Author Archives: Daniel Perry

TSTC and Baylor University Partnership Helps Student Reach New Heights

(WACO) – Less than 10 miles apart are two schools connected by their students’ passion for aviation.

Texas State Technical College’s Aircraft Pilot Training Technology program and Baylor University’s Aviation Sciences department work together to give students like Natalie Verhoog the chance to reach new heights.

“I’m really getting a unique college experience going to both schools, and it’s an amazing opportunity. The programs mesh together really well, and I get to fly planes for college credit,” said Verhoog, a Baylor Aviation Sciences sophomore with a Professional Pilot concentration from Redding, California.

TSTC and Baylor’s partnership allows Baylor students to complete ground training on their home campus while attending TSTC to complete flight training.

“The Aviation Sciences program at Baylor could not exist without TSTC. Partnership between our two institutions has been the basis for this program since its beginning in 1991,” said Trey Cade, director of Baylor’s Institute for Air Science.

Students earn a 500-hour reduction in the required total flight time by completing the Baylor-TSTC partnership. The Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots to have 1,500 flight hours to enter the airline industry, but these graduates will earn a restricted Airline Transport Pilot license, allowing them to enter with 1,000 flight hours.

“This marriage between Baylor and TSTC offers these students the right environment to enter the industry with (certification for) ground and flight training. Once they meet certain requirements, these students can get into the airline industry well-trained and quickly,” TSTC lead flight instructor Rick Connor said.   

The aviation field was the last thing Verhoog expected to love, but when an impromptu flight lesson in her California hometown swept her off her feet, she knew she had found her calling.

“I fell in love with it. I had never shown any interest in airplanes or flying. I had traveled a lot, but I had never looked at it like that. And then I was instantly in love with it. I knew that’s what I had to do,” Verhoog said.

To feel like she was on the same page with her classmates, Verhoog put in extra hours studying and asked countless questions.

“I asked multiple times to go in the maintenance hangar and would ask for one hour to ask as many questions as I could about the planes that were being worked on,” Verhoog said. “I went from being someone who had never lifted the hood of a car before flight training to now — I can describe every aspect of a fuel-injected engine really well.”

Helping to guide her on her journey is fellow Baylor Aviation and TSTC grad Bond Henderson. Henderson works as both a fixed-wing and helicopter flight instructor for TSTC.

“Natalie is a joy to work with. Her constant positive attitude and persistent drive for excellence are by far her most noticeable qualities. Beyond that, she is a fantastic student, always wanting to improve and learn,” Henderson said.

With the FAA requiring first officers to have 1,500 flight hours and more captains reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65, there is an enormous demand for pilots.

“There was a huge bottleneck created, and we are seeing a great need for pilots. Age, hour requirements and huge expansion means these positions are paying more because there is a great lack of people” Connor said.  

As the aviation industry clamors for more pilots, Henderson and Verhoog see it as an opportunity.

“As in many other industries, women provide a dynamic of diverse thinking that drastically benefits the aviation community,” Henderson said. “The women I have met in the aviation industry are assertive, problem-solving and safety-minded.”

For young women dreaming of entering the aviation field, Verhoog advises them to stick to it and do the work.

“I did have to thicken up my skin a little bit, that’s for sure. But my experience has been nothing but positive,” Verhood said. “My mom said, ‘show up on time or be there early, and never give them a reason to doubt your ability to be efficient and to do it well and do it right, and they won’t treat you any different.’ It’s 100 percent true.”

Verhoog will graduate in spring 2020. She is a member of the Tri Delta sorority and is in the Honors College at Baylor. After graduation she hopes to fly with international airlines or charter flights.

Registration for fall classes at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Students Attend Dallas Society of Visual Communications Conference

(WACO) — Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for students in Texas State Technical College’s Visual Arts Society who recently attended the Dallas Society of Visual Communications conference.

