Category Archives: Waco

TSTC Graduates Sought After by Area Companies

(HUTTO, Texas) – Some recent graduates of Texas State Technical College are in-demand by several area companies despite the current economic climate.  

Hunter Henry, a TSTC Career Services associate at the Williamson County campus, said some companies within a 100-mile radius of Hutto have contacted him about multiple open positions they have available. He noticed that jobs for maintenance technicians are among the most plentiful. 

Michael Smith, a senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation, said TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs are also in demand from employee-seeking companies.  Smith works with area companies to build relationships with the college.

“We push for quality,” he said.

Some of the common questions Henry has received from company representatives include how students are doing and if they are looking for jobs.

“I have gotten a lot of questions on what students are expecting to make after they graduate,” Henry said. “They are asking me for that information, which I thought was interesting.”

TSTC’s Williamson County campus had about 40 candidates for graduation in the spring semester. 

Some of the companies that have hired TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology graduates in the past include Athena Manufacturing in Austin and TASUS Corp. in Georgetown. Babeco Fabrication and Machining in Taylor has hired Welding Technology majors, and Cisco systems in Austin has hired Cybersecurity graduates. 

John Newman, owner and chief financial officer of Athena Manufacturing, said his company looks for good students in the high-demand programs at the Williamson County campus. He said the company has about 30 open positions.

“We find students that are interested in what we do and are being educated to do what we do and we find that to be very helpful,” Newman said.

The current economic challenges are calling for creativity for TSTC and area companies alike.

Henry envisions virtual employer spotlights for companies to showcase their work to students, who are their prospective employees.

“One of the things I am excited about in the future is the fact that despite everything that has been happening, the unemployment rate in Texas has been significantly lower than the national average,” Henry said. “I can expect at least in the job market in my area, we will see a lot of resiliency and companies that are innovating and changing the way they do business.”

Lissa Adams, associate provost of TSTC’s Williamson County campus, said she envisions a gradual shift to keep supply chains local. She said TSTC plays a role in economic development discussions as companies are enticed to come to Hutto and the surrounding area.

“They look at how quickly they can get talent and are trained,” Adams said. “Beyond our graduates, that speaks to our workforce. The sheer volume of companies that are interested in this sector, the manufacturing industry, highlights that need.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

Industrial Systems program offers a diversity of classes for TSTC students

(ABILENE, Texas) – The Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene offers a diverse curriculum for students.

Instructor Daniel Diaz said students learn different aspects of industrial systems, from hydraulics and electronics to welding and small engine repair.

“We have had students get jobs with the wind industry, prisons and hospitals,” Diaz said. “We teach a lot of different facets, and that helps students in the job market. No matter what the market is doing, we will train students with the skills they need to go where they want to.”

During the three-semester program for the Industrial Systems Mechanic certificate, students perform industry-standard safety procedures, learn mechanical and electrical skills, perfect diagnostic techniques, and read and interpret schematics. In addition, students work with motors, pumps, chillers, boilers and programmable logic controllers.

Current students returned to the Abilene facility this month to complete required lab sessions. Diaz said students are practicing social distancing and have adapted to new safety guidelines, including facial coverings.

“This has taught students to adapt to what has been given to them,” Diaz said. “At any job, you are going to have to adapt and change some things on the fly. This is a good way for students to learn that.”

Diaz said the new safety guidelines have helped him as an instructor.

“It is a good teachable moment. We have to show the students how to be able to adapt to something new,” he said.

Diaz said classes include online lectures, but the most important portion of the course takes place in lab sessions.

“All of the skills students learn come in the form of the labs,” he said. “That is where the bulk of the learning is done.”

TSTC also offers Industrial Systems programs at the East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC Environmental Technology Program Gets New Decontamination Trailers

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Environmental Technology program has purchased two mobile decontamination trailers for students to use in labs at the Fort Bend County and Waco campuses.

The trailers will be used in the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training and Related Topics class offered in the fifth semester of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Environmental Technology – Compliance program.

Yvette Vaughan, a program instructor at the Fort Bend County campus, used one of the trailers  at the end of the spring semester. She said her students were excited about the trailer, which led to a discussion about hazardous materials-related jobs in the Houston area.

