Category Archives: All TSTC

TSTC Instructor Named to Joint Radioactive Waste Disposal Commission

(WACO) – A member of Texas State Technical College in Waco’s Environmental Health, Safety and Radiation Protection Department has been reappointed to a federal-state commission.

Linda Morris, an adjunct instructor, campus radiation safety officer and former department chair, was named by Gov. Greg Abbott in August to serve a term expiring Sept. 1, 2021, on the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission. She was first appointed in 2012.

“It’s been an honor serving under Gov. Rick Perry and now Gov. Abbott,” Morris said. “I consider it a bright point of my career.”

The commission oversees the Texas Compact Waste Facility operated by Waste Control Specialists LLC in Andrews. The commission looks after the disposal of low-level radioactive waste and studies new applications.

“I think it’s a positive image for TSTC,” Morris said about her role on the commission. “We have the only radiation protection technology program among Texas’ two-year colleges. Everyone sees me as a non-biased source on the commission.”

Morris is a technical expert on the eight-person panel made up of representatives from Texas and Vermont – states forming the commission.

“This allows the commission to analyze and assess many of the issues that come before us without the need to hire outside experts,” said Brandon T. Hurley, commission chair and an attorney at Kelly Hart and Hallman law firm in Fort Worth. “Linda has also been the chairman of our rules committee during a time when we have undergone a significant revision and addition to our rules that improved the way our commission operates and improves the processes utilized by waste generators and the operator of the low-level radioactive waste facility in Andrews County.”

Morris is a licensed medical physicist by the Texas Medical Board. She is a co-advisor for TSTC’s student branch of the Health Physics Society and co-director of the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair held each winter at TSTC in Waco.

Morris has made presentations on radiation protection topics at conferences in Canada and the Czech Republic.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry in 1970 at Lamar University in Beaumont. Morris went on to receive a master’s degree in biophysics in 1971 from Texas A&M University in College Station.

Culinary Arts Program Cooking Up Visibility at TSTC

(HUTTO) – Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts program is gaining interest among students.

Chef Martin Ellenberger of Hutto joined the faculty at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County in late August. He is the primary instructor for that campus’ Culinary Arts program, which also has a high school dual enrollment teacher and an adjunct instructor.

Ellenberger, an Ohio native, initially joined the Culinary Arts faculty at TSTC in Waco in January 2015. He decided to change campuses to decrease his commute.

“It’s definitely different (at the Williamson County campus),” Ellenberger said. “There is a lot more stuff I need to stay on top of. I’m buying products and doing lesson plans. I’m able to create the recipes I want and have more responsibility with what I’m doing.”

The program had four students last fall, but has 12 students enrolled this year.

Brady Davis, 20, of Georgetown and a 2014 graduate of Eastview High School, has worked at the Walburg German Restaurant since high school. He said he finds kitchen life enjoyable and wants to learn everything he can in his classes. His goal is to own a food truck.

“I like the flexibility. The price was a huge factor, and I can keep a full-time job,” Davis said.

Brayan Flores, 18, of Taylor and a 2016 graduate of Taylor High School, took culinary classes through dual enrollment. The classes he is taking now at TSTC are an extension of what he has already learned. Flores also wants his own food truck or restaurant in a few years.

On a recent afternoon, Flores donned plastic gloves to melt a slab of butter on a pastry board to make dough.

“I like to look at different recipes and try them out,” Flores said. “I want to learn whatever will help me in the workforce.”

Some of the classes students will take this fall include Meat Preparation and Cooking, Food Service Operations and Systems, and Fundamentals of Baking.

“I like the way that we are structured,” Ellenberger said. “We take the students from having no culinary knowledge to being able to produce in a restaurant setting. I try to introduce as many items as possible that they would not be familiar with in the process.”

Culinary Arts’ two kitchens are on the third floor of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto. The cooking kitchen can comfortably accommodate 24 students, and the baking kitchen can hold up to 20 students. Each kitchen has movable tables and stools, an array of skillets, pots, pans, ovens and cold-storage areas.

