Category Archives: All TSTC

TSTC, Texas Music Café award recording contract to local TSTC student

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College student Christopher Briones has become a local celebrity with his first-place win during the Texas Music Café PBS TV Show and TSTC’s Talent Search, bringing the award home to Harlingen for the third year in row.

Briones, who started singing five years ago in high school and currently sings at a local church, was awarded a $2,500 recording contract with E-Cleff Productions, Inc. after his award-winning performance during Wednesday night’s finals held at TSTC’s Waco campus.

It was there where the 19-year-old belted out the notes to “Resurrecting,” by Elevated Worship.

“My worst fear during this contest was rejection. Rejection because of my choice of songs,” he said. “But my love for the gospel and worship ended up being received well and led me to a new chapter in my music career.”

The San Benito native first auditioned for his spot at finals during Harlingen’s Texas Music Café and Talent Search regional competition event last month, singing “Reckless” by Cory Asbury.

To earn a spot at finals, Briones had to be in the top five among 33 performers from TSTC’s campuses across the state.

Briones earned more than 300 “Likes” on YouTube and qualified to join Brooke Baily from TSTC Abilene, Caroline Herman from TSTC Marshall, Samuel Self from TSTC Waco and Brandon Felts and John Ward from TSTC Fort Bend County at the competition’s finals.

“I never expected to make it this far, much less win first place,” said Briones. “There was so much talent in one room. I was shocked, surprised and excited when I heard the judges call my name. I couldn’t believe it.”

In the coming months, Briones will travel back to Waco for his session in the recording studio with an assigned producer. He will record two original songs, one titled, “The One,” an ode to God for never leaving his side and a second one that is still a work in progress.

“I started working on these songs immediately after arriving from Waco, same night actually,” he said. “I’m excited to share my songs with the world and I hope they can make an impact in someone’s life.”

Briones’ tracks will be featured on the Texas Music Café website, radio program and PBS. He will also have the opportunity to perform as the opening act for a live taping of Texas Music Café.

“This is about to take my music career to a new level,” said Briones. “I hope this opens up other performance and recording opportunities. This is a dream come true.”

Student Life Coordinator Belinda Palomino said she is proud of every contestant who participated this year.

“Every year I am amazed at the amount of talent we have on campus and across the state,” she said. “I would seriously hate to be a judge. It’s a hard decision for them every time.”

She said the partnership between TSTC, Texas Music Café and its executive producer Chris Ermoian is invaluable because of the opportunities it presents to students. They have been working together since 2016.

“As a technical school many think we have no musical talent, but this lets us showcase what we have and get our students’ names out there and expose them to a world they may not get the chance to see in the classroom or outside of these walls.”

Palomino said she is excited to see the partnership continue to flourish and she hopes someday every TSTC campus can host a show and that the number of participants continues to grow.

As for Briones, he said he is thankful to TSTC and Texas Music Café for this opportunity, but even more thankful to his family and friends who pushed him to do it in the first place.

TSTC students spend spring break rebuilding lives

(HARLINGEN) – Trading in flip-flops for hammers and drills, four Texas State Technical College Building Construction Technology students volunteered with Eight Days of Hope over spring break to help rebuild for those displaced by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Yaquelin Gonzalez, Kristen Perales, Lidia Hernandez and Susana Sierra jumped in a car, packed their tents and bags and headed northeast to Houston for three days to join more than 4,000 other volunteers from across the United States during the organization’s two-week event.

“It’s so sad to see that after seven months there are still people trying to pick up the pieces after such a devastating storm,” said Sierra. “Helping at such a large scale event was something we’ve been wanting to do for a while now and I’m so glad we got this opportunity.”

Eight Days of Hope is a Christian, non-profit organization in Houston that serves communities affected by natural disasters by assisting with rapid response and disaster relief. The organization operates with the help of volunteers and donations.

Volunteers, like TSTC’s building construction students, have restored or rebuilt close to 2,000 homes since 2005. To date, the organization has completed more than $30 million dollars of work for free.

Gonzalez, Perales, Hernandez and Sierra were assigned to assist with kitchen and bathroom cabinet assembly and worked closely with the homeowners, who were also helping the volunteers.

“The experience was great. On top of getting field experience, we also got to spend time with and speak to the victims of the flooding,” said Sierra. “To see hope and gratitude in their eyes was the best feeling ever.”