The Visual Arts Society are students pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in Visual Communication Technology. Thirteen students had their tickets paid by TSTC’s provost office to attend the conference for the first time in two years.

“This was my first time at DSVC, and it surprised me how much variety (there was) and (with) the talent of the speakers during the breakout sessions,” VAS president Raychel Mynarcik said. “Getting to meet the designer that came up with the current Vitaminwater, Smartwater and Powerade labels was awesome.”

The Dallas Society of Visual Communications was founded in 1957 and has grown to become one of the largest independent organizations of its kind. The conference provided networking and job opportunities for attendees.

“Getting to hear the speakers and their process and their journey getting their jobs was so inspiring. I found it to be super motivating,” club treasurer Samantha Westbrook said.

Students were able to meet with industry leaders, participate in group challenges and submit individual works for critique.

“My highlight was winning a box of macaroons during a 360 branding challenge by Neiman Marcus design representatives. It was really cool having my ideas being recognized and chosen,” Mynarcik said.

As the industry evolves, students were exposed to new ways their degree and creativity could be applied in the workforce.

“The biggest thing I learned was that there is a whole market for app design. That’s something I find to be really cool and maybe want to pursue a career in,” VAS public relations officer Christina Pace said.

Although the TSTC provost’s office paid for the students’ admission cost, members of the Visual Arts Society hosted fundraisers for the remaining trip fees and split the cost of gas.

“The provost’s office sponsors student events as often as possible. I know it will be one of the highlights of their time at TSTC, and I can’t wait to see what their futures hold,” TSTC Provost Adam Hutchison said. “I personally know TSTC graduates from the program who attended the conference, and I saw how they were inspired, encouraged and better prepared to find great jobs through their participation with DSVC.”

“These kids are so good,” Stacie Buterbaugh, instructor and the club’s sponsor, said. “They worked so hard and had multiple fundraisers like bakes sales and selling pizza and candy and sodas at events hosted on campus.”

VAS plans to attend the conference next spring and is using the previous trip in April as recruitment for new members.

“I like seeing these students be exposed to what’s outside the classroom and get a glimpse at the long-term opportunities. It’s so easy to get stuck and focus on one project and one assignment, but this allows them to see everything as part of a bigger picture and learn from their experiences,” Buterbaugh said.

TSTC in Waco offers the associate degree in Visual Communication Technology.

Registration for fall classes at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC in Sweetwater to Host Registration Events This Summer

(SWEETWATER) – Texas State Technical College will have two Registration Rally events this summer in Sweetwater.

The events will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 12 and July 26 in the Sears Building on Homer K. Taylor Drive. The events are part of an effort to make the registration process as easy as possible for incoming students planning to take classes in the fall semester.

“We make it fun,” said Devin Crenshaw, a TSTC college outreach representative. “They can come and do every single thing in one day. It’s easier for people that don’t want to deal with the lengthy process and do a lot of back and forth. They can just come and get it done and not wait until the first class day.”

Visitors can take campus and housing tours and talk to faculty members about the seven technical programs offered at TSTC in Sweetwater, including Automotive Technology, Electromechanical Technology and Wind Energy Technology.

People interested in enrolling should bring a copy of their driver’s license, high school transcript or GED, any college transcripts, proof of bacterial meningitis vaccination, housing application and TSI scores.

TSTC is having registration events at its 10 campuses throughout the state this summer. For information on the closest Registration Rally, log on to tstc.edu/rally.

For more information, contact TSTC in Sweetwater at 325-235-7300 or visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Alumnae at Eastland Memorial Hospital Work to Improve Local Health Care

(BRECKENRIDGE) — Northeast of the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Abilene is a hospital with a big heart. Eastland Memorial Hospital, the only hospital to serve the residents of Eastland County, is home to local heroes who answered the call to become health care providers.

Some of these professionals are graduates of Texas State Technical College’s nursing program.

“This is a rural community, and TSTC assists in providing a quality education and necessary service that is so important for this community,” said TSTC alumna Brandi Riley, a registered nurse who is manager of Outpatient/Surgery Services and Education at EMH.