“I am excited and relieved at the opportunity to have someone who is as well-versed in our curriculum and as talented as Chef Martin is,” said Evan Morgan, Executive Director of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center. “In theory, this is his kitchen.”

When students leave the program with their Certificate 2 in Culinary Arts, Ellenberger wants them to be comfortable using knives, have an increased curiosity about food and have confidence in their skills.

Ellenberger’s goal, along with that of leaders at TSTC in Williamson County, is to see the program take advantage of the Austin area’s thriving culinary scene, where there is Thai, Chinese and Mexican cuisine, barbecue, Southern food and an assortment of food trucks.

The program will also enroll students in January for the Spring Semester. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC and Richmond Rotary Make College a Reality for Local Woman

Apryl Molina finds herself in the daily struggle to make ends meet. With a brother and sister to take care of and medical bills to pay, the 21-year old dreams of a life where she has a career and a steady income.

“My mom is ill often and money is short, so paying for a college education is never on my priority list,” said Molina. “But I’ve just received a couple of scholarships and financial aid so everything is about to change for the better.”

Recently, Molina, who will be one of the first students to pursue an associate’s degree in Cyber Security at the new Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County campus, was presented with a $500 scholarship from the Richmond Rotary Club, a donation made to TSTC for a student with financial need.

“This scholarship came out of nowhere and I couldn’t be more grateful. I literally cried when I found out I had received it,” said Molina. “I was really stressed out about how I was going to pay for school. For a while I thought college wasn’t going to be a possibility for me.”

Richmond Rotary Club President-elect and Secretary Larry Pittman said it is helping students like Apryl that makes their donation so worthwhile. This is the first Rotary Club scholarship given to a TSTC student to help pay for tuition or books.

“Apryl is a terrific young lady who is fighting to get ahead,” said Pittman. “I hope that our scholarship can help fund a portion of her college career and help her achieve her educational and career goals.”

The Sugar Land native has big dreams to earn a college degree and work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) helping save young children from the dangers of today’s cyber world. And because of the help she is receiving from TSTC and organizations like the Richmond Rotary, those dreams seem to be coming true.

“I’ve never received financial aid or scholarships before,” said Molina. “Because of all the assistance I’m getting I have been able to drop to part-time at my full-time job and fully focus on school and moving forward with my career.”

Molina also recently received a $1,000 scholarship from TSTC. She said she is so thankful for the help she received from staff at TSTC in Fort Bend County. Prior to TSTC, Molina had attended another local college and said she never received the kind of help she has at TSTC.

“Everyone from financial aid to admissions representatives really helped me get everything in order,” said Molina. “I’m excited to get started at a college where I’m a name, not only a number. They really care about the future of their students.”

For more information on TSTC’s Cyber Security program call 832-595-8734 or visit tstc.edu. The deadline to register is August 22. Fall 2016 students will be attending the new TSTC campus in Fort Bend County which will open in time for the first day of classes on August 29.

TSTC Safety Officer Recognized for His Commitment

It is safe to say that Enrique Carrillo is thought of highly by his peers after recently being awarded the 2016 Chancellor’s Excellence Award at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards Dinner and Celebration.

Carrillo is the Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Officer at Texas State Technical College and said he could not believe he had been selected as one of the recipients for this award.

“I was very humbled because I work with a lot of talented personnel who also deserve this award,” said Carrillo. “It’s an honor and makes me feel special. I never thought this was a possibility, but it makes me believe I must be doing something right.”

Carrillo’s wife accompanied him to the awards celebration, and he said he could not think of a better person to have by his side.

“My wife is a huge contributor to my success. She’s been there with me through thick and thin,” said Carrillo. “She’s been so patient and has allowed me to accomplish my goals. She’s my rock, my support, and she deserves this award more than I do.”

It was back in 2007 when Carrillo first set foot at TSTC as a student. He had lost his job in the power plant industry after 30 years and this was his time to pursue a college degree.

