Author Archives: Kristina Campos-Davis

TSTC to Host First Commencement in Hutto

(HUTTO) – When Quinton Hooper walks the stage next Friday at Texas State Technical College’s first commencement ceremony in Hutto, he’ll be joining a long line of technical workers in his family.

Hooper, an Industrial Maintenance student, previously studied under the Digital Forensics program at the Waco campus but decided to change programs to something a little more familiar.

“Most of my family are mechanics,” Hooper said. “It’s a little closer to what the rest of the family is doing.”

While he enjoyed his time at TSTC in Waco, Hooper enjoys the smaller class sizes in Williamson County.

“Here, there are more one-on-one classes,” he said. “You get more time with the teachers.”

Industrial Maintenance instructor Lance Antilley said he has admired Hooper’s hard work.

“I have known Quinton for the past 16 months,” he said. “He is an outstanding student in all respects. Quinton has proven that through hard work, follow-through and teamwork, he can accomplish tasks in a courteous and timely manner.”

Currently interviewing for jobs, Hooper hopes to find a position where he can travel with work.

“I’d like traveling, going to different countries,” he said. “I hope to get into a company that I’m able to travel around and not stay in one place too long. I’d like to visit Europe.”

Hooper, a native of Maxwell, Texas, is one of 20 students eligible to walk the stage at the 6:30 p.m. ceremony on May 11 at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center.

Hooper advises those considering TSTC not to bite off more than they can chew.

“Don’t get in over your head,” he said. “If you go into a class and you don’t know a lot about it, study more in that class.”

TSTC’s Chancellor, Mike Reeser, will speak at commencement, as well as Robb Misso, president and CEO of Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions in Austin.

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Welcomes Two New Recruiters

(RED OAK) – Texas State Technical College welcomed two new student recruiters in April at its North Texas campus.

Shaunice Cyrus, of Mesquite, and Brandy Robertson, of Powell, joined the recruitment team at the beginning of April.

Cyrus comes to TSTC after working as a student worker in recruitment during her time at Tarleton State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Most recently, she worked in customer service.

“At Tarleton, I did tours and other recruitment duties such as planning events,” she said. “I worked very closely with the recruiters, like I do now.”

So far, Cyrus is enjoying the added duties.

“Here, I am actually going out to different schools and traveling to recruit the students, attending college fairs, career days and things like that,” she said. “So, with this job it’s more responsibility, but it’s also a lot more fun.”

Cyrus said she loves what the college stands for.

“I love the fact that it’s so affordable and it’s a really good option for students who don’t think that they’re going to go to a traditional college, or don’t think they’re going to college at all,” she said. “It gives them an opportunity to broaden their horizons and see what all is out there.”

She takes pride in knowing she can possibly change the future for someone.

“I’m glad just being able to explain to a student the options that they have for higher education,” she said. “So many times in high school they told us ‘Go to this school. Go to the big names,’ but there’s so many other options out there. It just really warms my heart to show students that they can get a degree in welding and have a job making more money than somebody who had a degree from a four-year university.”

Robertson, who holds business degrees from Navarro College and Texas A&M Commerce, is also no stranger to the field of higher education.

“Before here, I worked at Vista College in the admissions department doing recruiting, admissions, helping register students, tours and sending them to financial aid,” she said. “Basically I would walk the students through the enrollment process.”

Robertson enjoys speaking with potential students at college fairs.

“They really give you an opportunity to get out there, mingle and help the students and spread the word about our school,” she said. “It’s pretty cool.”

One thing that has stood out to her is the enthusiasm of TSTC’s instructors.

“The instructors I’ve had the privilege of working with so far have all been great,” Robertson said. “I love how passionate they are about their programs. You can walk in and ask any of the instructors whose program is number one and they’re all going to say their program is best.”

She was glad to join the TSTC team, and hopes she can help students make smart educational choices.