Currently there are five TSTC graduates employed with EMH. Some students started their nursing careers at TSTC, while others studied online to further their education.

“I graduated from TSTC with my LVN in 2010 from the Breckenridge campus, and I went back in 2016 to the associate degree in nursing LVN to RN bridge program at the Sweetwater campus,” said Megan Drake, EMH’s supervisor of Infection Control, Risk Management and Employee Health. “I chose TSTC because it is so much more affordable compared to larger universities where you get the same degree.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a rising demand for LVNs and RNs, and the employment growth rate in Texas is higher than the national average.

“We hire new RNs and LVNs and encourage students to do their clinicals with us to get their foot through the door,” Riley said. “We are working on a partnership with the Breckenridge campus to get LVNs and RNs doing clinicals here and recruit some new faces.”

For those at Eastland, the hospital is a community and an opportunity to hone new skills.  

“Eastland is smaller, but I feel that I get a broader range of skills rather than working in a larger hospital, where I’d have to focus on one specific department,” Drake said.

Many of the staff employed by Eastland have earned their RN degrees through TSTC’s online program while working full time as an LVN.  

“I was working for Eastland already as an LVN, and they helped to pay for me to go to TSTC to become an RN. And that’s when I earned the position I’m in now,” Riley said.

For others, like registered nurse Belinda Williams, TSTC is a family affair. Williams earned her associate degree in nursing, her daughter graduated from the Chemical Dependency Counseling program in Breckenridge, and her husband earned his commercial driver’s license after completing TSTC’s professional driver training in Sweetwater.

“I love that you go and learn what it is that you are pursuing career-wise, and it’s cheaper than regular college. It’s a great place to get an education, and it’s a fun school that cares about its students,” said Williams, RN case manager/utilization review and quality manager at EMH.

As the need for qualified nurses rises, Riley reminds potential students to think of why they chose to pursue a career in nursing.

“You have to have a love for nursing. It’s not about the income, but caring for patients and giving the best patient care possible,” Riley said.

Registration for fall classes at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC in Waco Auto Collision Students Receive Recognitions

(WACO) – Four students in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College have been nationally honored for their academic work.

Three students — Hector Corujo of Killeen, Anderson Merchant of College Station and Justin Romero of Waco — are military veterans who received 3M Hire Our Heroes tool grants valued at $4,500 each. Romero also received a $2,000 scholarship from the 3M Hire Our Heroes program. A fourth student, Jannifer Stimmel of Marlin, received a PPG Foundation automotive refinishing scholarship.

All of the students will receive the Sears Votech tool grant, which includes an industry-size tool box.

The recognitions are sponsored by the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division and the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

Corujo, 34, is working toward an advanced technical certificate in Auto Collision Refinishing after having graduated in December with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization.

After having received a scholarship and tools last year, Corujo said he did not think he had a chance of being recognized this year.

“It takes the financial burden off me to buy tools,” Corujo said. “Last year I was able to buy a paint suit, safety glasses and other items.”

Corujo moved as a teenager from Puerto Rico to Florida, where he graduated from high school. The Killeen resident spent 14 years in the U.S. Army and worked as a light-wheel-vehicle mechanic. His Army stint included three tours of duty in Iraq.

Merchant, 26, is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization. He said he has enjoyed working with the instructors and using his hands in the program’s labs.

He said the tool grant will help him progress in his interest to do classic car restoration after graduation.

“It is going to be a huge help,” Merchant said. “When I came here, I was essentially living off the GI Bill. I did not have many tools.”

Merchant said his goal is to use what he has learned to do a complete restoration of a 1952 Chevy dually.

“Right now it’s in the rust stage,” he said. “I’ve always had an affinity for 1960 and earlier cars.”

Merchant graduated in 2010 from Huntsville High School. Two years later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was an optics technician.

