Author Archives: Daniel Perry

TSTC Student Discovers the Joy of Welding

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(HUTTO) – Mike Angerstein’s career as an infantryman in the U.S. Army took him from Kentucky to Alaska and two deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

But he would not trade the experiences for anything.

Angerstein, 27, of Hutto enjoyed the brotherhood of being involved in the military. And, being in the Army has enabled him to use veterans benefits and transition into becoming a Welding Technology major at Texas State Technical College attending the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

“The hardest part is getting the paperwork together for the VA (Veterans Administration) and back to school,” he said. “It’s a lot of leg work but well worth it. Research your potential degree program and career opportunities.”

Brooke Williams, an instructor in the Welding Technology program, said she admired Angerstein’s interest in wanting to learn more about welding.

“The military experience lends itself to the welding industry,” she said. “They are similar in work ethic and leadership. Welding is very independent.”

Angerstein has had a long time fascination with welding.

“It’s one of those fields you can study for 60 years and still not learn everything,” he said.

He discovered TSTC’s Welding Technology program by searching online. Once he began taking classes, he joined the student chapter of the American Welding Society.

He has enjoyed seeing the science of how metals react to each other in his welding classes.

Angerstein has learned about stick welding, a method using a short circuited rod that is melted at one end and creates molten droplets. He has also used a CNC plasma cutting machine for making metal cut outs.

Angerstein’s plans for graduation in December are wide open. He is saving money to work on a certification for non-destructive testing, an analysis method used to determine properties without causing damage.

“I’ll go where the money is,” he said. “Pipeline work would be good.”

The College Preview at TSTC will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse.

Apply today at tstc.edu. Registration for summer and fall semesters begins Monday, April 4.

TSTC Student Pursues Interest in Global Communications

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(HUTTO) – Marc Marzan has already gotten a taste of the telecommunications world during his first semester at Texas State Technical College.

Marzan, 23, of Hutto moved a telephone jack in a computer lab at the college’s East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto. The work was good practice for the certificate he is working on. TSTC began the Global Communications System Installer certificate this semester.

“It has to do with transferring data to servers and how everything in the world connects with the data,” he said about the growing job field.

Claude Dyson, an instructor in the certificate program, said Marzan should not have a problem with his job hunting because there are not enough networking and fiber optics technicians in the country. Dyson said certificate holders can earn up to $35 per hour. The 2014 median pay for telecommunications equipment installers was $55,190, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dyson is teaching Marzan in his classes.

“It one of a kind because I don’t think there is anyone that can get this kind of teaching,” Marzan said. “We go through the syllabus and once I understand and pick up something quickly, we move on. If there is anything I’m struggling on, I stop the instructor and make sure I understand and he clears it up for me.”

Marzan has enjoyed the hands-on work in the electronics and telecommunication classes he is taking.

“We are ahead in our syllabi so there is free time to do cool projects,” he said. “Right now I’m building a radio with the transistors, resistors, capacitors and circuit board.”

Marzan is originally from central Florida and joined his parents in Texas after visiting them. Before enrolling at TSTC, Marzan installed fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm panels and rebuilt fire extinguishers. He learned about TSTC and the certificate program after a relative told him about the Hutto campus.

Marzan has already interviewed with Austin-area businesses in the fiber optics field. But, he has bigger plans for his future.

“I want to work for somebody for now to figure out how the world works and the global communications terminology,” he said. “I look forward to one day starting my own company installing new phone systems, fiber optics and having contracts.”

The College Preview at TSTC will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse.

Apply today at tstc.edu. Registration for summer and fall semesters began Monday, April 4.

TSTC Alumna Keeps Construction Projects on Track

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(WACO) – The white board in Vivian Bourque’s office at Lake Air Interiors keeps her organized with the prices, contract statuses and commercial projects she juggles daily.

People driving throughout Waco will notice construction cranes, steel structures and new hotels and restaurants under construction.

“Waco is booming,” Bourque said. “Waco is such a hot spot. If you are in construction, this is the place to be.”

Bourque, 28, is Lake Air’s project estimator/manager. Her work involves project architects and interpreting blueprints to determine interior costs and labor. Many times she is the only female at work sites.

Bourque graduated in 2010 from Texas State Technical College with an associate degree in Building Construction Technology. She was the only female in most of her classes.

“I felt I had to prove myself constantly,” she said. “I felt I had to out perform everyone else.”

She will soon complete the membership process to join the Waco Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

“I encourage more females to get in the field,” she said. “There is a definite need.”

Bourque said people interested in the field should have good organizational skills along with a comfort in mathematics and accounting.

Michael Hubbard, assistant chair and instructor in the Industrial Systems Technology program, taught Bourque when she was a student. She admired his encouragement in fostering her career.

