Category Archives: All TSTC

TSTC Brings Home Multiple National SkillsUSA Medals

(HARLINGEN) – It was a big win for Texas State Technical College at the National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference in Kentucky.

Just last week five Rio Grande Valley TSTC students earned gold medals in Robotics Urban Search and Rescue and bronze medals in Community Service, a first-time event for TSTC.

SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful technical careers. Members build these skills through student-led team meetings, contests, leadership conferences and other activities.

TSTC SkillsUSA national winnersStudents in SkillsUSA participate in hands-on competitions in various fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, carpentry and culinary arts.

The students who earned the gold medal in Robotics Urban Search and Rescue are Michael Arreola, a TSTC Mechatronics Technology student, and Rick Santos, a recent Mechatronics Technology and Tool and Die Technology graduate.

Santos, who earned his place at the national competition while still a student, said he and Arreola began preparing for this competition since the end of last year’s SkillsUSA national competition.

“It takes nearly a full year to build our robot and prepare it just right for competition,” said Santos.

Winning the gold medal means that this team of two excelled in their written test, presentation, engineering notebook submission and execution of their robot.

Both men agree they were expecting to win second or third place, and when they were not called for either, they were positive they had not placed at all.

“It was definitely a good feeling hearing we had received the gold medal,” said Arreola. “It was an awesome experience being there, winning and hearing the crowd cheer for us.”

The TSTC Community Service team and bronze medal winners are Alexandra Lugo, a Mathematics and Business Management Technology major; Jacqueline Cruz, Agricultural Technology graduate and academic core student; and Yajaira Gonzalez, Biology major.

These women represented the TSTC’s Building Construction Technology community service project with Habitat for Humanity. Throughout the year the building construction students volunteer with habitat and use their skills to build homes for low-income families.

“It was great to show how our students use their technical skills to benefit our community,” said Lugo.

The women worked long hours after their classes and jobs to complete the community service binder they were going to submit and prepare for the presentation in front of a panel of judges.

TSTC SkillsUSA national winners

“It was definitely a challenge, but we were in it to win it,” Lugo added. “When we found out we won, we were about ready to cry. I’m very proud of all us.”

Eldwin Leija, TSTC Automated Manufacturing Technology instructor and Larissa Moreno, TSTC recruitment coordinator, said they are very proud of their students’ recent achievements at SkillsUSA.

“TSTC Mechatronics is proud of what Rick and Michael have accomplished. We’re not only proud of their first place win, but of all they have achieved,” said Leija. “We expect nothing but the best from our students because we know they have it in them to be the best in all they do.”

“I’m so proud of my girls. They worked really hard and truly deserve this recognition,” said Moreno. “Our goal was to go out there and represent TSTC, Habitat for Humanity and the RGV well, and we ended up bringing home the first medal for TSTC in our category.”

In all, TSTC campuses statewide won seven medals at nationals, three gold, one silver and three bronze.

TSTC Hosts Summer College and Career Institute

(FORT BEND) – Sparks were flying at Texas State Technical College as the 11 high school students enrolled in a nine-day College and Career Institute got some hands-on experience welding.

The institute is the first of its kind for TSTC and is a partnership between the college, Project Grad Houston, Café College Houston and the Texas Workforce Solution (TWC).TSTC CCI Student 1

“It has been a pleasure hosting these students on campus,” said TSTC Recruitment Coordinator Marigold Sagrado. “They are attentive, well-mannered and I know they will be successful.”

The students participating in this institute were from Houston-based Southwest Charter School, Sharpstown High School and the Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees and have shown an interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) fields.

“It’s always great when we can bring quality program options and a college experience opportunity to high school students who may not get this chance anywhere else,” said Anne Sung, Project Grad Houston vice president and chief strategy officer.

The institute focused on five career areas offered by TSTC: Cyber Security Technology, Welding Technology, Precision Machining Technology, HVAC Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology.

Instructors from each program engaged the students with hands-on career exploration activities and spoke with them regarding education pathways, the college application and financial aid process and careers they can pursue if they obtain a certificate or associate degree from TSTC.

During the institute students also received lessons on job interviewing and resume writing. Students learned how to represent themselves professionally by practicing greetings, handshakes, eye contact and self-introductions.  A portion of their time was also dedicated to interviews skills and resume development.

“We want these students to leave this institute open to the idea that college is a possibility and that they can be successful,” said Adriana Estrada, College Institute coordinator. “It’s about college and career readiness.”TSTC CCI Students 2 5x7

To experience a real-work environment, the students also visited TSTC Board of Regent Joe Gurecky at his local business Gurecky Manufacturing, Inc. They had the opportunity to tour the facility and speak to professionals in the industry.

“All of the students have expressed interest in pursuing TSTC after high school,” said Sagrado. “I consider this 100 percent success.”

