TSTC Profile of Excellence – Jose Luis Garcia II

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jose Luis Garcia II, 37, graduated in 2018 with an associate degree in Business Management Technology from Texas State Technical College.

Jose Luis Garcia II

The Harlingen native served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly five years before becoming a disabled veteran due to on-the-job injuries. He was stationed in North Dakota and was on the security forces team.

The veteran decided to attend TSTC to gain new skills and a new career and credits the TSTC Veterans Center employees for his success because of the employees their assistance with veteran benefits, college registration processes and resources.

Garcia currently works as a customer service/sales representative for Proforma RGV, a creative solutions and printing service company in San Benito.

What was your reaction when you first learned about your job offer?

It was a really exciting moment for me and my family because one, it didn’t take long to find a job, especially with the help of TSTC Career Services, and two, I had received a job in my field; all of my hard work had paid off.

How did TSTC prepare you for your career?

The training I received at TSTC and my instructors were phenomenal. Every faculty member worked together to help us achieve. They taught us the ins and outs of business and really laid a solid foundation. They were the ones who set me up for success.

Who has had the most influence on your success?

From my TSTC instructors to the TSTC Veterans Center staff, I have had so many people cheering me on and encouraging me to succeed, but ultimately, it was my family, my wife and kids, who took the sacrifice like champs. They stood by me, no matter what, and they are my reason why I try to continue excelling.

What are your future goals?

The company I work for offers great opportunities for growth. The owners really encourage us to excel. I would love to continue moving up, someday leading a sales team and helping the company reach its max potential. It’s my training from TSTC that will allow me to do this.

What would you tell a student thinking of pursuing a two-year degree vs a four-year degree?

There is a still a misconception about two-year degrees, yet they offer a number of career opportunities, and it’s technical colleges like TSTC that provide the technical training needed to help graduates be competitive in the job market. And really, an education depends on the work you put into it. Whether it’s a two-year degree or a four-year degree, what comes of it, depends on the person.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

There is more to TSTC than just its Academic Core, or basics, like students call it. It’s our responsibility to explore our options and career opportunities. If it worked out for me, it can work out for others. Also, no matter what you are studying, be all in. Work hard, get involved in organizations and clubs and build your resume with experiences and leadership.

TSTC hosts Fall 2019 registration rallies

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in Harlingen will host its first of four registration rallies for the summer on Wednesday, June 12.

The event, to be held at the Engineering Technology Center on Airport Drive, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will focus on programs: Architectural Design & Engineering Graphics, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Building Construction Technology, Industrial Systems, Mechatronics Technology, Precision Machining Technology, Wind Energy Technology and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC).

This is the first time the campus has tailored its registration rallies to promote specific programs. This will help emphasize the application and registration processes of certain departments and give prospective students an in-depth look into each program.

“Choosing a career is a big choice and we want students to have the opportunity to take a close look at all of their options,” said TSTC assistant director of Enrollment Services Ricardo Trevino.

With this new approach, TSTC faculty and students will showcase their programs with presentations and hands-on activities for those in attendance.

“Networking is what these registration rallies is all about,” said Trevino. “We want these students to make informed decisions and to be familiar with their instructors, the campus and the resources we offer before even registering. This will make for an easier transition.”

Enrollment services representatives will also be on hand to assist prospective students with the TSTC application and registration processes, advisement and testing.

Representatives from Student Life, Career Services, Housing and the Veterans Center will also be at the event to answer questions.

Trevino added that financial aid and scholarships are available for those who quality; and in fact, there will be a drawing for a $250 TSTC scholarship for those who apply and register for classes at the event.

Free hot dogs, chips and popcorn will also be served.

“Not only is this a great event for prospective students to get to know us, but it’s a great opportunity for us to get to know them,” said Trevino. “That’s important because then we’re able to match them with the resources they need. We always have our students’ end goals in mind.”

Trevino said he hopes these registration rallies not only bring in students to register, but also give them a better understanding of the types of opportunities a technical education and two-year degree can provide.

The next registration rallies at TSTC’s Harlingen campus will be hosted on July 11, July 16 and August 6 and will focus on other programs such as Aircraft Airframe and Powerplant, Computer Science, Computer Networking & Security, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services and Nursing.

Registration Rallies are being held across TSTC’s 10 campuses statewide.

For more information, visit tstc.edu/rally.

TSTC grad turns obstacle into a career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It was May 2009 in the neonatal intensive care unit when life changed for Texas State Technical College vocational nursing alum Jesus Herrera and he realized nursing was his life’s passion and path.

