Category Archives: All TSTC

TSTC in Marshall ELT Program Adding CDL Course

(MARSHALL) – Students enrolling this fall in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State Technical College will have the opportunity to take commercial driver’s license lessons.

Students will first need to get a commercial learner’s permit before the end of their second semester, said Eric Carithers, TSTC’s statewide chair for the Electrical Lineworker Technology program.

“The students are required to have their permit and also a copy of their driving record,” he said. “They need a driving record for every state they have lived in the last seven years. They also need to undergo a drug screening.”

Students will take a new commercial driving course through the Texas Workforce Commission in the third semester of the associate degree program. The first group of students will start learning how to drive in summer 2020, Carithers said. The class is backed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates all registered commercial motor vehicles for interstate freight, passenger and hazardous materials transportation. .

“It cuts down on the costs for the employer and makes the student more sellable,” Carithers said.

Representatives of area electric providers said the new course is vital for job candidates.

“As an electric utility, it’s imperative for us to have employees with a CDL,” said Bryan Blanton, a distribution system manager at Southwestern Electric Power Co. in Longview and chair of TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology advisory board. “It will be a huge success when graduates come out of TSTC’s linemen program already having their CDL.”

Kathy Wood, general manager of the Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative (PHEC) in Marshall, said it is a challenge to finding job candidates who already have commercial driver’s licenses.

“TSTC including the CDL with its Electrical Lineworker program is very beneficial,” Wood said. “It will save PHEC the cost of driving the employee to the testing site for testing. It will also benefit the applicant because the CDL makes the applicant more valuable to the cooperative.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC Industrial Maintenance Students Needed to Fill North Texas Jobs

(RED OAK) – Students who pursue industrial maintenance careers play a critical role in keeping their workplaces operational.

“I feel like a student that will do well will be curious in nature and want to learn,” said John Walker, an instructor in Texas State Technical College in North Texas’ Industrial Maintenance program.

Walker said the program’s students make up three groups: traditional ones just out of high school, those studying to get promotions, and workers already in the field wanting to improve their skills.

“For us in this area, a lot of the companies have gone from wanting mechanical to electrical to wanting people who are multicraft or considered technicians,” Walker said. “With those job changes, they are looking for one person that can fit two roles and reduce some of their labor costs. The market for the electrical specialization is ridiculously good right now.”

Joe Razza, a regional recruiter for Crown Lift Trucks in Arlington, said many of the learned industrial maintenance skills can be used in manufacturing forklifts. Employees undergo company training once hired.

“We have to look for the best candidates possible,” Razza said. “There is no forklift school.”

Jonathan Williamson, human resources talent lead at Owens Corning in Waxahachie, said the company hires for industrial mechanic and electrical specialist positions.

“Our ideal candidate would be somebody with a journeyman certification through an apprenticeship program or a two-year degree and ideally five years of experience on the job,” he said. “That is really hard to get. If we could snap our fingers and find candidates like that, we would be tickled pink.”

Williamson said employees starting out in electrical and mechanical tasks at the company working a 40-hour week could have a base pay in the $60,000 range with overtime opportunities.

“You just have so much earning potential than a lot of other careers,” Williamson said. “We have mechanics and electricians making six figures each year because they work the extra hours.”

A lot of the jobs graduates can pursue in the field only require an associate degree.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians had an annual mean wage of more than $67,000 in Texas in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technicians are needed in computer design, natural gas distribution, petroleum manufacturing and other industries.

Electromechanical technicians can work in the aerospace, energy, piping and semiconductor industries, according to the agency. The annual mean wage for electromechanical technicians in Texas was more than $57,000 in May 2018, according to the agency.

Students attending TSTC in North Texas can pursue the Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Maintenance with an Electrical Specialization, or a certificate in Industrial Maintenance Mechanic-Electrical. Some of the classes students take include Basic Electrical Theory, Commercial Wiring, Machinery Installation and Programmable Logic Controllers.

