(HARLINGEN) – Sylvia Cruz is a student at Texas State Technical College pursuing an associate degree in Biology. She is expected to graduate in 2018.

The 39-year-old Lyford native said it was her daughter, a college student in Corpus Christi, who inspired her to return to school.

“She was always asking me when I was planning on pursuing my goals and dreams,” said Cruz. “So here I am, at TSTC. There’s no stopping now.”

What are your plans after graduation?

After earning my associate, I hope to continue my education and pursue a degree in nursing. I plan on looking into TSTC’s new Registered Nursing program.

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to work as a registered nurse in either private practice or hospice care. I’m the youngest of 10 siblings and I was the one always putting bandages on their cuts and taking care of their injuries. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. I love helping others.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment is just coming back to school at my age. I thought I would never be able or have the opportunity to come back.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is to not give up. Somehow I have managed to motivate myself to come back to school and excel.

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

My College Success Instructor Ida Villarreal has had the biggest influence. She is always telling me how she is glad I have made the effort to enroll in college and always encourages me to never give up and accomplish everything I set my mind to.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want students to know that if you really want something you should go for it. Never give up. Always pursue your dreams.

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts student Leslie Lee recently received a $500 scholarship to put toward tuition to help her realize her dream of a college education.

TSTC Provost Dr. Stella Garcia presented Lee with the scholarship during the college’s annual Noche de Gala–a surprise for Lee, who was working with her class that evening cooking up dinner for Gala guests.

“You’ve been seeing this young lady running around and working hard to give you the best dinner experience,” said Garcia. “Tonight and throughout the semester she has shown just how deserving she is to receive this scholarship.”

For Lee, culinary has been in her life since the beginning. Her grandmother owned a surf and turf restaurant for 45 years. Her parents, both skilled cooks, worked and met at that restaurant and later owned a bar and grill of their own.

“They were my seed of encouragement to do this program and my inspiration,” said Lee.

However, Lee said her driving force was her son. She wanted to provide a better life for him.

“I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck anymore. I no longer want to be expendable,” she said. “Most importantly, I want to show my son that even if you don’t start out making the right choices in life there is always time to change your path. Nothing is set in stone, and I’m living proof.”

Lee said that through the Culinary Arts program she has found her weaknesses and strengths, as well acknowledge she did not know she had.

“Because of TSTC I now have higher goals for myself,” said Lee. “This program has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone. The sky’s the limit.”

The scholarship recipient hopes to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees and work toward becoming a health inspector. She expects to graduate in Spring 2017.

“Here at TSTC we have been given the solid foundation from which to begin, and our instructors have fostered good habits, creative thinking and the confidence to go forth and know exactly what our worth is. They are setting us up for success.”

(HARLINGEN) – Six-year-old Isabella Esquivel has been anxiously counting down the days for a special visit from Santa Claus at Texas State Technical College’s annual Toys for Tots event.

Her mother and TSTC Agricultural Technology student Montserrat Esquivel said this is something her daughter looks forward to every year.

“She uses her Advent calendar to countdown to Santa’s visit and Christmas,” said Esquivel. “It makes me happy knowing that she still believes in the magic of Santa and the holiday season.”

Toys for Tots is a TSTC Support Services and campus wide effort. This year 170 toys were collected by students, faculty and staff for the TSTC NINOS Early Head Start, NINOS Head Start, and TSTC student housing families.

“For some of the children, this is the only gift they’re going to receive this Christmas,” said Patty Flores, Support Services coordinator. “It makes us extremely happy being able to help these families.”

For students like Esquivel, this event is a huge help for her family, especially with her husband’s recent layoff.

“My husband and I are not in the position to give our daughter the Christmas she deserves. It’s going to be a very low-key day for us,” said Esquivel. “But events like this help her feel included and cheers her up.”

At every Toys for Tots event the children receive a wrapped toy from Santa Claus and get to take a picture with him, while sharing their Christmas wishes. They also get to enjoy holiday snacks such as hot chocolate, punch, cookies and pizza.

“This event is only possible because everyone at TSTC cares,” said Flores. “This is great experience for these children and I want to thank everyone who works hard to make it possible.”

Flores said they have already began preparations for next year’s TSTC Toys for Tots.

“It always puts a smile on our faces when we see the children excitedly wait for their gift and the chance to speak to Santa,” said Flores. “This is something that was started before I even got to TSTC, and it’s something we hope to continue doing for years to come.”

As for Esquivel, she is very thankful to TSTC and all of the volunteers who host this event for the children.

“My husband and I are truly grateful and thankful for what TSTC does for not only our daughter, but the other children,” said Esquivel. “It’s difficult as a parent not being to do a lot for your child, but TSTC never leaves us alone.”

To donate a toy or to volunteer call 956-364-4520.