The 35-year-old’s eldest daughter was born with gastroschisis, a birth defect of the abdominal wall in which the baby’s intestines are found outside of the baby’s body, and Herrera came to respect the nurses that they relied on to keep their baby safe during her two-month stay in the hospital.

“This was a really difficult time. I hated leaving her there, but the nurses seemed to make everything less scary,” said Herrera. “This is when I knew that I wanted to become a nurse and be the same kind of security and support for others.”

Herrera’s daughter is now a healthy 10-year-old girl still inspiring her father’s career.

“Everything I do, I do for my children; for my family,” he said. “They are my everything and make it all worthwhile.”

It was only a couple of years after this life-changing moment that the Mexico native and now father of three decided to enroll at TSTC to complete his nursing prerequisite courses.

“Throughout my educational journey I have come so close to quitting,” he said. “My family and I have had to overcome some great obstacles, but each time I had someone from TSTC rooting for me and being my strength, making it possible to continue.”

It took about four years, but the Harlingen native graduated with a certificate as a nursing assistant in 2017 and as a vocational nurse in 2018, with an almost-perfect 3.9 grade-point average.

He said he achieved all of this while juggling a family and two jobs because he had to make ends meet. He describes this period as not only a sacrifice for him, but also for his wife and children.

“I hit a dark moment in my life during the vocational nursing program,” he said. “Anxiety got the best of me. Everything was piling up and I thought for sure I was dying.”

With no health insurance and most of his money tied up in school and family needs, Herrera did not have the money to pay for a doctor visit. Eventually he was forced to seek medical help to help him overcome his anxieties.

Despite the pressures he was facing and his health scare, he gained a new career and he credits his success to all of his nursing instructors.

“It was the strength that my instructors exude that helped me stay focused on my end goal,” he said. “They empathized with me, they were there for me and never let me quit. For that, I thank them. It’s because of them I’ve found success for me and my family.”

Herrera now works as vocational nurse at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville in the telemetry unit specializing in the cardiovascular system.

And only last week, he got his acceptance letter into TSTC’s registered nursing program. He will return to the college in the fall.

“When I received my acceptance it was a celebration for the entire family,” said Herrera. “This next year is going to be another large hurdle for my family one I plan to overcome, but when I came to the United States in 2000 for better opportunities, I promised myself the ‘American Dream.’ And TSTC is helping me achieve that.”

Herrera said he’s ready to face this next year and do whatever it takes to be successful because his ultimate dream is to not only become a registered nurse, but also buy his family a house to call their own.

“I want to continue teaching my children that’s it’s not about being smart. It’s about how hard someone works and how dedicated they are to achieving their goals,” he said. “This next year is what’s going to help me take my career to the next level.”

TSTC also offers nursing at its Breckenridge and Sweetwater campuses.

Graduates from this program will enter an occupation that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to grow 15 percent, much faster than other occupations and is in demand across the state and especially in South and West Texas, moth medically-underserved regions. Graduates can expect to find careers at hospitals, clinics, long-term facilities or anywhere nursing care is needed.

Registration for Fall 2019 is underway.

To learn more about nursing visit tstc.edu/programs/nursing.

TSTC Hosts Mock Interview Sessions for Students

(WACO, Texas) – More than 30 Texas State Technical College students have become better prepared for job hunting after practicing their interview skills on Wednesday and Thursday.

TSTC’s Career Services office hosted an interview practicum at the Murray Watson Jr. Student Recreation Center on the Waco campus for students to sit down with area business recruiters and TSTC staff for mock interview sessions.

“Many of our students have not had an interview before, and this event is a great opportunity for them to get practice in doing so,” said Jose Muniz, a Career Services director.

After the sessions were completed, TSTC staff and area business people filled out forms highlighting the students’ strengths and areas to improve on.

Joe Razza, a regional recruiter at Crown Lift Trucks in Arlington, said he liked the students’ demeanors, but some of them had difficulty talking about their hands-on experiences at TSTC.

“We are setting them up for success,” Razza said.

Mick Henry, a Precision Machining Technology major from Waco, participated in the interviews because he wants a great-paying job after graduation.

“The first two interviews were definitely informative,” Henry said. “I got help on my resume. On the third interview with Mr. Razza, I learned about the employers’ perspective with interviews.”

Jesus Acevedo, an Instrumentation Technology major from Gholson, said his interviewers liked his eye contact.

“It went better and better as I went along,” Acevedo said. “I grew more positive and less nervous.”