Students have opportunities to get apprenticeships as early as their second semester, Walker said.

“The student now has income coming in, and it’s generally in the field they are going into,” he said. “The company wins because … they have somebody to bring up and grow in-house.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC development officer, local leader earns prestigious award

(FORT BEND) – Field Development Officer John Kennedy, who has been with Texas State Technical College since the expansion in Fort Bend County in 2014, has recently been named a Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipient.

The Sugar Land native has worked diligently with TSTC donors to raise funds for scholarships, has collaborated with local industry partners and has served as an ambassador throughout the community for TSTC.

“I never expected this,” he said. “There are scores of people who I know deserve this award, so I am humbled.”

Kennedy was nominated by his peers, provost and vice chancellor and chosen among 160 faculty and staff members nominated for his distinguished service and dedication to the college, community and the state.

“The teammates who win this award model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s new direction,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the employment success of our students.”

For nearly two decades, the Chancellor’s Excellence Award has celebrated employees who exhibit TSTC’s core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service and Integrity.

Coming from a long-time career in the hospitality industry and tasked with the mission of expanding TSTC in Fort Bend County, Kennedy realized his favorite part of the job immediately: giving someone the chance at a better life.

“Everyone at TSTC shares a unique opportunity; and that is to give the people in our community an education and a skill that will change their life,” said Kennedy. “There is nothing like seeing our students with their families at commencement. It’s moving and motivating.”

Kennedy said his goal is to continue increasing engagement and interest in TSTC statewide, so that students can continue to have scholarship opportunities.

“Many of our students rely on these scholarships,” he said. “For many, this is a game changer.”

TSTC’s Vice President of Development Pete Rowe has worked with Kennedy for almost five years. In fact, it was Rowe who invited him to join the team.

“As soon as you meet Kennedy you can feel his confidence and see his intelligence. We have a tremendous respect for John,” said Rowe. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Chancellor’s Award than John. His passion for the college and its students is what drives his work and his success. He always puts TSTC and helping others first.”

In addition to serving his community through education, Kennedy also serves the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as an ordained deacon at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land.

“I enjoy the possibility of helping people and making a difference in their lives,” said Kennedy. “My passion is serving and I carry that over to TSTC and I want to thank those who nominated me and see this. I hope to be able to continue fulfilling expectations now and in the future.”

TSTC Electrical Lineworker Students Do Morning Emergency Simulation

(MARSHALL) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Troubleshooting Distribution Systems class were doing hands-on learning before the sun rose Thursday.

The third semester students in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program experienced their first in-the-dark emergency simulation lab at the Marshall campus campus’ pole yard behind the South Building.

“It went really good,” said Stephen Woods, an instructor in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker

Technology program. “They learned about what happens in the middle of the night. There were real-world situations they got to get in.”

The students spent the night on campus and were awakened at 2 a.m. for a simulated emergency call. When they arrived at the pole yard, they found it “damaged” by a hypothetical storm. The students broke into two teams to fix problems that included a broken power pole, downed power lines and other issues.

The students adapted to their first work in the dark by using their own light sources.

“In the dark, things get slowed down quite a bit,” said Dalton Simmons, a TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology major from Henderson. “You are working with a flashlight. In this humidity, your glasses fog up.”

Lee Russell, a TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology student from Tyler, said he learned about safety while adjusting to the dark.

“It was fun learning something new,” he said. “Everyone remained calm and got the job done.”

The hands-on lab was a teaching lesson for faculty also.

“We see a lot of areas we need to cover better to help them out,” Woods said. “In the end, it makes our program better.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.

More Than 50 Companies Represented at TSTC Industry Job Fair

(SWEETWATER) – More than 180 Texas State Technical College students and alumni attended the TSTC Industry Job Fair in Sweetwater on Tuesday, April 2. They had the opportunity to meet representatives from some 50 local, national and international companies.