(HARLINGEN) – Richard Gonzalez is a student at Texas State Technical College working to complete his General Academic Core.

The Los Fresnos native holds a 3.0 grade-point average and said that being enrolled in TSTC’s Dual Enrollment program during high school helped him tremendously in his transition.

When Gonzalez is not studying, he can be found volunteering as an umpire or in concession stands during baseballs games held in his hometown.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on finishing my basics and transferring to Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Kingsville, or Del Mar College to pursue a degree in child, clinical, or evolutionary psychology.

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to become a psychologist and help children and adults suffering from mental illness. And there is one more thing I’ve always dreamed of doing, and that is becoming a pilot and flying the planes that put out large fires.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

One of my accomplishments was finishing a five-page paper the night before it was due. It was a valuable lesson in time management and the importance of not procrastinating anymore.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I’ve learned that no one is going to give you everything you want in life. You have to go out, work for it and get it. You must strive for greatness.

Who at TSTC has most influenced your success?

Danira Cantu, my English instructor, has been an instrumental person to my success. Because of her I have improved in my ability to write college essays, which will always be a major part of my college career. She reminds me of my sister, making it easy to talk to her and ask her any questions I may have.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want to tell students to focus on completing all of their work with plenty of time to spare instead of rushing to finish it last minute and turning in mediocre work. It’s been a tough lesson for me to learn, and I want to advise other students against procrastinating.

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College alumni and couple Micky Gonzalez and Priscila Cano met at the TSTC Wellness and Sports Center three years ago during a benefit event.

Gonzalez pursued his General Academic Core at TSTC, and Cano graduated with an associate degree in Digital Media Design and now works at a local news station in master control and as a camera operator.

Fast forward three years: Gonzalez finds himself standing at the same place they met, ready to ask her to be his wife.

With an engagement ring in hand, Gonzalez prepares for what will be one of the biggest days of his life. With a white lace and balloon altar and a trail of roses, he waits for his girlfriend to walk through the door.

“I’m excited and nervous all at the same time,” he said. “This has been a long time coming. I’ve been wanting to this for a while, but waited until I could afford a ring.”

Gonzalez worked with family, friends and Cano’s boss to make his engagement surprise possible, because prior to the proposal Cano had to complete a scavenger hunt leading to the first place they met, meaning she needed the day off.

Cano visited five locations special to the couple to find the clues leading to the proposal. The last clue was at their home, where a white dress purchased by Gonzalez was waiting for her.

“I knew he was planning something big because he had a lot of help,” said Cano. “I didn’t know what, but deep down inside I was hoping it was a proposal.”

And a proposal it was, with Gonzalez kneeling on one knee and asking the question Cano had been hoping for, “I love you, you’re my best friend. Will you marry me?”

With tears of happiness Cano said yes, with family and friends on the sidelines cheering and offering their congratulations.

“I’m truly speechless. I’m so happy. It’s all so overwhelming,” said Cano. “This was a big surprise and I’m excited for our new journey. This is exactly where we’re supposed to be right now.”

As for Gonzalez, he said he was relieved she said yes, because he already considers her his wife.

“I’m ready for this next step with her,” he said. “Our relationship is so natural. I feel like we’ve been engaged this whole time, except now it’s official.”

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College prides itself in not only placing more Texans in good paying jobs, but also helping veterans transition to civilian life through education.

It is this mission that has earned TSTC the prestigious Gold-level Military Friendly School Award for 2018.

TSTC in Harlingen has been recognized as a Military Friend School for the eighth straight year, and this is the third year TSTC has received the distinction statewide.

TSTC serves more than 1,100 veterans and their dependents at all 10 campuses across the state.

Harlingen alone serves 337 veterans and veteran dependents.

 “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much and TSTC is ready, willing and able to support them and their dependents,” said Interim Provost Rick Herrera. “TSTC is here to take care of our veterans and their families and help them succeed in their educational journey.”

With this award, the college’s military initiatives are being honored for their standard of excellence. The Military Friendly Gold Awards showcases the most powerful and effective programs, meaning TSTC is in the top 20 percent of the institutions ranked within their categories.

Only 541 schools nationwide have been recognized for excellence in different categories which distinguish a college based on the questions: “Are you military friendly?” and “How Military Friendly are you?”

For more than a decade, Military Friendly ratings have set the standard for companies and colleges demonstrating positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families.

“All of our Military Friendly award recipients set the standard for excellence,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media and head of Military Friendly development. “They offer exceptional examples of what it means not just to build a program that meets federal requirements, but one that serves the military and veteran community from classrooms to careers.”

TSTC Veteran Center Director Steve Guevara said their goal as a center is to make honoring and serving TSTC student and employee veterans a top priority.