“I like the fact that I am able to reach more students and help them,” Robertson said. “Here, we actually put students first. I feel like I’m making a difference in students’ lives by going out and showing them that they can still do all these things they love, for not even a fourth of the cost of other colleges. It’s amazing. I like it here. I feel like I’m at home.”

TSTC Provost Marcus Balch said they are proud to welcome Shaunice and Brandy to the team.

“As a growing campus they will play a vital role in the surrounding communities as well as in the local school districts,” Balch said. “Both come to us with experience in the field and we are pleased that they will be working with our prospective students and their families.”

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

TSTC to Hold Welding Competition May 5

(RED OAK) – Texas State Technical College is giving area high school welders a chance to put their skills to the test at its welding competition Saturday, May 5. More than 40 students from nine area schools will compete in the contest beginning at 8 a.m.

TSTC welding instructor David Reed said he hopes the contest will pique interest in the North Texas campus.

“We’re bringing in juniors and seniors for the competition,” Reed said. “It’s a friendly game. We bring them out here and showcase the instructors, our welding lab, TSTC in North Texas — it’s a win-win.”

Reed said they asked the participating schools to create a school crest to be judged at the competition.

“Ahead of time, they are supposed to manufacture these before the competition, according to certain parameters,” he said. “It shows school pride for them.”

Alvin Adams, also a TSTC welding instructor, said students will have a few different welds to do and will also compete in a cutting contest.

“They’ll be doing a 1-2-3F — that’s fillet welds,” Adams said. “One, two and three are different positions. That represents the position of the weld. They’ll be doing a 1-2-3V-groove weld also. Then we’re going to have the cutting contest.”

In the cutting round, students will be judged on uniformity, dross (residue left behind in the melting process of metals) and speed. Each contest is staged in rounds.

“From each discipline, we will be giving a first-, second- and third-place medal,” Adams said. “As we go, we’ll go through the process of elimination.”

Students will compete individually, but schools will earn a team trophy for first, second and third place overall.

The Northeast Texas Blacksmith Association will also be attending the event.

“Several of the founding members from their club will be here with furnaces and anvils, hammering out metal,” Reed said. “I’ll be out there myself because a lot of my students enjoy watching the artistic work. I’ll be making roses out of single pieces of rebar and be demonstrating to the students. If there are students who want to, they’ll be able to come up and hammer out some metal with myself and the other smiths.”

Reed hopes students will not only learn to work together, but also be able to see where they stand among their peers in a welding environment.

“A lot of people from small ag shops think they weld really well, but they get out to these competitions and they say, ‘Man, I need to step up my game’ or ‘Wow, we did really well. This validates our program here.’ And TSTC will further complement the program that they have,” Reed said.

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Campbell Earns Chancellor’s Excellence Award

(RED OAK) – Texas State Technical College employee Kim Campbell takes pride in making a difference in students’ lives. That passion has led her to receiving TSTC’s Chancellor’s Excellence Award, an honor given to TSTC faculty and staff who model excellence at the college.

Campbell joined TSTC in North Texas in 2016 and, as of April, serves as campus director and academic manager. Campbell said she was delighted to receive the award.

“I’m extremely honored to have been nominated for this award, and I was very excited and happy to have been selected,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the conference and the dinner with my family.”

Campbell, along with 15 recipients of the award from TSTC’s nine other campuses, will be honored later this month at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development awards dinner and celebration in Austin.

Campbell feels that being at the relatively small campus in North Texas has helped her grow closer to her peers. She believes she was nominated because her co-workers know they can depend on her.

In her earlier role as a career services coordinator at TSTC, Campbell felt a sense of accomplishment in helping students reach their goals.

“Being in career placement and having students come in and say, ‘I got that job you helped me with!’ is so rewarding,” Campbell said. “I wish I had a bell on the outside of my door that I could ring every time someone came in. The excitement that you see on the student’s face is so gratifying. Just sharing that thrill and excitement with the student made it all worth it.”

Campbell is proud to work for the college.

