Author Archives: Kristina Campos-Davis

TSTC machining program introduces evening classes

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College will offer evening classes starting in Spring 2020 for the first time.

TSTC Precision Machining Technology lead instructor Isaac Gonzalez said this change came about because of student and industry demand.

“This change is going to allow for more student flexibility,” said Gonzalez. “There is no need for someone to have to give up an education because they have responsibilities and obligations during the day.”

Starting next semester, both Precision Machining Technology certificate and associate degree plans will be 100% obtainable by taking evening courses, with classes and labs open Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

“This expansion has been in the works for about a year,” said Gonzalez. “We’re excited to kick it off next semester. We already have students registered and ready to take the next step toward a career.”

Gonzalez added that by expanding the program’s offerings, it will be able to serve and retain more students, in line with TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans in great-paying jobs.

“Highly skilled and well-trained machinists are in high demand right now, regionally and statewide,” said Gonzalez. “This is going to help us meet industry demand, meaning our students will be more marketable and sought-after.”

The program already boasts a 98% job-placement rate, with many of its students accepting job offers before they graduate.

Many of the industry partners hiring the program’s graduates are also interested in sending employees to TSTC for additional training.

“Not only will offering evening classes open doors to more students, but it also benefits our industry partners who want additional training for their employees,” said Gonzalez. “They will now be able to work by day and study by night.”

Gonzalez said evening classes are just the beginning for Precision Machining Technology. Starting in 2021, the program will expand to include performance-based education and online classes.

Performance-based education will give students the flexibility of choosing a schedule that fits their lifestyle and also set them up to graduate quicker.

“Evening classes, online classes and flexible schedules are all growing in popularity,” said Gonzalez. “And by bringing this to our students, they will be able to begin their careers faster.”

Any new student who registers for evening classes before December 6 will be eligible for a $500 Gene Haas Scholarship, and Brownsville residents who register will also be eligible for a $500 Mike Hernandez Scholarship.

Registration for Spring 2020 has begun and runs through January 10.

For more information on Precision Machining Technology, visit https://www.tstc.edu/programs/PrecisionMachiningTechnology.

TSTC provides electrifying career opportunities

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The demand for electrical power and controls technicians is high and continuously increasing, which is why Texas State Technical College and its Electrical Power and Controls program are working diligently to produce highly skilled graduates.

“The industry is growing by leaps and bounds around the industrial centers in the Gulf Coast region,” said TSTC Electrical Power and Controls instructor Jonathan Bonkoske. “And with the mix of retirees and employee promotions, the demand will continue to increase.”

To meet that demand and fill a need, students who enroll in TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in approximately 18 months.

In the program, students can gain skills such as electrical safety, electrical design and engineering practices, electrical distribution equipment and component testing and evaluation, speed motor control circuit design, programming and troubleshooting, and electrical calculations.

“This highly diverse and well-rounded set of skills and experience will produce a potential employee that can fill different roles within a company,” said Bonkoske.

To learn and practice these skills before entering the workforce, students have access to labs that include industry-standard electrical distribution, transmission, equipment testing, automation, instrumentation motion-control tools, transformers and electrical motors.

“Being familiar and knowledgeable in these different areas gives the students options to select from many career opportunities and does not lock them into a specialty, which increases their hireability,” said Bonkoske. “Our graduates in this area are highly sought-after because of their hands-on skills and directly related work experience gained in the classroom and labs.”

Electrical Power and Controls statewide has a 94% job-placement rate with many of its graduates finding work as an electrical field service technician, electrical maintenance technician, electrical designer, instrumentation technician, automation technician or motion control technician.

Program graduates have found employment with such companies as Burns & McDonnell, Dashiell, Eaton Corporation, Wood Group and Schlumberger.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a person in this field can make, on average, nearly $64,000 per year.

Electrical Power and Controls is also offered at TSTC’s Abilene, East Williamson County, North Texas and Waco campuses. It is part of the college’s Money-Back Guarantee program, which refunds the tuition of participating graduates if they do not find a job in their career field within six months of graduation..