The Veteran Center serves as a centralized, one-stop shop for prospective and current veterans and their dependents. Here, veterans can get assistance with admission, financial aid, GI Bill and Hazlewood applications, in addition to other internal and external services and referrals to ensure a successful college experience.

The Veteran Center also serves as the meeting site for the Veteran Students Alliance Club, a club created to unite all students who have served the nation in any branch of the military during war or peacetime, and to promote a feeling of energy, support, knowledge and excitement to face challenges together.

“I hope TSTC veterans take away a sense of pride knowing that we (TSTC) truly do appreciate the sacrifices they have given during their services in the United States Armed Forces,” said Guevara. “We are committed to providing excellent service and veterans can be assured that TSTC is doing its very best in supporting the needs of veterans and their dependents. It brings me great joy to see my brothers and sisters at arms succeed.”

Guevara added that TSTC Veteran Services is working closely with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to provide services under the Veterans Upward Bound program and Veterans Affairs to bring the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program to the TSTC campus in Waco to increase the rate at which veterans graduate.   

For more information on TSTC’s Veteran Center call 956-364-4387.

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College prides itself in not only placing more Texans in good paying jobs, but also helping veterans transition to civilian life through education.

It is this mission that has earned TSTC the prestigious Gold-level Military Friendly School Award for 2018.

TSTC in Harlingen has been recognized as a Military Friend School for the eighth straight year, and this is the third year TSTC has received the distinction statewide.

TSTC serves more than 1,100 veterans and their dependents at all 10 campuses across the state.

Harlingen alone serves 337 veterans and veteran dependents.

 “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much and TSTC is ready, willing and able to support them and their dependents,” said Interim Provost Rick Herrera. “TSTC is here to take care of our veterans and their families and help them succeed in their educational journey.”

With this award, the college’s military initiatives are being honored for their standard of excellence. The Military Friendly Gold Awards showcases the most powerful and effective programs, meaning TSTC is in the top 20 percent of the institutions ranked within their categories.

Only 541 schools nationwide have been recognized for excellence in different categories which distinguish a college based on the questions: “Are you military friendly?” and “How Military Friendly are you?”

For more than a decade, Military Friendly ratings have set the standard for companies and colleges demonstrating positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families.

“All of our Military Friendly award recipients set the standard for excellence,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media and head of Military Friendly development.

“They offer exceptional examples of what it means not just to build a program that meets federal requirements, but one that serves the military and veteran community from classrooms to careers.”

TSTC Veteran Center Director Steve Guevara said their goal as a center is to make honoring and serving TSTC student and employee veterans a top priority.

The Veteran Center serves as a centralized, one-stop shop for prospective and current veterans and their dependents. Here, veterans can get assistance with admission, financial aid, GI Bill and Hazlewood applications, in addition to other internal and external services and referrals to ensure a successful college experience.

The Veteran Center also serves as the meeting site for the Veteran Students Alliance Club, a club created to unite all students who have served the nation in any branch of the military during war or peacetime, and to promote a feeling of energy, support, knowledge and excitement to face challenges together.

“I hope TSTC veterans take away a sense of pride knowing that we (TSTC) truly do appreciate the sacrifices they have given during their services in the United States Armed Forces,” said Guevara. “We are committed to providing excellent service and veterans can be assured that TSTC is doing its very best in supporting the needs of veterans and their dependents. It brings me great joy to see my brothers and sisters at arms succeed.”

Guevara added that TSTC Veteran Services is working closely with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to provide services under the Veterans Upward Bound program and Veterans Affairs to bring the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program to the TSTC campus in Waco to increase the rate at which veterans graduate.   

For more information on TSTC’s Veteran Center call 956-364-4387.

(HARLINGEN) – Carolina Castro is a student at Texas State Technical College studying Education and Training. She expects to graduate from the college in 2019 with an associate degree.

The Brownsville native has been married for 19 years and is the mother of three children. Castro said she waited for her children to be old enough before setting her sights on college.

Today, she credits faculty and classmates’ support for her newfound academic success.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduating from TSTC I plan on transferring to Texas A&M Kingsville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Education so that I can become a teacher.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to be an elementary school teacher and work with children.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment has been passing all of my classes and proving to myself that it was not too late to come to college 20 years after high school.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is that everyone needs mentors. In order to grow as a person I need to stay humble and seek mentors who can teach me how to experience life to its fullest. Life is a journey that should be enjoyed as much as possible.

Who at TSTC has influenced your success the most?

The person who has influenced my success the most is my English Composition instructor Sarah McDonald. She is the most influential person I have met this year. She brings a wealth of experience to her class and is always providing assistance and encouragement to her students.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want students to know that it is important to stay committed to their education. They will need to develop a strong support system of friends and family who can help them stay focused on their studies. Every assignment counts, so make it your goal to complete each one. Don’t make excuses, hold yourself accountable for your success.