Category Archives: All TSTC

AT&T Opens Doors of Opportunities for TSTC Students

(HARLINGEN) – Back in the 1990’s, Nat Lopez found himself with a bachelor’s degree in hand, but without a job.

So he went back to school. Texas State Technical College in Harlingen became the solution to his problem.

With an associate’s degree in Electronics Technology from TSTC, now known as Telecommunications Technology, Lopez began his career with AT&T, previously Southwestern Bell, which has spanned 18 years. He is now AT&T’s area manager of Network Services for Texas South recruiting TSTC graduates like himself.

“I hold a psychology degree, but I had trouble finding work,” said Lopez. Through people I knew, I was aware TSTC graduates were immediately getting hired in their industry and making good money. That’s when I decided TSTC was where I needed to be.”

It was in the fall of 1996, when the Harlingen native put his psychology degree to the side and enrolled at TSTC. His father was on the TSTC Board of Regents at the time, so he knew what the college had to offer.

“The classes I took and the training I received helped me understand and grasp the basic foundation of the field. It taught me critical thinking and set me up for what I would do on the job,” said Lopez. “I am where I am today because of this one decision I made. Because of TSTC.”

It is this exact training that Lopez and AT&T Regional Associate Director for Talent Acquisition Melissa Rushefski find attractive about TSTC graduates.

“We (AT&T) have a strong relationship with TSTC,” said Rushefski. “TSTC students and graduates have the specific skill sets and training we’re looking for. The Telecommunications program really prepares students for not only jobs, but careers with AT&T and we’re excited that this program has expanded to the Houston area. We look forward to recruiting those students as well.”

Lopez said he hopes to continuously grow the relationship AT&T has with TSTC, and as a sitting member on the Telecommunications Technology Training Advisory Board, he wants to continue mentoring students and providing career opportunities.

“I guess you could say I’m biased, but TSTC really does train for what AT&T needs,” said Lopez. “I want to motivate students to push forward. A two-year degree is great to have in your arsenal of tools. For me it opened the doors to my career and put me in a position where I can now support my family.”

Lopez thinks highly of TSTC, saying that it changes lives.

According to the U.S. Labor Department, nearly half of the young adults graduating with a four-year degree are unable to find work.

For Lopez, a two-year degree made him competitive within a Fortune 500 company. He wants to continue climbing the ladder.

“Nat is phenomenal,” said Rushefski. “He came to us with impressive skills and he’s evolved with the company through promotions. He’s a great leader and I believe he has a bright future with AT&T.”

TSTC recently added Telecommunications Technology to the list of programs offered at the new Fort Bend County campus. Division Director Dan Bodnar said he is excited for the interest AT&T has shown in recruiting students from both campuses and the doors of opportunities that will open for his students.

For more information on Telecommunications Technology in Harlingen and Fort Bend County, call 956-364-4732, or visit tstc.edu.

TSTC in Waco Culinary Arts Instructor Receives State Award

(WACO) – Chef Mark Schneider is at a sizzling time in his career.

Schneider, chair of the Culinary Arts department at Texas State Technical College in Waco, was recently named Chef Educator of the Year by the Texas Chefs Association.

“It’s a huge honor,” he said. “I’ve been in education for 13 years and 12 of those have been at TSTC in Waco. I have watched and followed past competitors and what they do.”

Schneider will advance to the American Culinary Federation’s Central Region competition. The region is made up of states from Texas to North Dakota to Michigan. The winner goes on to national Chef Educator of the Year contest conducted by the American Culinary Federation.

Schneider’s draw to cooking is seeing the instant gratification for guests when they see a plate of food that looks too good to eat. He specializes in classical-based cuisine and feels he can satisfy the palate of any guest.

Schneider also enjoys watching the flourishing of students, from those who learn the basics of cutting vegetables to those planning menus and leading kitchens.

“I like the artistry and physical work with cooking,” he said.

Schneider is a 1989 graduate of Midway High School in Woodway.

He received a culinary diploma from the Greater Cincinnati Culinary Academy in 1993 and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Food Service and Culinary Arts from TSTC in Waco in 2001. He received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Business from Tarleton State University in Stephenville in 2009.

Schneider began work at TSTC in 2002. He became a certified executive chef in 2002 and a certified culinary educator in 2008, both granted by the American Culinary Federation.

“Chef Schneider has worked diligently throughout his career to stretch the boundaries of culinary education,” Chef Gayle Van Sant of TSTC’s Culinary Arts department said. “Mentoring students and staff, development curriculum and encouraging all those around him are three of Chef Schneider’s strongest attributes. TSTC is fortunate to have such a distinguished and accomplished culinary professional.”