Sung said their data shows that students who attend at least two institutes are more likely to enroll in college after high school.

“The impact of these institutes helping students get inspired to go to college is very powerful,” said Sung. “And we’re very grateful to our partners at the TWC and TSTC for making this program possible for our students.”

For more information on the programs mentioned or to register for Fall 2017, visit tstc.edu.

 

TSTC Receives $5,000 from ULA

TSTC, ULA check presentation(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College recently received $5,000, the latest installment, from United Launch Alliance for student scholarships. This money will be used to help students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of study with tuition, books, room and board and other expenses. TSTC and ULA have an ongoing partnership with the space agency hiring TSTC grads.

Student Success Profile

(HARLINGEN) – Lilia Perez, 36, is a Business Management Technology student at Texas State Technical College. The Brownsville native currently boasts a 3.7 grade-point average and is expected to earn her associate degree Spring 2018.

What are your plans after graduation?

I am remaining hopeful that after I graduate from TSTC I will be able to explore opportunities through TSTC’s University Center. The school’s partnership with several universities gives students such as myself the opportunity to keep pursuing higher education. It would be great to continue my studies and obtain a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

What’s your dream job?Lilia Perez

There are so many different things I could do and I believe hobbies are a good way to explore my options. I’ll have to say my dream job is to build miniature sets for movies. I’m a sucker for miniature replica models, arts and crafts and have an eye for great detail.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment was simply enrolling at TSTC. I’m just happy to be here and privileged to be able to stress out about words counts and final exams.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned to persevere. In 2006 a car accident claimed the life of the father of my girls and someone who had been a part of my life for almost a decade. I lost myself due to grief and life was passing me by and we were missing out. I now try to build as many memories as I can with my girls.

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

I have to give a lot of credit to Dr. Steven Szymoniak, my business technology instructor. His classes are challenging and tough, but fair. A student can learn a bit about themselves while navigating his course work. He gives great feedback and continuously pushes us to strive to a higher caliber in class and in life.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

A few pieces of advice come to mind. First, get out of your comfort zone and get involved on campus and in your communities to bring positive change. Also, always remember that life does not follow a script, so go with the flow and make the most of what you have.

TSTC Employee Spotlight – Linda Ramon

(HARLINGEN) – Linda Ramon is described as a person with great energy and determination, has been with Texas State Technical College for 16 years, works as a staff assistant in the department of online learning and is TSTC’s June Employee Spotlight honoree.

“I’m so happy. This award was unexpected,” said the 55-year-old. “I’m very appreciative of my colleagues for nominating me.”

The Carrizo Springs native is not only an employee of TSTC, but also an alumna. She first graduated in 1982, when TSTC was still TSTI, with a certificate in Automated Office Technology. Ramon then returned and earned an associate degree in 2001 in Business Office Technology.

Linda Ramon

Ramon grew up knowing that education was important. She recalls her mother always telling her that she needed to graduate from high school and earn a college degree. It was always a promise she wanted to keep.

“My mom has passed now, but I still want to make her proud and show her that I took her advice to heart,” she said. “I also want this to be a good example for my children. They need to see that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true.”

Ramon hopes to get a bachelor’s degree in business administration in the near future.

It is this desire for education and willingness to always lend a hand that her colleagues say make her deserving of this award.

One comment on her certificate read, “Linda Ramon works great with students…she is patient and takes her time to answer all of their questions.”

Another reads, “Linda is always a team player and lends her knowledge in any way she can. TSTC is a great place to work because of Linda…she helps build a strong TSTC.”

Ramon explains that she knew TSTC was the place she needed to be since working at the campus as a student worker.

“I can see myself retiring from TSTC,” said Ramon. “I love this place, it’s a family.”

TSTC prides itself on being a great place to work. For more information on job opportunities go online at tstc.edu/about/employment.

 

TSTC in Waco Hosts Area Counselors and Teachers

(WACO) – Prosper Waco and its Project Link initiative, along with the Heart of Texas P-20 Regional Council, hosted teachers from area high schools this week for the High School Counselor Summer Fly-In to learn about collegiate academic and technical programs and admissions processes.

More than 20 counselors and teachers from Bell, Falls and McLennan counties, along with Project Link staff, learned about academic pathways at McLennan Community College and technical programs such as Air Traffic Control, Electronics Technology and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology at Texas State Technical College.

“It was very good to enlighten them about the programs and have them make connections,” said Brandon Chappell, TSTC’s Project Link outreach specialist. “We try to show them what we have in relation to the high schools’ courses.”

During the daylong visit on Thursday at TSTC, workshop attendees learned about internship and on-site learning and research opportunities for students in the Radiation Protection Technology program, career outlooks in the Electrical Power and Controls program and the space education work that groups can undertake at the Challenger Learning Center. Attendees also learned how students can work with Career Services staff.

