(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Stephanie Garcia graduated from Texas State Technical College in Fall 2018 with an associate degree in Business Management Technology.

After working as a student worker at TSTC’s Veterans Center and as a student mentor, the 36-year-old knew that she wanted to make the higher education her career.

So not long after graduating, she accepted an offer as a TSTC student recruitment representative, where she is currently employed.

What was your reaction when you first learned about your job offer?

I was so excited when I found out that I had been offered this job; so were my husband and family. I really wanted it after realizing how rewarding it is to help students achieve their dreams. Plus, I love sharing my experiences with them.

How did TSTC prepare you for your career?

TSTC prepared me for my career in more ways than one. My classes taught me the foundation and technical skills I needed to get my career started, and working as a student worker taught me soft skills such as leadership and customer service, which in turn gave me the experience and confidence I need for my current position.

Who has had the greatest influence on your success?

My husband has had the greatest influence on my success. He has been with me every step of the way. And he is the one who made it possible for me to return to school and graduate.

What are your future goals?

I don’t plan on leaving TSTC anytime soon. If anything, I hope to grow within the college and continue helping students realize their dreams of a college education. As a recruiter I hope to be a positive face for the college and teach about the importance and benefits of a technical education.

What would you tell a student thinking of pursuing a two-year degree vs. a four-year degree?

Speaking from experience, a two-year degree gives a real-world, hands-on experience that a student doesn’t always get when pursuing a four-year degree. And here at TSTC, our two-year degrees give students the training they need to obtain the skills that industry is demanding. This gives a graduate a leg-up and makes them more marketable when competing for jobs. A two-year degree at TSTC is the way to go; we have industry knocking at our door recruiting our students.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

First, it’s important to find a program you’re passionate about and going to love. Next, get involved on campus; become a work study, or student worker and join a club. Also, take advantage of the services and resources TSTC offers because from registration to job placement, TSTC is there to support the student the entire way and finally, don’t give up, no matter how challenging or hard it gets. It’s worth it.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jobs, of all levels, are in demand in the health industry, especially in the medically underserved Rio Grande Valley, and Workforce Training at Texas State Technical College is helping employers meet their needs and fill a skills gap with its new Allied Health courses being offered.

This is the first time that TSTC’s Workforce Training offers a collection of health courses: Electrocardiography (EKG) Technician, certified nursing assistant and phlebotomy, the process of making an incision in a vein with a needle to draw blood or hook up an IV.

Phlebotomy is a returning course. It was offered in the past and brought back due to popular demand from local health clinics and hospitals.

“With the increase of health clinics and dialysis and plasma centers our region is seeing, the demand for highly skilled employees is growing,” said TSTC Workforce Training coordinator Myra Deleon. “We get calls from health professionals requesting we implement such training, so in return they can hire our students.”

Deleon added that all allied courses align with the Texas Health and Human Services requirements and guidelines, making graduates from the programs even more marketable upon successful completion.

In fact, the first phlebotomy cohort graduated in April and many of those students have already found positions.

One of those graduates is Elizabeth Alvarez. Alvarez recently accepted an offer from Davita, a local kidney and dialysis care clinic as a patient care technician.

With experience in the medical field as a medical assistant, Alvarez said she felt she needed training in phlebotomy to improve her skills, but was unable to find a training facility until she found TSTC’s Workforce training course.

“I’m that person who loves to evolve and learn new things. I want to be well-rounded in the health field,” said Alvarez. “And I feel that TSTC’s phlebotomy course has opened up doors of opportunity for me.”

Alvarez said that she recommends this course for anyone looking to improve or gain a skill. She added that the course included in an in-depth look into the phlebotomy processes and the hands-on training provided during class and in clinicals fully prepared her to enter the workforce.

“I can only go up from here,” she said. “This is a great stepping stone for me and I hope to explore other career options soon as well, hopefully back at TSTC.”

Phlebotomy is a six to eight-week course. Students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion which allows them to work anywhere, such as hospitals, medical offices and dialysis clinics.

Applications for the next Phlebotomy course beginning July 22 are already being accepted.

The EKG and nursing assistant courses are also currently taking applications and begin in Fall 2019.

Both courses are also eight weeks long and will cover all of the foundation and basic skills necessary to find a successful career in industry.

EKG will cover everything from learning how to use and maintain an EKG machine to reading and reporting heart rhythms, while nursing assistant will focus on all aspects of patient care, bedside manners and communication.

“All of this aligns with TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans into good paying jobs and meeting industry demand,” said Deleon. “We hope that these programs will be a stepping stone for many of these students and that they’ll matriculate into TSTC’s health programs such as vocational nursing or registered nursing, to continue their education and find even greater success.”

Information sessions are being held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. at TSTC’s University Center, Room 101.

For more information on Workforce Training and the courses they offer, visit tstc.edu/workforce/ce, or call 956-364-4567.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A typical day for Jose Villarreal includes hopping into his car and hoping he has enough money for gas to drive 45 minutes every day from Pharr to Texas State Technical College for class, but Tuesday was anything but normal for the 22-year-old.

