Category Archives: Waco

TSTC SkillsUSA Club Holds Football Ticket Fundraiser

(WACO) – TSTC SkillsUSA is holding a giveaway for two Baylor football season tickets. The tickets are for section 227, row 8, seats 10 and 11. It’s $10 to enter the giveaway.
SkillsUSA is an organization that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens by providing quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development.
In 34 years of competition, TSTC students have picked up a whopping 205 gold, silver and bronze SkillsUSA national wins, more medals than all other 2- and 4-year colleges in Texas combined. A win at SkillsUSA – a nationally recognized benchmark of technical excellence – means job skills and a great résumé.
The drawing will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 2. Winner need not be present to win. For more information, or to purchase tickets to enter the drawing, contact James Matus at james.matus@tstc.edu or 254-867-2690, or Autumn Outlaw at autumn.outlaw@tstc.edu or 254-867-2248.
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Donation to lineman program will provide more training opportunities

(WACO) – San Bernard Electric Cooperative, Inc. donated a 1997 International double-bucket truck to Texas State Technical College. The truck estimated to be worth about $35,000 will be used in the Lineman program.

“This will enable us to teach students about bucket work and safety, how to do basic line work out of a bucket and aid in pole-top rescue training,” said Instructor Bobby Mitchell. This truck also gives students the ability to have more training time towards earning their Commercial Driving License (CDL), which is a requirement for employment in the lineman field, he explained.

San Bernard Electric Cooperative, Inc. representatives Mike Boettcher, 1st Class Lineman; James Jouett, Tech Service Supervisor and Don Roberts, Electric System Manager delivered the truck to the Waco campus. The representatives said the company, which recently hired two TSTC students, wanted to give back in a way that would help improve training. Andrew Schmidt and Joesph McCarty are graduating next month and have already been hired by San Bernard Electric Cooperative, Inc. The Co-op’s representatives mingled with students and explained the features of the truck.

 “This is outstanding,” said Schmidt. “I wish more companies would be like this and put money into where they hire their graduates from.”

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TSTC Receives Single Accreditation Approval

(WACO) – Texas State Technical College has achieved single accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Previously, the four Texas State Technical Colleges (TSTC Waco, TSTC Harlingen,
TSTC West Texas and TSTC Marshall) had been individually accredited by SACSCOC.

The decision to move towards a single accreditation, or one TSTC, was spurred by growth. TSTC now has 11 locations after expanding into new areas of the state over the last several years, with new campuses in Williamson County, Ellis County and
Fort Bend County. TSTC chose to pursue Single Accreditation for all eleven locations to better serve students and to standardize operations across the State.

“I am confident that single accreditation for TSTC will affect every part of how we serve the state and help us to successfully grow as we place more Texans,” said TSTC Chancellor and CEO Michael L. Reeser.

One TSTC allows the colleges to standardize operations and programs to gain efficiencies by eliminating duplication of work associated with separately accredited colleges, allowing the College to focus more attention on serving students. The change also provides TSTC additional flexibility to react to changes in need for technical education and to adopt best practices regardless of location.

A few of the changes already implemented include common curriculum and learning outcomes, a single course catalog and student handbook, as well as a revamped consumer-friendly website (www.tstc.edu) which launched Friday, July 10. More information about TSTC’s single accreditation can be read at: http://www.tstc.edu/about/singleaccreditation [http://www.tstc.edu/about/singleaccreditation].

About TSTC’s Accreditation

Texas State Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate degrees and Certificates of Completion. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Texas State Technical College.

About TSTC

Texas State Technical College serves Texas through eleven campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Ingleside, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco and Williamson County. TSTC is the only college in Texas to adopt a funding model based entirely on student employment outcomes – aligning with its purpose of strengthening Texas with a highly skilled, technically competent workforce. Founded in 1965, TSTC is celebrating 50 years of service to the State of Texas in 2015.

TSTC Brings New Opportunity to Fort Bend County

(Fort Bend County) – Texas State Technical College officials, state Legislators, and community leaders broke ground on the TSTC campus in Fort Bend County Thursday, June 25. The groundbreaking signifies the start of a three-part building plan that will be known as Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County.