The sentiment was shared across the board.

“We had families telling us that we were their sign of hope,” said Gonzalez. “That’s so touching. They’ve been through so much and I’m glad I took the opportunity to help.”

Hernandez added, “The experience was worthwhile. Our contribution was making a difference and that in itself was rewarding.”

TSTC’s Building Construction Technology Instructor Rolando Cuellar said he is proud of his students for taking the initiative to help out a community in need.

“It was spring break and they could have gone anywhere and done anything,” he said. “But instead they made the choice to work and go where their help was needed. They really went above and beyond their call of duty.”

The women’s three-day adventure went beyond assembling cabinets. They bonded as a group while sleeping outside of a church in tents and were rewarded with a live concert featuring gospel singer Ryan Stevenson.

The students all agree that the next time they get a call for help they will be there. They said there is no greater feeling than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.

To learn more about Building Construction Technology at TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Chancellor’s Excellence Award – Paul Lopez

(HARLINGEN) – Paul Lopez has belonged to the Texas State Technical College family for 13 years, troubleshooting and solving problems as an Application Administrator for the Office of Information Technology (OIT), and this year he is being recognized for the problem solver he is with a 2018 Chancellor’s Excellence Award.

“I thought someone was playing a joke on me. I thought how cruel,” he said with a laugh. “I couldn’t believe I was actually getting one of these (awards). I never expected it.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award is given by TSTC’s Chancellor Mike Reeser to select faculty and staff for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and their state.

“These teammates were nominated by their peers, recommended by their Provosts and Vice Chancellor’s and chosen as faculty and staff who model excellence in our college every day,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Their caring and dedicated efforts embolden us all to make a difference in the success of our teams and the lives of our students.”

The San Benito native graduated from TSTC’s Computer Science program with an associate degree in 1996 and worked with Rio Hondo Independent School District and Region One Education Center in Edinburg as a lead technician/interim technology coordinator and help desk developer, respectively, before returning to TSTC.

“I have to credit the mentors I’ve had along the way,” he said. “Because of them I’ve been able to be successful in my career for so long. Every piece of advice I have taken to heart and have carried with me.”

Lopez has 20 years of experience in the information technology world.

And for at least four years during the Windows XP era in the early 2000’s, Lopez worked as an instructor with TSTC’s Corporate College, which is now Workforce Training and Continuing Education.

He helped train industry leaders and their employees, ranging from assembly line workers to supervisors.

“This was definitely a learning experience for me,” he said. “I loved teaching and sharing my knowledge and seeing faces light up when they learned something new and understood it.”

In 2005, Lopez made the full transition to TSTC and began his journey at the TSTC Help Desk, moved up to a network technician II and eventually into his current role.

As an applications administrator he has worked on both the support and project side of the house, initiating and maintaining various projects for departments such as TSTC’s Learning Resource Center, Police Department and HVAC program.

Senior Executive Director of Infrastructure for OIT and also Lopez’s supervisor Rick Collatos said this award is long overdue for Lopez.

“Paul is a dedicated employee who goes the extra mile for everyone he works with,” said Collatos. “He demonstrates an excellence in customer service every day and has so for many years. Congratulations Paul.”

Collatos also said that Lopez is an innovator for TSTC, always thinking ahead and dedicating himself to projects that will take the college to the next level.

Those who nominated Lopez for this award have remained anonymous, but he has a special message for them.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Lopez. “I don’t get out of my office, everyone I have contact with is over the phone or video conference, so I appreciate people taking notice of my work and recognizing me for it. It’s a true honor.”

So what is next for Lopez?

Lopez said he hopes to go back to school and finish what he started: a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He also hopes to move back into teaching at TSTC and share his knowledge and skills with others.

Lopez will join the other 16 Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipients from across TSTC’s 10 campuses in May for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin where the honorees will receive their award.

TSTC Graduates Help Rebuild Puerto Rico Power Grid

(MARSHALL) – In the wake of last year’s Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was in shambles. With many residents left without electricity, some of Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker graduates working for Oncor wanted to help restore power to the storm-ravaged island.

TSTC alumni Sawyer Prestridge, a 2015 graduate, and Paul Sheppard, a 2013 graduate, are among many Oncor employees recently sent by the electric service provider to assist in the island’s recovery efforts.