Romero, 25, is working on an advanced technical certificate in Advanced Collision Refinishing and already has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization.

He said he was appreciative of the scholarship and the tools he will receive.

“It will help out in the future,” Romero said. “Tools are hard to build up, mainly because they are so expensive.”

Romero grew up in Erie, Colorado and was a petroleum supply specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve for two years.

Stimmel, 33, received a $5,000 scholarship she said will help continue her education. After graduation, she wants to go into restoration and paint her 1973 Volkswagen bus.

“My previous degrees ate up my funding to where I was not sure I would be here in the fall,” she said. “I love it here.”

Stimmel worked in health care  for 12 years before deciding to shift to the auto collision field.

“The human body is not far from a vehicle,” she said. “We are machines like we work on.”

Stimmel graduated in 2003 from Marlin High School and is an alumna of Texas Woman’s University.

“Growing up, I always spent time out in the shop with my father,” she said. “I decided I didn’t want to be cooped up in an office.”

The four students are scheduled to graduate in December.

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

 

TSTC and Nolan County Companies Celebrate TWC Skills Development Grant

(SWEETWATER) – Leaders from Texas State Technical College, the Texas Workforce Commission, Buzzi Unicem USA and United States Gypsum Corp. gathered Wednesday to commemorate a $419,590 Skills Development Fund grant aimed at improving workers’ skills.

The grant will create or upgrade 185 jobs and provide mechanical training in bearings, lubricants and other components, operator assessment care and specialized emergency response training. Both Buzzi Unicem and United States Gypsum Corp. will receive more than a combined 7,000 hours of business technical training.

The regional economic impact of the grant is expected to be $4.2 million, said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez III, who presented the check.

TSTC in West Texas Provost Rick Denbow said it is critical for local industries to be able to access workforce training through TSTC. He said the technical college must communicate with industries to see what changes there are to ensure that students who graduate are employable.

Alvarez commended TSTC for its involvement in economic development.

“It’s the college of Texas,” said Alvarez. “They listen to you and ask you what they can do to serve constituents.”

Ken Becker, executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, said some of Nolan County’s blue-collar industries are changing colors.

“You have to have a lot of technical training to do their jobs,” Becker said.

United States Gypsum Corp. in Sweetwater has more than 230 employees who produce gypsum wallboard. Jeff Grimland, plant manager, said the company has expanded the range of training that workers can receive and given raises sooner because of the Skills Development Fund grant.

He said employees can discover more problems to repair on routine maintenance days because of the training. And, he said, employees can see that the company is investing in them.

“USG has received much-needed training that improves efficiency and the bottom line,” said Grimland.

Buzzi Unicem USA in Maryneal has more than 120 employees working with cement manufacturing.

The Skills Development Fund has been used since 1996 to localize workforce training for companies. This enables companies to work directly with local partners to develop training tailored to employees’ needs. The competitive grant has assisted more than 4,200 employers statewide, according to the TWC.

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

TSTC Automotive Technology Instructor Connects with Students on Their Level

(WACO) — Texas State Technical College recently welcomed its youngest instructor in the Automotive Technology department.

Matthew Abel, 26, a Waco native and Midway High School alumnus, graduated from TSTC in 2013 with an associate degree in Automotive Technology. He will teach the Automotive Brake Systems and Introduction to Automotive Technology classes starting this fall.  

He is determined to provide guidance and support for his students and lead them to success.

“The biggest thing I learned in the industry was that it’s so important to have someone to look up to,” said Abel. “Out in the industry, if I had something I couldn’t figure out, I couldn’t go to anyone. I had to just sit down and figure it out.”

Abel was fast-tracked to a master certification in less than a year while he was working at Allen Samuels Fiat in Waco. Spending most of his time working on brakes, he gained valuable experience. But he wanted more time with his fiancee and son.

“Getting on with TSTC has been amazing,” said Abel. “I love how everybody wants to progress in a positive manner. Everyone is crazy nice, and if I have an idea, they hear me out even though I’m the new guy.”