“The trailer provided an additional three stages of decontamination, which demonstrated a closer replica of a real-life scenario, along with the donated decontamination portable shower received during spring break,” Vaughan said. “The trailer sparked interest in the field. For me as an instructor, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

The trailers, which are constructed of fiberglass and steel, have shower heads and hand wands, external drains, lighting, water hookups and 150-gallon quick-catch pools. 

The trailers improve how instructors teach the class, which is based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Students who complete the class receive an OSHA certification.

Lester Bowers, TSTC’s statewide chair for Environmental Technology in Waco, said a lot of environmental health and safety jobs require the HAZWOPER certification. He said students who receive the certification have an advantage over others.

“The initial certification is good for one year, then they have to take a modified refresher training course for eight hours once a year to validate the certificate,” Bowers said. “We like to give them that completion when they are graduating so they are current.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC Alumnus Solving Environmental Challenges in West Texas

(WACO, Texas) – Ethan Sessums sees his job as a way to give back to the environment to make it better.

“I am always looking for a challenge,” he said.

Sessums is an environmental scientist at New Tech Global Environmental in Midland. He began work shortly after graduating from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus in spring 2019. His work focuses on creating and implementing remediation plans to fix environmental problems.

“People are overlooking the decontamination procedures,” Sessums said. “It is absolutely essential in this environmental industry to focus on decontamination management and handle issues.”

He works with regulatory agencies like the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

“They want you to send them a detailed list and a detailed job plan of what you are going to do to clean up,” Sessums said. “They don’t want to know what the regulatory issues are. They want it cleaned up.”

Sessums grew up in Whitney and is a graduate of Whitney High School. He said he knew his postgraduation plan would include TSTC because of cost-effectiveness.

“I did not want to put myself in a position like friends and others have been where they can’t find a job and are buried with student loan debt,” he said.

Sessums began in a different program at TSTC before shifting to pursue associate degrees in the Environmental Technology and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology programs. He changed majors because of his interest in government, prevention and regulations.

“I have always been good at the inspection side in noticing and documenting things,” he said.

Sessums said he enjoyed much of the hands-on work he did, from learning how to put on pressurized suits and face masks to using air tanks.

Sessums credited Lester Bowers, statewide chair of TSTC’s Environmental Technology department, for giving hard-earned knowledge to him and his classmates.

“You can talk about theory and look at scenarios all day, but until you have someone who has been through it and been on-site and run into trouble and come up with solutions, that is what makes an instructor special,” Sessums said.

Bowers said Sessums exhibited honesty and efficient time management skills as a student.

“Ethan was an active participant in classroom discussions and activities, encouraging an environment of inclusion for all other students as well,” Bowers said. “He was adept at fostering healthy discourse in small groups of peers as well as effortlessly capturing the attention of larger groups.”

Sessums’ career advice for students is to focus on hands-on learning to back up the theories they learn. And, he said students should be prepared to go where the jobs are. 

“You have to be willing to move,” he said. “If you want to start out making real good money like you expect to make, you have to put yourself out there. You have to put your time in. You have to do the three to five years to where you can pick the job you want in the future.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.  

Navy veteran on voyage toward two TSTC degrees

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – After serving his country for nearly 10 years in the U.S. Navy, Richard Gabriel Garcia took on a new role as a student at Texas State Technical College. The Houston native is getting ready to wrap up his time in the Electrical Power and Controls program, and he is ready to dive right into another educational adventure.

Why did you decide to study at TSTC?

I wanted to work with my hands. One interest led to another, and I found myself looking into the electrical field.

What are you currently studying?

I am currently in my last semester for the Electrical Power and Controls program, and I am getting ready to start the Robotics Technology program.

Do you have a favorite TSTC memory?

Realizing that I did not miss the boat on my education has been a great thing to look back on. Starting school from scratch in your 30s is quite daunting. But with the right support system, I realized I could apply myself and still work a full-time schedule.

What do you think makes TSTC unique?

The small class sizes are very beneficial. I have been fortunate to have both Mr. (Robert) Shields and Mr. (Jonathan) Bonkoske, who are Electrical Power and Control instructors, always be willing and able to provide much-needed one-on-one guidance.

Do you have any advice for other veterans who might be considering enrolling at TSTC?

It’s never too late; there’s no judgement. And the benefits of the GI Bill are tremendous.

To learn more about opportunities available for veterans at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/veterans.

 

TSTC, City of Ennis Poised for Productive Future

(RED OAK, Texas) – More than 20 miles separate the city of Ennis from Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus in Red Oak in Ellis County.