Prestridge left for Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in January to help rebuild the electrical grid. He volunteered to help restore the grid because he wanted to help the residents.

“It felt really good,” he said. “It was definitely a humbling experience working there. It was hard work.”

Sheppard worked in the same city in February.

“I wanted to help out,” he said. “I wanted to use the skills I was given to help the people there get the lights on. It’s a good deed.”

Prestridge said the concrete houses he saw weren’t too badly damaged, but power lines were down and wreckage was far and wide.

“There was debris everywhere,” he said. “Downed trees were stacked up 70 feet high. We mainly picked up wire and changed out electrical poles.”

Sheppard shared the same sentiments.

“It was still pretty bad,” Sheppard said. “We were sent to one of the most mountainous areas there, so not everything is accessible by truck. Trees had to be cut, but the vegetation grows back every day because it rains every day. The humidity is 100 percent. It looked like nobody had been there.”

Sheppard said the change in environment made the work difficult.

“It was definitely the hardest work I’ve done in my life,” he said. “Here in East Texas, I’m not used to all the mountains and stuff like that. It was definitely a different type of work area. The infrastructure is totally different there than it is here. The weather — it rains every single day. It may rain for 45 minutes and stop for an hour or two and then rain again. It was a totally different experience from working here in East Texas.”

TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Statewide Department Chair Eric Carithers said he is very proud of the graduates for volunteering to work on the island.

“The dedication that it takes to not only do line work, but being young in your career and being away from home for weeks to months at a time, is challenging — especially if it’s their first time being away from their families like that,” Carithers said.

Oncor has sent 80 employees to help restore power to the territory.

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC in Fort Bend’s Annual Open House a Success

(FORT BEND COUNTY) – Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County held its annual open house Friday, opening its campus for program tours and meetings with faculty. The event, designed for prospective students who want to learn more about the college, hosted more than 200 visitors.

Coordinator of student recruitment Marigold Sagrado said she hoped the open house event would help give the college more visibility.

“I want to help spread the word about TSTC in the Houston and greater surrounding areas,” she said. “I also hope they took away that technical education is important and can offer a high-paying career.”

Visitors touring the campus’ 10 programs were able to participate in hands-on activities.

“In our Precision Machining program, our guests had the opportunity to create keychains on our CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machines,” Sagrado said. “They got to see students climbing poles in Electrical Lineworker Technology. Robotics demoed the robots for visitors, and Electrical Power & Controls did a demonstration on electricity. It was a lot of fun.”

Sagrado said the college’s unique programs are what drew many of the visitors.

“Our attendees are looking for programs in these fields, but there aren’t a lot of schools offering them,” she said. “I think that piqued their interest to check out more.”

Other guests heard about the college by word of mouth.

“People are talking about their experience at TSTC and how the learning experience is different from any other college or university,” Sagrado said.

TSTC’s Student Recruitment office made some changes to open house this year hoping reach a broader audience.

“This year, our event lasted until 7 p.m.,” she said. “We wanted to try to reach some of the nontraditional students who may work during the day.”

Isaac Rush, an attendee who has now decided to enroll at TSTC in the fall, said he found the event beneficial.

“Not only were the teachers very helpful, but the student volunteers were just as helpful too,” he said. “The students were intertwined with their field of study, which helped me in selecting what I want to major in at TSTC. All in all, TSTC is a great environment.”

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on the college, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Students Bused to Waco for Job Fair

(HUTTO) – More than a dozen Texas State Technical College students from the East Williamson County Higher Education Center made their way to TSTC in Waco Thursday, March 22, for the college’s annual Industry Job Fair.

Over 100 employers attended the event looking to meet, interview and possibly hire students from TSTC’s programs.

This was the first year that the college’s Williamson County campus had bused students to the job fair.

“For years now, it’s been an issue of transportation,” said TSTC Provost Edgar Padilla. “We’re trying to do what we can for our students.”

TSTC field development officer Michael Smith echoed those sentiments.

“I heard from several different instructors over the year that either they had to drive them up there or they (students) had to drive on their own, and how it would be neat if we had a bus,” Smith said. “I heard that over and over, and so I told Edgar, ‘I think we should do a bus this year,’ and we started researching the cost.”

Ellis & Salazar Automotive & Collision volunteered to sponsor the bus to help the students reach more opportunities.