Registration for Spring 2020 is underway.

For more information, visit https://www.tstc.edu/programs/ElectricalPowerControls.

TSTC diesel program powers students’ success

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The construction and transportation industry in the Houston area and statewide is rapidly growing, meaning that a skilled workforce is very much in demand.

Texas State Technical College is helping to fill that need with its technical programs like Diesel Equipment Technology.

TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology instructor Brandon Foster said that program faculty receive numerous calls from employers who have attended Employer Spotlights on campus and want to recruit TSTC graduates.

“Our graduates are in high demand. Skilled diesel technicians are in high demand,” he said. “And we’re working diligently to ensure that our graduates are job-ready.”

To accomplish that, the program focuses on hands-on training to teach the appropriate skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry.

Students have access to a large shop that is equipped with industry-standard technology, such as training aids for hydraulic, brake and electrical systems, to learn skills in diagnosing, troubleshooting, repair and maintenance.

The shop is also complete with heavy-duty diesel trucks, bulldozers and front-end loaders.

“All of our equipment allows for a real-world experience,” said Foster. “And the skills they learn can be applied immediately to tasks they will find in the workforce.”

In addition to technical skills, soft skills such as resume building, interviewing, writing, leadership and communication are also a focus for the program.

“Soft skills are just as important as technical skills,” said Foster. “They have to be effective writers and communicators; all jobs require you to be.”

After completing one of three pathways — certificate one, certificate two or an associate degree — a student can work as a diesel mechanic technician, maintenance technician, construction equipment technician, engine specialist or heavy-duty equipment mechanic.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of diesel service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow five percent through 2028, faster than all other occupations, with a median pay of $22 per hour.

Companies who have hired TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology graduates include Chevron, Freightliner, Halliburton, Holt Equipment, John Deere and Peterbilt.

Diesel Equipment Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco campuses.

For more information, visit https://tstc.edu/programs/DieselEquipmentTechnology.

TSTC machining program shapes careers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With manufacturing on the rise, the number of skilled machinists needed in the industry is also increasing.

And Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College is working to produce the machinists needed to meet the demand.

TSTC Precision Machining Technology lead instructor Isaac Gonzalez said he receives phone calls very often from local and statewide companies requesting his graduates, and with a job placement rate of 98%, many of the program’s students accept job offers before even graduating.

What is the length of the program?

Precision Machining Technology offers two degree paths: certificate, one year; associate of applied science, two years.

What can students expect when they graduate?

Before graduating from Precision Machining Technology, students have the option to earn a Haas Certification, which certifies them as a computer numerical control (CNC) machinist, and a Mastercam Certification, which certifies that the student is trained and knowledgeable in computer-aided manufacturing software.

What skills do students learn in Precision Machining Technology?

Students in the program will learn skills in manufacturing programming, design, manual machining, CNC programming and machining, blueprint reading and engineering graphics.

In addition to technical skills, students will also learn soft skills such as communication, time management, and organization.

What types of technologies are used to learn these skills?

Precision Machining Technology focuses its training on hands-on learning. Students in the program have access to a fully equipped machine shop with machining tools, CNC machines, lathes, mills and precision grinders. Computer labs are also available for students to learn and practice their skills in design and programming.

How do these skills prepare a student for the workforce?

By learning these skills, students will become well-rounded Precision Machining Technology graduates who are familiar with and have knowledge about industry-standard equipment and processes. Their versatile skills and additional certifications will allow them to be more marketable and competitive when starting their careers.

What types of positions can a graduate from this program obtain?

Graduates from the program can find positions as CNC technicians, manual machinists, tool and die machinists, and quality control inspectors.

Companies that have already hired TSTC Precision Machining Technology graduates include Atlantic Tool & Die, Consulting Point, Delta Centrifugal, ITD Precision, Raytheon and Toyota.

First-generation college student designs her life at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As a first-generation college student, Marisol Arias is proving to herself and others that she can break barriers for herself and her family.

The Brownsville native is an Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology student at Texas State Technical College, where she is expected to graduate in Spring 2020 with an associate degree.

