla said.

For more information on the boot camps or to register for the information sessions, visit www.tstc.edu/itcareers.

TSTC Auto Collision Program Provides Women With Skills for the Workforce

(WACO, Texas) – For Texas State Technical College student Haley Rios of Bryan, auto collision and repair work is a family tradition.

Her grandfather used to own a paint and body shop where several relatives worked. She would go to the shop as a child and watch repair work being done.

“It was nice,” Rios said. “I liked it.”

Rios took automotive classes in high school and learned about brake repair, oil changes, shocks, struts and other vehicle components. When it came time to select a college after high school, Rios chose TSTC’s Waco campus, which her father also attended. 

Rios said she has enjoyed learning about different painting techniques and how vehicles are put together.

“The time spent out here (at TSTC) is actually working,” she said. “I am a hands-on learner.”

Rios will start work at Caliber Collision in Bryan after graduating in December from TSTC. She is a candidate for Associate of Applied Science degrees in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization and Auto Collision and Management Technology – Repair Specialization.

Rios’ advice for women interested in pursuing the auto collision and repair industry is simple.

“Go for it, and ignore what everyone says,” she said.

Jannifer Stimmel, an instructor in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program, said women should pursue the field because it is fulfilling and rewarding.

“Women are very successful in this industry because many women are detail oriented,” she said. “That is a huge asset in our field because in our industry, details play a huge role. Auto collision requires such specifics, whether it be finding the smallest scratch, choosing the correct tint for paint matching, finding hidden damage, identifying flaws in welds — you name it and it applies to some aspect of this industry.”

Stimmel did not have Rios in classes, but did teach Emma Espinoza, who is scheduled to graduate from the program in December.

“She (Emma) was the top performer in her class, along with another female student that was there at the time,” Stimmel said.

Espinoza grew up in Leander and now lives in Liberty Hill. She is a candidate for graduation at TSTC for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization.

Espinoza took automotive tech classes for three years but wanted to do something using her creative side.

“I had no clue about what I wanted to do,” she said.

She was invited to tour TSTC by her boyfriend, Burke Anderson, who is in TSTC’s Automotive Technology – Toyota T-Ten Specialization program. Once she visited the Auto Collision and Management Technology program, she knew what she wanted to do.

“It’s been pretty fun,” Espinoza said. “I stayed quiet at first, but you get used to being around guys.”

Espinoza said she has enjoyed learning about airbrushing and working with vehicle panels.

After graduation, Espinoza wants to work in custom repair in the Austin area.

Jobs for automotive body and related repairers are projected to be at 159,000 in 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers will be needed to fill positions as people retire or transition into other occupations, according to the agency.

In Texas, there were 11,000 automotive body and related repairers earning an annual mean wage of $45,720 in May 2019, according to the labor statistics agency.

Registration continues for the spring semester. For more information on Texas State Technical College, go tstc.edu.

TSTC hosts Rosenberg Army recruiting station on Veterans Day

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed an Army recruiting station to its Fort Bend County campus on Veterans Day.

An avionics system vehicle was situated on the parking lot in front of the Brazos Center on Wednesday afternoon. Upon request, the Army recruitment team gave tours of the vehicle to any present military personnel and TSTC students while following coronavirus safety guidelines.

TSTC’s Director of Veteran Recruitment Kenneth Buford said this showcase is yet another way that TSTC can show its commitment to our service members.

“Highlighting this showcase enhances transparency and reaffirms our commitment to the community and to our veteran population,” he said. “It provides an extraordinary opportunity for our TSTC family to extend an open and warm invitation for any who may be willing to join us in celebrating our military service members of the past, present and future.”

He added that the showcase also brought about a chance for surrounding areas to see what TSTC can do for veterans in the community.

“This presents TSTC with the opportunity for increased public awareness, visibility and military support,” he said. “It is vital that we come together, support our military, support one another, and create pathways capable of securing more Texans and Texas veterans in higher-paying careers.”

One of TSTC’s goals is to help military personnel with a seamless transition when their time in the service is over.

To learn more about TSTC and the options available to veterans, visit https://tstc.edu/veterans.

 

TSTC introduces fast-paced cybersecurity boot camp

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will offer a fast-paced Workforce Training boot camp in Cybersecurity. The first cohort will begin in February, and the curriculum will feature eight industry-grade foundational courses that will equip students with the knowledge they need to get their foot into the world of cybersecurity.