“We’re working with Ellis & Salazar on a different project, so I mentioned it to them and said this would really help us,” Smith said.

Smith hopes the students had a positive experience at the event.

“They’re getting to meet with these companies and see the full range of services that TSTC offers,” he said. “It’s not just coming to class and going home. Career Services will be out there to help and answer resume questions, and all the other pieces that go into making sure they’re prepared for a job when they leave. Ultimately the goal is for them to leave with a job.”

Cyber Security student Jeremiah Southern was well prepared for the event.

“I had my resumes ready and researched the companies that were there to see what positions they had open and learn about their backgrounds,” Southern said. “Some of the companies that were there, even though they weren’t there specifically looking for what my particular field will be, it just takes asking. In IT and networking, there’s always something that could be available. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.”

Southern enjoyed the event overall and found some promising opportunities to follow up on.

“There were a lot of companies and a lot of students,” he said. “It was my first time going to a job fair, and I look forward to going to more. There were some great opportunities with the Civilian Air Force and Aerotek. Aerotek specifically said they need Cisco people, so that was really promising.”

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on the college, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC hosts annual counselor update

(HUTTO) – Texas State Technical College hosted its annual Dual Enrollment Counselor Update and Luncheon Wednesday, March 21.

High school counselors, administrators and teachers from the surrounding area attended the event, which was held at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center.

Megan McBride, dual enrollment advisor at TSTC, stressed the need for the updates.

“It’s important that we hold these events so we can educate the counselors about dual enrollment statewide, not just for TSTC, but from the TEA (Texas Education Agency) and the Higher Education Coordinating Board standpoints also,” she said.

Marina Wilcox, TSTC vice president of dual enrollment, spoke about the importance of two Texas House bills: one that impacts the way high school students choose courses with a career goal in mind, and another that requires high schools to improve student performance.

Wilcox also elaborated on some of the dual enrollment programs offered by the college.

“If you go to the Texas Workforce Commission website, there’s this really cool thing called Career Check,” Wilcox said in her presentation. “If you look at Industrial Maintenance with a Certificate I, you start out with a salary of $53,000. It’s a high-tech field that’s very skilled, and we offer pathways in that.”

TSTC representatives also covered new forms and changes in the admissions process and general business for the 2018-19 academic year.

“We’ve simplified our processes,” McBride said. “We’re also working more closely with admissions to streamline those processes. Most importantly, we’ve updated the dual enrollment website, and that’s a huge improvement for us.”

Earlier this year, TSTC announced new, fully online pathways in Cyber Security, Digital Media Design, and Computer-Aided Drafting and Design. Health Information Technology was the first program to go completely online.

“Pretty much all of the West Texas high schools that partner with us have opted for these programs since they’re so spread out,” McBride said. “With us, the majority are opting in for these online pathways as well.”

For more information on TSTC and its dual enrollment program, visit de.tstc.edu.

TSTC in Waco Hosts Industry Job Fair for Students

(WACO) – More than 650 Texas State Technical College students met potential employers from throughout Texas on Thursday at its Industry Job Fair.

Two lift trucks provided by Versalift in Waco were parked at the corner of Campus Drive and Scott Circle in front of the Murray Watson Jr. Student Recreation Center, where more than 100 businesses set up tables and displays. This was the largest Industry Job Fair the campus has ever held.

Bruce Hardt, Versalift’s human resources director, said the company was looking for students to fill welding, production assistant, service technician, warehouse parts puller, panting and other positions that are available right now.

“We are a local company and TSTC is local, and we need to capture people to keep them here,” Hardt said. “We have had a lot of traffic today. It’s been good.”

Representatives of Austin-based Aerotek were seeking to meet students to fill technology, manufacturing, maintenance and engineering positions. Jaime Valdez, an Aerotek commercial account manager, said he was collecting resumes from students throughout the morning.

“We try to get to a lot of the job fairs to find fresh students,” said Valdez. “The tech schools are our niche.”

Jacob Matson, an instrumentation department supervisor at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, was looking to meet instrumentation students. The Austin company has more than 3,000 employees and is one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States.

“Emerging technology requires emerging talent,” Matson said.

Tractor Supply Co., which has locations throughout Central Texas, has openings for material handlers and maintenance mechanics. Ashley R. Willis, a company human resources specialist in Waco, said there are plans to expand to at least 2,000 stores nationwide in the next five years.