Opening in the fall of 2016, the expansion will allow TSTC to bring residents of this rapidly growing part of the state new opportunities in higher education.

“Although we’ve been in Fort Bend County teaching technical education for 15 years, this feels like a new beginning,” said Randy Wooten, Vice Chancellor and Executive-in-Charge at TSTC in Fort Bend County, “new because the opportunity is great to grow and to significantly contribute to the economic development of Fort Bend County.”

The new facility will allow TSTC to increase their course offerings to include Cyber Security, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Telecommunications Convergence Technology and Welding Technology. TSTC in Fort Bend currently offers Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, Precision Machining Technology.

“Though TSTC has been here for 15 years, we’ve lacked the depth, volume and variety of programs that a dedicated campus can offer for those who want higher education of a non-academic standard,” said Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert. “With this groundbreaking today, we take a major step to being able to offer our youth training and high level workforce skills.”

TSTC unveiled plans for the campus in April, and has since had several generous donations, starting with founder of Sprint Waste Services Joe Swinbank, presenting a check for $250,000. Following, Rosenberg Development Corporation donated $2.5 million, the Development Corporation of Richmond provided $1 million, and Fort Bend County has donated $2.5 million.

“It is humbling to see our community leaders and businesses giving to what we at The TSTC Foundation exist to support, the success of TSTC and ultimately the success of our state,” said Curtis Cleveland, Treasurer of the TSTC Foundation. “[These gifts] will be used to create a technical education campus in Fort Bend County of which we can all be proud… one which will further the economic prosperity of this area for years to come.”

TSTC in Fort Bend County will sit on 80 acres on the north side of Hwy 59 between FM Road 2218 and Hwy. 36 (1.5 miles east of Hwy. 36). Construction of the 110,000 sq. ft. building will commence with plans to open the expansion in Fall 2016. The campus is projected to expand into a sprawling 6 to 8 building campus that will be able to provide support a 5,000-plus student body.

“TSTC will now have its own footprint, filled with technical labs uniquely designed for the Fort Bend County and Greater Houston area workforce needs,” Wooten said, “at a campus that has the potential to serve as many Texans as each of our flagship legacy campuses.”

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41 TSTC Students to Compete in SkillsUSA Nationals Next Week

(WACO) – Forty-one students will represent TSTC at the SkillsUSA National competition next week in Louisville, Kentucky.

The students, who all earned a gold medal in the state competition at TSTC Waco in March, will compete in contests ranging from Advertising Design, Culinary Arts and Electrical Construction, to Collision Repair and Plumbing.

Not only will a win look great on the student’s résumé, it will also allow them to see how their skills stack up against other competitors across the nation. Also, those who place in certain categories will have the chance to bring home tools and other prizes. Winners may also be asked to join the SkillsUSA World Team, where they will compete in Sao Paulo, Brazil in August.

SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills, and emphasizes total quality at work including high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work.

In 34 years of competition, TSTC students statewide have won 120 gold, silver and bronze SkillsUSA national wins. That’s more than all the other 2- and 4-year colleges in Texas. A win at SkillsUSA – a nationally recognized benchmark of technical excellence – means job skills and a great résumé.

 

For more information, call 254-867-4812.

TSTC Women’s Team to Fly in Air Race Classic

(WACO) – Three of Texas State Technical College’s finest pilots will head across the country on Wednesday, June 17 to prepare for this year’s Air Race Classic.

The all-women team, consisting of Aircraft Pilot Training students Alexandra Harayda as pilot, Meagan Kesler as co-pilot and teammate Megan McBride, will leave the terminal at TSTC Airport for Virginia at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, where they will make preparations for the cross-country flight. The race, which will be from June 22 through June 25, will start in Fredericksburg, Va. and end in Fairhope, Ala.

The team will begin their pre-flight preparations and packing the plane around 7 a.m. to prepare for an 8 a.m. takeoff.

This will be pilot Alexandra Harayda’s second year participating in the race.

“I feel more prepared this year,” Harayda said. “We have a better knowledge of what the race consists of and strategies that will help us improve our times from last year. Since I’ve flown the race in the past I can better prepare my co-pilot and teammate on what to expect before we leave. We also have lots of support from last year’s team helping prepare and working to make this year a success.”