Schneider was named Chef of the Year by the Texas Chefs Association in 2008.

To learn more about the Culinary Arts program at TSTC in Waco, log on to tstc.edu.

New Cyber Security Instructor Centers Skills on TSTC in Marshall Students

(MARSHALL) – Katina Lewis feels she has scored in her career by joining the Cyber Security program at Texas State Technical College in Marshall.

“I have been bragging and telling everyone about the technical college,” said the Shreveport, La. resident. “I am bringing my nephew with me next semester so he can get in the program.”

Lewis, 44, who began teaching in late August, has already embraced the mix of older and younger students and is impressed by the college’s technology. She is part of the growing technical program, which had 27 students in Fall Semester 2015 and now has more than 60 students for Fall Semester 2016.

“Her experience as a Cisco Certified Network Professional will definitely help our offering in Marshall,” said Robert Brown, division director of Internet Technology Studies at TSTC in Marshall. “We gave her an opportunity to do a teaching test and she was extremely engaging and a natural instructor. The enthusiasm and energy she adds to the group is infectious and she has a bright future at TSTC, especially considering the prominence of the Cyber Security program.”

Lewis is building her classes throughout the semester to include recent industry information for students. She also wants to encourage students to test for Cisco Networking Academy certifications to make themselves more marketable for job hunting. Lewis is leading by example because she is also a Cisco Certified Network Associate.

Lewis grew up in the Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood in Shreveport.

“I loved sports and wanted to be a college basketball coach or gym teacher in a high school,” she said. “I always wanted to teach something. I always enjoyed electronics, replacing car stereos and putting in ceiling fans in relatives’ homes.”

Lewis played basketball at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport in the late 1980s and accepted a basketball scholarship to Tyler Junior College in Texas.

“It was about playing basketball and having fun,” she said. “I didn’t get serious about life until I had my daughter, who is now 24. Being a single mom, I had to take care of her.”

Lewis has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electronics Technology from Southern University at Shreveport and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Electronics Engineering Technology from Grambling State University.

She is currently working on a Master of Science degree in Cyber Security online through Liberty University.

Lewis worked in various technology roles for 13 years at Southern University at Shreveport before seeking a full-time teaching position at TSTC in Marshall.

To learn about TSTC, log on to tstc.edu

TSTC Graduate-Veteran Starts Work on Second Associate Degree

(WACO) – Hours of grueling work in the biting cold while serving in the U.S. Army trained Luis Trevino to deal well with extremes.

“I had never been in snow like that,” said Trevino, 34, of San Benito. “We trained in the mountains and the weather. Afghanistan got really cold. The military taught me about being organized, being disciplined, and with Alaska, about safety. You had to have gloves on or you could get frostbite. You had to use safety precautions.”

Trevino graduated in August from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology. A week late, he began the Fall Semester at Texas State Technical College in Waco, pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.

“I could not wait to come back and learn more,” he said. “I think it’s amazing and I love my instructors.”

TSTC in Waco’s technical program specializes in teaching students about environmental and construction regulations, jobsite inspections, training and standard operating procedures.

“Our graduates on average enter the workforce making $55,000, depending on the location of the job and previous experience,” said Martin Knudsen, an associate professor in the Environmental Health, Safety and Radiation Protection Technology Department at TSTC in Waco. “Typical job titles include safety and health manager, regulatory compliance coordinator and corporate safety officer.”

Trevino said he has enjoyed learning about what Waco has to offer, including the hiking trails at Cameron Park and opportunities to run on hills. He looks forward to exploring the city’s museums and restaurants.

“When you get out of the Rio Grande Valley, you start thinking bigger, you open your mind, you are challenging yourself,” he said.

Trevino grew up in San Benito.

“We would climb on trees in the backyard and play football with the kids in the neighborhood,” he said. “By the time the outdoor lights came on, you had to be inside.”

He graduated in 2001 from San Benito High School, where he was on the track and wrestling teams.

He waited a couple of years before enlisting in the U.S. Army with postings at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Wainwright in Alaska. He was in the Army for nine years, leaving as a sergeant. His service included tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

After he left the military, he knew he needed a career.

“I always wanted to be a welder and wanted to do it on the side,” Trevino said. “It is hard and rough work, and when I was in the military I was in infantry and did a lot of hard work. Welding is a labor of love, but it’s not what I want to do. Safety naturally came to me as something I found interesting, especially in welding with safety using gases, the hoses and being safe.”