“We have positions that need to be filled,” Willis said. “We are a rapidly growing company. We open a new store every four days around the country. We would like to build a great connection with TSTC.”

Sara Mardanbigi, a traveling recruiter for Torchy’s Tacos in Austin, did not bring samples of the restaurant’s popular gourmet tacos. But, she did bring details of supply chain, information technology and maintenance technician positions available. Torchy’s Tacos has 60 locations in Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas and has plans to move into other states.

Some TSTC alumni worked at tables representing B&W Energy Services in Deer Park and ProPetro Services Inc. in Midland.

Jason Lehrmann graduated in 2017 from TSTC with associate degrees in Environmental Technology Compliance and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology. He began an internship with Manitou Group in May and was hired full time as soon as he graduated in August. Lehrmann is a safety supervisor and human resources assistant at the company that produces telehandlers, backhoe loaders, aerial work platforms and other heavy equipment.

“It feels really good seeing the students I went to school with and coming to the table,” Lehrmann said.

Some students planning to graduate this semester were figuring out their future work plans.

Ann-Marie Garza, a Web Design and Development Technology major from McGregor, said she became interested in web design after being encouraged by a high school teacher to pursue the field to study.

“Right now, I’m just trying to get an idea of where I want to work, so any job will do,” she said. “But, this is really helpful in getting started.”

Jaren Gillis, 24, of Waco is studying Cyber Security and has attended previous campus employment events. He said he always starts out walking around the student recreation center and then zeroing in on specific businesses.

“I think it’s always good seeing what the market looks like and to talk to the employers and seeing what they look for,” Gillis said.

William Hammond, an aviation maintenance student from Groesbeck, said the companies represented know TSTC’s students come with ample hands-on experience that sets them above others.

“I’m looking for a job that pays well and offers good benefits and retirement,” he said. “I have to start thinking long term, and these companies here are ready to offer that.”

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

Waco Transit System Utilizing TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology Students

(WACO) – When people wind down at home or lift reps at the gym after a long day at work, the Waco Transit System’s maintenance department livens up with its own activity.

And, some of the employees making this happen have ties to Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program.

“We always keep six to 10 of the kids on board,” said Waco Transit System Director of Maintenance Steve Edgar. “We work late evenings and it is flexible with their classes. If it wasn’t for the tech students, I would be in a bind.”

Caleb Hensley, 19, of Waco and Malaci Moore, 19, of Elm Mott are two of the TSTC students who work in the maintenance shop in downtown Waco. Both students are scheduled to graduate in April from TSTC. The students work with preventive maintenance along with repairing air and fuel leaks and hydraulics.

“I like the controlled environment,” Hensley said. “This is my first shop. I have always worked on vehicles, but I liked heavier equipment.”

Moore came to Waco Transit with knowledge accumulated from his relatives working in the oil fields. He said laboring at the transit agency has been a good experience and one to help him as he secures a job working on mechanical equipment in the oil fields after graduation.

“There are some things you can’t teach in a classroom compared to a shop,” Moore said.

Edgar said Waco Transit has worked with the Diesel Equipment Technology program for more than two decades, hiring students and enabling them to get professional work experience. He said while the technical college provides the industry knowledge for students, it is businesses like Waco Transit that can provide the hands-on work to fine-tune skills.

“Steve and them are a blessing,” said Richard Stranacher, an instructor in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. “The students get the exposure, and he critiques and hone their skills over there.”

Waco Transit is not just city buses and trolleys circling downtown. The agency provides bus service for Baylor University, shuttles for Baylor football games, shuttles to and from Waco Regional Airport, services for McLennan County Rural Transit, and vans for Americans with Disabilities Act and Medicaid patients.

New employees typically start as mechanics’ helpers, Edgar said. He said some of the traits he looks for in potential employees include common sense and flexibility. He said the first test for applicants is to see if they follow directions in filling out the employment application.

“If they show will and determination to learn, they move into the shop to do preventive maintenance,” he said. “With these kids, I always encourage school, No. 1; work is No. 2. We have to pace them.”

David Villatoro, 28, of Robinson began work at Waco Transit while he was a TSTC student and was hired fulltime after graduation in 2009. He is a technician who started working evenings and eventually moved up to a daytime shift. A lot of his work involves preventive maintenance, heating and cooling systems and wheelchair lifts.