Stacey Talley, a career and technical education teacher at Waco High School, said the workshop inspired her to set up a corner of her classroom dedicated to TSTC and MCC to motivate her students to take closer looks if they feel like four-year colleges are not viable career goals.

“I want to be knowledgeable and a resource to help get them to the next step,” Talley said. “Everyone at MCC and TSTC is very focused on helping the students get the job, get employability skills and the contacts with industry leaders.”

Project Link is a partnership between the nonprofit organization, TSTC, MCC, the La Vega Independent School District and the Waco Independent School District to promote a college-going culture among the city’s high school students and families.

The High School Counselor Summer Fly-In was made possible by a TG Philanthropy grant announced in May and awarded to McLennan Community College and Prosper Waco to expand the Project Link initiative to Waco High School. The $149,700 grant is for 18 months.

For more information on Project Link, go to prosperwaco.org/project-link/.

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

_DSC0636 counselor visit june 29, 2017

TSTC in Waco Students Bring Home National SkillsUSA Medals

(WACO) – The second time was just as golden for Marcus Crespin of Victoria.

Crespin, 21, a Computer Maintenance Technology and Computer Networking and Systems Administration major at Texas State Technical College in Waco, earlier this month received his second consecutive gold medal in Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance at SkillsUSA’s 53rd National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Students at TSTC in Waco won five SkillsUSA medals this year: two gold, one silver and two bronze. This year marked the most medals won since 2011 when SkillsUSA members won eight medals, according to James Matus, TSTC’s statewide SKillsUSA manager.

Crespin’s contest lasted more than five hours and involved installing an antenna along with networking a smart doorbell, home thermometer and security camera. He also took a written test.

Crespin said he felt pressure to repeat his feat from 2016 of winning the gold medal in the same event. He said he had doubts on the bus ride to Kentucky.

“I was less confident when they called the third place winner and then the second place winner,” he said. “When they called my name, I almost cried on the spot. It was unbelievable.”

Juan Gongora, a classmate of Crespin’s from Victoria, won a silver medal in Information Technology Services. He finished seventh in last year’s contest. Gongora, 21, is majoring in Computer Maintenance Technology, Cloud and Data Center Management and Computer Networking and Systems Administration and is scheduled to graduate in December.

Gongora’s contest examined participants’ knowledge of 10 modules, including Linux, Windows Registry, mobile devices and viruses and malware. He prepared for the contest by studying and using material he learned in classes.

Gongora also accomplished another goal: he collected pins from every state and U.S. territory represented at the conference. He collected his last pin the day of the closing ceremony by trading for a Hawaii pin.

“You would trade Texas pins, and if you had other states’ pins you traded them too,” Gongora said.

The Quiz Bowl team made of Pete Baus, Cameron Burt, Christopher Dunn, Louis Garcia, James Pearson, Justin Tucker and Robert White won the bronze medal. The team was tested on current events, general academic knowledge, professional development and SkillsUSA facts.

“It was a lot of practice,” said Baus, 23, of Waco and a Cyber Security, Computer Networking and Systems Administration, Computer Maintenance Technology and Digital Forensics major from Waco. “Our team was basically the same from last year when we finished fourth. We would meet each Wednesday for two hours. Honestly, there was a lot of confidence.”

Baus said he learned more about teamwork and research while preparing and competing for the Quiz Bowl contest.

Also placing in the top three in conference categories were Joshua Hall, Zachary McLeskey and Peggy Sue Pilant, who earned a gold medal in Chapter Display, and Amy Bartlett and Charlene Knox, who received bronze in Interactive Application and Video Game Development.

TSTC in Waco sent more than 40 students who won gold medals at SkillsUSA’s statewide postsecondary contest held in the spring in Waco to this year’s national conference.

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

_DSC0621 Waco SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl June 29, 2017

_DSC0632 Waco Marcus and Juan SkillsUSA June 29, 2017

 

TSTC Student Q&A with Andrew Hebron of Arlington

(RED OAK) – Andrew Hebron, 21, of Arlington is a Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology major at Texas State Technical College in North Texas.

Hebron is a 2013 graduate of Juan Seguin High School in Arlington, where he was in the Chess Club and played trumpet in the band program. The high school is a Texas Project Lead the Way campus for engineering and biomedical science course sequences.

He is scheduled to graduate from TSTC in spring 2018.

Does working in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields run in your family? “My brother is working in engineering and my father works in information technology.”

How did you discover TSTC? “Research. My family and I found the Waco campus after I graduated from high school. Then, we heard about the North Texas campus.”

How have your experiences been attending TSTC in North Texas? “I like the family environment. The instructors are good at what they do.”