“I like knowing that I helped make a change in the students’ lives, not just today, but for their future and for their families,” she said. “TSTC is such an amazing place to work.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001, and over the past 15 years nearly 300 TSTC employees have received the honor. Recipients are chosen based on outstanding contributions and achievements, commitment to excellence, and character. Honorees serve as agents of change in the advancement of TSTC initiatives.

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for over 100 positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

TSTC in North Texas Graduates 19

(RED OAK) – Nearly 400 students were eligible to walk the stage at Texas State Technical College’s Spring Commencement Ceremony Monday night in Waco. Of those graduates, 19 were North Texas students earning certificates and associate degrees in the college’s technical programs.

TSTC Provost Marcus Balch led the ceremony.

“I’ve probably been to 55 ceremonies over my 18 years, and I’ve never been center stage, so I’m excited for that opportunity,” Balch said. “We have 19 for North Texas, so we’ll get to see them cross the stage.”

Balch said he’s proud of those graduating and the milestone they’ve reached.

“I think we have some really great graduates, and if it’s any indication, most of them already have jobs,” he said. “We have some really good graduates who I think are ready to go to work.”

Guillermo Herrera earned a certificate in Diesel Equipment Technology but plans to continue his education at TSTC.

“I’m going back to TSTC in North Texas to study welding,” Herrera said. “Diesel involves a lot of welding – they kind of go hand in hand, so that’s why I chose welding. I’m very excited to be graduating.”

Saul Zepeda, also a Diesel Equipment Technology graduate, hopes to move to Odessa to find work.

“There’s a company there that works on transmissions,” Zepeda said. “My dad is a mechanic, so I got some experience from him. I grew up as a mechanic’s helper, so I wanted to do the same thing. It feels pretty good to reach this step.”

Jacob Smoot earned his associate degree in Computer Networking & Systems Administration.

“It feels good,” he said. “I’m still working on lining up a job, but I think I learned 95 percent of what I’ll need to know for the job. I’m sure there’s some things only experience will teach you.”

TSTC in North Texas graduates earned degrees in all 10 programs offered at the campus — Computer-Aided Drafting & Design, Computer Networking & Systems Administration, Cyber Security, Electrical Power & Controls, HVAC, Industrial Maintenance, Logistics, Precision Machining and Welding.

For more information on TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC employee writes her way to excellence

(HARLINGEN) – At Texas State Technical College, she’s gone from student to alum to valued employee, and now Amanda Sotelo has been rewarded with the coveted Chancellor’s Excellence Award – the highest award given to TSTC employees who model excellence and serve with distinction.

Sotelo is a communication specialist for the college, reporting and writing stories on TSTC student successes, programs and events for local newspapers and social media.

“I was surprised. I initially thought it was an assignment, as I usually cover stories about our honorees. I had to read it twice to fully understand that this time I was getting the award,” said Sotelo. “I am so grateful.”

Sotelo was nominated by her supervisors and colleagues who recognize all she does to promote the college both in the Harlingen and in the Fort Bend County media markets.  Her stories, highlighting students, employees and alumni, are published across the state and help with recruiting.Chancellor's Excellence Award Amanda Sotelo

“She’s a bit of an overachiever. She has an extraordinary work ethic and a real passion for the art of writing,” said Executive Director of Communication Lynda Lopez. “But more than that, Amanda always exudes joy and happiness. She’s a pleasure to have in the office, and she’s beloved by TSTC colleagues in Harlingen and across the state.”

Sotelo graduated from TSTC in 2008 with an associate degree in Digital Media Design and went on to UTPA to get her bachelor’s in Mass Communications in 2011.

As a student at TSTC, she was very active and served as vice president for the Student Government Association. She also got a work-study program job in the business office, and later at UTPA she worked as a marketing assistant for the Student Union and as a writer for the Public Affairs office. It was there she realized she wanted to work in higher education.

“I love telling stories about people. Everyone has a story, and it’s humbling to be trusted to tell that story,” explained Sotelo. “Students and employees open up to me and tell me about their most difficult and most beautiful times. I cry with them and laugh with them. They bare their souls to me, and I am honored.”

