(HARLINGEN) – Thalia Gutierrez is pursuing an associate degree in Education and Training at Texas State Technical College. She expects to graduate in Spring 2020.

In addition to studying, the Harlingen native finds yourself busy serving as the secretary of the Pool Sharks, TSTC billiard club, and as the newly elected Student Government Associate Vice President.

The 19-year-old also makes time to give back to her community by spending her free time volunteering at the Harlingen Humane Society, the recycling center and nursing homes.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduating from TSTC I hope to transfer to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for a bachelor’s degree in education.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to become a teacher at a local elementary school to inspire young children’s’ lives. I have a quote that I live by, “To aspire, to inspire before I expire,” and I feel like I can achieve this through teaching.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment while at TSTC has been learning how to trust myself and my abilities. I’ve always been scared to grab opportunities, take chances and put myself out there, but during my time here at TSTC I have learned that I can do more than I ever expected I could. Part of this newfound confidence comes from being active on campus and meeting so many people that believe in me.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned that no matter what it is important to lend a helping hand to everyone. There is always someone who is in need of a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on and we all have to be there for each other. It’s the goodness to life. And we must do these things without expecting anything in return. It’s enough just putting a smile on someone’s face and knowing that we have made a difference.

Who at TSTC has influenced your success the most?

Rick Santos, former SGA Vice President and my friend, has had the most influence in my success and in life. He has pushed me to believe in myself. He is the one who encouraged me to become active on campus and because of him I have had doors open for me filled with endless opportunities.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want to advice future and current students to get involved with campus organizations or community service throughout their communities. It is a great feeling being able to help the college and make a difference. Jump in and don’t look back, because all of the opportunities and all of the good things are outside of the comfort zone.

(HARLINGEN) – Habitat for Humanity presented the Texas State Technical College Building Construction Technology SkillsUSA students with a Recognition Award for their hard work and dedication with the organization. Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of the Rio Grande Valley Wayne Lowry said students’ leadership and professionalism show that they are learning great skills at TSTC and his organization looks forwards to a continued partnership with the college and the TSTC SkillsUSA chapter.

These SkillsUSA students have been working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for the low-income families of the Rio Grande Valley. They put into practice the skills they are learning in the classroom giving them a chance to perfect their trade.

(HARLINGEN) – A beach, a sand version of a snowman and a borrowed camera is how Texas State Technical College alumnae Marian Bliss Blake’s photography career got started.

The Mexico City native never saw photography in her future. In fact she attended a university in Mexico to study Architecture. During this time she took a job as a liaison and translator between American and Mexican architects working on a renovation project for a major hospital.

“I only took the job because I wanted experience in my field while in school,” Blake said. “Who knew I’d meet my husband?”

Marrying a Cardiologist and Medical Director at Harlingen Medical Center meant that Blake would call the United States and TSTC her new home.

She graduated from TSTC in 1999 with an associate degree in Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics. She even built a home with a design she created in class.

Around this same time, Blake was busy raising three children and helping her husband fight for his life after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

“After going through this time in my life and thinking that my husband was going to die, I began to see everything differently,” she said. “I’ve always loved doing photography, but now I began valuing photographs so much more. They’re stories and memories.”

Blake’s husband survived the cancer scare and she decided it was time to document their lives with photos.

What was supposed to be a family fun day taking Christmas photos at the beach with a sand snowman for a Christmas card turned into a photography session for more than 25 families.

“Word got out among my friends on what I was doing and by the time I knew it I had people requesting Christmas photo shoots,” said Blake. “I had never done anything like this before but I enjoyed it so much. It was the best thing that could have happened to me.”

It was after this shoot that a local photographer saw Blake’s photos. The woman encouraged her to enroll at TSTC and J. J. Vavra’s photography class.

“I’m the type of person who wants to do what she is doing the right way,” said Blake. “If people were going to be paying me for their photos, I better learn how to do it right.”

She returned to TSTC in 2007 and enrolled in Vavra’s photography class, which is part of the Digital Media Design program, and learned the foundation of taking photos and editing them.

After college, Blake became an active member of the Professional Photographers of America, and participated in the World Photographic Cup, an international team competition.

When she moved to Mexico, she and two partners formed the Comité Fotográfico Mexicano and encouraged fellow photographers to join and compete against the world’s best.

“We needed a certain number of photos and contestants and we weren’t getting responses from some of best. Organizing this for Mexico was not an easy task,” said Blake. “But in the end all of the hard work and sacrifice was worth it.”