Villarreal and four other TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology students were awarded Sears Craftsman toolkits valued at $360 through a grant awarded by the Collision Repair Education Foundation and Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR).

“This was a great surprise,” said Villarreal. “There was no way I would have ever been able to afford something like this; I make just enough for tuition and gas, so this is a huge help.”

Villarreal said he has wanted to work in this field since helping his grandfather refurbish and maintain cars as a child.

“With graduation in August, this toolkit came at the right time. It will help me finish the semester strong and hit the ground running when I enter the workforce,” he said. “And I’m glad to still be able to share all of this with my grandfather.”

Villarreal, along with Andy Mendoza, Marco Castro, Brandon Martinez and Leonardo Lozano, who were also awarded toolkits, had applied for this tool grant last semester, and all agreed they had given up hope.

“So much time had passed since submitting my application; I wasn’t even thinking about it anymore,” said Mendoza. “I didn’t think I had received one, but now that I have, it’s a relief because this is going to take me far and has a huge impact on my future career.”

TSTC Auto Collision and Management lead instructor Jose Vasquez said these toolkits are motivators and an important part of a student and graduate’s success.

“Many times students are unable to afford these kits on a student budget,” he said. “And it can take a while before they can afford a full set, but now these five students have a leg up in the industry because of these kits, which was no easy task to apply for.”

To be considered for one of the Sears Craftsman Tool Kits the students had to complete an application,  write an essay and collect auto collision shop recommendations by visiting industry professionals, conducting interviews and submitting the shop’s recommendation.

“It took a lot of effort and time on our students’ part and I’m proud that despite everything, they persevered,” said Vasquez. “And thank you to I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation for their continued support of  our students and program.”

In addition to the toolkits, the Collision Repair Education Foundation and I-CAR also donated 14 Toyota Highlander back doors that will be used for training purposes in areas such as refinishing, corrosion, dent repair and painting.

Each back door is worth at least $600, a price tag that Vasquez calls a big investment for the program’s future.

“These back door donations will allow us to continue giving our students real-world, hands-on training so they’re well-rounded and highly-skilled when they enter the workforce,” he said. “This will impact our program and its students for years to come.”

The Collision Repair and Education Foundation and I-CAR annually donate essential parts, supplies and equipment to the program and have award grants to assist and support TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology students in their journey toward a successful career in the industry.

Auto Collision and Management Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Waco campus. For more information on the program or to register for Fall 2019, visit tstc.edu.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Phillip Saldana, 27, graduated with an associate degree in 2018 from the Auto Collision and Management Technology at Texas State Technical College.

The Dallas native, who moved to the Rio Grande Valley to attend TSTC and whose father is also a TSTC alumnus from the engineering program, said the move was worth it because shortly after graduating he received a job offer from Collision Stop in Harlingen, where he is still employed.

He began as a detailer and after only a few months on the job, he was promoted to the company’s estimator.

What was your reaction when you first learned about your job offer?

Every year I would travel to the Valley to visit my grandparents and what I looked forward to the most was helping my grandpa refurbish cars. This was what sparked my interest in auto body work. So when I found out my job, it was the greatest feeling and relief knowing I was beginning my career doing something I love.

How did TSTC prepare you for your career?

TSTC prepared me with an excellent foundation. The program was industry-focused and provided real-world, hands-on assignments and projects that allowed us to practice our skills and be ready to hit the ground running when we entered the workforce. The program exceeded my expectations.

Who has had the greatest influence on your success?

My greatest influences are my family. My mom, dad and my grandma and grandpa who allowed me to live with them when I moved to the Valley. All of them have been supportive about my decision to attend TSTC and throughout my educational journey.

What are your future goals?

My goal is to gain as much experience as I can in the field and become a shop foreman or manager down the line. I want to grow in this field and hopefully someday open a shop of my own.

What would you tell a student thinking of pursuing a two-year degree vs. a four-year degree?

I would tell a student to not think twice about getting a two-year degree or a degree period. My two-year degree has been worth it and allowed me to begin my career. I would not be where I am without it. Education is the key to growth.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice to future TSTC students is make the most of your time at TSTC. Ask questions, stay focused and learn from your mistakes. TSTC leads to careers and growth. If I can do it, so can someone else.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Built from the ground up by Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructors and students, the program has a new pipe fitting training station for its Advanced Layout and Fabrication course.

The course, taken during a student’s third semester in the program, focuses on layout design, build and processes, blueprint reading and pipe fitting.

“This pipe fitting station takes our program and this course to the next level,” said TSTC lead Welding Technology instructor Ramiro Villarreal. “This carries our program forward, allows us to grow and produce well-rounded graduates that are in demand in our industry.”

Longtime TSTC Welding Technology instructor Kenny Moore said this new training station, which took six to eight weeks to build, allows the program to stay in the forefront of advanced welding training.

“This is a great opportunity for students looking to train with a top welding program right in their backyard,” said Moore. “It’s advancements like this that keep our program on top. And for the growth in industry that we’re seeing in our region, it’s important that our students and graduates learn the latest and greatest.”

