Author Archives: Ben Barkley

Alumnus helps recruit students to TSTC

(ABILENE, Texas) – Computer Programming Technology students at Texas State Technical College in West Texas have an advantage.

Lab assistant Tony Torres is a 2016 graduate of the program, and he is available to guide students during lab sessions. Torres and master instructor Julie Rhoades share the same goal. They want their students to get a job after completing the program.

Torres said the program prepares students for the Texas workforce, but the learning does not stop after graduation.

“We let them know that the learning is not over at TSTC,” he said. “They will be learning different programming languages in the field. But if that language is not part of their company’s database, we want to give them enough tools so that they will be able to pick up what it is.”

Rhoades said the program will help students with different computer programs, including mobile applications. While she does not see many TSTC graduates focusing on mobile applications, Rhoades said it is a good skill for them to learn.

Having Torres working in the lab with students is an advantage, she said. Most of the program is taught online, but some students use the computer labs on the Abilene and Brownwood campuses to complete assignments.

Rhoades said Torres is also a good recruiter for the program in West Texas.

“His work ethic is great. He can tell the students what to expect during the course,” Rhoades said. “He has been through it and offers them first-hand knowledge.”

Torres said he likes to talk to students about why they chose the computer programming field.

“I have talked to some students that barely knew how to turn on a computer,” he said. “Those are the ones that really flourish in the program.”

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Programming Technology. Torres earned that degree and is now working toward a bachelor’s degree.

Rhoades said she was pleased that Torres is working to further his education while helping current students.

“Tony has helped our recruiters with recruiting efforts,” she said.

She hopes that more of the West Texas program will include face-to-face interaction in the future.

“That will give us a chance to work with students both online and in person. It would be the best of both worlds,” she said.

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

TSTC alumnus puts skills to use at SpaceX

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After serving in the U.S. Army for seven years, Luis Garcia wanted to expand his aviation maintenance knowledge.

Garcia earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in aviation maintenance from Texas State Technical College in 2018. The Brownsville native wanted to remain in the Valley, and Leo Guajardo, an aviation maintenance instructor in Harlingen, saw an opportunity for him.

SpaceX held a job fair in Brownsville, and one of the first calls Guajardo made was to Garcia.

“I told him that he needed to be one of the first people in line,” Guajardo said, adding that he learned of the fair through his contacts at SpaceX.

Garcia said he received the call just one day before the fair.

“He (Guajardo) told me to go for it,” Garcia said of the opportunity.

Calling the interview process overwhelming, Garcia said his time at TSTC prepared him for it.

“If it wasn’t for my instructors and other people at TSTC, I would not have known about the job and what to expect,” Garcia said.

Today, Garcia is a technician for the company that designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.

“It is pretty surreal,” Garcia said of working for SpaceX. “I am amazed at what we do throughout the day. It is fun and exciting to go to work.”

In the Army, Garcia worked in helicopter maintenance. He knew fundamentals, but his time at TSTC helped advance his knowledge of aviation maintenance.

“The instructors are great guys and very knowledgeable,” Garcia said.

Although Garcia graduated from TSTC’s Waco campus, Guajardo said he met him through his students.

“I found it interesting to see how the instructors in Waco teach the program compared to me,” Guajardo said.

One thing the instructors have in common is placing graduates in the workforce.

“When our students graduate, they get picked up all around the country and even the world, if they want to do that,” Guajardo said. “To see his excitement, that is just golden to me.”

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

Salinas receives TSTC Chancellor’s Excellence Award

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Omar Salinas enjoys his job at Texas State Technical College.

Salinas, the production chef at the Sweetwater campus, received the 2020 Chancellor’s Excellence Award for his outstanding job performance and willingness to lead by example.

“The teammates who win this award model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s mission,” said TSTC Chancellor & CEO Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the employment success of our students.”

Salinas said he was surprised to receive the award.

“All I am really doing is enjoying my job and in a way helping my co-workers or any other TSTC teammate as much as I can,” he said.