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

Women in TSTC Instrumentation Technology Program Hope to Inspire Others

(WACO, Texas) – The city of Glen Rose in Somervell County has proven to be an inspirational place for Texas State Technical College student Iris De La Fuente.

De La Fuente, an Instrumentation Technology major, once worked as a painting foreman at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose. Hearing the success stories of TSTC alumni working at the power plant motivated her to go to college for the first time.

“Everyone is helpful here at (TSTC),” De La Fuente said. “You have so many tools to be successful here. This is the best decision of my life.”

De La Fuente and classmates Brittany Cobb of Weatherford and Cara Conte of Kenai, Alaska, are all working toward the Associate of Applied Science degree in Instrumentation Technology at TSTC. Instrumentation is the science of measurement and control of flows, levels, temperatures, pressures or other variables used in industry in process control.

“Iris, Cara and Brittany are going to be our best ambassadors,” said Linda Martin, an instructor in TSTC’s Instrumentation Technology program in Waco. “They are going to be making a good living, and other women will see that.”

The students have already done internships at Comanche Peak, earning valuable in-the-field experience.

“They put you to work one-on-one with a technician,” said De La Fuente. “You learn what you will see in the next semester.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected more than 14,000 electromechanical technician jobs being available by 2026. Electromechanical technicians can work in the aviation, energy, machine manufacturing, robotics and other fields, according to onetonline.org.

“The only way to get more females in the program is to get more females,” Martin said. “Once they graduate, others can see that and realize they can do it also. Most of the women we have here are coming into the program from other jobs.”

De La Fuente is the first in her family to go to college, while Conte is the first to attend a technical college in her family.

Conte worked in the oil fields of Alaska as a cook and housekeeper before coming to TSTC. She said Martin is one of her biggest influences in pursuing a job in the instrumentation field.

“I can go to her and tell her what I am thinking,” Conte said.

Although Cobb has a bachelor’s degree in theater performance, she was encouraged to pursue instrumentation while working at Comanche Peak as a pumps setup and contamination control contract laborer.

“I liked the hands-on work,” Cobb said. “I would get in a tank and get covered in dirt.”

During this period, Cobb happened to meet a TSTC graduate from the Instrumentation Technology program who also had a theater degree.

“I needed formal training to get a skill set,” Cobb said. “I definitely feel like I made the right decision.”

Conte said it helps having an inquisitive nature and appreciation for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields when choosing to study instrumentation technology.

“I think you have to go in with the mentality of it being hands-on and something different daily,” she said.

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

TSTC hosts a summer of registration rallies

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – On Friday, Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County will host its first Registration Rally of the summer.

The event, hosted at the TSTC Brazos Center, will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will focus on registering prospective and current students for four of the 10 programs offered at the campus: Electrical Power and Controls, Environmental Technology, Electrical Lineworker Technology and Robotics.

“Registration Rallies offer prospective students an in-depth look into our campus and our programs before they even register,” said TSTC assistant director of enrollment Christina Vargas.

This is the first year that TSTC has hosted registration rallies specific to programs. Vargas said the idea behind this change is to offer prospective students and their families shorter wait times, more one-on-one time with program faculty and an in-depth look into what they should expect as TSTC students.

“Providing a great college experience and giving students the skills they need for a successful career is always our number one priority. And by dividing our rallies up by division allows us to provide a wider scope of program and faculty accessibility for those in attendance,” said Vargas.

Enrollment services representatives will be on hand to assist prospective students with TSTC application and registration processes, advisement and testing.

Student Life, Career Services and Transition Services will also be on hand to answer any questions.

“This is a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in attending TSTC to pursue one of these programs. They can be straight out of school, looking to improve skills or ready for a career change,” said Vargas. “Our goal is to get them registered and ready to begin classes Fall 2019 toward a successful career.”

Vargas also added that financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

In fact, there will be a drawing for a $250 TSTC scholarship and an Amazon Fire Stick for those who apply and register for classes at the event.

“We want to encourage everyone to come by check out our campus and our programs,” said Vargas. “There’s no time better than the present to come or return to school. We have something for everyone.”

The next registration rallies at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus will be hosted on June 14 and 21, July 12 and 26, and August 9 and will focus on different programs such as Diesel Equipment Technology, Cyber Security Technology, Welding Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Precision Machining Technology and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC).

Registration Rallies are being held across TSTC’s 10 campuses statewide.

For more information, visit tstc.edu/rally.

TSTC Student to Compete for Third Time at SkillsUSA Nationals

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The saying goes that all good things come in threes, and Texas State Technical College nursing student Kacee Merrifield hopes that saying will ring true for her.