Sotelo is quick to credit others for her success, including her third-grade teacher, Mrs.  Montelongo, who first recognized her writing talent; her husband and high school sweetheart, Andy Sotelo; and her parents, Juan and Olga Perez of Harlingen.

“My parents take care of my son, AJ, so I can devote myself to my work. I can commit to staying late, working weekends and traveling for my job knowing my son is in good hands,” explained Sotelo. “My husband also helps so much, taking over when I’m away and never complaining. I share my award with them.”

And Sotelo says she’s thankful for TSTC.  As she points out, it’s easy to be a great employee when you love your job.

“I love TSTC. I grew up here. I’m so lucky to have such a rewarding job and work with people who have become family. I love our students. They come here to learn from us, but I have done so much learning from them,” said Sotelo.

Sotelo is one of five TSTC employees from Harlingen and 16 statewide who received the 2018 Chancellor’s Excellence Award. All will be honored at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development banquet to be held in Austin next month.

 

Student Success Profile – Jose Luis Ramirez

(HARLINGEN) – Jose Luis RamirezJose Luis Ramirez is a Welding Technology student at Texas State Technical College. The 19-year-old holds a 3.67 grade-point average and expects to earn his associate degree Fall 2018.

The Rio Hondo native is also a TSTC Student Ambassador with Student Recruitment and a volunteer with Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics, helping to fabricate the program’s second land rover.

What are your plans after graduation?

My love for welding has only grown since first being introduced to it in high school. So after I graduate I want to continue learning welding techniques and earn certifications in different areas at the Kentucky Welding Institute.

What’s your dream job?

I’m looking forward to entering the workforce soon to gain experience in welding and build my resume. Ultimately, I hope hard work leads to a career as an aerospace welder at Lockheed Martin, SpaceX or NASA.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

I’m a first-generation college student, so just being in college is a huge accomplishment for my family and me. I hope to be a good example for my little brother and show him that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

My father died of cancer when I was 12 years old and that made me realize that I should never take anything in life for granted. Watching his health slowly decline was a lot for me to bear and I learned to live life to the fullest for him.

Who at TSTC has had the most influence on your success?

I can’t just recognize one person, because so many people at TSTC have played a role in my success. But I would like to thank my instructors for always sharing their experience and showing us, students, their support and encouragement.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future students is to always do what you enjoy. Finding a field or career path you love will always be your motivation to do well and succeed. Follow your dreams.

Networking led to friendship and TSTC degree

(HARLINGEN) – Last night 438 students graduated with certificates or associate degrees from Texas State Technical College during two commencement ceremonies held at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.

Among them, Computer Networking and Security Technology students and best friends Elizabeth Vargas and Sondra Baldivia – the only women to earn an associate degree in the program this semester.

“This is a big deal for my family, I’m the first to graduate from college and the one they least expected to do it,” Vargas said with a laugh. “This is a proud moment for all of us.”

With a toddler at home and another on the way, the 27-year-old admits finishing the program was a challenge.

“It’s been a lot of sacrifice. I’ve been having health issues with this pregnancy that have landed me on bed rest, but honestly my instructors have been great. So understanding. That’s why I’m here today.”

Vargas, who worked menial odd jobs to support her family and herself through school, has already accepted an offer with the University of Texas System as an assistant administrator for the Information Technology Department.TSTC graduates Elizabeth Vargas and Sondra Baldivia

“I’m so excited for this opportunity I have been given,” said Vargas. “It’s a life changer and it’s all because of TSTC. I now have “the job” I’ve been working for and I’ll be able to better support my family and grow as a professional.”

Baldivia, a United States Air Force veteran, said she had already attempted a four-year degree before attending TSTC, but had changed majors so many times she got discouraged and enlisted instead.

“I was seeing everyone around me graduate and realized that in that point in time I needed to reevaluate my life,” said Baldivia. “And the Air Force offered me the best path.”