“Each year TSTC employees have an opportunity to nominate fellow employees who display our core values on an ongoing and consistent basis. Regardless of their daily demands, these nominees have risen to the top through their dedication to TSTC customers, both internal and external,” said Rick Denbow, provost of TSTC’s West Texas campuses. “With multiple levels of vetting, only a small percentage of those nominated are awarded the Chancellor’s Excellence Award.”

Rick Nelson, supervisor of Food Services in Sweetwater, said Salinas is a “blessing for TSTC.”

“He has the skills to go to work wherever he wants, but he loves TSTC,” Nelson said. “He takes ownership of everything that goes on in the kitchen. He is willing to put in long hours to ensure the work is done correctly.”

After graduating from Menard ISD, Salinas graduated from TSTC’s Culinary Arts program. He has spent the past 12 years working for TSTC and does not see that coming to an end.

“Working for TSTC is a great opportunity. There is much to learn and do. We have many opportunities to grow within TSTC,” he said. “I want to learn more about the business side of running the kitchen.”

Salinas knows the importance of TSTC throughout the state and is happy he has a career helping others.

“TSTC offers hands-on training in many essential jobs that make this great state function,” he said.

Nelson said students appreciate Salinas’ efforts.

“Omar strives to be a good example to students through his words and actions,” Nelson said.

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

TSTC Culinary Arts students meet the challenge of virtual cooking classes

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts students continue to prep and cook on a daily basis.

Only the surroundings have changed over the past few weeks, in response to the calls for social distancing in communities around the state. Instructor Emma Creps said the students are using their own kitchens during lab work.

“We had to come up with a different idea for our labs,” Creps said. “We decided to have them do video labs for us.”

One lab for students focused on making homemade pasta. Creps said students had to show themselves making the dough, rolling it out and making pasta.

Instructor Omar Duran said doing the video class format was challenging at first.

“They realized this is different. Over time, it started to become easier for them,” he said. “I noticed they were becoming more confident with their working skills.”

Duran said he noticed students were talking through the steps of making pasta instead of referring to notes.

“There is definitely a benefit to this. The students are learning to talk in front of a camera,” he said.

One thing students realized during lab sessions was they had to rely on what was in their own kitchen. Duran said a ravioli recipe called for two different types of cheese. However, students were encouraged to explore their options.

“This allows them to be creative when they are at home,” he said.

One drawback to the video lab is that Duran and other instructors do not get to taste the final product. However, a critic is usually close by.

“They usually get a family member to taste it for us. If they have children in the house, they will try it,” he said.

The video sessions do not stop with making dishes. During a recent dining room video session, students had to set a table and pour a glass of wine while their classmates watched online.

“The students were able to interact with each other, which was really good to see,” Creps said.

Students also had to work in virtual pairs to create a PowerPoint presentation on their selected cuisine.

“In addition to the research, students had to do voiceover work for the PowerPoint. They had to figure out ways to work with their partners,” Creps said. “This assignment is not due yet, so I am excited to see how that comes out.”

Instructors are no strangers to online learning. Two years ago, the department began utilizing technology for class lectures and tests.

“We wanted to make sure, especially in the culinary field, that we kept up with technology,” Creps said.

The biggest challenge, according to Creps, was keeping students’ attention.

“Everyone knows that you can lose a student’s interest in the classroom. We had to be creative and find ways to keep that attention,” she said.

For Duran, he likes the video lab sessions but is ready for a return to the kitchen.

“There is nothing better than that face-to-face connection with the students,” he said. “This could be a way for the students to talk through what they are doing more.”

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

Instructor pleased with the first year of its newest program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Computer Programming instructor Shelby Coffman said he is encouraged about the future of this new program.

TSTC introduced the Associate of Applied Science degree program at the Harlingen campus in the fall of 2019 to help meet the needs of the state’s workforce.

“The first year of our program is going great. As far as retention, we have not seen much of a drop-off,” Coffman said of the 25 students enrolled in the class.

Coffman said he will gauge the success of this program in 2021 when the first class graduates and enters their first jobs.