“I started working in power plants at 19, I didn’t know anything else,” said Carrillo. “This was my chance to come back to school, but I loved TSTC so much, I never left.”

Carrillo earned his associate degree in Wind Energy Technology in 2013, and graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. He is also currently working toward becoming a certified safety and health officer with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“The people, the atmosphere make TSTC what it is. As a student I wanted to work here, and here I am,” said Carrillo. “Nobody is perfect, but as a campus we do a real good job at working together to achieve our goals.”

Carrillo’s career at TSTC has ranged from teaching to safety officer. His supervisor and Executive Director for Governance, Risk and Compliance Tom Hooker praised him for his commitment to safety.

“Enrique provides exceptional oversight and enforcement of the safety programs for both Harlingen and Fort Bend as an invaluable professional as a Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs (SHEA) Officer,” Hooker said.

Carrillo said he will continue working hard in implementing safety programs that will keep everyone safe.

“My goal is zero accidents,” said Carrillo. “I want to plant a seed of safety so everyone will continue what I started, make us all accountable and look out for each other. Safety never ends. It starts with you and ends with you.”

TSTC Graduate Gains New Career and Life

Last night Marcela Mireles and her family celebrated not only a graduation, but also life.

The Brownsville native graduated with honors earning a 3.7 grade-point average and receiving an associate degree in Surgical Technology from Texas State Technical College.

During her time at TSTC, Mireles was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was president of the Surgical Technology Club.

“Tonight is definitely a blessing,” said Mireles. “This was a tough year for me. I never thought this day would come.”

Within a span of two years, the 34-year-old single mom had lost her job and learned that her mother had cancer.

Prior to attending TSTC, Mireles worked for Convergys as an operations manager, but unfortunately, the company closed laying off hundreds of people. Because of the shutdown, Mireles received a grant through the Texas Workforce Solutions that would pay her program’s tuition, while allowing her to keep her unemployment benefits.

“During this time I learned that God will not hand us anything we cannot handle,” said Mireles. “Did I lose my job? Yes, but I was able to pursue a field I have always been interested in, while still putting food on the table, supporting my family and achieving my goals.”

On top of losing her job, Mireles’ mother was also diagnosed with cancer. This spread Mireles thin. With raising her daughter, staying at the hospital with her mother and the non-stop studying, Mireles could have given up, but she did not want to face defeat.

“At the time I asked myself every day, ‘Why her,’ ‘Why us,’ ‘Why now,’” said Mireles. “But had my mom been diagnosed any earlier or later, the medical care guidance I received from my instructor at TSTC would not have been there. Some things are just meant to be.”

That TSTC instructor was Anna San Pedro. Mireles said San Pedro helped her understand the medical treatments her mother needed, and had it not been for this information her mother may not be here today.

“Mrs. San Pedro was really a lifesaver,” said Mireles. “She told me everything to expect when it came to my mom’s surgeries and treatment. She even encouraged us to always get a second opinion, and that’s why I get to share my success tonight with my mom.”

Today Mireles’ mother is cancer-free and Mireles has a new career.

Mireles has already been offered a certified surgical technologist position with Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. The offer is pending based on her national exam scores, which she should receive at the end of the month.

“If I’ve learned anything at all during this experience is that I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was,” said Mireles. “TSTC has made a huge difference in my life and I hope with my career I can make a difference in someone else’s life also.”

For more information on the Surgical Technology program call 956-364-4805. The last day to register for Fall 2016 is August 22. To apply or register anytime visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Gives Graduate Hope of a Better Life

At 14 years-old Carolina Martinez came to the United States for the opportunity to continue her education. As an immigrant, she spent many years facing homelessness and poverty.

Now, a decade later, her “American dream” of a college degree is coming true.

The Veracruz native will be graduating from Texas State Technical College tonight with an associate degree in Surgical Technology. She is the first in her family to graduate from college – a feat accomplished in the face of great hardship.