TSTC interim director of special projects Kori Bowen said that these rapid courses will help students gain the knowledge they need and also help them find job opportunities when they complete the training.

“These boot camps are beneficial to students in that they can help both train and place students in an in-demand field,” she said. “No prior experience is needed, and a career coach will work with them to find and prep for interview opportunities after completion of the course.”

Admission to the boot camp will be on a rolling basis, and students will have access to resources that are relevant to their training through the program, including weekly mentorship with a cohort leader and weekly study groups. The cybersecurity boot camp will be taught completely online, and students can graduate in 20 weeks or less.

TSTC is currently working with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to help fund the boot camp for the areas of Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Williamson County.

“While fund availability varies across the state, this funding focuses on regional target occupations and can potentially help a student with a ballpark of 50 percent off of the sticker cost of the boot camp,” Bowen said.

With an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs expected in the United States by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, Texas State Technical College has scheduled two different fast-paced boot camps to fill those positions.

To learn more about the TSTC Workforce Training boot camp in Cybersecurity, visit https://tstc.edu/workforce/bootcamps.

 

Portrait of a Smart Focused Young Man Wearing Glasses Holds Laptop. In the Background Technical Department Office with Specialists Working and Functional Data Server Racks

TSTC celebrates new police personnel with pinning ceremony

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently welcomed two new staff members to the TSTC Police Department.

Officer Juan Lucio and dispatcher Naisa Trevino were celebrated during the socially distant ceremony, which is a tradition bestowed upon those who serve in law enforcement at the college.

Others in attendance to celebrate were TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez, TSTC Police Chief Eduardo Patino, TSTC Safety and Security Police Commissioner Aurelio Torres, and Cameron County Justice of the Peace Eloy Cano Jr.

Lucio worked as a correctional officer prior to his duties at TSTC — a position that he credits with helping him continue to strive toward TSTC’s core values of excellence, accountability, service and integrity.

“I thought deeply about why I wanted to work for TSTC before getting hired,” he said. “I realized that becoming a police officer for students and the TSTC family is special. It is special because I get the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that students have a safe environment so that they may reach their educational career goals.”

Lucio added that the TSTC community can count on him to offer help when needed.

“This position has given me the responsibility to perform at a high level, and I will give 100 percent to this family-oriented community, which I am humbly honored to serve.”

Trevino said that her role as a dispatcher is a vital component to the safety of those on campus.

“My duties consist of answering phone calls, which can consist of something as simple as unlocking a building, to traffic stops, and even to someone being hurt,” she said. “This role can change immensely in the blink of an eye, so I always have to be prepared for any type of incoming call.”

Both Lucio and Trevino expressed appreciation that they were able to share the special moment with their families.

“It was surreal to have my parents present at the ceremony,” Lucio said. “My wife has also been my greatest support system since day one. She inspires me to be persistent and courageous. Having my family at the ceremony was fulfilling and an honor.”

Aside from being nervous, Trevino was also grateful that her loved ones were in attendance.

“I kept thinking to myself, don’t mess up and don’t fall,” she said. “I was super excited that they were there for me at this pinning ceremony because it was also a show of appreciation from me to them. I would not have gotten this far if it wasn’t for their support throughout all my accomplishments.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Business Management Technology instructor celebrates 35 years at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For Texas State Technical College Business Management Technology instructor Cynthia Mata, the last three decades seem to have flown by. “It does not feel like 35 years,” she said. “I was between jobs, and my parents mentioned that I should apply at TSTC. I started as an instructor in the Business Skills program, which is now Business Management Technology.”

Mata has worn several hats at TSTC, including being a statewide department chair for the past five years.

“I went from being an instructor, to a program chair, to working in Human Resources,” she said. “Ultimately I wanted to go back to teaching. I love to teach. I thought it would be my temporary job, and it ended up becoming my dream.”

Though being an instructor has brought her many special moments, the times when she knew she was changing a student’s life are those she remembers most fondly.

“Years ago I took several students to a competition in Illinois for Business Professionals of America. Some of them had never been on a plane. When the plane took off, one of the students had to hold my hand because she was so nervous. That moment was unforgettable for me because I knew that would be one of the moments that would change her life.”

Being a department chair has given her the chance to oversee some changes happening within the program, including the transition to remote learning.