“I can’t believe it’s almost time,” said the 19-year-old. “It’s exciting. I can’t wait to discover all of the opportunities out there.”

In fact, opportunity has already come knocking.

Arias is working in her degree field at Home and Commercial Designs in Brownsville, where she was hired after completing a one-year internship.

“This has been a huge opportunity for me to practice my skills and apply what I am learning in the classroom to the real world,” she said. “To be getting this type of experience before graduating is surreal and a dream come true.”

Arias said her love for art and drawing led her to architecture and design in high school, and when she had the opportunity to take an Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics class at TSTC as a high school student, she knew this was her program of choice.

But being the first in her family to attend college, she had a few hurdles to jump.

“I navigated a lot of the high-school-to-college transition on my own,” she said. “The process was foreign to my family, but thankfully my high school counselors and the staff at TSTC helped me figure it all out.”

By overcoming these obstacles, Arias said she had access to hands-on training that is preparing her for a successful career, instructors who have supported and encouraged her, and an internship that has allowed her to start her career before even graduating.

“I never imagined I would be where I am today,” she said. “I have gained so much by attending TSTC, and it’s only the beginning.”

Arias boasts a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and said her goal is to maintain it so she can graduate as a TSTC Board of Regents honors graduate and make her family proud.

“Everything I am doing is to give my family a better future,” she said. “I want to help my parents with financial stability and be able to support my brother’s educational journey. I hope I can make them proud.”

Arias’ parents always emphasized the importance of an education and college.

“In our home, education has always been a priority,” said Arias. “And I want to set that example for my brother and pave the way for him. He has already said he’s coming to TSTC.”

With hopes of growing within the industry, Arias also dreams of owning an architectural design firm someday.

“I have my entire future ahead of me. Only time will tell where I end up,” she said. “But one thing for sure is that I am proud that I will be able to call myself a college graduate.”

Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics is also offered online, and beginning in Spring 2020 it will offer evening classes.

For more information, visit https://tstc.edu/programs/DraftingDesign.

Industry Job Fair gets TSTC students hired

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Attending the biannual Industry Job Fair at Texas State Technical College has become a tradition for directors and managers from Laughlin Air Force Base’s Civil Service Maintenance Directorate.

Joseph Cortinas, Laughlin’s aircraft maintenance project manager, joined more than 60 other industry partners on Thursday during the college’s Industry Job Fair.

“This fair is a great recruitment pipeline for us,” said Cortinas. “We admire TSTC’s aviation programs for their structured training. TSTC is always a good experience for us.”

Cortinas said they have hired TSTC aviation graduates from the college’s Harlingen, Waco and West Texas campuses.

“TSTC graduates are well trained and ready to work,” he said. “And this is why we keep coming back.”

Cortinas and his colleagues conducted more than 10 interviews with TSTC students, all of whom they considered excellent job candidates.

TSTC Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology instructor Leo Guajardo said he is excited when his students are presented with opportunities like the job fair, which introduces them to recruiters like Cortinas.

“Some of my students have already been given preliminary job offers,” he said. “This job fair allows them to see and speak one-on-one with recruiters, and I’m excited to see them excel.”

But with more than 600 TSTC students and alumni in attendance, others also had a successful day.

Raul Ledezma, an alumnus of TSTC’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program, was interviewed on-site and given a job offer by Hellas Construction.

“Hellas was the first table I stopped at,” said the 46-year-old. “I never expected to be invited for an interview. I haven’t even made my way around the fair. I’m extremely excited and happy right now.”

Ledezma graduated earlier this month from the CDL program after being laid off from his job in the oil field.

“I only learned about the CDL program when I went to the workforce office after my layoff,” he said. “They even helped me pay for the class. It’s all happened so quickly, but it has definitely paid off.”

TSTC Director of Career Services Viviana Espinosa said that every year the job fair, which is held in fall and spring semesters, grows exponentially, and an increasing number of students and alumni receive job offers on-site.