Kenny Moore, chair of the Welding Technology Department at TSTC in Harlingen, admires Trevino’s perseverance.

“He got out of sequence on some of his classes from the beginning but pushed through,” Moore said. “He never gave up and always had a great attitude. He was always very respectful and patient and was always very eager to learn new welding and fabrication techniques. He seems to thoroughly enjoy this industry, and because of that he will definitely succeed.”

Trevino was active in TSTC in Harlingen’s Veteran Student Alliance Club, a group he hopes to be part of in Waco.

He wants one day to own property north of Houston and become a federal occupational safety and health administration inspector.

“You get to look out for the welfare of other people and take responsibility of other people,” Trevino said.

Student Success Profile – Marcus Ortiz

(HARLINGEN) – Marcus Ortiz is a student at Texas State Technical College pursuing an associate degree in Biology. The San Benito native is expected to graduate Spring 2017.

The 21-year-old said he first became interested in biology as a student at San Benito High School. He loved doing science experiments for class and for fun, and always wanted to learn more.

When Ortiz is not in class or in the library studying, he is at the Talent Management and Career Services Office where he is a student worker.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I will be transferring to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to pursue a bachelor’s degree in forensic science. I hope to someday also earn a master’s degree in my field.

What’s your dream job?

I dream of doing investigative work for the CIA or the FBI. I want to solve mysteries, and my education and degrees are going to help me do that.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

Besides hopefully graduating next semester, my greatest accomplishment is learning how to be a better test taker. I used to get so nervous taking tests that I would fail. Now, I have learned how to control and manage my nerves because this is a huge part of earning my degrees and reaching my goal.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

I have learned not to give up on myself no matter how hard school or life gets. I have been able to pick myself up each time a challenge gets thrown my way and push forward.

Who has influenced your success the most?

I have to say my family – my grandparents especially – have influenced my success the greatest. They have always advised me to trust in God even in my darkest days; to never look back, always forward; and to do what makes me happy.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

I want to tell other students to never let anyone bring them down. They should follow their dreams and do whatever makes them happy. Never give up.

TSTC Veteran Students Alliance Club Receive National Recognition

(HARLINGEN) – The Veteran Students Alliance Club at Texas State Technical College has been recognized as chapter of the month for September by the Student Veterans of America. The club received the award for the community service and fundraising efforts that are geared toward assisting veterans at TSTC and the surrounding community throughout the year. Their work has been described by the Student Veterans of America as accomplishments that serve as an inspiration to other student veteran organizations throughout the country.

TSTC Alumna Returns as Employee

(FORT BEND) – From lost to found, Texas State Technical College alumna Georgeann Calzada attended classes on the Harlingen campus during a time when her future was uncertain. She now finds herself back at TSTC, this time as an employee ready to help college students the same way she once was helped.

Calzada now works at the TSTC campus in Fort Bend County as director of student services while finishing up graduate school at Sam Houston State University, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration.

But it has been a difficult decade to get where she is today.

The 33-year-old single mother first graduated from TSTC in 2007 with an associate degree in business office technology, which is now business management technology.

“I found myself at TSTC,” said Calzada. “I had just had a baby. I was a single parent and I was lost, but the support I received at the college was invaluable to my growth.”

It was during Calzada’s time at TSTC that her passion for higher education began to blossom. She was involved with Student Government Association, serving as secretary and president. It was through her student leadership positions that she started to see the importance of a college experience outside of a classroom.

“I had no idea where life was taking me. I was living off of food stamps and Medicaid,” said Calzada. “I suddenly then fell into my career. I had no set plans of going into higher education, but now I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

Calzada got her feet wet in higher education when she worked for TSTC as a pre-tech advisor for the High School Equivalency Program, working closely with the General Educational Development (GED) student population.

“I’ve always advised students that TSTC is just the beginning to a successful career,” said Calzada. “It’s an important stepping stone in their life and it definitely was in mine.”

Calzada went on to transfer to the University of Texas at Brownsville, where she received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree with minors in sociology, psychology and business technology.

Calzada also worked for Texas State University as a freshman academic advisor for four years, before deciding it was time for a change.

Fortunately, Calzada was offered her new position at TSTC and made the move to Fort Bend County.

“I was shocked when I was offered this position,” said Calzada. “I wanted it so badly, yet it was my worst interview ever. But I guess my experience was enough. This job is exactly what I need right now.”

The student services director is now ready to help students find themselves, the way TSTC helped her chart her future.

“I’m here to bring their (students’) dreams to life,” said Calzada. “I’m here to make sure they succeed, and I promise that there will always be help for them if they need it.”