“We are moving into the future,” she said. “The world around us is constantly changing, and if we don’t move on that, we risk becoming obsolete. The Business Management Technology program is evolving and is now 100 percent online, which allows us to serve the entire state of Texas.”

The program offers a hands-on approach to learning the skills required to help keep a business running.

One of Mata’s colleagues at TSTC, Edna Claus, said that graduates of the program are beneficial to all areas of the business community.

“Regardless of the type of business, they all need to have a business manager or supervisor who understands how to use the latest software and can understand the basics of accounting and marketing strategies to assist in making their organization a success,” Claus said. “Whether a student wants to work for an organization or start a business of their own, the skills that they will gain in our program will assist them in becoming a valued employee.”

In addition to Mata’s focus on keeping the Business Management Technology program thriving, she is thankful for what her time at TSTC has taught her not only about her role in education, but also about herself.

“TSTC has made me a better me,” she said. “My time here has allowed me to understand people better, how to continually treat people with respect and integrity.”

 

TSTC Student Utilizes Scholarship for Hutto Residents

(HUTTO, Texas) – Matthew Barringer’s most prized possession is on four wheels and comes with history.

He owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota that belonged to his grandfather, who died when Barringer was in elementary school.

“That is the only physical memory I have of him,” said Barringer, a Hutto resident.

When it came time to choose where to go to college, Barringer said he knew a four-year university was not for him. He considered going into police work after graduation but decided to take his love of vehicles and make a career out of it. He chose Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus to study Automotive Technology.

“It has been the best decision I have ever made,” Barringer said. “I am so happy here. I like not having big student loans so I can make money right out of the gate.”

Barringer is a recipient of the Hutto Education Foundation’s scholarship, a joint effort with the city of Hutto and The TSTC Foundation.

“Since 2006, the (Hutto Education Foundation) mission has been to enhance educational opportunities for students and staff in the Hutto Independent School District through our grant and scholarship programs,” said Lizzy Samples, the foundation’s director of community education. “We are excited to partner with TSTC to provide for Hutto ISD graduates/TSTC students in their third and fourth semesters. With deep Hutto roots and with a TSTC hands-on educational experience, these students are bound for greatness.”

Barringer is using the scholarship so he can pay for the fall semester and not take out a loan. 

“Here (at TSTC), I wake up and go to class, and I am ready to learn,” he said.

Barringer is a 2018 graduate of Hutto High School, where he played football.

“He is a great kid,” said Bradley LaPlante, the high school’s head football coach and athletics director. “He always had a nice souped-up truck in the parking lot that was always fresh and clean. With him being in the Automotive Technology program, I think that is right up his alley.”

In the spring, Barringer will do a program-required cooperative at a Hutto-area dealership. He wants to build on his interest in electrical work, learning from experienced automotive technicians.

Barringer’s goal is to stay in the area to work once he graduates from TSTC.

“For him, he is going to be successful at what he puts his mind to and what he wants to do,” LaPlante said.

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

TSTC Welding Technology Program Dedicated to Filling Jobs

(WACO, Texas) – Samuel Esqueda, of George West, began welding when he took his first agriculture class as a high school sophomore. 

“It stuck with me more than anything else,” he said. “I wanted to turn it into a career.”

Esqueda is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is scheduled to graduate in 2022.

“It is way above what I was expecting,” he said. “It is fun getting out and welding.”

Esqueda said he has found the online portion of his studies challenging, mainly because he has not done entire classes online before. Earlier this year, TSTC’s Welding Technology program adopted a hybrid teaching format with hands-on labs being done in-person, and lectures and quizzes completed online. This was done due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Esqueda is already planning his career path after graduation.

“I’m looking in fabrication and where they (the employers) need me in one spot,” he said.

Jobs for brazers, cutters, solderers and welders are projected to rise to about 452,500 by 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nationwide job growth is attributed to repairing the nation’s aging infrastructure.

“We have been monitoring online to keep up with what’s going on,” said Carl Wilmeth, co-lead instructor of TSTC’s Welding Technology program. “We know we have new construction in Waco. We are going to attack it and make new contacts.”

Texas had more than 50,700 brazers, cutters, solderers and welders making an annual mean wage of $46,940 as of May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jose Palacios, manager of business and industry initiatives for the Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board Inc. in Waco, said welders are in steady demand in Central Texas.