“I was so scared to leave my home in Veracruz,” said Martinez. “But at that time it was my only hope to continue school. At 14 in Veracruz I had to start paying for school and we couldn’t afford it. So it was either move or drop out and work.”

Martinez’s mom was already working in the United States sending money home to her daughter and her son, who were living with their grandmother. Martinez said her dad was never in the picture.

“I moved in with my mom, my stepdad and my half siblings when I got to the U.S.,” said Martinez. “School was challenging, I was in an ESL class for two years and my teacher began pushing me to do more.”

That teacher at Port Isabel High School was Eric Hanstead. He encouraged and pushed her to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) classes and participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) academic contests.

“I never thought I could do any of it,” said Martinez. “But he taught me that ‘Where there is a will, there is a way,’ and that has carried me through my hardest days.”

She graduated from high school in 2011 but, because of financial reasons, college was not in the picture for Martinez. She had no choice, but to work to help support her brother and grandmother who had stayed in Mexico.

“We didn’t have money for college,” said Martinez. “In fact, my mom said there was no point in me going to college, so she wouldn’t help me apply for financial aid.”

During this time, Martinez’s stepfather was deported, her half siblings were sent to live in Mexico with him, and after several months, Martinez’s mom decided to leave the states to join the rest of her family. This left Martinez alone without a place to call home.

“I was living in a messed up trailer home, it was broken,” said Martinez. “My life was broken, but the one good thing that came out of everything is that my mom helped me apply for financial aid before she left.”

Soon after Martinez started college at TSTC, she was kicked out of her trailer and found herself homeless.

For nearly a year, Martinez stayed wherever she was welcomed. She was in and out of friends’ homes.

It was not until her Surgical Technology Program Director Robert Sanchez and her Instructor Anna San Pedro led her to TSTC housing, that she finally had a steady roof over her head.

“I’m glad I had saved my income tax return, because that’s what I used to move into the dorms,” said Martinez. The program was stressful, my living situation was stressful, but I can say that I made it. I’m graduating.”

Martinez is graduating with a 3.5 grade-point average and now working at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) as a surgical technology intern. She will find out if she passed her national exam at the end of the month, which will determine if she will be hired full-time at DHR.

“Carolina has really persevered; she did whatever she could to succeed,” said Sanchez. “I’m very proud of her and everything she has accomplished. I admire her determination and I know that if she continues to work hard and embrace the profession she will do excellent and have a better quality of life.”

Martinez said her experiences and the hands-on training she received at TSTC has prepared her for a career that will change her life forever.

“It’s been hard doing all of this on my own. I won’t have family at graduation either,” said Martinez. “But TSTC and my instructors have changed my life for the better. I can’t wait to work full-time doing what I love, helping my family back in Veracruz and finally being able to afford a place I can officially call my home.”

Martinez is one of 358 students graduating from TSTC with either a certificate or associate’s degree tonight at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.

TSTC Student Starts New Career Before Graduating

For 15 years a typical day for Jesus Botello Jr. consisted of working in fields along the East Coast with a harvest crew who gathered blueberries, but the father of three wanted a new career close to his family.

Botello has now gone from harvest field to field technician, making his dream a reality. On August 19, he will be one of 11 students graduating from Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County. He will be receiving a certificate in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Botello’s family owns the farming and harvesting business he worked for in the past, but he said when he left to pursue his own interests, he got nothing but support from his family, wife and children.

“My family really encouraged me to go back to school,” said Botello. “I was tired of being away from my wife and kids for long periods of time, so everyone knew I needed the change and I needed to come home.”

The Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning graduate is already working in the field with Comfort Custom Air out of Rosenberg. Botello was offered the position as a HVAC technician three weeks before completing his program.

“TSTC has changed my life,” said Botello. “I’m able to be with my family now and I have a new career that I love. I feel like I’m in the right place.”

The Needville native’s first experience with Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning was when he began his classes at TSTC in August 2015. He said although he had never worked in the industry, it was always something that peaked his interest.

