Category Archives: All TSTC

You are invited to participate in an academic survey on “Women in Trades”

The survey is sponsored by the Dwyer Group to better understand how college-aged females perceive the trade industry as a career option as well as to gauge interest in a trade industry-scholarship sponsored by the Dwyer Group available exclusively to women.

Please click on the link below, or copy and paste the URL into the address window of your Web browser.
https://baylor.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6KBkLirfwLOblI1

The survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Questions will be related to advertising techniques, social media usage and scholarship history.

The survey is anonymous and all data will be analyzed in aggregate.

As an incentive for participation, the Dwyer Group is offering a random drawing for a $100 gift card. You may request a copy of the results upon completion of the study.

Contacts/Questions: If you have any questions, you may contact the principal investigator, Parker_Walton@baylor.edu or the faculty adviser Marlene_Neill@baylor.edu.
Thank you!

Roscoe Collegiate High School Tops in BEST Competition

(WEST TEXAS) – Hundreds of south Texas middle and high school students made their way to TSTC’s Student Center Gym in Sweetwater to put their robots to the test in the Big Country BEST Robotics competition.

Roscoe Collegiate High School topped the competition, winning the BEST Award and the Most Robust Robot award.

Also advancing to the regional competition in the Dallas area are Sweetwater High School and Sweetwater Middle School.

BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help students develop technological literacy skills and encourage interest in engineering, science and technology.

TSTC has hosted the Big Country BEST event for the past five years. This year’s competition began with Kick-Off on Sept. 12.

Terry Blankenship, Director of Development for TSTC, said the community usually comes out to support the event, and teams come from long distances to participate.

“Out of about 55 volunteers, about 40 were TSTC employees, and 15 were employees from Ludlum Measurements,” Blankenship said. “The 15 teams that competed travel here from up to 150 miles away.”

In this year’s competition, “Pay Dirt,” students are tasked with designing a robot that can remove five lucrative materials from the fictional BEST Inc. Mining Division’s mine.

Along with building and programming a robot to achieve the tasks at hand, students also have to create and pitch a marketing presentation to a panel of judges, and turn in an engineering notebook documenting their construction process.

Maria Aguirre, TSTC’s Director of Marketing Compliance, was one of the judges for the marketing presentations.

“The marketing presentations for BEST robotics allow the students to ‘sell’ their product,” Aguirre said. “Participants are judged on their website and their presentation skills and what they know about their product. It’s great to see each school’s presentation; students are learning skills they will continue to use later in life.”

The winning teams will compete against teams from a five-state area in the BEST regional competition on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Curtis Culwell Center at 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd in Garland.

TSTC Announces New Leadership for Williamson County campus

(HUTTO) – TSTC Vice Chancellor Jeff Kilgore announces the appointment of Edgar Padilla to serve as provost for the Texas State Technical College campus in Williamson County, effective immediately.

Padilla began his career in higher education nearly 10 years ago in student affairs and development. His tenure with TSTC began in 2012 with responsibilities for career services at the Waco campus. Today, he serves as TSTC’s statewide Senior Executive Director of Industry Relations and Talent Management which helps to place TSTC graduates in jobs across the state. Additionally, Padilla has led the analysis, design, and implementation of TSTC’s statewide career and professional development efforts, first outcomes and placement reporting models, and dedicated workforce analysis components. Previously, he served as TSTC’s director of career services at the Waco campus specializing in developing relationships with area industries and placing graduates.

Through statewide instructional and industry relations efforts in fiscal year 2015, TSTC has seen a 5.6% increase in job placement, 18% increase in registered employers and 16% increase in jobs posted for TSTC graduates in Jobstar, TSTC’s online job site.

“The provost serves as the senior campus executive in developing, implementing and maintaining strategies that grow TSTC’s student and donor markets, builds the TSTC brand regionally, improves the quality of the local campus and experience of its students, and works to unify the faculty and staff in making TSTC a great place to work,” said Kilgore. “Edgar’s devotion to the organizational mission, personal drive and focus on his work and teammates around him will be an asset in growing our TSTC campus in Williamson County,” added Kilgore.