Palacios said utilizing the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and partnering with the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy are ways the workforce board motivates people of all ages to pursue welding and other technical fields.

“We work pretty hard and fill those positions and promote the career pathways,” Palacios said.

Wilmeth and Griffin Smyth, co-lead instructor of TSTC’s Welding Technology program, said its statewide advisory board is being revamped, with new companies invited to have representation. Each of TSTC’s programs has advisory boards consisting of business professionals who give insight into what needs to be taught to students to match what is going on in industry.

Students graduating from TSTC’s Welding Technology program leave with skills in gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, flux-cored arc welding and shielded metal arc welding. Students graduate also versed in welding codes and standards.

Esqueda said high school students and those who want a career change should consider welding.

“If you like hands-on work and are not afraid to get dirty, this is the job you want to do,” he said.

Registration continues for the spring semester, and scholarships are available. For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC student juggles school, job and family

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – “Chaotic” is the best way Mandy Barker can describe her life right now.

Not only is Barker, who lives in Dublin, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program, but she also is the general manager of a fast-food chain in Stephenville and a mother of two children.

“You can say life is very chaotic. Some days it is hard, but I am getting through it all,” she said.

One of the reasons she gets through a day of school, work and family is the support system at home.

“My boyfriend really motivates me. He keeps me going,” Barker said. “I know that the best result for me will be the end result in getting a welding job.”

Barker said she hopes to work on the Texas oil pipelines, a field in which her boyfriend is currently employed. She said knowing a job could be on the horizon after she receives her certificate also is a motivation.

“My boyfriend helps me all the time. He has told me several times that I do not need to quit,” Barker said.

Barker did have one worry before starting the program. She was hoping to see at least one other female in the welding lab.

“It was a huge relief walking into the lab the first time and I saw three other females in the class,” she said. “I called my boyfriend and told him. He was excited for me, knowing that was one of my fears.”

Her boyfriend also offered Barker some advice prior to the first day.

“He told me to just go and show everyone that you can do a man’s job,” Barker said.

While in the lab, she said all of the students help each other.

“It is a very good environment to learn in. TSTC teaches us great skills,” Barker said. “I love this program. It is helping me toward a career.”

She learned of TSTC’s welding program while living in Brownwood. Once she decided to go to school, TSTC was her top choice.

“I knew I could get on track here with my schedule,” she said. “Everyone is willing to work with you to make you successful.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Foundation Receives Significant Financial Gift From Vistra

(WACO, Texas) – The TSTC Foundation has received $100,000 from Vistra, an Irving-based company that specializes in retail electricity and power generation, to establish a scholarship fund for Texas State Technical College students in select programs.

“Our hope is that these scholarships are the support TSTC students need to cross the finish line – not just the dollars for tuition, but the knowledge that we, as a company, believe in their success,” said Curt Morgan, president and chief executive officer of Vistra. “The events of the past year have only cemented my belief that equity in education, at every level, is the strong foundation necessary to develop today’s students into tomorrow’s professionals. In partnership with TSTC, Vistra is proud to invest in and elevate a diverse next generation of leaders.”

The contribution will be divided into $1,000 awards for students in TSTC’s Cybersecurity, Electrical Power and Controls, Instrumentation Technology, Industrial Systems, and Welding Technology programs statewide. The programs directly pertain to the company’s work.

“Scholarships are helpful to students when monetary emergencies come up that require them to need money beyond student loans and grants that threaten to keep them from being able to attend classes,” said Robert Lovelace, TSTC’s statewide lead of the Instrumentation Technology program.

Dan Bateman, TSTC’s statewide lead of the Electrical Power and Controls program, said the Vistra scholarship will add to the list of financial opportunities that students can turn to for assistance.

“It makes them feel like they are being awarded for their hard work,” he said.

The donation to The TSTC Foundation is part of a $10 million commitment from Vistra to support organizations that grow minority-owned small businesses, enhance economic development and provide educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

Vistra serves more than 5 million commercial, industrial and residential customers with electricity and natural gas. It  is the largest competitive power generator in the United States.

“We are deeply grateful to Vistra and the members of its organization for their generosity,” said Gail Lawrence, TSTC’s executive vice chancellor. “This gift from Vistra will make a significant impact on helping TSTC students overcome financial obstacles to pursue their studies.”

To learn more about The TSTC Foundation,  go to tstc.edu/tstcfoundation/.