Based in Maryland during her four-year contract, the 28-year-old worked as a Signals Analyst with the intelligence team and although she loved her job, Baldivia and her husband found it was best to move their family back home.

“By this time we had a daughter and she didn’t know her grandparents or any other parts of the extended family, so it was the best move for us, but I had to start all over again.”

She said fortunate for her, TSTC had the program that fit with the experience she had received in the Air Force.

“Computer Networking and Security Technology has really laid the foundation for a successful career in the cyber field,” she said.

Baldivia hopes to work once again in intelligence as a contractor for the Air Force or even the FBI and hopes to return to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

It is students like Vargas and Baldivia that TSTC Regent and Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Economic Development Corporation Alejandro Meade said makes his job easier.

“You make my job easier. TSTC makes my job easier,” Meade told the graduates. “The more skilled employees a community has, the more prosperous it can be and the more graduates TSTC has, the easier it is for me to sell the Valley to companies.”

He added, “Simply by gaining skills, you are adding value to the Valley and to the state. For that I am thankful.”

Meade also shared life lessons with the graduates: Work hard, don’t be afraid to fail, appreciate where you come from and abide by the Golden Rule, “treat others as you would be treated.”

As for Vargas and Baldivia, they both celebrated the night with their families and had a message for all the young girls and women who want to pursue a career in Computer Networking and Security but are intimidated to enter a male-dominated field.

“Don’t be afraid. Your class will honestly and truly become your family and support system,” said Baldivia. “We may have been the only women in the class, but we were always treated as equals and the men looked to us for help.”

Vargas added, “It may be a man’s world, but we can do it also, sometimes better. So don’t be afraid, let’s take their jobs.”

For more information on Computer Networking and Security Technology at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 is in progress.

The fight of her life: TSTC student, survivor set to graduate

(HARLINGEN) – It was back in 2010 when Ruth Trevino began her journey at Texas State Technical College and proved to herself and others that nothing, not even breast cancer, was going to stop her from getting a college education.

Tonight, the 36-year-old single mom and breast cancer survivor will walk the stage in a cap and gown with her family in the audience and receive her associate degree in Health Information Technology.

“I’ve been working toward this for a very long time,” she said. “Life was passing me by and nothing was going to stop me.”

The journey to commencement has not been easy. Straight out of high school, married and living on a military base in Alaska, Trevino completed a few online classes before becoming a mom.

As a military family they moved often, also calling Oklahoma and Austin home.Health Information Technology graduate Ruth Trevino

“Life was happening, but I always kept school in the back of my mind. Getting an education was important to me.”

When Trevino moved to Harlingen she discovered TSTC after completing a medical assistant program at another college and realizing it was not the career for her.

“I loved the medical field, but poking people with needles was not for me,” she said. “So when I found out about health information at TSTC I knew that was the path I was supposed to take.”

She graduated with a certificate from the TSTC Medical Information Transcription program first, while she was pregnant with her third child, then made the jump to earn her associate degree in Health Information Technology, which is the comprehensive management of health information, data and resources in doctor’s offices or hospitals.

With only three classes left, life threw her an unexpected twist and Trevino was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer on Christmas Eve in 2016.

“This was the hardest fight,” she said. “My worst fear was that I would die and leave my children behind. I was all they had, they were all I had. And we fought together.”

With family in California and San Antonio, Trevino went through chemotherapy and radiation alone most of the time and she found herself falling behind in school.

“I couldn’t focus or absorb anything I was learning,” said Trevino. “My instructors noticed it too and because they wanted me to be successful and concentrate on my health they advised me to withdraw and return when I was able to focus.”

And return she did.

In between cancer treatments and a radical mastectomy, the full removal of the breast and lymph nodes, she took an online course to keep up.

“I honestly just needed to keep my mind busy and I was determined to finish,” she said. “I had to prove my resilience. Breast cancer was not going to stop me.”

Trevino said a huge part of the reason she is where she is today is because of the support she received from family, friends and her instructors.