Ennis can count more than 3.6 million workers within a 60-mile radius of the city. This means there is an array of area jobs, from machining to welding, for which  people can learn skills at TSTC.

“From a logistical standpoint, we are learning that we are in the center of a lot of these hubs, these major industries and distribution centers and manufacturing centers,” said Marcus Balch, provost of TSTC’s North Texas campus. “I think that is in large part due to the major interstates coming through. There is a major railway that travels very close to the area, both north and south.”

Marty Nelson, Ennis’ city manager and interim economic development director, said new city leadership is signaling a need to build stronger connections with county entities, including TSTC.

“I think it is a resource that brings value to Ellis County,” he said about TSTC

Nelson said the city’s economic development is divided into four categories: downtown, industrial, maintenance and retail.  All provide potential opportunities to work with TSTC.

The city recently completed a $9 million infrastructure project in its eight-block downtown that was heavily damaged by a tornado in spring 2013. Part of the work included installing a fiber-optic network operating downtown irrigation, lighting and sound systems.

“We have city-owned facilities in, and in close proximity to our downtown, and each one has become a hub,” said Ennis Mayor Angeline Juenemann. “Those hubs are connected together to create a Wi-Fi mesh network over our downtown.”

Nelson said the city recently signed a deal with Freshpet to build a manufacturing facility employing about 400 people with average wages of $60,000 a year.  Buc-ee’s recently opened on Interstate Highway 45, providing about 175 jobs.

“Having a technically skilled workforce gives you a competitive advantage,” he said. “The availability of a workforce – in many cases, a skilled workforce – might be a great determining factor if you go to the next round in a site selection.”

Adrian Castanon, a coordinator in TSTC’s Career Services office, said Ennis Steel Industries Inc. hired in 2019 a North Texas campus graduate of  the Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology program.

Castanon  said that earlier spring he was working with an Ennis company specializing in manufacturing paper and printing labels for retail stores because of interest in TSTC’s Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program.

The city is projected to have more than 1,000 new homes constructed in the next 18 months, Nelson said.

“It is reverse migration,” Nelson said. “The Metroplex is so dense and commute times are so long. I think people are trying to find places to live so they don’t have to be in all the congestion.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC Alumnus Strives for Excellence at Austin Company

(WACO, Texas) – Emory Sutton of Pflugerville took his appreciation for the environment and turned it into a satisfying career. 

Sutton is a safety and loss control specialist at Professional Contract Services Inc. in Austin. He began working at the nonprofit company in August 2018 during the same week he graduated from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus.

His work involves making sure clients are meeting environmental and safety regulations.

Sutton’s work involves traveling a week each month to visit contractors’ clients. On some days he completes reports after making site visits, while other days are spent working on gathering bids for contracts.

“Every day is different,” he said. “It’s how I can assist my department in succeeding.”

Sutton said his motivation lies in his desire to be good at what he does.

“I like the feeling of succeeding,” he said. “I think of little things as succeeding. I like to get things done, doing a good job for the company and proving that I can do it.”

Sutton grew up in Granger and is a graduate of Granger High School. He attended a four-year university to study education to become a teacher, but he said after three-and-a-half years, he concluded the field was not for him.

Sutton has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Environmental Technology – Compliance and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety Compliance Technology from TSTC. He said Lester Bowers, an instructor in TSTC’s Environmental Technology program, influenced him to pick up the second associate degree.

“He was a very good student and always added relevant materials into class discussions,” Bowers said.

Sutton said TSTC provided him with a solid education because of its emphasis on hands-on learning.

“I preach technical schools since I have been at TSTC,” he said. “We need people to fill technical jobs in the nation.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

Army veteran aims to serve other veterans through education

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Former military intelligence analyst Vincent Rapp spent five years serving his country in the U.S. Army. The drive to continue giving back has never left him.

The Weatherford native is still serving, only in a different capacity. The 27-year-old is now a director in the Veteran Recruiting department at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus. His mission these days may look a little different, inside an office, but the goal is still the same: have the backs of his fellow veterans.

“It’s my responsibility to help veterans come to TSTC in order to obtain a better life through education and career placement,” Rapp said.

While helping TSTC recruit more veterans is important, it is the success of students he sees on the job that is most fulfilling for him.

“I really enjoy seeing our students succeed,” he said. “I love seeing their hard work pay off, and I love being part of that process.”