“When I started, I was doing tires,” said Villatoro. “I got familiarized with the vehicles and preventive maintenance and then worked on the electrical side. I caught on really fast.”

Villatoro, a 2007 graduate of Stony Point High School in Round Rock, said he grew up with an interest in cars.

“But, everything in diesel is bigger,” he said.

Further training beyond daily work is done by vendors contracted to provide purchased vehicles, Edgar said.

Edgar said the transit agency could also use current students or graduates in other fields, including automotive technology, auto collision and welding, to fill work gaps.

The Waco Transit Authority is a wholly owned subsidiary of RATP Dev and contracts with the city of Waco. The agency has 140 employees in administration, maintenance and operations.

TSTC in Waco offers the Associate of Applied Science degree in Diesel Equipment Technology with specializations in Off-Highway Equipment, John Deere Construction and Forestry, or Heavy Truck. TSTC in Waco also offers certificates in Diesel Equipment Technology – Heavy Truck and Off-Highway Equipment.

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

TSTC in Abilene Seeking Faculty for New Technical Programs

(ABILENE) – Texas State Technical College is looking for team members.

With a reputation for hiring faculty who have real-world industry experience, TSTC in searching for teaching candidates to teach in Abilene.

TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center is currently under construction on Loop 322 next to Abilene Regional Airport and will house three new TSTC programs: Electrical Power and Controls, Industrial Maintenance and Welding Technology.

Quality faculty are key to helping students become well-trained employees.

“The knowledge the faculty brings to the classroom and labs is hard to quantify,” said Rick Denbow, provost of TSTC in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater. “You are conveying that information to the student that has maybe limited knowledge. They are preparing those students upon graduation to get into industry and get those great paying jobs.”

TSTC will hire for four full-time instructors and two adjunct instructors in Electrical Power and Controls and Industrial Maintenance. There will also be two full-time instructors hired for the welding program. A program maintenance specialist will be hired who will help instructors prepare classrooms and equipment for labs, grade papers and other tasks needed by instructors, said Rhiannon M. Hastings, lead statewide recruiter in TSTC Human Resources.

People interested in the jobs need to have at least an associate degree in one of the fields and at least three years of professional field experience. Applicants should also have professional certifications as needed for their fields, Hastings said.

Dan Bateman, a senior instructor in the Electrical Power and Controls program at TSTC in Waco, is leading the creation of the new associate degree program in Abilene.

“What we need is someone with utility or testing and maintenance experience along with utility design,” he said.

The number of electrical engineers is expected to grow by more than 16,000 through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. West Texas had more than 400 jobs in May 2016, according to the federal agency.

David A. Junek, TSTC’s statewide department chairman for Industrial Systems and Engineering Technology, said he wants to see Industrial Maintenance faculty members who have the academic experience and have gotten their hands dirty in the workplace. Faculty will teach students earning the program’s associate degree which has an electrical specialization.

“Industrial Maintenance graduates are maintenance technicians that can not only make repairs to mechanical equipment, but are also trained to troubleshoot electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well.”

Jobs for industrial machinery mechanics are expected to increase by more than 23,000 jobs nationwide through 2026, according to the federal labor statistics agency. In May 2016, there were more than 4,000 industrial machinery mechanics jobs in West Texas, with the most being centered in Odessa and Midland, according to the federal agency.

Faculty in Abilene will teach classes in the first Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology being offered at the TSTC campuses in West Texas.

The number of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the United States is expected to grow by 22,500 jobs nationwide through 2026. West Texas had more than 4,700 jobs in these fields as of May 2016, according to the federal agency.

The Electrical Power and Controls and Welding Technology programs are part of TSTC’s Money Back Guarantee initiative. Students in these programs who do not get a job in their field within six months of graduation will get their tuition back.

Hastings said Human Resources’ goal is to have the new faculty hired by early summer so they can set up classrooms and labs with new equipment in the building. Students in the programs will be able to take classes from faculty members and adjuncts in the daytime and evenings.

TSTC is a state institution offering Health Select of Texas administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, paid vacation, sick leave and state holidays, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and retirement. In addition, the technical college offers employee development and employee appreciation events as part of its overarching goal to make TSTC a great place to work.

For more information on employment at Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu/about/employment.

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