The students participating in the race will be available for photos and interviews all day on Tuesday, June 16.

Edgar Rojas

 Welding student Edgar Rojas is first graduate from TSTC’s North Texas campus.

(NORTH TEXAS) – Edgar Rojas is celebrating several firsts. He is the first in his family to graduate college. He is the first in his family to get a welding certificate. And, he is the first graduate ever from Texas State Technical College in North Texas.

The 19-year-old Ferris native walked across the stage at the TSTC’s Spring Commencement Ceremony in Waco this month to receive a Certificate in Welding.

School and studies have never come easy for Rojas.  He wanted to drop out as far back as junior high school but his parents, immigrants from Mexico who came here to give their children a chance at an education,would not let him.   And, high school was an even bigger challenge.

“I really struggled in high school.  Bookwork and paperwork just wasn’t my thing,” remembers Rojas.  The only thing I liked was FAA and Ag Mechanics.”

Rojas became increasingly frustrated with his academic disappointments. He began to hang around with the wrong crowd and eventually got into some legal trouble.

“During my junior year I got a DWI.  I thought my life was over.  I felt like a real failure,” said Rojas.

But, his parents, his five older siblings and some teachers would not let Rojas give up.  Those educators, aware of the teenager’s hands-on skills, started motivating him to apply to TSTC.

Rojas says when he submitted his welding application he didn’t expect to be accepted.  When he finally became a college student, burdened by low self-esteem and a fear of academic disappointment, he almost dropped out.

“It came to a point that I wanted to give up.  It’s hard.  I didn’t trust myself that I could do it,” said Rojas.

But Rojas’ TSTC instructors believed in him and challenged him to put in the extra time and work needed for him to succeed.

“Edgar is a great student. Yes, he kind of struggled with bookwork but he’s a real quick learner once you show him what is expected,” said Welding Instructor Samuel Elizondo. “(Instructor) Mr. (Mark) Lipscomb and I guided him and mentored him to where he was confident in completing our curriculum.”

Motivated by his instructors, Rojas persevered. Today he says hands-on learning was critical to his success.  The majority of TSTC technologies on the 11 campuses are 60 percent hands-on instruction.  It’s a cornerstone of a TSTC education that makes graduates very valuable to hiring industries in Texas.

“If you like working with your hands, TSTC is for you. I feel really proud of myself,” said Rojas.  “A hundred doors will shut in your face.  But I’ve learned, you only need one door to open and change your life.”

Today, Rojas is focusing on those positive changes and his renewed confidence.  He is presently in the middle of job interviews and remains optimistic that he’ll be joining the workforce in the near future.

In addition to North Texas, TSTC offers Welding Programs in Breckenridge, Brownwood, Harlingen, Marshall, Sweetwater, Waco  and Williamson County.   For more information, go to www.tstc.edu.

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TSTC Graduate Begins Internship at Augusta National Golf Club

(WACO) – Mitch O’Brey, a May 2015 graduate of TSTC’s Golf Course & Landscape Management program, begins a year-long internship at the Augusta National Golf Club today.

The Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is known for being the site of the Masters Golf Tournament. Typically wealthy and accomplished, members include Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Condoleezza Rice.

Joe Todaro, Golf Course & Landscape Management Department Chair, says from day one Mitch said he wanted to work at Augusta National.

“I agreed it would be a wonderful experience, but warned him that a lot of people share that same dream and he might focus on some of the great courses here in Texas,” said Todaro. “One evening I saw a tweet about the Augusta internships.  I shared the tweet with Mitch, who texted back immediately and said he already saw it and was working on his resume!”

O’Brey is excited to begin his internship, and fulfill his dream.

“I’ve always admired Augusta National from watching the Masters year after year,” O’Brey said. “My dream from day one at TSTC was to go to the historic course, and I couldn’t have picked a better school to help me accomplish my dream.”

You can learn more about TSTC’s Golf Course & Landscape Management program athttp://www.waco.tstc.edu/programs/waco/glm/.