“TSTC is the undisputed leader in higher education innovation in the state, and the value we provide to our graduates and Texas industry has never been stronger. I am humbled to lead the Williamson County campus in pursuit of TSTC’s strategic initiatives,” said Padilla. “Working with the community, industry, and the exceptional faculty and staff in Williamson County, I have no doubt we will accomplish our ambitious goal of growing TSTC across this great state and Placing More Texans.”

Padilla earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management with a minor in Information Systems from Schreiner University. He is a nationally certified Title IX Investigator and has served in leadership positions within community and professional associations including: Lacy-Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, Work in Waco Committee, Waco Collegiate Forum, Upjohn Waco Economic Development Team, National Association of Colleges & Employers and Christian Women’s Job Corps of Waco.

TSTC Awarded 2016 Military Friendly Schools® Designation

(WEST TEXAS) – Texas State Technical College announced today that it has been designated a 2016 Military Friendly® School. Now in its seventh year, the Military Friendly® Schools designation and list by Victory Media is the premier, trusted resource for post-military success. Military Friendly® provides service members transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.

The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology used for making the Military Friendly® Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past six years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

The survey captures over 50 leading practices in supporting military students and is available free of charge to the more than 8,000 schools approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill funding.

TSTC will be showcased along with other 2016 Military Friendly® Schools in the annual Guide to Military Friendly® Schools, special education issues of G.I. Jobs® and Military Spouse Magazine, and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

Texas State Technical College Instructors Helping Student-Veterans

Daniel Nixon, left, and and Nathan Cleveland, right, Computer Aided Manufacturing instructors at Texas State Technical College in Marshall, show one of the jalapeno popper grills they made to help student-veterans.

(MARSHALL) – Two Computer Aided Manufacturing instructors at Texas State Technical College in Marshall made jalapeno popper grills to help student-veterans raise money to attend a conference next year.

The handiwork of machining instructors Daniel Nixon and Nathan Cleveland was recently on display at Marshall’s FireAnt Festival. The grills are shaped like the state of Texas and can be used to stuff peppers with cheese and wrap with bacon and cook on a grill or in the oven, Nixon said.

“It was just the right thing to do since these men and women have sacrificed a lot for our country and anything we can do to support them is just what we want to do,” Nixon said.

Stesha Colby, TSTC’s Veterans Program Office at the Marshall and North Texas campuses, was familiar with Nixon and Cleveland’s work.

“They had made some grills before I was an employee here,” Colby said. “Folks liked them and they had them in the bookstore. When we were doing a fundraiser brainstorming session, a co-worker suggested asking them. I approached them to help out and they said yes.”

Nixon said he and Cleveland can weld 30 grills in four hours.

People who want to learn more about the jalapeno grills can contact Colby at stesha.colby@tstc.edu.

The Student Veterans Association in Marshall and the Student Veterans Alliance at the North Texas campus began raising money this summer to send as many members as possible to the Student Veterans of America’s 8th annual National Conference from Jan. 7-10 in Orlando, Fla.

“I attended the conference as a student when I was in college,” Colby said. “I liked the networking, the breakout sessions for various groups such as female veterans, veterans at two-year colleges, four-year colleges, private colleges, STEM colleges.”

Texas State Technical College in Marshall Hosts Industry Career Day

More than 20 businesses and companies from Texas and Louisiana gathered recently at Industry Career Day at Texas State Technical College in Marshall

(MARSHALL) – More than 20 businesses and companies throughout Texas and western Louisiana were represented at the Fall 2015 Industry Career Day at Texas State Technical College in Marshall.

The event’s purpose was to connect students and graduates with employers that have immediate hiring needs,” said Benjamin “Benji” Cantu, Director of Industry Relations and Talent Management in Marshall.