TSTC provided free transportation to the Sweetwater campus for students coming from the Abilene, Breckenridge and Brownwood campuses. Students talked with representatives from companies looking to fill positions in various fields such as diesel, electrical power and controls, industrial maintenance, nursing, welding, and wind energy.

It was the first time some companies had visited the West Texas campus.

“I was surprised that TSTC had an RN program out here, and now that I know, we fully intend to take advantage of having this local resource,” Tara Camp, community marketing liaison for Cogdell Memorial Hospital, said.

For others, this was an event marked on their calendar every year.

“I go to as many of the job fairs that TSTC does as possible because of the type of training the students get and just the type of personality these students have. Their hands-on experience shows, and they have the willingness to keep learning on the job,” Bret A. Martinets, Human Resources manager at M&S Engineering, said.

The event was a homecoming for TSTC diesel program alumnus Josh McBride of Bruckner’s Truck Sales Inc.

“I hope these students just keep their eyes open and learn from every opportunity because it pays off,” McBride said.

Representatives from Oncor Electric Delivery spoke with students from TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls, Industrial Maintenance, and Wind Energy programs and offered on-site interviews.

“We’ve got 10 positions we need to fill in Odessa alone, so there is a huge need across the state,” Brad Villa, M&C supervisor at Oncor, said.

TSTC in Abilene Electrical Power and Controls student Anthony Neighbors said he was impressed with the company turnout and hopes to find a job that allows him to travel.

“I’m a single dad, so I want something that provides for my son but that also lets me enjoy new places,” Neighbors said.

Neighbors spoke with representatives from Koenig & Bauer and said he felt like he had found the place for him.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.

More than 180 students and alumni attended the TSTC Industry Job Fair at TSTC in Sweetwater. More than 50 companies were represented.

TSTC in North Texas Employees Recognized With Statewide Award

(RED OAK) – Two employees at Texas State Technical College in North Texas have been honored for their work and skills.

Thomas Betik, a building maintenance supervisor, and Leslie Monk, an Industrial Maintenance instructor, are recipients of the Chancellor’s Excellence Award.

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001 and has been given to more than 300 TSTC employees statewide. Recipients are nominated by their peers for their work toward advancing the technical college’s mission.

Betik began work at TSTC in 2017 and is the first in his position on campus. Since he is the only building maintenance supervisor there, he deals with most building-related problems that arise. Betik said faculty members also offer their expertise in some situations.

“I was in disbelief,” he said about the award. “To me, to get it in that short period of time was amazing.”

Betik grew up in Ennis and graduated in 1983 from Ennis High School. He graduated in 1987 from TSTC in Waco with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plant Engineering.

“I come from a farming background and picked up a lot of maintenance and plumbing skills around the farm and made a career out of it,” Betik said.

TSTC in North Texas Provost Marcus Balch called Betik a tireless worker the campus is fortunate to have.

“He is very well respected and liked by the employees,” Balch said.

Monk was hired four years ago as the first instructor for the Industrial Maintenance program at TSTC in North Texas. The Waxahachie resident calls it his favorite job.

“Surprised was an understatement,” he said upon learning about the award. “I read the email three times. It was astonishing and not expected at all.”

Monk said he enjoys teaching because it is a way to share the knowledge he learned from his relatives who were electricians.

“I teach nights with students in the field who want to promote up,” he said. “I get to work with a lot of experienced people.”

Monk grew up in Grand Prairie and has a general education development certificate. He is a 2015 graduate of Cedar Valley College, where he studied interdisciplinary studies.

He joined the United States Navy at 18 and was an electrician in the the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions. While in the military, Monk was deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, as well as to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Balch said Monk is quiet, but a hard worker.

“He has been a trouper for us,” the provost said. “He has helped grow our cohort for Industrial Maintenance at night. He has stepped in to teach Electrical Power and Controls classes in the past.”

Betik and Monk will join 33 other TSTC employees statewide who will be honored at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s Excellence Awards Dinner in May in Austin.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.

