Author Archives: Ben Barkley

TSTC Industrial Systems student aims to expand knowledge, advance career

(ABILENE, Texas) – Dalton Tiner knew he needed the right education to advance his career.

The Texas Healthcare Linen maintenance technician is getting that education with Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program. He sacrificed his scheduled work hours to other employees so he could pursue an associate of applied science degree.

“When the COVID-19 restrictions hit us at work, we knew it would be hard to juggle everyone working,” he said. “I told my supervisors I would take three days off in order to go to school and allow other employees to work.”

Tiner said his education will be useful at the linen management company based in Abilene. According to its website, Texas Healthcare Linen provides more than 13 million products annually to hospitals in Texas.

“What I am learning in school will be helpful at work. My employers were pleased to hear I was going to take these classes,” Tiner said.

When he started his first semester this fall, Tiner knew he would have to learn quickly.

“I did not have a lot of experience with some of the things I would have to do,” he said. “Today, I am working hard so I gain more knowledge of the industrial process.”

Tiner said Industrial Systems offers a wide range of opportunities.

“This is really the jack-of-all-trades program,” he said. “One day we could be working on electrical projects, and the next day it will be something to do with hydraulics.”

Industrial Systems students learn to install, operate, test and maintain equipment in various facilities. Tiner and his classmates are learning industry-standard safety procedures, mechanical and electrical skills, diagnostic techniques, how to read and interpret schematics, and how to work with motors, pumps, chillers, boilers and programmable logic control systems.

His motivation is simple.

“I want to learn and repair things the proper way,” he said.

Tiner also likes working on the state-of-the-art equipment located in TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene.

“I was really impressed with what I saw the first time I walked in the lab,” he said. “The instructors let us work at our pace, and if we need extra time in the lab, we are able to do that. Everyone has been extremely helpful to me and everyone else.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC alumna named Sweetwater ISD’s coordinator of health services

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Kimberly Dean, a 2018 graduate of Texas State Technical College’s registered nursing program, was recently named coordinator of health services at Sweetwater Independent School District.

Dean, who is originally from California, has always been intrigued by medicine. She started her career as a certified nursing assistant and later became a licensed vocational nurse. She is now a registered nurse overseeing a group of nurses at each school in the district.

“I always thought it was amazing what the body can do,” Dean said. “I knew straight out of high school I wanted to study medicine.”

Dean is adjusting to her new role as a supervisor but is excited to be part of the school district.

“This is a little different than acute care,” she said, referring to her former job as a nurse at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater. “I am more in charge of managing students’ chronic conditions and helping to keep everyone healthy at school.”

Sweetwater ISD Superintendent Drew Howard said Dean’s role will be necessary to students, faculty and staff members.

“This position will help us provide additional support to our campus nurses, as well as focus on one of our district goals: to increase the number of SISD Social and Emotional Learning and wellness checks,” he said.

Dean’s responsibilities include developing goals, objectives and priorities of the program, in conjunction with the district’s nurses and other district staff members. She will also be tasked with recommending policies related to health and safety, and provide advice on matters impacting students, staff and the community.

Dean said she will have to maneuver through a learning curve as supervisor.

“We have a good group of nurses. They are excellent at what they do,” she said. “I know that they do all the work, and we will make sure our students are safe.”

It was a tough decision for Dean to leave Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, but she is pleased with her decision.

“These new hours of work are great for me and my family,” she said. “It was a bittersweet decision to leave Rolling Plains, but I am excited about this new adventure.”

TSTC Nursing instructor Lisa Van Cleave said Dean will excel in her new role.

“I know Kimberly to demonstrate compassion for her patients and families and to give excellent care,” she said. “We are fortunate to have Kimberly’s service and input into our nursing program.”

Dean, who serves on the college’s Associate Degree Nursing advisory board, will continue to promote TSTC’s program.

“I would love to see some of our students get into nursing. I hope to help direct them to TSTC,” she said. “There are excellent instructors at TSTC, and I have a lot of respect for them.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Aircraft Powerplant Technology student receives real-world work experience

(ABILENE, Texas) – Ben Massey began taking Aircraft Powerplant Technology classes at Texas State Technical College with no prior mechanical experience.