The location of TSTC’s newest campus is also beneficial for prospective students.

“The rapid growth of the Fort Bend County campus and the community here make it a great place to get an education,” Rapp said. “Houston is one of the largest areas that has a high demand for technically and vocationally trained skill sets. The job demand for students who meet these requirements is bigger.”

TSTC is making use of social media’s popularity. Recently Rapp helped with a virtual visit that highlighted veteran resources available at the Fort Bend County campus. The visit can be seen on TSTC’s statewide Facebook page.

“We hope to use the virtual visits to attract more veterans and help them see that TSTC truly is a college with a student-first mindset.”

Despite having already created an impact through his time in the military, Rapp also aspires to make a difference at TSTC.

“I hope to bring a greater veteran presence,” he said. “I hope that I have a lasting impact with the students that I talk to, and I want to help this college be successful.”

To learn more about veteran resources provided at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/veterans. To watch the Facebook virtual visit, visit facebook.com/TSTCproud.

 

TSTC Foundation Receives Financial Contribution for Campus Food Pantry

(WACO, Texas) – The Episcopal Student Center made a $2,000 contribution on Wednesday, May 20, to The TSTC Foundation for use at Texas State Technical College’s student food pantry on the Waco campus.

The money will be used to replenish the food pantry’s stock, which has been depleted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s good to know something we can do will have an impact on the students’ lives,” said the Rev. Keith Pozzuto of the Episcopal Student Center.

Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost, said the contribution will enable Misty Kaska, a coordinator in TSTC’s Advocacy and Resource Center, to continue her important work with students. 

The food pantry is located at TSTC”s  Murray Watson Jr. Student Recreation Center, with a temporary pickup site at the Student Services Center’s Welcome Center.

Kaska said she is grateful for the financial help. 

“There are not a lot of donations going on at this time,” she said.

Kaska said the most important items needed for the food pantry are canned soups, proteins, vegetables, and baby items such as diapers and wipes.

Pozzuto said he learned about the food pantry from TSTC students involved in the Episcopal Student Center’s Canterbury Club, which meets regularly in the Texas Room at TSTC”s  Student Services Center. He then reached out to Kaska to learn more about the project’s needs.

The Episcopal Student Center is on South 10th Street in Waco and is operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC Culinary Arts: Options Abound for Meat Substitutes

(WACO, Texas) – Consumers who find limits on purchasing their favorite meats at the grocery store can look for options to make meals satisfying.

Mark Schneider, Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts division director, said those who are interested in shifting from meat should not do so cold turkey. He advises cooks to create one or two meatless dishes, then increase the number of such meals as they become comfortable.

Schneider also advises consumers to read the labels on meatless products.

“Most vegetarians are very conscious of what they are doing and ingesting,” Schneider said.

David Ray, an instructor in TSTC’s Culinary Arts program in Waco, said students learn in the first-semester Nutrition for the Food Service Professional class about amino acids, complete proteins and vitamins in food. Also in the first semester, students learn in the Sanitation and Safety class how to avoid contamination and be mindful of cooking for those with food and gluten allergies.

Ray said beans, nuts and rice can be combined in a variety of ways to give people essential amino acids and protein. He said soybeans and quinoa are also great sources of complete protein.

“Asian dishes and Indian dishes have beans and rice and a little of animal protein in them,” Ray said. “It’s not nearly as much as we eat. They stretch the protein way out.”

Eggplant and portobello mushrooms can be used to substitute for meat in recipes, Schneider said.

“Both of those are great,” he said. “You can definitely make a vegetarian burger that is natural. A lot of time, that will include portobellos and grains like barley and oats. You can grind everything together and make a decent burger.”

Schneider also said tempeh is a good alternative. Tempeh is made of compressed soybeans that are fermented and shaped into a block held together with mycelia, according to The Vegan Society. Tempeh is popular in Indonesian cuisine.

“I really like tempeh,” Schneider said. “I cut it up into bite-size pieces and use it as a stir-fry or as a filler for pasta. Instead of cooking it in the dish, cook it first, then add to the dish.”

Tofu is another go-to for cooks.

“It is great,” Schneider said. “It takes on the flavor of what you are cooking. I try to marinate it first. I use the firm, hard tofu that gives it a little more substance. You can even press that and get it a little firmer. You get a better chew, or bite.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.