TSTC in Marshall Employees Recognized With Statewide Award

(MARSHALL) – Two employees at Texas State Technical College in Marshall have been honored for their work and skills.

Neal Andrews, an electrician, and Amy Hertel, a Cyber Security instructor, have received TSTC’s Chancellor’s Excellence Awards.

“We’re incredibly proud of both Amy and Neal,” said TSTC Provost Barton Day. “Both of these great teammates model TSTC’s core values daily and are a joy to serve with.”

Andrews joined TSTC in 2018 and said he was surprised by the recognition. He said a key to being a good co-worker is to be agreeable.

“I had to have someone explain it to me,” he said of the award. “I am the only electrician on campus.”

He said TSTC is the first place where he has not had to wear a hard hat or do shift work.

Andrews grew up in Kilgore and said he considered becoming an industrial arts teacher. But, while in college, he applied for an internship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and stayed in the profession.

Andrews is also a member of the Union Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees in Gilmer.

Hertel said her email notification about the award was an unexpected surprise.

“I think I stared at the email a good 10 minutes before processing it,” she said.

She began teaching Cyber Security classes at TSTC in 2014.

“I know exactly why I’m here,” Hertel said. “I like to get a student in the program and see them grow. I’ve seen them get confidence and get out of their shell. I work with them on their resumes and prepare them for interviews.”

Hertel grew up in Winnsboro and said she wanted to teach since her childhood days of lining up to give lessons to her stuffed animals. She received her first computer when she was 4. While growing up, she learned about computer parts and software upgrades from a relative who worked at Texas Instruments.

Hertel studied computer science at Northeast Texas Community College and computer information systems at The University of Texas at Tyler. She has CompTIA certifications in A+, Network+ and Security+ and an AccessData certification in Computer Forensics.

Andrews and Hertel will join 33 other TSTC employees statewide who will be honored at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration in May in Austin.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.

Student Success Profile – Diana Mitchell

(HARLINGEN) – Diana Mitchell is a Biology major at Texas State Technical College. The 23-year-old expects to earn her associate degree in Summer 2019.

The Harlingen native is also active on campus as a work-study employee with the biology department, a member of the TSTC Student Leadership Academy and, most recently, as founder and president of the Biology Club. Under her leadership, the club has partnered with TerraCycle for a recycling drive and with the Pizzeria for a fundraiser.

Mitchell has also recently begun volunteering and job shadowing at a local veterinary clinic.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I plan on transferring to Texas A&M University – Kingsville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to become a veterinarian. I’ve always loved animals and have always had pets. Caring for them and ensuring they’re healthy is my passion.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishments have been maintaining A’s and B’s and starting the Biology Club. It has taught me leadership and communication skills I may not have otherwise received if I wasn’t an active student on campus.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lessons I have learned are to do what you’re passionate about, don’t compare yourself to others because everyone’s path is different and don’t dwell on your mistakes, instead learn from them.

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

First, there’s my number one supporter and fan, my mother Sanjuanita Quintanilla; she is a custodial worker at TSTC’s Learning Resource Center. She is my everything. Next, my instructors, but especially biology and anatomy and physiology instructor and club advisor Jena Campbell. She has a wealth of knowledge and is one of the people pushing me to continue my education, and last, but not least, my supervisor and academic English program maintenance specialist Alma Garcia, for teaching the value of work ethic.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is to take advantage of what TSTC has to offer in your own backyard, and take school seriously. I didn’t when I was younger, and I regret it. So find a passion and stick with it.

TSTC honors excellence with Chancellor’s Award

(HARLINGEN) – A record 13 faculty and staff members at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen have been named recipients of the prestigious Chancellor’s Excellence Award, chosen from among 160 nominations.

Texas State Technical College has celebrated the dedication of its staff and faculty by awarding the Chancellor’s Excellence Award to those committed to the excellence of the college and its students for almost two decades.