“This is our largest fall Industry Job Fair to date,” said Espinosa. “And it’s because of our industry partners and our students. They make this event a success.”

Espinosa added that she receives positive feedback from industry representatives after every fair.

“I’m always told that the fair exceeds expectations,” she said. “And knowing about today’s hires, it’s evident that our students make a great impression.”

TSTC’s Industry Job Fair is in line with TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans in great-paying jobs.

“This provides the opportunity to show our students how their skills are in demand,” said Espinosa. “And it gives them a chance to network, showcase their skills and take the step toward a successful career.”

For more information on the services offered by TSTC Career Services, visit https://tstc.edu/student_life/careerservices.

Aspen Institute Names TSTC as a Top 150 U.S. Community College Eligible for 2021 Aspen Prize

$1 Million Prize Recognizes Excellence in Equitable Outcomes for Students In and After College

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today named Texas State Technical College as one of 150 community and technical colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.

Based on strong and improving student outcomes — including in learning, completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and equity — 15 percent of community colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize.

“The TSTC team is thrilled to learn that our efforts toward student achievement have earned us a spot in the Aspen Institute’s Top 150,” said Mike Reeser, chancellor of the TSTC System. “We’re truly honored by the invitation because of the elite group of colleges we join.”

The 150 community colleges named today as eligible to compete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural and suburban areas, serving as few as 500 students and as many as 75,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector.

Data show that over the last two years, student retention, graduation rates and degree completion have improved at the top tier of 150 Aspen Prize-eligible colleges.

“Community colleges play a vital role in developing talent and enabling social mobility across the country, and it’s critical for them to get better at what they do,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We’re pleased to see evidence that these institutions are improving, that more are delivering on their promise. We’re also pleased to play a role in honoring outstanding community colleges and sharing what works to ensure great outcomes for students — through graduation and beyond.”

The top 10 finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2020. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished jury will make award decisions in spring 2021.

Previous winners of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence are: Miami Dade College (FL) and Indian River State College (FL), 2019; Lake Area Technical College (SD), 2017; Santa Fe College (FL), 2015; Santa Barbara City College (CA) and Walla Walla Community College (WA), 2013; and Valencia College (FL), 2011.

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit www.highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

# # #

The Aspen Prize is generously funded by ECMC Foundation, Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and Siemens Foundation.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices, policies and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes, especially for the growing population of low-income students and students of color on American campuses. For more information, visit http://highered.aspeninstitute.org/ and www.linkedin.com/showcase/aspenhighered and follow @AspenHigherEd on Twitter.

The Aspen Institute is a community-serving organization with global reach whose vision is a free, just and equitable society. For 70 years, the Institute has driven change through dialogue, leadership and action to help solve the world’s greatest challenges. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Institute has offices in Aspen, Colorado, and New York City, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

TSTC Student Strives to Set Example for Siblings

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Not many people know exactly what they want to do before they graduate from high school, but Texas State Technical College student Ethan Saucedo had a game plan since his junior year.

“TSTC came to our school, and I knew they had a good program. So I visited TSTC and met with Ms. Renee, the instructor, and I just knew this was where I wanted to be,” Saucedo said.

Saucedo is now a first-semester student in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program at the Brownwood campus. He is also the first in his family to go to college.

“I have a lot of younger cousins and two younger siblings, and I want to set a good example and encourage them to pursue college,” he said.

While earning his associate degree, Saucedo is commuting over 70 miles a day from his hometown in Eden to attend classes.

“I want to better myself and do good for my family, so you just have to do what it takes to get the work done,” Saucedo said.

Saucedo’s work ethic has not gone unnoticed. His instructor, Renee Blackshear, says she is very impressed with what he has already accomplished and is looking forward to what he will do.

“Ethan is a great kid. He works hard and has such a positive attitude. He is planning on competing for us in SkillsUSA, and I think he will do very well and grow even more,” Blackshear said.

Although he has only been with TSTC for one semester, Saucedo is already excited for what the future holds.