“That is in line with our mission at TSTC,” he said. “We want to get people into the workforce.”

Most of the current students, as well as prospective students, are drawn to the program because they have an interest in computers. Coffman uses job placement as another recruitment tool.

“I ask the students if they would like to work after two years of school or after earning a four-year degree,” he said. “Most would like to get to work.”

Students will learn different programming languages and various technical skills during the five-semester program. Among those are software writing and coding, software design and planning, data storage and retrieval, and database programming.

“The students seem very engaged in the class and labs,” Coffman said.

One of the highlights of the program will happen in 2021. Students will choose a cooperative education class toward the last semester of the program to gain real-world experience with an internship for class credit.

After earning a degree, Coffman said students will be able to assess a company’s needs and tailor its software programs. He said he expects students might find employment in hospitals, education, airline companies and government agencies.

“We want students who get a degree to be ready to work on day one,” he said. “We want them to work in a field that they are interested in.”

Computer Programming Technology is also offered at the Abilene, Brownwood, Marshall and Waco campuses. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

Virtual events keep TSTC students engaged

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students are facing a new challenge with online learning.

Michael LeRoux, coordinator of Retention Services for the West Texas campuses, said the staff wanted students to have a sense of normalcy. Through a brainstorming session with team members, LeRoux said the idea of a daily virtual experience was the way to go.

These experiences include Trivia Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, and discussions about what students face working at home.

“We are talking a lot about time management in what is our new normal,” LeRoux said. “We are doing things online that we did during our leadership luncheons. We had to adjust the approach by doing them online.”

Belinda Palomino, Harlingen’s Student Life and Engagement coordinator for TSTC, said students are wanting something positive to do with their time.

“We are there for the student experience on campus and wanted to keep that going in these times of uncertainty,” she said.

Eight students participated in the first Wellness Wednesday event, LeRoux said. However, as word spreads, he expects the numbers to grow.

There is an incentive for students, LeRoux said. Each student who signs in will have a chance to win prizes and shout-outs in future events.

There is also the chance to be the top campus. LeRoux said each of the 10 TSTC campuses is conducting virtual activities. But Wellness Wednesday is a statewide challenge. With the theme “Commit 2 B Fit,” students will have a chance to win prizes throughout the month.

“All students have to do is log 30 minutes of activity in order for it to count toward the challenge,” he said.

LeRoux and other staff members will send wellness tips and links to workout videos to help keep students active. One of the wellness tips was for students to do school work outside because, as LeRoux said, it can “break up the day.”

The experiences will vary by campus, and Palomino said Harlingen students can expect online hangouts with counselors, receiving positive messages. She said that a virtual movie night is in the works.

“With the different demographics, we are setting up each experience specific to where we are at,” Palomino said.

Fridays have been set aside as a virtual hangout for students just to talk about the week, LeRoux said.

“The students participating so far have really liked the activities,” he said. “We are getting some very positive feedback.”

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

Alvarado receives TSTC Chancellor’s Excellence Award

(ABILENE, Texas) – Terra Alvarado has been a team player at Texas State Technical College for the past 14 years.

This year, Alvarado was honored with the Chancellor’s Excellence Award for going out of her way to help students who struggle with math.

“The teammates who win this award model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s mission,” said TSTC Chancellor & CEO Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the employment success of our students.”

“I was honored to be recognized and added to a group of my amazing teammates who have gone above and beyond to support TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans,” Alvarado said of receiving the award.

Alvarado, who is a native of Amarillo, is the Developmental Education division director at TSTC. After graduating from Randall High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from West Texas A&M University and a Master of Science degree in mathematics from Texas Tech University.

“Each year TSTC employees have an opportunity to nominate fellow employees who display our core values on an ongoing and consistent basis. Regardless of their daily demands, these nominees have risen to the top through their dedication to TSTC customers, both internal and external,” said Rick Denbow, provost at TSTC in West Texas. “With multiple levels of vetting, only a small percentage of those nominated are awarded the Chancellor’s Excellence Award.”

