(HARLINGEN) – Running her own dental office and furthering her education are some of the goals that Harlingen native Nancy Fontanna has set for herself.  The 28-year-old Army veteran is ready to conquer the world of dental hygiene.

 What are your plans after graduation?

 After graduation I plan to further my education and obtain a doctoral degree in dental hygiene.

What’s your dream job?

 My dream job is to own a dental office that caters to people in the Rio Grande Valley.  I believe that a family owned and run dental business in the RGV would be greatly beneficial to the area.

 What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

 My greatest accomplishment is being actively involved with the college.  I currently hold the role of Vice President of the Veteran Students Alliance Club, and was secretary of the club before that.  I find immense gratification in helping fellow veterans and students in commonplace.

What greatest lesson have you learned about your life?

 The greatest lesson I have learned is to grab life by the reigns and steer in the direction that is most beneficial to me.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success?

 Psychology Instructor, Frank Coronado has influenced my success a lot.  I remember him saying something along the lines of “Never give up on your dreams and achievements, because someone is always looking up to you, even if you don’t realize it at the moment.”

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

 I highly suggest joining a club to broaden your network.  I also suggest making a time management calendar, it will help you so much when trying to juggle the college lifestyle.

(HARLINGEN) – Losing a loved one is an excruciating time for many families, but for Larissa Ramirez, losing her beloved aunt to cancer helped her make the important decision of returning to college.

“My aunt was always talking about the value of an education and she was an educator herself, so I know she’d be proud of me for taking this step,” said the 20-year-old San Benito native.  “I was really close to her.  It’s been a little over a year since she’s been gone, and it’s motivating me to work really hard,” she said.

Ramirez is no stranger to hard work, she has had to work multiple service industry jobs to support herself.

She previously attended another educational institution and earned a medical assistant certificate, but found herself in the wrong profession.  The decision to start college wasn’t difficult for Ramirez to make, and she looks forward to what being a student will bring for her.

“I’ve learned to manage my time really well because of my work schedule, and I really think that’s going to help me get through school.  Staying up late at night to study will be a piece of cake.”

She is now pursuing her Academic Core, basics, so she can go on to a 4-year university and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“I’m excited to be back in school, meet new people and branch out.  Two of my best friends attended TSTC and they spoke really highly of it.  They mentioned that the instructors were very hands-on with their teaching and that’s one of the best ways that I learn.”

Despite the fact that Ramirez has a great support system between friends and family, she also mentions that she is very comfortable standing on her own two feet.

“I don’t take anything for granted and I know that success comes from pushing yourself to work hard for what you want.”

When asked what she would tell a young adult contemplating whether or not they should go back to college, she calls on the same wisdom that several mentors have told her.

“I was always told to push yourself.  Not just from my mom, aunt and family, but also from teachers and coworkers.  If you want to make something better for yourself, absolutely go back to college.  If I can do it, they can do it.”

For more information on TSTC’s Academic Core, visit www.tstc.edu to learn more.

TSTC’s Academic Core is transferable to any 4-year university in the state of Texas.

(HARLINGEN) – Getting more young adults to graduate with a college certificate or degree was the common goal discussed during the South Texas Regional 60x30TX Workshop recently hosted by Texas State Technical College and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

“We spent 18 months developing this plan,” said Dr. David Gardner, deputy commissioner for Academic Planning and policy/chief academic officer for the THECB. “By 2020 all new jobs will require a college-level education and if we reach our goal we will be awarding 6.4 million certificates or degrees during the 15-year span of this plan.”

The 60x30TX initiative follows the previous statewide plan, Closing the Gaps by 2015, and sets forth four goals. The overarching goal states that by 2030, 60 percent of Texans ages 25-34 will hold a college certificate or degree.

The three other goals in this initiative include: completion, which sets a goal of at least 550,000 students in 2030 completing a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s from a higher education institution in Texas; marketable skills emphasizing that each graduate will have identifiable skills needed for the workforce; and student debt, which focuses on undergraduate student loan debt not exceeding 60 percent of first-year wages.

While addressing a room packed with city officials, local school district representatives and higher education professionals, Gardner asked for help in pushing 60x30TX.

“We need your help. We all need to push forward aggressively with this plan,” he said. “We need you to advise us and in turn we need to make students aware of what’s available. We need to assist them and support them through higher education.”

Everyone in attendance participated in breakout sessions to brainstorm and discuss strategies on how to achieve the educational attainment and completion goals, and how to achieve the marketable skills and student debt goals of 60x30TX.