Merrifield will represent Texas and TSTC for the third time at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in late June.

A Mineral Wells native, Merrifield is enrolled in the LVN to RN Transition program and working toward an Associate of Applied Science degree. Previously she had earned a Vocational Nursing certificate from TSTC.

During her time at TSTC, Merrifield has competed at SkillsUSA three years in a row, winning state all three times and placing nationally twice.

“It’s a very validating feeling when you get to test your skills against others in your industry. But it’s so much more than just winning a medal,” Merrifield said.

SkillsUSA is a national partnership between students, teachers and industries working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce.

In 2017 Merrifield placed first in state for Health Knowledge Bowl, continuing on to win fourth place at nationals. In 2018 she won first place in state for Nurse Assisting and sixth at nationals. She competed in Practical Nursing this year and won first place.

“I really love SkillsUSA and what it does for me and for others. A big part of being a nurse is people skills, and at SkillsUSA you meet so many people and work with so many different personalities (that) you really get to practice that skill on top of all your other skills,” Merrifield said.

During the Practical Nursing competition, Merrifield will take both a written test and a hands-on test. She will work with a volunteer and perform various tasks.

“We practice everything from medications to vital signs to wound care and even what we would delegate to someone else; it’s a real-world environment,” she said.

With such an impressive record, it is no surprise that her instructors are proud of her.

Marchelle Taylor is TSTC’s Vocational Nursing program director in West Texas and the West Texas SkillsUSA coordinator.

“Kacee has been a huge success story in the TSTC nursing program,” Taylor said. “She has worked full time, attended classes and helped other contestants prepare for Skills competitions. It is students with her dedication and work ethic that make teaching at TSTC such an honor.”

Merrifield says the best part of going to SkillsUSA nationals again is the chance to meet more people.

“My favorite thing has to be talking with other nursing students, learning what is different in each state and getting to learn more about this career field. SkillsUSA is really amazing. I really encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go,” Merrifield said.

She is expected to graduate in summer 2019.

For more information about TSTC, log on to tstc.edu.

Kacee Merrifield, pictured above, is a three-time state champion in various nursing competitions for SkillsUSA. This year she will compete in Practical Nursing at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June.

TSTC Students Set to Compete in First National SkillsUSA Competition

(WACO, Texas) – Two Mechanical/Electrical Drafting Technology students at Texas State Technical College will be the first to represent the Waco campus in the Additive Manufacturing contest at the 55th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Kentucky.

Brandon Lund of Millsap and Cody White of China Spring were put together as a team by their instructor, Bryan Clark. Clark said he liked Lund’s interest in 3D printing and White’s machining background.

The students will find out what their competition project is during the conference’s contest orientation.

“We have the best of both worlds,” Clark said.

Lund and White earned their way to the national conference by placing first in the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference in April in Waco. During the state Additive Manufacturing contest, the students had to design, print and demonstrate a coin-flipping apparatus. Their project had to be 3D printed in less than two hours.

The students went through nine prototypes before finding a winning combination.

“As they would discover a problem, they would log it,” Clark said.

Lund said he became interested at age 18 in 3D printing, a component of additive manufacturing, when he saw it being used for a video game prop.

“You need spatial awareness,” he said. “You have to visualize something in 2D and 3D at the same time.”

White has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology from TSTC and said after working in the field for less than a year that he wanted to get technical drafting experience. He said he had never used a 3D printer before coming to TSTC.

“You want to understand how products will be made,” he said. “You need to be concerned with machine time with 3D printing.”

Clark said the students have plenty to be excited about in the future of 3D printing.

“These guys will be incredibly valuable,” Clark said. “The need for people to model and design in the virtual world is becoming more necessary.”

The military and the automotive, construction and health care industries are some of the areas where 3D printing is being used.

“The whole industry is in a phase of dramatic growth,” Clark said. “There will come a day when you have a 3D printer like you do a microwave.”

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

A survivor of domestic violence finds new lease on life at TSTC

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Yvette Vaughan is one of Texas State Technical College’s newest instructors with only three months on the job. But she has big goals for her program and students.

Her bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Science, both from Tarleton State University, and her extensive experience in the field, made her a perfect match for TSTC’s Environmental Technology program.

“I’m excited to be at TSTC. This place was a gift to me from God,” she said. “This is a really big opportunity for me to make a difference in the lives of my students and to work together with them in making our planet a better place.”

The 43-year-old said she never expected to be where she is today because science wasn’t her first passion, but as a domestic violence survivor she is blessed to have a new lease on life.