Some of the businesses and companies that participated included Trinity Industries in Dallas, EasTex Tower in Longview and Woodlawn Manufacturing in Marshall.

Representatives of International Paper in Mansfield, La. visits several area career days throughout the year.

“We find great recruits on every visit to TSTC,” said Michael W. Stewart, the company’s Area Maintenance Manager – Balance of Plant. “This visit provided nine very good potential employees, two of which will graduate in December and we plan to hire them in January. With the lack of local apprenticeship programs in 2015, these events are the perfect avenue for recruiting team members ready for the workforce.”

The Marshall campus will have its next Industry Career Day on March 24. And, Industry Career Day is planned for March 31 at TSTC in Waco and April 7 at TSTC in Harlingen.

Campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater have several Employer Spotlights each semester when area businesses speak with directly with classes.

TSTC Graduate Motivates Students to Pursue Tech Industry

Raymond Jordan of McKinney is a customer support engineer at Cisco in Richardson and a graduate of Texas State Technical College in Waco.

(WACO) – Raymond Jordan has the world at his fingertips as he stares at his computer monitors at Cisco Systems Inc. in Richardson. Support calls from individual customers and companies transcend time zones and he is the man with answers.

Jordan, 41, is a customer support engineer on Cisco’s Server Virtualization Team in the company’s Technical Assistance Center dealing with the company’s Unified Computing System Platform.

Jordan, of McKinney, recently spoke to computer science students at Texas State Technical College in Waco about his work at Cisco and how students can prepare for internships and jobs. He said it is typical for interviews in the technology field to be conducted in front of a small panel. Panelists ask a question, which can then lead to follow-up questions.

“Most people are looking for a basic method of problem solving,” Jordan said.

Jordan was living in Hewitt when he graduated in summer 2013 from TSTC with an associate degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration.

“I knew I was going to get a good education when I enrolled,” he said. “I knew TSTC had a good reputation in the computer networking field and in other fields. I was impressed that the computer networking classes have equipment that you can work on, installing cables on equipment and getting your hands on. Sometimes, I have to do something like that and think back on the hands-on work I did at TSTC. This kind of experience helps when you are going through job interviews.”

Jordan’s TSTC degree complimented another career interest he had throughout his life: Journalism. Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 2008 from The University of Texas at Arlington. He worked at a newspaper in Cameron but left after a year and a half.

“I was looking to stay in journalism for a while,” Jordan said. “I was working at Sprint at their retention department in Temple. I was commuting every day. I had always liked technology and working with computers and knew TSTC had a great program.”

TSTC instructors encourage students to pursue as many certifications as possible primarily because testing prices are lower for those in school.

“What we do is teach the fundamentals,” said John Washington, an associate professor in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration Technology at TSTC in Waco. “At the library we have books the students can use to prepare for the tests.”

TSTC in Waco is a member of the Cisco Networking Academy, an international career-building skills program created in 1987 to provide a pathway for people to enter the IT field.

The Computer Networking and Systems Administration program offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching four-course curriculum that students can take to become Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician certified or CCNA certified.

A group of TSTC Computer Networking and Systems Administration students and instructors will travel Nov. 2 to San Antonio for Cisco Academy Day at Rackspace, a worldwide cloud management company specializing in website hosting, data services and cybersecurity.

TSTC in Harlingen to Hold 25th Annual Oktoberfest

WHO: TSTC in Harlingen

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28

WHERE: TSTC in Harlingen Athletic Field, 1902 N. Loop 499, Harlingen

WHAT: TSTC will hold its 25th Annual Oktoberfest. The event will feature more than 20 student organizations selling delicious food, more than 10 TSTC program booths, eight carnival rides, hayrides, a petting zoo, pony rides, a visit from ninja turtles, a haunted house, costume contests and more. All activities are free, except the food vendor booths.