TSTC Provost Dr. Stella Garcia said there is a great alignment between the THECB 60x30TX plan and TSTC’s mission to place more Texans in great paying jobs.

“This 60x30TX plan focuses on making Texas globally and nationally competitive. It focuses on the economic and future prosperity of Texas,” said Garcia. “And the legislature created TSTC in 1965 so we could serve Texas business and industry, and for the economic and workforce development of the state.”

Garcia said to help achieve 60x30TX goals, TSTC will remain focused on student completion and filling the skill gaps.

“We will continue to work towards our mission and with our current program curriculum students will receive the marketable skills 60x30TX is working toward,” said Garcia. “We will simply continue to do what we do.”

This was the fifth in a series of 60X30TX forums being held across Texas. For more information on this new statewide initiative, go online at http://www.thecb.state.tx.us.

(HARLINGEN) – Hector Cerda is a student at Texas State Technical College. The La Feria native is pursuing an associate degree in Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics.

The 18-year-old said creativity and art comes natural to him. For as long as he can remember, art has been his passion. Through his major, he said he can use his art to aspire to a successful architectural career.

Cerda is also an active volunteer with the TSTC Student Government Association.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I hope to immediately start working. My family and I are struggling financially right now, and my brother is helping me pay for school. I want to pay him back and get my family out of our money troubles. I owe them this.

What is your dream job?

I hope to find a career with an architectural company or somewhere I can use the skills I am learning. Wherever I end up, I know for sure I want it to be a place where I enjoy my job. I also want to expand my hobby and become a tattoo artist.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment is just being here. When I was in high school I never saw college in my future, everyone had lost hope. I’m a recovering drug addict and I needed to do something productive with my life, make my family proud and prove my non-believers wrong.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned that no matter how dark life gets, there is light at the end of the tunnel; there is hope. I have support from my parents and my brother so I cannot quit. I have to keep pushing forward and succeed in changing our lives.

Name a TSTC person who most influenced your success.

It’s really difficult to just name one. Every one of my instructors is motivating. They work so hard to make sure we stay in the program and succeed. They show they really care about us and take the time to understand us as individuals.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

Don’t stress out, you don’t need to. There are so many people here at TSTC who are willing to help you if you only you ask for help.. They do what they can to help you, but you must believe in yourself and remember that you will make it through.

(HARLINGEN) – Harlingen native Brian Rodriguez said goodbye to his life in the military, and hello to a new journey at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.  The 27-year-old is currently enjoying the role of president for the Veteran Students Alliance Club.

Rodriguez was a parachute infantryman stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and served in the Army for four years.  He was stationed in Afghanistan for seven months, a time he describes simply as “work.”

He made the decision to enroll in college when his contract in the Army was nearing an end, and an injury made him reconsider his career choices.

“I was injured during a jump and hurt my back.  The pain was so excruciating every time I tried to move.  I decided to wait it out to the end of my contract to get out of the military, and that’s when I made the decision to start school,” he recalls.  “I didn’t want to get out and just do nothing.  You always have to keep moving forward.  It doesn’t matter how slow you go anywhere; you just have to get there.”

Although Rodriguez has an array of interests, the one constant he knew he wanted to study was biology.

“I’ve always been into that field, even as a kid I was always watching nature shows,” he said.  “Biology opens so many doors, which is something that I can look forward to in the future.  The most difficult goal I have is to eventually get into astrobiology (the study of life on earth and in space).  The solar system is something that fascinates me.”

Right now Rodriguez is focused on his presidential duties with the Veteran Students Alliance Club, and he hopes that his fall semester as president helps bring more recognition to the organization.

“I would really like for Veteran Students Alliance to get their name out there as much as possible, and help the community however we can.  After all, the Rio Grande Valley is home to a lot of veterans.”

When asked about members of club, Rodriguez explained that they are a very welcoming group of individuals.

“Our club is friendly and welcoming.  I would encourage any veteran, veteran dependents or student to come in and spend time here.  You don’t need any type of military background to join.”

Rodriguez is already thinking about his life after TSTC and planning new travel adventures before seeking a bachelor’s degree.

“After college I’m considering staying with a friend of mine in Wisconsin for a bit,” he said.  “It will be fun to just hop around to new places.  I don’t want to limit my life experiences.  TSTC is a great new experience, and I’m ready for more.”

For more information on the Veteran Students Alliance Club, stop by the Veterans Center located in the Student Center, Room #138, or call 956-364-4386.