“I played the flute. I was a music major,” she said. “It was the only thing I knew. It was a large part of my life until an accident left me with severe facial injuries and crushed my dreams.”

At this point, Vaughan had to start life over again.

She became a single mother and no longer able to play the flute due to her injuries, found new dreams.

“I look back now and wonder if this was all some weird blessing in disguise, because had none of it happened, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Vaughan. “Who knew that I loved science as much as I do and that I am so good at it.”

Vaughan said receiving a degree in biology was as much of a surprise to her as it was to her family.

“My advisor called me into the office and asked me if wanted to graduate that semester because I had taken enough classes to earn my credits. I hadn’t even thought about it, or even declared a major,” she remembers. “But I said yes, and when I told my family about my new career choice it was a relief to know everyone was happy for me despite the huge change.”

This was, what Vaughan called, an extremely proud moment for her and her family.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, surviving a troubled economy and completing her master’s degree, she went on to work at a state park, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and KJ Environmental Management, Inc., a dedicated, full service engineering and environmental consulting firm in Texas, holding positions in areas such as environmental, health and safety, gas and wastewater operations and consulting.

But after suffering two major car accidents on the same day, Vaughan worked hard to walk again and the pressure of constant travel because of her career and her existing injuries, became unbearable.

That is when Vaughan began looking for a new job and found TSTC’s job posting while sitting in an Idaho airport waiting for her flight.

“God answered my prayers that night. Had I not been stuck in Idaho, I would have never seen TSTC’s job posting,” she said. “I applied immediately and received a call back not long after.”

Teaching has been a big change for Vaughan, but she said it’s a good change and she’s looking forward to her future at TSTC.

“I’m more relaxed, less stressed and just overall happier now,” said Vaughan. “And working in a classroom is so rewarding to me and I can’t wait to see where we can take this program.”

Vaughan is currently working on getting Environmental Technology faculty and students involved in the community. She said she believes this is what will help spread awareness about the program, its benefits and career opportunities.

Most recently students volunteered with Fort Bend County’s Citizen’s Environmental Coalition on Earth Day and encouraged recycling, created a Fort Bend Citizen Corp. student chapter on campus, which Vaughan will lead as faculty advisor, and hosted an Environmental Day open house on campus to showcase the program for local middle and high school students.

“Building a strong relationship with our community is essential to how we grow Environmental Technology and TSTC,” said Vaughan. “I want my students to not only be proud of their academic achievements, but also for what they’ve done for the community. We want to make a difference. And I hope my story can inspire others.”

Students who enroll in Environmental Technical in Fort Bend County, Breckenridge or Waco’s TSTC campuses, find careers as environmental science and protection technicians, environmental scientists and specialists or health and safety engineers or inspectors.

For more information on the program, visit tstc.edu/programs/EnvironmentalTechnology.

TSTC Profile of Excellence – Stephanie Garcia

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Stephanie Garcia graduated from Texas State Technical College in Fall 2018 with an associate degree in Business Management Technology.

After working as a student worker at TSTC’s Veterans Center and as a student mentor, the 36-year-old knew that she wanted to make the higher education her career.

So not long after graduating, she accepted an offer as a TSTC student recruitment representative, where she is currently employed.

What was your reaction when you first learned about your job offer?

I was so excited when I found out that I had been offered this job; so were my husband and family. I really wanted it after realizing how rewarding it is to help students achieve their dreams. Plus, I love sharing my experiences with them.

How did TSTC prepare you for your career?

TSTC prepared me for my career in more ways than one. My classes taught me the foundation and technical skills I needed to get my career started, and working as a student worker taught me soft skills such as leadership and customer service, which in turn gave me the experience and confidence I need for my current position.

Who has had the greatest influence on your success?

My husband has had the greatest influence on my success. He has been with me every step of the way. And he is the one who made it possible for me to return to school and graduate.

What are your future goals?

I don’t plan on leaving TSTC anytime soon. If anything, I hope to grow within the college and continue helping students realize their dreams of a college education. As a recruiter I hope to be a positive face for the college and teach about the importance and benefits of a technical education.

What would you tell a student thinking of pursuing a two-year degree vs. a four-year degree?

Speaking from experience, a two-year degree gives a real-world, hands-on experience that a student doesn’t always get when pursuing a four-year degree. And here at TSTC, our two-year degrees give students the training they need to obtain the skills that industry is demanding. This gives a graduate a leg-up and makes them more marketable when competing for jobs. A two-year degree at TSTC is the way to go; we have industry knocking at our door recruiting our students.