“He’s the one who told me you should go to school to be an estimator,” Bourque said. “This was at my first year at TSTC.”

Hubbard described Bourque as a serious student.

“She asked a lot of questions and was focused and inquisitive,” he said.

Bob Howard, co-owner of Lake Air Interiors on Lake Air Drive, said he has been impressed with Bourque’s knowledge.

“I have not met someone in the construction industry that knows from designing to project completion, pricing and installation,” he said. “This is a male dominated industry. It needs the detail and I would say class of more females.”

Bourque is a Robinson native and is a graduate of Robinson High School. In high school her plans were much different. She said she was not good at mathematics and considered nursing as a potential career. After high school Bourque earned a real estate license before attending TSTC but determined she enjoyed the construction-side better.

She also received a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from Texas A&M University – Commerce in 2013.

For more information on the TSTC Alumni Network, contact The TSTC Foundation at 254-867-3900 or tstc.alumni@tstc.edu.

The College Preview at TSTC will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse.

Apply today at tstc.edu. Registration for summer and fall semesters begins Monday, April 4.

 

TSTC Student Enjoying the Creative Side of Welding

(HUTTO) – James Floyd gained not only law enforcement experience while serving as a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force, but also developed a solid work ethic and leadership skills.

“I learned to see the big picture and can organize the plan to achieve the goal,” he said.

Floyd, 30, of Round Rock is scheduled to graduate in May with an associate degree in Welding Technology from Texas State Technical College at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

Floyd observed his father take apart, put together and fix equipment of all kinds while he was growing up. From these experiences, Floyd developed an interest in welding and since attending TSTC he has grown to appreciate its science and artistry.

“If you understand the science, you can control the outcome of what you are welding,” shared Floyd.

He enjoyed learning about tungsten inert gas welding which he called a “clean” welding method with no excess fumes. Floyd likes controlling the heat and travel speed of the cutting.

Floyd’s parents were an influence in his choice to attend TSTC. Once he began researching the college and hearing about it from others, he admired the Welding Technology program’s reputation.

Keith Wojcik, a Welding Technology program instructor, said Floyd challenges him in a positive way.

“I find him very driven,” said Wojcik. “Being at the head of the class is not good enough. He’s attentive and asks intelligent questions.”

After graduation, Floyd wants to pursue an airframe and powerplant certification and work in the aerospace welding industry.

The College Preview at TSTC will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse.

Apply today at tstc.edu. Registration for summer and fall semesters begins Monday, April 4.james floyd resized

James Floyd of Round Rock and a Welding Technology student at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County, stands in one of the welding labs used for lessons.

TSTC Alumna Enjoys Hands-On Work With Machines

(WACO) – Heather LeMay is not hesitant to ask questions to further develop in her profession.

LeMay, 25, joined VanTran Industries Inc. in Waco in March 2015 as a maintenance manager. VanTran produces custom liquid filled oil field transformers for worldwide customers.

LeMay graduated in August 2012 from Texas State Technical College with a certificate in Aircraft Airframe Technology. She went back to earn a certificate in Industrial Systems Technology which she received in December 2014.

“There’s no way I would have gotten this job without going to TSTC,” she said.

She is responsible for fixing and maintaining machines, the electrical system and even the building’s plumbing. Most of the machines were built in-house, so LeMay has to figure out without an instruction manual how to make repairs. She credited her co-workers with teaching her about the machines.

“It’s different every day,” LeMay said. “I love the challenge of not knowing if I have worked on something before. I am taking this job opportunity to learn as much as I can.”

LeMay said she was the only female in many of her TSTC classes.

“I would tell other female students to not be scared to show the boys you can do it too,” she said. “I ask questions when needed. My confidence level increased.”

Michael Hubbard, assistant chair and instructor in the Industrial Systems Technology program, was one of her instructors.

“Heather was quiet,” he said. “She would ask questions. She had more ability than she thinks she did.”

LeMay has admired Hubbard’s willingness to help her out offering insights into hydraulics as they arise at work.

“Hubbard is great,” she said. “He is one of the most encouraging instructors I had at TSTC.”

LeMay developed an interest in Industrial Systems Technology while at TSTC because she wanted to learn the the science of how equipment worked.

“I just liked working with my hands and fixing things,” she said.

LeMay likes to fish and hunt deer in her downtime.

For more information on the TSTC Alumni Network, contact The TSTC Foundation at 254-867-3900 or tstc.alumni@tstc.edu.

The College Preview at TSTC will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse. Apply today at tstc.edu. Registration for summer and fall semesters begins Monday, April 4.

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Heather LeMay of Waco, a Texas State Technical College alumna, is the maintenance manager at VanTran Industries Inc. in Waco.