(HARLINGEN) – Back in the 1990’s, Nat Lopez found himself with a bachelor’s degree in hand, but without a job.

So he went back to school. Texas State Technical College in Harlingen became the solution to his problem.

With an associate’s degree in Electronics Technology from TSTC, now known as Telecommunications Technology, Lopez began his career with AT&T, previously Southwestern Bell, which has spanned 18 years. He is now AT&T’s area manager of Network Services for Texas South recruiting TSTC graduates like himself.

“I hold a psychology degree, but I had trouble finding work,” said Lopez. Through people I knew, I was aware TSTC graduates were immediately getting hired in their industry and making good money. That’s when I decided TSTC was where I needed to be.”

It was in the fall of 1996, when the Harlingen native put his psychology degree to the side and enrolled at TSTC. His father was on the TSTC Board of Regents at the time, so he knew what the college had to offer.

“The classes I took and the training I received helped me understand and grasp the basic foundation of the field. It taught me critical thinking and set me up for what I would do on the job,” said Lopez. “I am where I am today because of this one decision I made. Because of TSTC.”

It is this exact training that Lopez and AT&T Regional Associate Director for Talent Acquisition Melissa Rushefski find attractive about TSTC graduates.

“We (AT&T) have a strong relationship with TSTC,” said Rushefski. “TSTC students and graduates have the specific skill sets and training we’re looking for. The Telecommunications program really prepares students for not only jobs, but careers with AT&T and we’re excited that this program has expanded to the Houston area. We look forward to recruiting those students as well.”

Lopez said he hopes to continuously grow the relationship AT&T has with TSTC, and as a sitting member on the Telecommunications Technology Training Advisory Board, he wants to continue mentoring students and providing career opportunities.

“I guess you could say I’m biased, but TSTC really does train for what AT&T needs,” said Lopez. “I want to motivate students to push forward. A two-year degree is great to have in your arsenal of tools. For me it opened the doors to my career and put me in a position where I can now support my family.”

Lopez thinks highly of TSTC, saying that it changes lives.

According to the U.S. Labor Department, nearly half of the young adults graduating with a four-year degree are unable to find work.

For Lopez, a two-year degree made him competitive within a Fortune 500 company. He wants to continue climbing the ladder.

“Nat is phenomenal,” said Rushefski. “He came to us with impressive skills and he’s evolved with the company through promotions. He’s a great leader and I believe he has a bright future with AT&T.”

TSTC recently added Telecommunications Technology to the list of programs offered at the new Fort Bend County campus. Division Director Dan Bodnar said he is excited for the interest AT&T has shown in recruiting students from both campuses and the doors of opportunities that will open for his students.

For more information on Telecommunications Technology in Harlingen and Fort Bend County, call 956-364-4732, or visit tstc.edu.

(HARLINGEN) – Marcus Ortiz is a student at Texas State Technical College pursuing an associate degree in Biology. The San Benito native is expected to graduate Spring 2017.

The 21-year-old said he first became interested in biology as a student at San Benito High School. He loved doing science experiments for class and for fun, and always wanted to learn more.

When Ortiz is not in class or in the library studying, he is at the Talent Management and Career Services Office where he is a student worker.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I will be transferring to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to pursue a bachelor’s degree in forensic science. I hope to someday also earn a master’s degree in my field.

What’s your dream job?

I dream of doing investigative work for the CIA or the FBI. I want to solve mysteries, and my education and degrees are going to help me do that.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

Besides hopefully graduating next semester, my greatest accomplishment is learning how to be a better test taker. I used to get so nervous taking tests that I would fail. Now, I have learned how to control and manage my nerves because this is a huge part of earning my degrees and reaching my goal.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned not to give up on myself no matter how hard school or life gets. I have been able to pick myself up each time a challenge gets thrown my way and push forward.

Who has influenced your success the most?

I have to say my family – my grandparents especially – have influenced my success the greatest. They have always advised me to trust in God even in my darkest days; to never look back, always forward; and to do what makes me happy.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want to tell other students to never let anyone bring them down. They should follow their dreams and do whatever makes them happy. Never give up.

(HARLINGEN) – The Veteran Students Alliance Club at Texas State Technical College has been recognized as chapter of the month for September by the Student Veterans of America. The club received the award for the community service and fundraising efforts that are geared toward assisting veterans at TSTC and the surrounding community throughout the year. Their work has been described by the Student Veterans of America as accomplishments that serve as an inspiration to other student veteran organizations throughout the country.