Now nearing the end of his third semester in the program, Massey, of Tyler, is working toward an associate degree while also being employed at Eagle Aviation Services at the Abilene Regional Airport. He is one of seven TSTC students this semester working on planes while attending school.

“It is great to have that agreement in place with Eagle,” he said. “To have that so close to us was a good selling point to come to school.”

Massey said he and other students share their experiences at the aviation company during lab sessions. He also knows he will have an advantage over fellow job seekers when he graduates.

“I will be able to put that I have two years of experience on my resume at Eagle,” he said. “I know that will go a long way when I am looking for a job.”

Not having mechanical experience did not stop Massey from pursuing an associate degree.

“This has been very challenging, but fun,” he said. “I like the hands-on approach to the labs. I learn more by doing things.”

Some lab sessions have proven to be difficult for him, but Massey said instructors and fellow students are always available when he needs help.

“Before coming to school, I had never worked with sheet metal before. But everyone was encouraging me to do my best,” he said.

Massey said he chose a career in aviation by chance. He admitted not knowing what he wanted to do, but he decided to enroll after looking at the program online.

“It was the right career choice for me,” he said. “This a very expansive field, and a lot of companies are hiring right now.”

The demand for aircraft powerplant technicians in Texas is high, with more than 100 job postings online in mid-November.

Massey said he was sold on the program when he learned that its graduates readily find work.

“I know that I will have a lot of options following graduation,” he said. “I am preparing for my career right now. I knew I wanted a career working with my hands.”

Instructor Josh Parker has seen nearly all of his students gain employment soon after graduation.

“I am going to get them to the point that they have the knowledge to pass the FFA exam,” he said.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Ott credits TSTC staff for pushing him to finish college

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Five years after he graduated from Texas State Technical College, Joseph Ott still thanks the Brownwood campus staff.

“Everybody at the Brownwood campus was on my side,” said the 2015 graduate of the Chemical Dependency Counseling program. “The passion that was there from my instructor Elizabeth Jones, Raquel Mata (associate provost) and Brian Kight (former associate vice president of enrollment) kept me going.”

Ott, who is now a counselor at Corpus Christi’s South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services (STSARS), did not consider college or a career in counseling others. An injury on a construction site in Brownwood and being sober for several years led him to TSTC.

“I kind of stumbled on the school and program,” Ott said. “Without my injury, I would not have gone to college.”

Ott was in Brownwood at the time of his injury and knew the counseling program would be a good fit for him.

“I have always enjoyed helping people,” he said. “I knew that being 22 years sober meant that I needed to try and help people.”

While he did have ups and downs at TSTC, Ott said Mata always helped him with writing assignments and Jones offered support when he was down.

“Raquel would always stay after hours to help me with an essay. She looked over it and told me that I was learning to get it right,” he said. “She stayed way beyond her work hours to help. Mrs. Jones could have gone home, but she stayed to make sure the work was done correctly.”

Mata, who was an instructor when Ott was a student, saw his battle to finish school.

“Even though there were times when he said he wanted to quit, I don’t think he meant it. He was just frustrated, but he kept coming back,” she said. “I know my fellow employees, like Brian Kight, Tammy Vassar and Elizabeth Jones, challenged him to continue.”

After he graduated, Ott began a counseling career. Even that took a nudge — from his brother Bruce.

“He asked me after I graduated why I did not send resumes out,” Ott said. “I had a fear of not being hired. My brother told me after about three months that it was not time to waste my education. I sent out my resumes and was hired.”

Ott left his first counseling job and returned to construction. However, he still wanted to help people and was hired by STSARS, where he has been employed for the last three years.

He said one thing he likes to talk to his clients about is being grateful. While many wonder what he is talking about at first, they understand by the end of the session.

“I ask my clients to be grateful. I ask them if they have children. I ask them if they have a house or apartment. I ask them if they have food in the cabinet or refrigerator,” he said. “Each time they say yes, I tell them that is something for them to be grateful about.”