Dina Martinez, counselor at Vela Middle School in Harlingen, is one of those friends who helped Trevino and her children during this difficult time. She first met Trevino when her oldest son was an eighth grader at the school and shared with her his mother’s cancer diagnosis.

“I felt compelled to help Ms. Trevino because not only do we assist our students and their families with social, emotional and family needs, but I, too, am a cancer survivor,” she said. “I knew firsthand what Ms. Trevino was going through so I shared resources and my team and I were able to help by raising money for the family and helping with household maintenance.”

Martinez also added, “I admire Ms. Trevino for being a single mother, a cancer survivor and now a graduate of TSTC. Her journey has been difficult, but she never gave up. She is an amazing person and has set a great example for her children, all women and mothers and anyone facing this journey. She is definitely a success story and I know her future holds great things.”

After tonight, Trevino hopes to find a job that will help her get back on her feet and allow her to support her children. After gaining some experience and momentum, she hopes to return to school for a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Governance and Data.

“I know I still have challenges ahead, but my faith continues to give me strength,” she said. “I will continue to pray daily because only God knows how I’ve been able to get through everything.”

Trevino is one of more than 400 students receiving a certificate or associate degree tonight during TSTC’s commencement ceremonies at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.

TSTC grad secures job before graduating

(FORT BEND) – Texas State Technical College Cyber Security Technology student Esteban Martinez from the Fort Bend County campus has waited a long time for graduation day, and tonight, he receives his associate degree with a job offer in hand.

The Needville native will join more than 30 of his peers at TSTC’s Commencement ceremonies being held at the Rosenberg Civic Center and will become a member of an alumni network more than 100,000 strong.

“I’m excited to be graduating. I don’t have to worry about studying and tests anymore, said Martinez while laughing. “In all seriousness though I feel so happy and fulfilled now.”

The 32-year-old began his college journey at the University of Texas-Pan American in the Rio Grande Valley, now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He was a pre-med student, but as Martinez puts it, life happened.

“I met my wife there,” he reminisces. “We got married, had a baby and moved to the Houston area to move closer to her family. So I dropped out.”Cyber Security Technology student Esteban Martinez

With a passion for the medical field and computers, Martinez tried for months to find an information technology job in a hospital, but every position required a college education and degree.

After seeing a few TSTC advertisements about the campus’ new Cyber Security Technology program, he said he knew what he had to do.

“This was my chance to get the education I needed to get ahead and the career I wanted,” said Martinez.

Throughout his two years as a full-time student at TSTC, he also worked full-time as a cook at a local restaurant and built and repaired computers as a side job.

“It has been a huge challenge and sacrifice. There have been so many hours spent away from my wife and children,” he said. “But I did what I had to do as a husband, father and provider.”

The sacrifice and the work paid off for Martinez. He is now a field service technician with Puffer-Sweiven in Stafford, a leading provider of automation valves, measurement and process control solutions in Southeastern Texas.

“I feel like I can actually enjoy commencement now because I don’t have to worry about job hunting,” he said. “It’s such a load off to know I’m set with a secure job and excellent pay.”

Martinez credits his success and preparedness for the “real-world” to his instructors, their experience, the hands-on training and the additional certifications he received in various software.

He also said he could not have done it without the financial aid and Texas Success Scholarship he received from the college, which minimized financial stress.

“I got training and certifications that I couldn’t have found anywhere else,” he said. “Everything we did in class prepared us to be critical thinkers and self-starters. We (students) definitely leave this program more marketable and competitive out in the field.”

His wife and children will be sitting in the audience as Martinez walks in to “Pomp and Circumstance” and walks across the stage in his cap and gown.

“I hope this sets an example for my sons, that if you want something, hard work and believing in yourself will help you accomplish your goals,” he said.

TSTC’s commencement ceremony will be held at the Rosenberg Civic Center tonight at 6 p.m. with TSTC Regent Pat McDonald and President of Si Environmental Jeff Haley, who also serves as Treasure for the Fort Bend Economic Development Council Executive Committee, addressing the graduates and their families as this year’s commencement speaker.