Over the past 14 years, Alvarado said teamwork has been the key to driving student success.

“The best part of working at TSTC is my teammates. I work with amazing and dedicated people who support each other, and we all work together toward student success,” she said.

Her idea of teamwork shows in her personal goal while working at TSTC.

“As my position is one of supporting the departments in my division, my primary goal is to support my team in achieving their goals,” she said. “TSTC makes a huge difference in helping students get degrees and certificates that not only get them jobs, but great-paying jobs, without a ton of student loan debt.”

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.

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

EMS students used to online learning

(ABILENE, Texas) – When a medical crisis occurs, one of the first phone calls is to 911.

Emergency medical technicians are among the first responders on the scene to help a patient. Texas State Technical College’s Emergency Medical Services students use online learning to prepare them for a medical situation.

Abilene EMS instructor James Pitts said video is being used to help current students with skills they may need during a medical emergency, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Using video is nothing new to students, he said. It is essential to the program, which is available in Abilene, Brownwood and Harlingen.

“We have been looking for quality videos to supplement the students’ skills,” Pitts said of working online only at this time.

The program has a three-step approach: online learning, classroom lectures to reinforce what was learned online, and lab work. Pitts said students have several resources they can use on their own, including online access to the course’s publisher, Jones & Bartlett.

“They can navigate to interactive lectures. They can read chapters and engage in feedback online,” he said.

In the classroom, Pitts said instructors and students discuss what was provided online.

“They spend the rest of the day developing skills in the lab,” he said. “There has been a learning gap for our students to adjust to this way of learning. I think this will be better for our program.”

When TSTC began remote classes last month, Pitts said the students were already in a “good spot.”

“We used the tools that were in place, but since we were not on campus, we had to modify things,” he said.

Technology is used for live lectures as instructors and students continue classes.

“We did not want to lose that live engagement with the instructors. That was important to us,” Pitts said.

According to Pitts, it is important for students to continue using online resources at home.

“All this is preparing them for coming back to school and putting their skills to use,” Pitts said.

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

Alumnus returns to TSTC to help train area workers

(ABILENE, Texas) – While attending Snyder High School in 1985, Terry Steelman was impressed with Texas State Technical College.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years and the private sector for several more, Steelman still remembered his visit to the Sweetwater campus.

“When I got out of the Marine Corps, I knew I wanted to go back to school. TSTC was my first choice,” Steelman said.

After graduating from TSTC in 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems, Steelman was hired as the workforce trainer at the Abilene campus.

His first few weeks included sessions he needed in order to provide workforce training to area businesses.

“Terry had a lot of military training and earned military certificates, but he did not have training for the civilian side. His first few days on the job included OSHA training,” said TSTC Workforce Training Executive Director John Dosher.

Steelman will provide training for businesses in West Texas, including what Dosher called big projects at plants in Sweetwater and Abilene.

“We set up meetings with different companies. We will do whatever training they want us to do,” Steelman said. “We will look at the curriculum they want us to teach.”

Having Steelman based in West Texas will benefit TSTC, Dosher said.

“Having Terry here in West Texas will open a lot of opportunities,” he said, adding that some previous training was either provided by instructors from Waco or outsourced. “That made our prices higher. With Terry on board, we are going to be more competitive.”

Steelman said his top priority will be to provide what the customers want.

“We are going to listen to the customers. We are going to provide them with quality training opportunities,” he said.

Dosher said Steelman has strengthened TSTC’s training opportunities.

“His bank of knowledge is surpassed by most everyone,” he said. “This is going to be a new experience for him. I know he is up to the challenge.”

One of those challenges will be fast-track courses

“I plan for him to lead some of our certificate courses and turn them into fast-track classes. Instead of 12 months to complete, it could be a six- to eight-week class,” Dosher said. “That is a huge possibility for us. With his knowledge, we will be able to deliver classes not seen before.”

For more information on TSTC Workforce Training, go to https://www.tstc.edu/workforce.