(WACO, Texas) – Two Texas State Technical College alumnae have been hired by Cisco.

Among the company’s many accolades, Cisco has been named on the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work list for the 22nd year in a row.

Lori Wise and Ruusa Bolton are training to become technical consulting engineers at Cisco.

“IT (information technology) is very exciting. Everything is really happening at such a fast pace,” Bolton said. “Nothing stays new for a long time. There’s always something new happening; it’s an innovative field. What you are striving for is to remain relevant in an ever-changing industry.”

Before attending TSTC, Bolton served as an engineer in the U.S. military.

“People should not be afraid of technical fields,” Bolton said. “It’s probably one of the most learnable industries. No one expects you to know everything. As long as you have a problem-solving mindset, everything else can be taught.”

Bolton encourages more people, especially women, to pursue technical careers.

“Women should be courageous and not feel that they’re restricted, because we don’t see enough women in the field,” Bolton said. “Right now, the time is ripe with opportunity.”

Wise taught special education for 13 years. She discovered her love for technology after continually fixing computer issues at school.

“After I left teaching, I still wanted to make an impact on the world, and I can do that through technology,” Wise said. “I never thought after teaching for 13 years that I would be at a Fortune 500 company. So don’t limit yourself. Don’t look at a job description and go, ‘I don’t have all that,’ and not apply.”

Both women are excited to work for Cisco and love the working environment the company provides.

“I knew that Cisco was where I wanted to be, and nothing was getting in the way of that,” Wise said. “I love how you can innovate. I can play around with problems, make my own patch or make my own invention.”

“Cisco has a very inclusive policy when it comes to women empowerment and diversity,” Bolton said. “You can really see more credible and visible representation.”

John Washington, a TSTC Computer Networking and Systems Administration associate professor, said he was happy for the success Bolton and Wise have had. He also said the alumnae are great examples for current students.

“There are certain people that are going to be successful in life just because of their attitude,” Washington said. “The fact that they’ve gotten this far proves it. Hopefully it will encourage other students to know that they can be successful by seeing our graduates out there doing well.”

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

(WACO, Texas) – Not everyone can claim to have received a U.S. patent.

But Cecil C. Rhodes Jr., who received his degree from Texas State Technical Institute (now Texas State Technical College), can.

Last year, he and his team at Texas A&M University were awarded U.S. Patent 9,957,035 for Un-Manned Aerial Vehicle Having Adjustable Wing Module, Tail, and Landing Gear, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Rhodes, now a flight mechanics specialist for the Texas A&M aerospace engineering department, helped create the Pegasus unmanned air system.

“I was able to use my experience as an airplane mechanic and working with airplanes to actually put the airplane together,” Rhodes said.

After studying aviation maintenance and receiving his airframe and powerplant licenses from TSTI, Rhodes moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M University but found that his credits would not transfer.

“I do think it’s kind of neat that I came here to take aerospace engineering and then ended up here working in the department as a staff member,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes started to attend Blinn College but decided to seek full-time employment instead. He began working for the Texas Highway Department (now Texas Department of Transportation) as a mechanic, but he also worked part time on airplanes.

“I always had that desire to work full time on airplanes, and the opportunity came up in ‘99 to work for a company (Avlink) that had a fleet of jets,” Rhodes said. “So that was really appealing to me.”

Rhodes worked for Avlink for one year until the company went out of business. He then worked for Z Jets for five years.

“One of my fellow aviation buddies told me that A&M was starting a flight research lab, and they had an airplane over there and they wanted someone to come look at it,”

Rhodes said. “So, as fate would have it, I came over and worked on the airplane a couple times.”

Eventually Rhodes went to work for William Saric at Texas A&M University’s aerospace engineering department. Although the flight lab closed in 2015, Rhodes stayed on.

“I’ve always hired my own technicians, and he is by far the very best,” Saric said. “He has a multitude of skills. But the main thing is that he enjoyed doing new things and learning new things.”

“I’m a support person with mechanic experience,” Rhodes said. “I’m the technical support, the bridge between what they want to do and how they get it done.”