Mentoring Abel as he transitions from a teaching assistant to instructor are TSTC Automotive Technology statewide lead Rudy Cervantez and instructor Richard Pickens.

“I found by having him as a lab assistant this past semester in the brakes class, he knows quite a bit about the new technologies that we older generation instructors lack,” Cervantez said. “He brings in new and improved ideas to our department.”

One of the biggest surprises for Abel was how positively his students responded to a younger instructor.

“It was kind of a shock,” Abel said. “They trust me with their questions, and they’ll come in after class for tutorials because I am seen as more of the buddy they can learn from rather than a teacher.”

Abel hopes to encourage students from all backgrounds to explore the automotive industry as a career opportunity.

“There are huge benefits, and (as a student) you don’t have to know anything when you come here. I had never touched a car before I came to TSTC,” Abel said. “By the time you get out of here though, you’ll be more confident and more prepared than most, with people ready to hire you on the spot.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow 6 percent through 2026, creating a need for qualified technicians.

“If anyone has an interest in the automotive field or if they think that they do, it’s a great field to go into because not everyone can work on their cars, so there will always be work,” Abel said.

In his short time at TSTC, Abel has been affectionately dubbed “The Rookie” and earned praise from his co-workers.

“He’s been a great help to the department and to the instructors,” Pickens said. “He’s a big family man and does everything with his son in mind, so he makes sure it’s done right.”

Looking to the future, Abel sees great opportunities for the department and himself.

“I like the direction we’re going. The instructors have become friends, and my fiancee is happy and loves that I’m out here. I definitely see myself staying here and growing,” Abel said.

Abel started in spring 2018 as a teaching lab assistant for the Automotive Brake Systems class, which he continues to teach this summer. He is also the department’s safety officer.

Registration for fall classes at TSTC is underway.

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

TSTC in Waco Student Restaurant to Open May 30

(WACO) – Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts program opens its student-operated restaurant for the summer semester on Wednesday, May 30.

The restaurant is at the Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center on Campus Drive. The restaurant is open to the public, who this semester may dine on student-planned menus with themes such as Texas, Japan and France.

Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays from May 30 to Aug. 17. The serving days and themes, which can be subject to change, are:

May 30 and June 1: Texas

June 6: Chef’s Choice Buffet

June 13 and 15: Japan

June 20 and June 22: Spain

June 27 and June 29: Scotland

July 6: Chef’s Choice Buffet

July 11 and July 13: France

July 18 and July 20: Central Mexico

July 25 and July 27: Cajun

Aug. 1 and Aug. 3: Italy

Aug. 8 and Aug. 10: Chef’s Choice

Aug. 15 and Aug. 17: Live-Action Buffet

Weekly menus will be posted on the Facebook page for the Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center at TSTC in Waco.

To make reservations, call 254-867-3123. Visitors must arrive at least 15 minutes before their seating time.

For menus and other information, go to tstc.edu/about/culinarydiningwaco.

Recent TSTC Graduate Returns to Hometown to Work

(ABILENE) – Stephen Heckler is glad to be home.

Heckler, 20, began work earlier this month in the network operations center at Acumera, a network-managed service provider in his hometown of Austin. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration from Texas State Technical College in late April.

Heckler’s job as a technician involves fulfilling client tickets and answering telephone calls at the Northland Drive company.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity and a lot to learn,” he said. “It seems like a really good fit for what I want to be doing.”

Phil Stolle, director of Acumera’s network operations center, said it is a challenge finding qualified applicants with customer service skills and technical training who can work nontraditional yet flexible hours.

“Candidates who have real-world experience along with a course of study in networking/IT from TSTC are great candidates,” Stolle said. “In the specific role as a network operations center technician, it is a great opportunity for those looking to put their degree to use. One thing that I think candidates are really attracted to is that interviewing with Acumera is the opportunity to go deep in the field of network management.”