In the New Year Calzada plans to make the most out of homework-free evenings. She plans on spending more time with her son, traveling and enjoying having family nearby once again.

For more information on programs offered at TSTC in Fort Bend County, call 346-239-3438 or visit tstc.edu.

Business Woman Credits TSTC for Success

(HARLINGEN) – From humble beginnings to a successful career, Edna Posada has made a name for herself, and she credits the education she received at Texas State Technical College as the beginning of her entrepreneurial success.

Posada grew up in rural Los Fresnos. She comes from a family of seven who lived in a two-bedroom home without indoor plumbing. Their home sat next to a canal bank where the family would shower and get their water.

“Sometimes people think I came from a well-to-do family, or married someone wealthy, but none of that’s true,” said Posada. “I come from a life where money was difficult to come by and I think that is what shaped me and gave me my drive. I didn’t want to live like that for the rest of my life.”

Posada graduated from Los Fresnos High School as Salutatorian in 1980. She said she knew school was the key factor in getting ahead.

“I really focused on school and graduated with honors,” she remembered. “But at the time my dad was very old-fashioned in his way of thinking, so even though I got accepted to college – Yale in fact – he didn’t feel that was what I needed to do. He told me to get married and let the man provide for me, but that’s not the way I wanted to live.”

Posada decided to get a college education locally. She first attended Southmost College in Brownsville, but because Posada needed to finish a program quickly to start working, she enrolled at Texas State Technical Institute, which is now TSTC.

Within two years, Posada earned an associate degree in Industrial Data Processing, or computer coding. She began working immediately with the city of Brownsville as a programmer, but her stint with the city was short lived.

“I was the only female in the department and I ended up feeling disappointed and discouraged. I was the one always asked to get the coffee and make the copies, so I left after six months. I knew I could do more,” said Posada.

Instead, Posada decided to pursue her dream of working for Hewlett-Packard. However, the technology company wanted someone with sales experience, which she did not have.

“TSTC prepared me for the technical aspect of the job. I was confident in my skills because of the hands-on training I had received,” said Posada. “But it was up to me to get the sales experience, so I ended up at Dillard’s with Estee Lauder, and the rest is history. I found that helping women feel beautiful and confident was my new passion.”

Fast forward 27 years and the 54-year-old owns three thriving Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios and two Spa La Posada locations across the Rio Grande Valley catering to women and men alike. Also included in her business portfolio is a barbershop and Boutique Leona.

“As a single mom raising two children, my journey was difficult, but I had found a new dream and I had to go for it,” said Posada. “Family though is so important to me, above any business, so I always made sure to include my children in what I was doing so they could understand what mommy was doing and why I was doing it.”

Years later, including her children in her businesses paid off, because now Posada and her daughter are a duo managing their locations together and franchise branding for Merle Norman as a team.

“I’m so thankful for the degree I received from TSTC,” said Posada. “It set me up with what I need to run my business. Technology has changed the business world and understanding the importance of it has helped me evolve.”

Posada said she is proud of being a TSTC alumnus and has recently become a member of the TSTC Scholarship Steering Committee supporting the “Make a Texas-Sized Difference” statewide scholarship campaign, as her way to give back to a college that gave her so much.

“TSTC is really a great, great school,” said Posada. “And this time in my life, I feel that my knowledge and contacts can help generate some funds to support the school and hopefully help more students get a college education.”

So what does the future hold for Posada?

“This year I want to get more TSTC alumni to give back to the college and get involved,” said Posada. “I also want to enjoy everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve and ultimately, brainstorm ideas for new business ventures.”

Fredericksburg Students Find Their Way to TSTC in Waco

(WACO) – Village Oaks Apartments at Texas State Technical College in Waco could unofficially be renamed Fredericksburg North.

At least 10 students from Fredericksburg High School are enrolled this year at TSTC and live at the on-campus student apartments. Several of them are pursuing the same major and tackling the transition from high school to college together with humor and discovery.

“I thought it would be hard meeting new people, but it’s not,” said William O’Connell, 18, a first-semester Computer Maintenance and Technology major.

Some of the students learned about the technical college from Fredericksburg High School automotive teacher and 2000 TSTC in Waco graduate Blake Schmidt.

“I spent 11 years as a technician working in dealerships on GM products,” Schmidt said. “This is now my third year teaching and I love it. I get the opportunity to teach at the same high school I graduated from. It is so important to inspire students and let them know what is available to them after high school. I thought the Automotive Technology program was great when I attended, and the instructors pushed and encouraged me to be the best I could be.”