Rhodes also enjoys working with students.

“I’ve got the best of both worlds. I love working with my hands, and I love working with these students,” Rhodes said. “I’m able to help them go out and be the best that they can be.”

One of those former students at Texas A&M University, Andrew Carpenter, learned about the maintenance and regulation aspects of the aviation industry from Rhodes.

“He’s always had a great attitude, regardless of what he’s doing,” Carpenter said. “He helped out whenever he could, and he was a good mentor.”

Rhodes loves his job and is excited to continue working for Texas A&M University.

“For right now, I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing. I get a huge satisfaction from the people I work with,” Rhodes said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

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

(WACO, Texas) – The last few weeks have been busy for the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program at Texas State Technical College.

David Brannen, the program’s lead instructor, said several companies have visited the campus to recruit HVAC students for jobs. Brannen is happy about this because the program has a very high job placement rate for graduates.

“Everybody picks up this time of year because the cooling season is upon us,” said Brannen.

Brannen also said as senior-level technicians retire, younger workers are needed to replace them.

“This industry pays as good or as better than any industry out there,” Brannen said.

Jobs for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 15 percent nationally through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Texas has more than 25,200 workers earning an annual mean wage of more than $46,000.

Some area businesses said it is difficult finding the right employees to fill HVAC jobs.

Andrew Smith, a recruiter and salesman at Construction Force Inc. in China Spring, said prospective employees need basic hand tools and a willingness to work.

“We can train new people, but it helps to have some of the background,” Smith said.

More than 100 students were enrolled this spring in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program in Waco, which offers an associate degree as well as a certificate.

Brannen said students entering the program should  have a fascination with how things work. He said students coming into the program are a mix, from those who know people in the HVAC industry to some who have never touched a wrench.

“I have guys that want to go where the money is and some that want to go home to work,” Brannen said. “Even the small towns need HVAC technicians.”

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

(WACO) – Roxann Buzbee is already transitioning from student to educator in her new job as a human resources training developer.

Buzbee is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Environmental Technology Compliance and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.

She and more than 500 other students will receive certificates and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Spring 2019 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, at the Waco Convention Center.

“Anybody is going to have obstacles,” Buzbee said. “Anybody is going to have something going on in their lives, but don’t make that an excuse for failure. If I can overcome my obstacles and make sure I set my goals, anyone can.”

She began work a month ago at Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries Inc. in Central Texas. One of her first tasks has been developing a new training curriculum focusing on workplace safety.

“It is a lot, but the ladies I work with give me awesome feedback,” Buzbee said.

She said TSTC instructors Martin Knudsen and Lester Bowers were some of her biggest supporters and gave her motivation to pursue her studies. Bowers was Buzbee’s instructor in what she said was one of her toughest classes; Environmental Toxicology.

“She worked hard,” Bowers said. “She persevered. She was always in class and contributed to class discussions. It was a learning process for her.”

Buzbee grew up in Gholson and graduated from West High School.

“I was a hair stylist for 15 years and a manager of most of the hair salons I worked at,” said Buzbee. “I got my instructor license and was told after I received it that I needed a bachelor’s degree in education. I thought, if I am going back for the third time, I might as well make it worth it.”

She said her advice for other students is to keep an open mind.

“Keep focused on your goals,” Buzbee said. “There is going to be a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of hard work and a lot of studying. Put your mind to it.”

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

(WACO) – Cicilia Bunting has felt this feeling before.

Bunting, a Culinary Arts student at Texas State Technical College, won first place for the second consecutive year in Commercial Baking at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held in mid-April in Waco.

“I know what to expect and what the judges are looking for,” the La Porte resident said.

Texas State Technical College in Waco won 30 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 13 bronze medals at the state competition. Eighteen two-year institutions took part in this year’s state conference.

Marc Garcia of Waco participated for the first time in SkillsUSA and placed first in Automotive Refinishing. For the state contest he matched colors, blended a panel and demonstrated other skills.