Heckler was home-schooled and attended private schools while growing up in Austin. When he was 8, he crashed his father’s computer. When Heckler was middle school-age, he searched online for a computer he could afford with his allowance.

He said college was not an option at first because he wanted to be a mechanic or work on computers because of his interest. He said TSTC exceeded his expectations.

“I have relatively good time-management skills already,” Heckler said. “It was not a big deal to go to class once or twice a week with a lab section and make sure the homework got done.”

He went to TSTC’s Abilene campus because his fiance is attending Abilene Christian University.

“I did not want to do theory and programming,” Heckler said. “TSTC was a good fit. I feel like I am prepared for work. I pushed and worked on the assignments, so if you put in the effort, you do learn a lot.”

Leo Chavez, an instructor in TSTC’s Computer Networking and Systems Administration program, said Heckler showed a lot of passion with his learning and spent a lot of time in the program’s combined classroom and lab.

“It is validation for the program since we certainly teach toward the smaller areas, like Abilene and Sweetwater,” Chavez said. “It says a whole lot about the things we teach in that you can take that and pivot to an Austin, and make it work well.”

Heckler said Chavez was an integral part of his success at TSTC and in finding a job so quickly after graduation.

“He has a way of communicating his passion for the material and getting the students excited about that,” said Heckler.

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

 

New TSTC Building Predicted to Generate Industry Interest in Abilene

(ABILENE) – Texas State Technical College’s expansion on Abilene’s east side is expected to be a magnet for growth.

“I think anytime you have a new building, it is going to generate interest,” said Rick Denbow, provost of TSTC in Abilene. “People start thinking about relocating or bringing in their company. If they see activity going on, they think this is the place to be.”

Construction on the 56,000-square-foot Industrial Technology Center on Loop 322 next to Abilene Regional Airport began in June 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in time  for the first day of the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 27. The building is the first on what is planned to be a 51-acre campus.

The ITC will have new technical programs for Electrical Power and Controls, Industrial Maintenance and Welding. The Emergency Medical Services program will move to the new building from its current location on East Highway 80.

The new programs factor into Abilene’s desire to build its workforce. Jobs in nursing, physical therapy, equipment service and maintenance, and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining were some of the hardest to fill, according to a March 2016 economic development strategic plan created for the Development Corporation of Abilene.

Some of the general industries targeted for recruitment by the DCOA include advanced manufacturing, healthcare and food processing, according to the strategic plan.

“I think as we get that building built, it is going to help the economic development folks in Abilene recruit industry,” Denbow said.

The Abilene Industrial Foundation is currently marketing a 35-acre, shovel-ready plot on Maple Street less than five minutes from the airport and TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center. And, the foundation is developing the 21-acre Access Business Park at the intersection of Farm Road 18 and Texas Highway 36 near the airport.

Justin Jaworski, executive director of the Abilene Industrial Foundation, said TSTC is a fundamental piece of the city’s economic development plan.

“The eventuality will be that TSTC provides a reliable and dynamic pipeline for a trained workforce that will be able to — on-demand — meet whatever needs are requested in Abilene,” he said.

The campus is being included in the airport’s revised master plan, which looks ahead up to 20 years.

“We are envisioning commercial development on that side of the airport,” said Don Green, director of transportation services for the city of Abilene. “We were already working toward that before the TSTC project came about a little over a year and a half ago. This project fits in with it. We hope the campus will act as a bit of a catalyst for increasing activity over there and will help us in developing and marketing that area.”

Imperial Construction Inc. of Weatherford is using local subcontractors where possible to construct the building, which has a structural steel frame, heavy-gauge framing, and metal siding and sheathing. The construction and design costs total $12 million, with an additional $3.4 million in equipment and furniture. The building was designed by Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, which has offices in Abilene and throughout Texas.

Future campus building construction will be subject to review by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that height does not interfere with protected airspace, said Green.

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