Jacob Coolidge, 19, a first-semester Diesel Equipment Technology – Heavy Truck Specialization major, credits Schmidt with motivating him to enroll at TSTC. He said Schmidt emphasized during classes what students would expect at the technical college.

“I didn’t want to go to college for the longest time, but I thought of being an electrician or working in the oil fields,” Coolidge said. “I thought I could go to college and become a diesel equipment repairman.”

Coolidge already had a tie to the Waco campus before he moved into his on-campus apartment in mid-August: his grandparents lived at what was then Connally Air Force Base and his family has traveled to the Waco area for years to visit relatives and go fishing.

Two years ago, Schmidt and Logan Minshew, a counselor at Fredericksburg High School, began taking 40 juniors and seniors each spring to visit TSTC in Waco.

“I believe letting the students see firsthand the quality education they can receive helps a lot,” Minshew said. “They also see the potential for increased earning power. With Blake, I think they also see that they can stay part of the awesome Fredericksburg community when they complete their training. We really enjoy our annual trip to TSTC and hope to continue to grow the partnership that is helping train tomorrow’s leaders.”

So far, the students have been adjusting to long breaks between classes and realizing the importance of balancing work and studying without parental supervision. O’Connell has taught Isaiah Rivera, 18, a first-semester Automotive Technology major, how to do his laundry.

“We are just now getting to the first bills,” said Rivera. “Three of us work at Whataburger part time. We are trying to support ourselves while attending school.”

Rivera said he has had to adjust to doing classwork online.

“I like it for the most part, but I don’t like thinking if instructors received the homework or not,” Rivera said. “With technology there is a chance it could not be submitted.”

Many of the Fredericksburg students tend to migrate to classmate Dillon Nielsen’s apartment at Village Oaks because of cable availability, Coolidge said. Schmidt said Nielsen, 18, is attending TSTC on a scholarship from Toyota of Boerne.

A lot of the students have longtime ties to one another. Coolidge and O’Connell estimated they have known each other since elementary school, while Tyler McWilliams, 18, an Automotive Technology major, grew up across the street from Coolidge.

Some of the students said they missed cruising Fredericksburg’s Main Street, off-roading on dirt roads and socializing in the parking lots of popular eateries and stores.

Rivera said their joint goal is to visit Fredericksburg once a month.

“We have family and some of us have relationships,” he said.

Some of the students are already making plans for life after graduation.

Randall Friedrich, 18, is an Automotive Technology major with a simple goal: to make money.

McWilliams said he wants to return to Fredericksburg and work with his relatives.

Coolidge wants to move to Florida and do diesel work.

“I do like to travel and go to different places,” he said.

For more information on TSTC, log on to tstc.edu.

Corpus Christi Student Ready to Call the Rio Grande Valley Home

(HARLINGEN) – For Portland native Matthew Murphy, volunteering at a local hospital this summer helped him discover that the biomedical field was his calling. So, he said goodbye to his hometown to pursue his passion at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.

The 18-year-old said that there were many institutions he researched, but only TSTC offered him exactly what he was searching for.

“I was looking for a school that had Biomedical Equipment Technology as a major and this was one of the only ones in Texas, so I decided to come down here,” he said. “It’s only two hours away, I figured I can manage. I’m excited to be somewhere else.”

Biomedical Equipment Technology is designed to be 70 percent hands-on and teaches students how to repair medical equipment that is used in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

“It was a blessing to visit the school,” said his mother, Diana Murphy. “The tour of his room was awesome. My son is very excited about coming to school here.”

Watching your child leave the nest can be difficult, but Murphy’s father is happy that his son isn’t too far away.

“It’s always hard. Matthew’s our youngest,” said Larry Murphy. “Him being here isn’t too bad, and we are thankful that it’s close enough for us to be able to come down on a weekend if we want to.”

Biomedical Equipment Technology Interim Program Chair Ray Longoria makes sure that incoming students know that the program is challenging and requires student commitment.

“This program offers students the opportunity to work in one of the most rewarding fields. They will also get the chance to get hands-on with some of the most sophisticated equipment designed to improve and save lives,” said Longoria. “One of the most satisfying aspects of this field is when you get to see a patient being worked on with a machine that you helped repair. It’s one of the greatest feelings to see the accomplishment of your skill.”

TSTC students learn biomedical equipment maintenance and repair on state of the art medical equipment used in hospitals and clinics.

Biomedical Equipment Technology is taught at the Harlingen, Marshall and Waco campuses. For more information visit http://www.tstc.edu/programs/BiomedicalEquipmentTechnology.

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