“It feels great,” Garcia said. “I will have instructors helping me out. I want to improve on my scores.”

Faustino Laessig of Lometa placed first in Collision Repair Technology. He demonstrated his knowledge in analyzing vehicles, metal repair and welding.

“I was stunned when I won,” Laessig said. “It feels great knowing I can get something done. I will put in more lab hours. It will help me become a better technician.”

TSTC’s gold medalists are eligible to compete at this year’s SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Louisville, Kentucky.

Other TSTC in Waco gold medalists are:

3-D Visualization and Animation: Dylan Borg and Vicky Lackey

Additive Manufacturing: Brandon Lund and Cody White

Advertising Design: Joe Quintero

Cabinetmaking: Timothy Watkins

Carpentry: Cody Scheffe

Collision Damage Appraisal and Total Loss Evaluation: Jannifer Stimmel

Computer Programming: Dante Hart

Electrical Construction Wiring: Cordell Argumaniz

Graphic Communications: Eddie King

Information Technology Services: Erik Syck

Internet of Things: Rickie Hartfield

Internetworking: Alberto Moreno

Pin Design – State: Ana Alvarez

Plumbing: Rourke Scott

TeamWorks: Jacob Dawson, Antonio Hernandez, Leonardo Mata and Andres Zapata

T-Shirt Design – State: Christina Pace

Web Design: Sara Steward and Garrett Bentley

Welding: Brenden Paradis

Welding Fabrication: Brady Carpenter, Dalton Gabel and Cash Latta

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

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

(WACO) – Six employees at Texas State Technical College in Waco have been honored for their skills and work.

Meagan Cooper, an instructor in the Electrical Power and Controls program; Kent Kahler, a senior instructor in the Diesel Equipment Technology program; Anju Motwani, senior accountant; Jana Polansky, student accounting coordinator; Raymond Silva, a Culinary Arts program lab assistant, and Caitlin Simmonds, a publication layout specialist, have received Chancellor’s Excellence Awards.

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001 and has been given to more than 300 TSTC employees statewide. Recipients are nominated by their peers for their work toward advancing the technical college’s mission.

“The teammates who win this award 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 employment success of our students.”

Cooper has taught for 12 years at TSTC and is being honored for her caring attitude toward students and her loyalty.

Kahler has been at TSTC for 42 years and teaches students about heavy-duty brakes, shop safety and other components of the diesel equipment field.

“The students’ curiosity and willingness to learn all they can about diesel technology keeps me motivated,” he said. “The most rewarding part of being an instructor is when you see the students learn from you and when they finally succeed after a million failures and feel really proud of what they have learned.”

Motwani has been at TSTC for two years. She works with TSTC departments to implement new accounting standards, prepare the institution’s annual financial report and assess and strengthen internal controls. She also processes and analyzes account changes.

“Accounting has always been my passion, but what motivates me are the people I work with,” Motwani said. “I am truly humbled and thankful to be part of such a wonderful team and an institution where I can make a difference.”

Polansky came to TSTC 25 years ago and started as a clerk in the financial aid office. She was previously an accounting assistant before being promoted to her current position in 2017.

One of the things Polansky is proud of in her work is learning and training employees on how to use TSTC’s communication module to correspond with students.

“A huge motivator for me is going to work and knowing that I can and will do whatever is needed to help my co-workers,” Polansky said. “Putting their needs first, along with the students’ needs, is what makes my job so rewarding.”

Silva, who has worked five years at TSTC, prepares the popular takeout meals and fulfills catering orders at the Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center. He also helps Culinary Arts students in there labs.

“I love that I can come to work every day and cook for people or even just help people out,” Silva said. “If I can make one person smile just from the food I serve, that means I have done my job.”

Simmonds who has worked for three years at TSTC. She works with graphic design, advertisements and special recruiting and enrollment projects.  

She said that a good team environment makes her job a fun experience and that she gets to do work she is passionate about.

The honorees will join 29 other TSTC employees statewide who will be honored at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration in May in Austin.

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