Ott said his goal for the sessions is to be uplifting. He wants his clients to see a path forward.

“I can’t take credit for their recovery. I have to guide them and let them know I am proud of them,” he said. 

Mata remains proud of Ott’s journey and has a reminder on her office wall.

“I consider Joseph a true success story. He graduated during our 50th year, when students were given stoles and encouraged to keep or give them to someone who helped them on their journey,” she said. “He showed up to campus one day and said he wished he could cut this into pieces and give us each a section. It still hangs on my wall today and reminds me of what hard work and determination can accomplish.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC boot camps focus on cybersecurity, software engineering

(ABILENE, Texas) – Cybersecurity jobs have been increasing over the years.

With an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs expected in the United States by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, Texas State Technical College has scheduled two different fast-paced boot camps to fill those positions.

A Cybersecurity Analytics online boot camp, which will be conducted over 13 weeks, is scheduled to begin Feb. 16. Software Engineering will be the focus of a 20-week online boot camp beginning March 1.

TSTC officials said the goal is to prepare people to work remotely and secure a high-demand, high-wage job in the IT field. These fast-paced offerings will be rigorous, according to Edgar Padilla, TSTC’s senior vice president in the Office of Strategic Partnerships and provost at the East Williamson County campus.

“The boot camps are set up with an accelerated, rigorous process for the students to complete. I am very confident of the results for our students,” Padilla said.

Online information sessions will allow prospective students to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The first is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov.18 and the second for 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.

Padilla said, “TSTC’s mission is to help fill Texas’ workforce with qualified employees, and the boot camps fit that model.”

“Our job is to ensure we provide Texans with instructional support if they want to change careers. We know these (cybersecurity and software engineering) careers are out there,” he said. “This is going to provide a unique value to our students. They will be leaving the boot camp and getting a job. We believe this will result in a lot of good jobs for Texans.”

In West Texas, more than 100 cybersecurity jobs are posted, and completing these boot camps can provide future employees with something valuable.

“These programs will allow students to gain the training and competency to do the job,” he said.

Students in the Cybersecurity Analytics curriculum will learn to set traps and catch threats through real-world lab environments that are paired with industry-grade curriculum.

Through the Software Engineering boot camp, students will gain the necessary expertise in both back-end and front-end programming technologies to become full-stack developers.

Software development jobs are among the top 10 in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. The magazine’s report for 2020 estimated that developers’ median salary was $103,620.

Once the boot camp is complete, Padilla said TSTC Career Services will work with students on preparing resumes and looking for a career.

“We want to make sure there is placement for our students. We want to have opportunities waiting for them,” Padilla said.

For more information on the boot camps or to register for the information sessions, visit www.tstc.edu/itcareers.

TSTC student juggles school, job and family

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – “Chaotic” is the best way Mandy Barker can describe her life right now.

Not only is Barker, who lives in Dublin, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program, but she also is the general manager of a fast-food chain in Stephenville and a mother of two children.

“You can say life is very chaotic. Some days it is hard, but I am getting through it all,” she said.

One of the reasons she gets through a day of school, work and family is the support system at home.

“My boyfriend really motivates me. He keeps me going,” Barker said. “I know that the best result for me will be the end result in getting a welding job.”

Barker said she hopes to work on the Texas oil pipelines, a field in which her boyfriend is currently employed. She said knowing a job could be on the horizon after she receives her certificate also is a motivation.

“My boyfriend helps me all the time. He has told me several times that I do not need to quit,” Barker said.

Barker did have one worry before starting the program. She was hoping to see at least one other female in the welding lab.

“It was a huge relief walking into the lab the first time and I saw three other females in the class,” she said. “I called my boyfriend and told him. He was excited for me, knowing that was one of my fears.”

Her boyfriend also offered Barker some advice prior to the first day.

“He told me to just go and show everyone that you can do a man’s job,” Barker said.

While in the lab, she said all of the students help each other.

“It is a very good environment to learn in. TSTC teaches us great skills,” Barker said. “I love this program. It is helping me toward a career.”

She learned of TSTC’s welding program while living in Brownwood. Once she decided to go to school, TSTC was her top choice.