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TSTC in Fort Bend gains campus status from Legislature

(FORT BEND) – House Bill 658 passed the Senate by a unanimous vote on Tuesday, authorizing Texas State Technical College’s small extension program in Fort Bend County to expand to a full campus. With the governor’s signature, the bill will be effective immediately.

The bill was co-authored in the Texas House of Representatives by Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond; Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land; Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City; Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton; and Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco. The bill was sponsored in the Texas Senate by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham and will allow TSTC in Fort Bend County to better serve the larger Houston region.

Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. This growth has created the need for welders, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other trades for which TSTC offers programs.

“The community support has been tremendous,” said TSTC Chancellor, Michael L. Reeser. “Between area businesses, local governments, economic development corporations and foundations, the region has pledged about $40 million. A community investment of this magnitude is unprecedented for TSTC and it means that the campus in Fort Bend County will start at a much larger scale than otherwise would have been possible.”

Reeser continued, “We value the relationships that brought us to the region and look forward to expanding our presence here.”

TSTC is well known in many parts of Texas for its affordable tuition and its impressive track record of teaching job-related skills that qualify graduates for well-paying jobs.

 The TSTC Extension Center in Fort Bend County opened in 2001 as a partnership with Wharton County Junior College. Currently, TSTC offers Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Diesel Equipment Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Machining at the WCJC Fort Bend Technical Center.

Last month, TSTC unveiled plans to build a permanent campus in Fort Bend County following requests from area residents to increase its course offerings in the area. The initial plans call for two buildings totalling approximately 150,000 square feet of space. Ultimately, the campus will have the capacity to support 4,000 to 5,000 students annually.

TSTC will break ground for Building I in June, and plans to open for classes in the fall of 2016. This first building will allow TSTC to increase its offerings to include Industrial Maintenance, Welding, Computer Networking and System Administration, Network Security and Telecommunications Technology.

Offerings will expand further when Building II opens in the fall of  2017. Offerings for this building may include Biomedical Equipment Technology, Instrumentation, Robotics, Electrical Power & Controls and Occupational Safety & Environmental Compliance Technology.

 

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TSTC North Texas gains campus status from Legislature

(NORTH TEXAS) – House Bill 1051 passed the Texas Senate unanimously on Monday, upgrading the status of Texas State Technical College’s extension center in Ellis County to a campus. The bill is now before Governor Greg Abbott awaiting his signature.

HB 1051 was co-authored by Rep. John Wray, R-Waxahachie, and Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Grand Prairie. The bill was sponsored  in the Senate by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and will allow TSTC to better serve the Dallas-Fort Worth region. There is a growing need for skilled workers to attract and retain employers in this area.

TSTC is well known in many parts of Texas for its affordable tuition and its impressive track record of teaching job-related skills that qualify graduates for well-paying jobs.

Local community leaders brought TSTC to the region two years ago when they contributed land and resources for the extension center. It was again at the community’s urging that the extension center be elevated to a full campus. By becoming a campus location, the TSTC in Ellis County is eligible for a wider range of funding sources,” said TSTC Chancellor, Michael L. Reeser, “It means we can better meet the fast-growing demand we think there will be in Ellis County.”

“We have enjoyed partnering with Red Oak and the surrounding ISDs,” said Reeser. “Our first graduate from the North Texas campus just walked the stage – the first of what is sure to be many – as more North Texans pursue careers in technical fields.”

“We carefully selected programs that prepare students for high-demand jobs in this region so we expect that the North Texas location could be serving thousands of students in the years ahead,” added Reeser.

On January 24, 2014, TSTC North Texas broke ground for its first major facility in Ellis County – a $10 million, 103,000 sq. ft. technical education facility, located on a 29-acre parcel of land behind Red Oak High School. The Industrial Technology Center building opened Sept. 2, 2014 and houses the Welding, Logistics, High Voltage Electrical Systems, Diesel and Industrial Maintenance Departments.

TSTC’s academic and Information Technology Departments are located at the Career and Tech Education building about two blocks away. There, students study Computer Maintenance Desktop Support, Cyber Security, Computer Systems Network Administration, Computer Aided Drafting and HVAC.

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