“I’ve always been interested in how these systems work, their design and technicalities,” said Botello. “Plus, everyone in Texas needs central air and heating.”

Botello said he credits his current success on the hands-on training and education he received at TSTC. He described his college experience as the perfect fit for him.

“Coming back to school and being the oldest in the class was not easy,” said Botello. “But the learning approach with hands-on techniques is what I needed to be successful.”

Heather Hogan, owner of Comfort Custom Air said they have been impressed with Botello’s skills and desire to learn. She said she has heard nothing but praises from her other HVAC technicians.

“I’ve been hearing that he is a quick learner and will have no problem being out on his own very soon,” said Hogan. “Part of this is what first attracted us to hire Jesus. He’s doesn’t mind working hard and he’s determined to learn all he can about the industry. He’s been the most prepared recent graduate we have hired, and a lot of it has to do with the training he received at TSTC.”

Botello said he has high hopes for his future. He said he has really admired and looked up to his instructor Keith Klix for his experience and positivity in every situation.

“Mr. Klix has really been so helpful and I hope to be like him someday,” said Botello. “It’s because of him and the training I received that I’m able to dream about owning an HVAC business someday.”

At the end of the day, Botello said he hopes he can excel enough in his field to someday teach at TSTC.

All Fort Bend graduates will be the last to graduate from the TSTC location at Wharton County Junior College. Commencement will be August 19 in Waco at the Waco Convention Center at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning program at TSTC call 832-595-8734. The new TSTC campus in Fort Bend County will open August 29.

TSTC Gives Magnolia Graduate a Bright Future

With a couple of job offers in hand, Macay Bahner will walk the commencement stage on August 19 and receive his certificate from Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County.

The Magnolia native studied Diesel Equipment Technology, a field that was new to him when he started at TSTC one year ago.

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school,” said Bahner. “All I knew was I needed to work with my hands, a four-year university and learning from books was not for me.”

The 19 year-old said he researched technical colleges in his area after graduating from Magnolia West High School. Bahner added that when he found TSTC and saw the Diesel Equipment Technology program it caught his attention.

“After looking into the program and seeing first-hand what it consisted of, I knew it was the career I should follow,” said Bahner. “I get to learn, see and do something different every day.”

Bahner said he never imagined he would have job offers before graduating from college, especially with countless graduates around the country struggling to find work.

“Many of my classmates and I are either working or deciding which job offer to take,” said Bahner. “Finding a job is not something I had to worry about.”

While Bahner is still deciding where he will work, he also seriously considering going back to TSTC for his associate degree to become more competitive in his field.

“I hope to open a business someday dealing with diesel mechanics,” said Bahner. “TSTC and my instructor Gary Voelkel really prepared me for that.”

The diesel mechanic graduate appreciates the dedication and commitment Voelkel has for his students.

“He was always there to keep us on the straight path,” said Bahner. “He was always there to help us and make sure we understood everything. His goal is to make sure we succeed.”

Overall, Bahner said he enjoyed his college experience and the hands-on training he received at TSTC. So much so, that Bahner has begun recommending the college to high school graduates in his hometown.

“I hope others take advantage of what TSTC in Fort Bend County has to offer,” said Bahner. “This college changes lives, I know it’s changed mine.”

Bahner is one of the 11 graduates receiving certificates or associate degrees during TSTC’s commencement ceremony on August 19 at the Waco Convention Center at 6:30 p.m. They are the last class to graduate from the TSTC location at Wharton County Junior College.

For more information on the Diesel Technology program call 832-595-8734. The new TSTC campus in Fort Bend County will open August 29 in time for the first day of class.

TSTC Students Gain Work Experience in China

(MARSHALL) – Two Software Development Technology students at Texas State Technical College in Marshall graduate Friday having gained international work experience at SEVEN Networks.

Dustin Morgan, 22, and Sophia Glazova,19, both of Jefferson, spent part of July at SEVEN Networks’ facility in Hangzhou, China. The two visited for mobile software development meetings while based at the company’s Marshall location.