“I knew I could get on track here with my schedule,” she said. “Everyone is willing to work with you to make you successful.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC student finds dream job before completing program

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Will Hancock has landed his dream job.

The Texas State Technical College Computer Networking and Systems Administration student will begin working for Bangs ISD as an information technology specialist while completing his graduation requirements. He credits TSTC with helping him find the career opportunity in the field he fell in love with as a child.

“When I was around five or six, my grandmother bought me one of the old Macintosh computers with the floppy discs,” said the 34-year-old Hancock. “I played games on that a lot. I got another computer when I was 10 or 11 and took it apart and put it back together just to see how it works.”

After high school, Hancock did not look to further his education immediately but went to work for an internet company.

“I fell back in love with technology when I got that job,” he said.

It wasn’t until he was sitting with his daughter and former wife that he realized he wanted to go to college.

“I wanted my daughter to have everything, and I knew school would be the only way to do that,” he said.

While working for a broadband wireless internet company, he decided that TSTC would provide him with the skills needed to make his dream become a career.

“I am now living my dream. This is all I wanted to do since I was 19 years old,” Hancock said of working on computers. “At that time, I did not think school would be important. I thought maybe I will go back at some point.”

Today, Hancock praises TSTC and how instructors welcome students of all ages to the program. He passes that message to people he meets in Brownwood and Bangs.

“I have told a bunch of people about TSTC. They ask me if they should go back to school, and I tell them to do it,” he said. “It does not matter what age you are. TSTC has so many programs and can teach you a trade that you want to work in. The learning process is great, and everyone is willing to help.”

Hancock said Bangs ISD officials hired him because of his computer knowledge, but he admitted some of the district’s computers are older models.

“They have the old touch screens around the schools,” he said. “They told me that I should know how they work. I do, but it has been a while since I have seen them. It is going to be nice to work on things I love.” 

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Automotive Technology student grew up building things

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Daniel Gainer, of Mason, has been building things his entire life.

He found a love of working on different vehicles in his father’s shop at a young age. He is preparing to enter the workforce after he graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program this fall.

“I have had a lot of job offers the past few months. That is all thanks to TSTC,” Gainer said.

After touring TSTC in high school, Gainer said the choice to attend college was simple.

“I have always liked to make sure things ran correctly,” he said. “I also like the hands-on style of learning available at TSTC. You need to get in there and do the work.”

Gainer said instructor Mike Myers made learning easy and also exposed him to the way things will be done in the workplace.

“Mike will sit down in front of me and explain to me what I am looking for. I will sit down after that and do it correctly,” he said.

Even if he did something wrong, Gainer said Myers would be right there to offer input like a shop supervisor.

“Sometimes when we do not know what is wrong, he will ask us to look at it a different way,” he said. “That helps me think differently and look for a solution.”

Another aspect of the program Gainer appreciated was working with his classmates.

“We have basically become a family here,” he said. “We plan on staying in contact with each other after graduation.”

Gainer said that will be important to him because he knows they can help him if he encounters a problem.

“I know that if I do not have the right answer for a problem, they might. We will be a text message away from helping each other,” he said. “If that doesn’t work, we all know Mike will give us his input, but not the answer.”

Gainer’s favorite aspect of the program is working on diesel engines. Having worked on his father’s equipment led him to focus on the diesel side of mechanics.

“I go home, and all of my buddies have their minds blown with everything I have learned about working on diesel engines,” he said.

While not his favorite, Gainer said he picked up what he needed to do to repair a gasoline engine by watching Myers and his classmates.

“If you show me how to do something one time, it is stored in my mind,” he said. “I know then that I can do what needs to be done.”

Gainer said TSTC offers programs for different people, but one thing is the same.

“TSTC will teach you a good work ethic and get you set for the future,” he said. “The instructors will work hard to prepare you for where you want to go in life. This has been the best experience of my life.” 

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC students like options available at Virtual Industry Job Fair

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Meeting with potential employers virtually was the best way for Texas State Technical College students to participate in a recent job fair.