How did you become interested in Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology? “I did Texas Project Lead the Way classes in high school. I took computer aided drafting and design technology and also a class in electronic current boards. I did soldering and designing and discovered real quick it was not for me. I am more of the drafting side.”

What advice would you give to prospective students? “Look at your learning type. I learn best by doing and watching.”

What do you like to do when you are not studying or working? “I enjoy music, calligraphy, woodworking and playing the organ. I started playing the trumpet in the sixth grade. I use a portable joystick and play flying simulations on my laptop. The simulator I play has the ability to follow real weather patterns. It’s my stress relief.”

Architectural, civil, electrical and mechanical drafting are some of the career fields that Computer Aided Drafting and Design Technology majors can pursue. The Woodlands – Houston – Sugar Land and Dallas – Plano – Irving metropolitan areas have the highest concentrations of drafters in Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the state has more than 1,900 people working in drafting fields.

Registration for fall semester is taking place now, with two special Registration Rally events planned from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 13 and Aug. 8 at TSTC in North Texas.

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

_DSC0587 andrew hebron north texas resized june 29, 2017

 

TSTC in Marshall Recognizes Longtime Employee

(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus has been educating East Texans since 1991, and one employee has been around to see much of its history.

Patricia A. Robbins, the admissions director and registrar, was recently honored at TSTC’s Employee Appreciation Day for 25 years of employment.

“Working with someone who is a walking encyclopedia of TSTC’s history here in Marshall is an absolute joy,” said Provost Barton Day. “I bet Miss Pat won’t say this, but she remembers several of our current faculty members when they first walked onto campus as students.”

Robbins said what has kept her working at TSTC has been her love for the students and seeing them succeed. She said in her job she keeps a positive outlook and encourages students to reach their academic and career goals.

“I feel true happiness when I see them on the road to success,” she said. “I counsel with them and pray with them along the way. Sometimes all they need is a little support and knowing that someone truly cares.”

Robbins’ work sweeps across several functions of the technical college, including dual enrollment.

“Pat has been very helpful and supportive,” said Michelle Ates, dual enrollment manager. “She provides great leadership to make sure the dual enrollment students’ admission and registration goals are met. If there are problems, she will look for the best means to ensure a positive experience for the high school students that leads to success.”

Before coming to TSTC in August 1992, Robbins worked for 17 years as an academic affairs administrative assistant at Wiley College in Marshall.

Robbins has a bachelor’s degree in office administration from Wiley College.

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

0621171157a-1 pat robbins resized marshall

 

TSTC, SATA Receive Skills Development Fund Grant

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College in partnership with SATA USA received a $100,001 Skills Development Fund Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.

In a check signing Thursday, June 22, at the Brownsville Museum of Art, TSTC Provost Dr. Stella Garcia and SATA USA Chief Operations Officer and Vice President Marco Margrotto expressed their appreciation and excitement toward the TWC for this donation.

“This grant is significant because this is the first one we receive directed toward a specific company in Brownsville,” said Garcia. “This allows us to expand our market, while providing customized training to continue building their workforce.”

With this contribution TSTC will be able to train 40 new employees from industry production, maintenance and support occupations providing them with approximately 2,560 hours of industrial training programs conducted by TSTC instructors at SATA USA’s facility in Brownsville.

“This moment is so important,” said Margrotto. “Surely this is the just the beginning of a partnership we hope to grow moving forward.”

TSTC, SATA USA TWC Check Signing

SATA USA in Brownsville, a subsidiary of Italy-based SATA Group, is the company’s first manufacturing facility in North America and will serve as SATA USA’s North American Headquarters.

SATA Group creates parts for heavy equipment manufacturers such as John Deer and Caterpillar, as well as for automotive industry giants such as General Motors and Fiat.

The machining operation plans to create more than 300 jobs over the next five years and with the help from the TWC, TSTC will be able to help them make this a reality.

“With TSTC’s help I am pretty sure we will be able to generate the skills we need for our plant allowing us to be successful in the operation of manufacturing here,” said Margrotto. “We’re a great team with TSTC in figuring out the kind of training we need and we’re in a good place right now.”

Other speakers at the event spoke about the benefit this grant has on TSTC, SATA and the region as a whole. Speakers included Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., Texas State Representatives Rene Oliveira and Eddie Lucio III, Texas Workforce Solutions Cameron County Chief Executive Officer Patt Hobbs, Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation Board Member John Cowen and Texas Workforce Commission Commissioner for Employers Ruth Hughs.

“The partnership between TSTC and SATA really speaks highly to the community about the dedication of developing the workforce and industry in the area to give people the opportunity for careers in high-demand jobs,” said Hughs. “We’ve been very impressed with the training they have provided through other Skills Development Fund grants and we know the individuals they train are ready to enter the workforce.”

For more information on TSTC workforce training or employee development opportunities, call 956-364-4530.