Georgetown Company Filling Technician Needs Through TSTC

TASUS Corp. employees (left to right) Dean Bernhard of Leander, Anthony Bunch of Jarrell and Leo Trigo of Hutto are studying industrial maintenance at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

(HUTTO) – The 15-minute drive from Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto to TASUS Corp. in Georgetown is a path for employees to meet their educational and work training goals.

Eight employees at TASUS are currently attending TSTC and studying industrial maintenance. And, company leaders consider the college a pipeline to provide a need for maintenance technicians and workers to acquire the skills needed to receive increased work responsibilities.

Tracy Jackson, human resources manager for TASUS in Georgetown, said the company and college have a good relationship and hope it grows in the future.

“TSTC is helping to provide the educational knowledge for TASUS employees and has been a strong educational partner in our community,” Jackson said.

TASUS has more than 150 employees working three shifts in automotive injection molding, blow molding and extrusion molding. Some of the items that are shipped worldwide include vehicle visors, consoles and brackets. The company has been in Georgetown for a decade and is owned by Tsuchiya Co. Ltd. based in Nagoya, Japan.

Anthony Bunch, 29, of Jarrell is one of several TASUS employees who take advantage of the company paying a portion of college tuition to those studying in fields related to their work.

Bunch, a production operator, began attending TSTC a year and a half ago and discovered that he liked the hands-on course work.

“It always makes one a little nervous to see who you will meet and how it will all work out on the first day of class,” Bunch said.

Bunch has a goal of getting an associate degree at TSTC once he finishes the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic certificate.

“I wanted to go to TSTC to better myself and learn more,” Bunch said. “I have a 4.0 grade point average. The people at TSTC are great. I like how the teachers work with each individual student.”

Dean Bernhard, 48, of Leander has also kept up a 4.0 grade point average working on a certificate in Industrial Maintenance Mechanic. He is taking Motor Control and Industrial Power Plants during the fall semester.

“They have a really good program,” Bernhard said. “Almost everything is hands-on. You gain more doing it and it helps bring the formulas from the book and shows you what they are for. If you can’t do the work, the homework won’t do you any good.”

Bernhard has been a preventive maintenance administrator for more than two years at TASUS. His work includes opening and closing work tickets and reviewing orders for parts.

“Sometimes there is a sharp learning curve,” Bernhard said. “I watch and I ask a lot of questions.”

Leo Trigo, 48, of Hutto is a maintenance technician who has worked at TASUS for eight years and is taking night classes at TSTC in Williamson County to work on an associate degree in Industrial Maintenance – Mechanical Specialization. Trigo already has an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic certificate from TSTC.

Trigo graduated in 1985 from Hutto High School and was inspired by his children and observing a TSTC industrial maintenance class to consider returning to the classroom.

“With my age, about half the material was new to me,” Trigo said. “I had worked in manufacturing for 22 years before I started school, so I had seen a lot of the stuff we were working on in class. The Programmable Logic Controllers I class was new to me.”

TSTC offers associate degrees and certificates in Industrial Maintenance with concentrations in electrical and mechanical at campuses in Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County.

TSTC to Host Women in Technology Day Oct. 22

(WACO) – Texas State Technical College is hosting a Women in Technology Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 in the Student Recreation Center, to celebrate and educate women interested in non-traditional fields.

Around 250 female students from area high schools and TSTC will attend the day-long event. The morning will feature events aimed towards high school students, like a Q&A panel of current TSTC students, and tours of programs at TSTC.

After the tours, guests will be provided lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m., with a Q&A panel of professional women in non-traditional fields beginning after lunch.

At 1:30 p.m., TSTC Provost Rob Wolaver will present a scholarship to a prospective TSTC student. After the scholarship presentation, high school students will board buses to leave and TSTC students will break out into professional development sessions. At 3:30 p.m., Wolaver will present a scholarship to a current student.

A schedule of the day follows this email. For more information on the event, contact Debra Gonzalez at 254-867-4812.