Phyllis Hollingshead, an instructor in the Software Development Technology program at TSTC, said Morgan had a keen ability to work well with other students and Glazova wrote clear and concise software coding.

“The two are very exemplary students,” Hollingshead said. “They are above average and it has been a pleasure to have them in class. They absorb everything so quickly and take off with it. I was excited that they got to go to China. They are the first students I have had to go overseas for internship work.”

Morgan has done an internship at SEVEN Networks since November and Glazova joined the company for an internship in December. The students have since been hired full time at the company.

“They are both very sharp and enthusiastic about their jobs and anxious to learn,” said Ross Bott, president and chief executive officer of SEVEN Networks. “We are happy with their performance and looking forward to them continuing to be part of the Seven engineering team.”

SEVEN distributes its engineering between Marshall and Hangzhou, which have a 13-hour time difference. Work is accomplished through conference calls, email, instant messaging, the company’s internal website and occasional engineering visits between the sites. According to its website, the company develops innovative software solutions that deliver device-centric mobile traffic management and analytics for wireless carriers.

“I like to solve the problems that come up,” Morgan said. “It’s never boring.”

While in China, Morgan and Glazova took some time off to sightsee. Among the locations they visited were the West Lake Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, and Leifeng Pagoda, the oldest bronze pagoda in China.

“It was my first time being in China,” Glazova said. “It was quite interesting.”

The students also observed Chinese people in their daily lives.

“The ones at SEVEN were pretty curious,” Morgan said. “A lot of the Chinese we ran across did not speak English. They try to communicate with gestures. Most of the signs are in English, but the people don’t regularly speak it. Usually they want to take pictures with you.”

Bott said SEVEN is fortunate to have TSTC in Marshall as a neighbor.

“We will continue to look for the best and brightest students at TSTC to bring on as interns and later as full-time employees,” Bott said. “It’s a chance for someone to learn a lot about mobile software while working with a global engineering team.”

Morgan and Glazova will graduate with 54 other TSTC students at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, at the Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel at Wiley College in Marshall. Morgan is a 2012 graduate of Iowa Park High School in Iowa Park and Glazova graduated in 2014 from Jefferson High School in Jefferson.

The two are preparing to start the fall semester at Louisiana State University in Shreveport to study computer science and software development. The students will continue to work at SEVEN after graduation.

TSTC in Marshall offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Software Development, with classes focusing on programming design and logic, scripting languages and software coding and testing.

Registration continues for the fall semester. More information is available at tstc.edu.

Hendrick Health System Donates to TSTC Digital Media Design Program

(ABILENE) – Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene is bringing the dream of a college education a little bit closer for students of the Digital Media Design program at Texas State Technical College.

Hendrick has donated $2,500 to TSTC’s Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign, helping to offer the Texan Success Scholarship to new students in the program. The funds allow TSTC to give students $500 scholarships to be used toward equipment they will need in the program. The TSTC Foundation matches donated funds for this campaign, so the Digital Media Design department will have $5,000 in scholarships to award.

Christina Hollis, division director of Computer Information Systems and Design at TSTC, said the scholarships will help students get a head start.

“Not all students have the funds to purchase a laptop at the beginning of our program,” Hollis said. “These funds will help those students hit the ground running the first day of class with the technology they need to be successful.”

A longstanding partnership, TSTC’s Digital Media Design and Culinary Arts departments helped with Hendrick’s annual Cancer Survivorship Program event, the Survivorship Culinary Showdown.

“The Digital Media students created the event’s intro video,” Hollis said. “We also created the postcard sent for the event and the program, did photography and hosted a live feed of the event.”

Norm Archibald, vice president of development at the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation, said Hendrick was proud to partner with TSTC and the Digital Media Design department.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the young talent in our community, and we’re excited to have a hand in helping students reach their educational goals,” Archibald said.

TSTC is registering through Aug. 22 for the fall semester. Visit www.tstc.edu for more information.

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