Villarreal has been working closely with TSTC administration and leadership in creating and maintaining relationships with two industrial facilities located in the Port of Brownsville: Keppel AmFELS, a leader in mobile drilling rig, platform and container vessel construction, refurbishment and repair; and Texas LNG, a liquefied natural gas facility.

Both companies seek and hire skilled welders, solders and pipefitters for their facilities, and with major projects on the horizon their demand for these positions is expected to increase.

“While we’ve always trained in pipe welding and fitting, it’s now more important than ever that we emphasize its processes and ensure that our students have the basic knowledge they need to hit the ground running and find successful careers with either these companies or others like them,” said Villarreal.”

The Advanced Layout and Fabrication course is 15 weeks and is available to all Welding Technology students pursuing a certificate 1, certificate 2 or associate degree.

Villarreal and Moore said this new training station goes beyond technical skill training, it also provides soft skills such as teamwork, communication, quality control and leadership.

“Throughout the semester students will work in teams to complete projects using the new station,” said Moore. “And every week a new team lead is chosen to give everyone project management experience. Nowadays you need more than technical skills to get hired and we want our students to be prepared.”

With the new pipe fitting station, Villarreal said Welding Technology will be able to provide continuing education training in the future for Keppal AmFELS, Texas LNG and other companies around the Rio Grande Valley.

“What we have built not only allows us to train our students, but industry professionals who want a refresher or to learn something new,” said Villarreal. “We have built a number of opportunities for everyone.”

Last year TSTC’s Welding Technology program in Harlingen was ranked number 7 in the nation by Washington Monthly, in part because of its 96 percent job placement rate.

Graduates from the program learn the fundamentals of welding such as metal arc welding, multiple process welding, welding automation and welding codes, standards and safety, and can work as welders, cutter, solders, brazers, pipe fitters, and brazing machine setters, operators and tenders for manufacturing shops, ship building yards, oil fields, and maintenance shops.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment of welders is projected to grow six percent, in response to the nation’s aging infrastructure. The 2018 median pay for a welder was more than $40,000 a year.

Welding Technology is offered at all TSTC campuses.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It was a first-of-its-kind event for Texas State Technical College as the college welcomed two high school seniors with a signing day and scholarship presentation in a ceremony at Harlingen High School (HHS) on Wednesday.

Sadat Gutierrez, 18, and Anyssa Huerta, 17, are both masonry students at HHS and next fall will begin pursuing associate degrees in TSTC’s Building Construction Technology program.

“It’s an honor to celebrate these students’ great accomplishments,” said TSTC Provost Cledia Hernandez. “And at TSTC, our students’ success is at the forefront of everything we do. It’s exciting to see these young women lead as an example in a male-dominated field. Seeing these women excel makes me so proud.”

And excel they have. Both women recently competed in SkillsUSA and medaled in their category: masonry.

SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers. Members build these skills through student-led team meetings; local, state and national competitions; leadership conferences; and other activities.

Huerta earned a bronze medal and a $1,500 scholarship, while Gutierrez was awarded gold, earning 30 points more than a male peer who has won first place in SkillsUSA every year. Gutierrez also received a $6,000 scholarship.

The scholarships, which were presented to the women by Hernandez and TSTC Building Construction Technology instructors, can be used for tuition, books, supplies, or room and board.

“These are some of my top students; they’re leaders in class,” said HHS masonry instructor Victor Santillan. “Going to TSTC is going to give them so many opportunities, and I’m glad (TSTC has) taken the time to recognize their achievements because this program (Building Construction Technology) is going to allow them to step into great careers and broaden their horizons.”

Gutierrez and Huerta both said they were placed in their masonry class by mistake their sophomore year, but said someone knew what they were doing because it literally paved the way for their future.

“I knew nothing about masonry before coming into this class. I even tried to get out. But I needed an elective, and this was the only one available,” Gutierrez reminisced. “But I ended up loving it; it ended up opening so many doors for me.”

Huerta shared the same sentiment.

“I was supposed to be pursuing a degree in engineering right now,” she said. “But when I was enrolled in this class, everything changed. I’m now looking forward to a successful career in construction, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s become a true passion.”

Both women said they are excited to start at TSTC in August and hope to continue competing in SkillsUSA at the postsecondary level. They agreed that the scholarships have brought a great relief to them and their families.

“I’m set,” said Gutierrez. “This money, along with some other scholarships and financial aid I have received, will get me through my program. I couldn’t be any more grateful to SkillsUSA and TSTC for making this possible.”

As for Huerta, she said her scholarship, along with financial aid, will allow her to earn a college degree without needing to touch student loans.

“Debt-free is how I want to graduate,” she said. “This scholarship is a huge help, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds. TSTC, here I come.”

Hernandez added that she is happy to welcome these two women into the TSTC family to earn their degrees and advance their careers.

“We’re excited to present these scholarships because it will allow them to continue finding their passion,” said Hernandez. “And we are dedicated to working to ensure that they get the skills they need to find high-paying jobs. We thank them for trusting us with their higher education.”

For more information on Building Construction Technology at TSTC, go to www.tstc.edu.