The first two years of competition deemed successful for Mexico.  Blake and her fellow photographers took fifth place as a country sixth place as a country in 2016 and 2017 respectively. They are now preparing for their third world cup in Australia.

Blake has also taken on many projects in the recent years. She focuses on her business photographing newborns and children and works closely with Operation Smile, a not-for-profit, volunteer medical organization that provides reconstructive facial surgery to children with cleft lip or cleft palate.

Wanting the children to feel accepted and beautiful, Blake photographs before and after photos of children who suffer from this birth defect.

“These children are beautiful and have nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “If I have the ability to help them gain confidence then I’m going to share it.”

Blake credits much of this success to what she learned at TSTC and the mentors she met in the course who opened many doors of opportunity for her.

“It all started at TSTC,” she said. “It gave me the foundation for everything I am doing now and what I want to express with my photographs.”

(HARLINGEN) – Isela Rodriguez is a Texas State Technical College student and graduate. She earned an associate degree in Spring 2016 in Dental Laboratory Technology and is about to complete her General Academic Core.

The Brownsville native boasts a 3.5 grade-point average despite her busy schedule as a Student Government Association Housing Senator and a member of the Service Squad, Leadership Academy and Intramural Sports Club.

In addition, the 23-year-old is also a work study at the TSTC Game Room and the newly elected SGA President.

What are your plans after graduation?

Once I complete my Academic Core, I plan on enrolling in Business Management Technology for Spring 2017. I feel like getting this degree will open doors to many other opportunities that will help me find a great career.

What’s your dream job?

I’ve always wanted to do something in the dental field, which is why I got my degree in dental laboratory.  But after working in the game room, I am leaning toward a career in business.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment at TSTC has been getting involved. The more I volunteered and helped around campus the more doors of opportunity that were opened for me. I have met wonderful people and made friends who have supported me in everything I do or aspire to do.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is to not underestimate myself. I didn’t grow up having confidence or believing that I could do anything. And my time here at TSTC has really shown me who I am and what I am capable of. So although I still need work, I have come a long way and I am learning to trust in myself.

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

My friend and former TSTC student Angel Gutierrez played a huge part in where I am today. He introduced me to the organizations I am active in and encouraged me to get involved. And last but not least Belinda Palomino has been the biggest influence. She helped me gain confidence in myself and she helped bring out the best in me. She is always pushing me to do better. I consider her my role model.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

Don’t be intimidated or scared to be active on campus. Get involved. There are so many opportunities available to those who join clubs and do community service, plus you get to network with a great group of professionals and other like-minded students. TSTC offers so much more than an excellent education, it is just a matter of reaching out of the comfort zone.

(HARLINGEN) – Thirteen has proven to be a lucky number for Mary Aguilar. That’s how many years she has served at Texas State Technical College and in the same year has been chosen as the TSTC Employee Spotlight for March.

The San Benito native is a teaching lab assistant for the Business, Social and Behavioral Sciences department. She said she has had the privilege to work for multiple divisions as a secretary for Education and Training, the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Training and, what was then, the President’s Office.

Holding back happy tears Aguilar said she is thankful to those who nominated her and have believed in her along the way.

“This recognition is an honor. You think no one notices, but they do,” said Aguilar. “I help just to help. I never expect anything in return.”

The Employee Spotlight was created by TSTC’s Staff Senate to recognize employees, who are nominated by their colleagues, for making a difference in their department and around campus.

It is Aguilar’s selfless attitude that many say they admire. Those who nominated her remain anonymous, but their comments are printed on Aguilar’s award.

“Mary is always willing and ready to provide help to instructors and students,” one comment read.

Another remark states, “She has taken the steps necessary to learn information about Moodle and make the instructors’ jobs easier.”

And a final comment, “Mary is always willing to help with events being held by other departments.”

However, Aguilar is not only an employee of TSTC, but also an alumnae. She graduated in 2012 with an associate degree in Business Management Technology. She is now in the process of earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wayland University at the TSTC University Center.

“Over the years working with differently people I’ve come to learn the importance of an education,” she said. “Education has always been important to me, but life happens and I had to wait.”

The wife, mother of three and grandmother of six said there is no better time than the present to work toward her goal of a bachelor’s degree. Despite the fact that she works full-time and takes online classes she still makes it a point to spend time with her grandchildren.

“I look forward to going to games and recitals,” said Aguilar. “I take as many pictures as I can because children grow up fast.”

In the near future, Aguilar hopes to become an instructor at TSTC for the Business Management Technology program to help students achieve their dreams.

“The best part of my job is working with students,” she said. “Plus, TSTC is like a second family to me and I want to stick around as long as I can.”