“I’m really glad I’m here. I’m excited to compete in SkillsUSA, and graduate and eventually find the right job,” Saucedo said. “I would encourage anyone to look at TSTC because I really enjoy my program.”

Registration for the Spring 2020 semester is underway. For more information about TSTC, go online at tstc.edu.

Ethan Saucedo is a Texas State Technical College student in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program at the Brownwood campus. He is the first in his family to attend college.

Student Veteran Earns Two Degrees at TSTC

(ABILENE, Texas) – Why stop at one college degree when having two is twice as nice?

Texas State Technical College student and Army veteran Devan Moore is earning his second degree at TSTC and is expected to graduate this December. He graduated from the Sweetwater campus in 2018 with an associate degree in Wind Energy Technology and is now pursuing an associate degree in Industrial Systems at the Abilene campus.

“I wanted to make sure I found the career that was perfect for me, so I decided to earn the second degree to make sure I could find the company and type of work that I would love,” Moore said.

Moore enrolled at TSTC right after leaving the Army in 2016. Upon completing his first degree, he immediately reenrolled for the second degree.

“I’m excited to be done with school, but I’m very proud of what I have accomplished,” Moore said. “I’m interviewing for the right job, and as I tell employers everything I am learning and have learned, it seems to impress them because the programs are so comprehensive.”

One of Moore’s favorite things about his time at TSTC is the relationship he has built with fellow veterans, classmates and TSTC Veteran Services representative Annette Collins.

“Annette is a rock star. She makes sure we have everything we need for our benefits and allows us to focus on learning and getting that degree. And that allows me to build up these friendships with other veterans and then be available to offer advice to the younger guys in class,” Moore said.

For Collins, seeing the veterans succeed is what makes her day.

“Those students are my babies. I think of them as my children, so it makes me so proud to see them working hard and doing so well,” Collins said.

Collins is a 20-year Air Force veteran.

She and Moore both agree that TSTC is a great place for veterans to continue their education.

“There is a lot going on when you leave the military, and it’s hard to feel normal again. But this environment, where you get to work with your hands and be around other people who understand what you’re going through, is awesome,” Moore said.

For more information about TSTC, log on to tstc.edu.

Texas State Technical College student veteran Devan Moore is pursuing his second degree at TSTC. He is expected to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in the Industrial Systems program.

TSTC Combines Art and Technology for Project With Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has partnered with the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council to help create the newest addition to the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden in Abilene.

Three metal panels of sculptural vines standing about 7 feet tall and titled “Cardinal Vines” will be added to the garden in 2020. On the vines will be representations of 21 cardinals, and the leaves can be engraved to honor someone special.

TSTC Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology instructor Magaly Valdez designed the vine panels, and student Justin Morrow designed the cardinals and leaves.

“This was an awesome opportunity to show what the Architectural Design program can do and a great way for us to give back to the community,” Valdez said.

Morrow is an Abilene native and said he felt honored to be part of the process.

“I think it’s really cool to take what I’ve learned in class and apply it to a project for my community,” Morrow said.

The idea for the project was presented to TSTC by Lynn Barnett, Abilene Cultural Affairs Council executive director, and Pam Tippen, co-chairperson of the Storybook Garden.

“The ‘Cardinal Vines’ is an opportunity to allow the community to honor a loved one and be part of bettering the Abilene area,” Barnett said “This was Pam Tippen’s brainchild, and I am very excited for what TSTC has done for us and for what this will mean for the community.”

The “Cardinal Vines” project is part of a fundraiser for the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council to install more lighting in the Storybook Garden and be able to provide more opportunities for the community to gather.

“This project and so many others are not possible without the help of so many talented people. The community is so amazing in providing their skill set, and we are so thankful for TSTC’s willingness to be part of this,” Tippen said.

“Cardinal Vines” is expected to be unveiled during the Children’s Art & Literacy Festival next spring.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Texas State Technical College instructor Magaly Valdez and associate provost Justin Price (standing), along with Pam Tippen and Lynn Barnett (seated), visit the site where the three panels will be installed in 2020.

news.tstc.edu

Texas State Technical College News Site