Traditionally TSTC has hosted an industry job fair at the Student Center, but with current COVID-19 restrictions limiting people on campus, a virtual event was scheduled for last month. 

More than 100 companies from throughout the country participated in the event, and students were able to participate in their home, at work or on campus.

The Wind Energy Technology program in Sweetwater took time out of its lab sessions to allow students to take part in the job fair. Several students said having the event online was better because it opened up possible job opportunities outside of West Texas.

“I knew this would help a lot of people. For me, I was able to see other options out there,” said San Angelo resident Chris Boyd, who has already found employment after he completes the program. “Attending the job fair could help me in the future.”

Joe Sodergren, of Salado, said his goal was to find employment closer to home. He said the best part of the virtual event was that he did not have to wait to speak with representatives.

“A lot of times you have all the lines to talk to people,” he said. “The best thing is there is a certain time we can visit with a business and find out what they are looking for in an employee.”

Kody Moncada, of Eagle Pass, said having the additional companies available was a good incentive to participate this year.

“The more options we have helps us,” he said. “We could get a job offer from anywhere in the state or country.”

Marcos Gonzales, of Bruceville, said he preferred to meet with people in person, but he agreed with his classmates that additional job opportunities were enticing.

“I better communicate with people face to face, but I know this was the best way to have a job fair,” he said. “This gave everybody more options with more companies.”

Jake Knowles, of San Angelo, also said the event was good, but he did narrow down his list of places to work.

“As long as I can work in Texas, I will be happy,” he said. “I just want to get in the field and start working.”

Each of the students said the stress of preparing for the job fair was not as high as in previous years.

“I have always been nervous walking into a building for the job fair,” Knowles said. “This time, I did not have any of those nerves. I was prepared to talk to everyone.”

“I was more comfortable doing this on the computer. I think there was a lot less tension for us,” said Moncada, who added that TSTC career services representatives helped everyone prepare for the job fair.

Sodergren said the students still had to do one thing to prepare for the virtual job fair.

“We all had to make sure we looked presentable,” he said. 

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Nursing students have access to Nurse Anne Simulators

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Nursing students in Harlingen and Sweetwater will be able to use simulators that will help them in the future.

TSTC was recently awarded Nursing Innovation Grant Program grants totaling $153,205. The program is facilitated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and is funded through the Texas Tobacco Lawsuit Settlement.

The Harlingen program was awarded a $75,000 grant, while Sweetwater was awarded a $78,205 grant. The programs will use the funds to improve simulation curriculum, scenarios and equipment, including the purchase of Nurse Anne Simulators. 

The faculty will be provided professional development to better comprehend and incorporate the simulation training into nursing practicums.

Mark Hampton, TSTC’s resource development specialist in Sweetwater, said the grant will allow students to work on skills in a controlled environment.

In the past, nursing students completed practicums in hospital wards or nursing home facilities. Over time, regulations changed, and the amount of time that students could spend in a medical facility decreased.

“Each of the practicums offered our students a little hands-on knowledge,” Hampton said. “It would have been the first time they did a real blood pressure check on a patient.”

With the new simulator, students will be able to complete half of their practicum requirements on campus and the remainder in the field, he said.

“These Nurse Anne Simulators will increase the realism of our simulations on campus,” Hampton said. “It will offer students real-life and real-job situations as best we can.”

The simulators may be programmed for any age group or condition, as well as a male or female patient. Hampton said instructors could ask students to perform a blood pressure check on a five-year-old child or find out what is wrong with a 70-year-old man.

“It has all kinds of changing parts,” he said. “Instructors can program the simulator for any situation, from an emergency room to a nursing home.”

Hampton said instructors will be able to watch a student examine, diagnose and treat the patient and then grade their work.

Instructors have been working to revise the curriculum to include the Nurse Anne Simulator. Software upgrades will also be made with grant funding, Hampton said.

TSTC was awarded the two-year grant and then began working to implement it into the curriculum. During the first year, instructors will revise the curriculum as needed, Hampton said, and implement the simulator.

“During the second year of the grant, we will perform an in-depth analysis and make sure everything is working to continue the simulations,” Hampton said.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.