The 2019 recipients are – Maria Magana, contract compliance manager; Daniel De La Garza, director of strategic sourcing; Heather Sauceda, vocational nursing program director; Shirley Byrd, vocational nursing to registered nursing transition director; Tom Cross, aviation maintenance lead instructor; Jennifer Colten, director of stewardship and donor relations; Robert Foshie, executive director of enrollment center; Tracy Vallejo, records processing specialist; Llesmin Gonzalez, executive director of testing center; Teresa Rivera, custodian worker; Leo Villarreal, maintenance department painter; Janette Gomez, community standards liaison; and Arnulfo Alanis, maintenance electrician.

Each staff and faculty member have worked with TSTC anywhere between three and 20 years, and were nominated by their peers, provosts and vice chancellors.

They were selected for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and their state for this award and for exhibiting daily TSTC’s core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service and Integrity.

Every recipient shared the sentiment of surprise and shock. They said they don’t come to work with receiving an award in mind, but instead on the doing the best job they can.

Foshie said it’s an honor to recognized by his peers, but to him his work is more than the awards.

“TSTC is my career and family and I’m already honored to be part of this amazing community,” said Foshie, who has been with TSTC for 11 years. “And being able to see students begin this important part of their lives and seeing them achieve success as they walk across the stage at commencement is my favorite part of the job.”

For Cross, who has been with TSTC for nearly two decades, said he works every day with the goal of building the aircraft airframe and powerplant programs and creating a culture of success so that TSTC graduates are the first choice for employers. He said it was never about winning awards or receiving recognition.

“It was such a surprise learning about this award,” said Cross. “I just do my job to the best of my ability. TSTC gives us a great opportunity to help change students’ lives for the better.

I didn’t think I was worthy of this recognition, but I am humbled and honored.”

For some like Byrd, who has been with TSTC for four years, this award has allowed for reflection.

“When I read the email I thought it was a mistake. My department is very small and I couldn’t imagine who would nominate me,” she said. “But I am excited and honored and this has made me look at myself and evaluate as to why I received this award, and I am already looking at how to improve my department and live up to the expectations of this honor.”

Foshie, Cross, Byrd and the other recipients will join the other 35 TSTC recipients from across the state at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin where they will receive their medallions.

TSTC honors excellence with Chancellor’s Award

Arnulfo Alanis

Tracy Vallejo

Tom Cross

Teresa Rivera

Shirley Byrd

Robert Foshie

Maria Magana

Llesmin Gonzalez

Leo Villarreal

Jennifer Colten

Janette Gomez

Heather Sauceda

Daniel De La Garza

A veteran’s success has reached new heights at TSTC

(HARLINGEN) – As a U.S. Navy and Coast Guard veteran Jeromy Jeffries has lived across the United States and overseas, but he now calls the Wind Energy Technology program at Texas State Technical College home.

After more than two decades, the 44-year-old decided it was time to return to college and earn a degree.

“The military was my life. It was my career,” said Jeffries. “I never imagined that I would be a college student, much less be this close to graduating.”

Jeffries expects to earn his certificate and associate degree in Wind Energy Technology in May and currently boasts a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

“This is a second career for me and I expect it to sustain my family and me until I retire,” he said. “I did a lot of research before enrolling and I’m confident that I’m going to have a great paying, stable job for a long time. There is a lot of growth and opportunity in this industry.”

Employment of wind turbine service technicians is projected to grow 96 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And with wind electricity expected to continue growing rapidly opportunities are expected to increase.

In an article by Rio Grande Valley Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Sergio Contreras, Texas is a leader in wind energy power with close to 25,000 Texans working in support of the wind industry.

He states that the impact of these thousands of jobs is also felt in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Opportunities range from the fastest-growing middle-wage position in Texas, wind turbine technician, to the construction workers and suppliers that support continued growth of the state’s wind industry,” said Contreras. “In fact, TSTC in Harlingen Wind Energy Technology program graduates are earning an annual average salary, with a two-year degree, of $53,000, which can go to $90,000.”

Jeffries said knowing the type of opportunities that lay ahead, he made it his goal to work hard and maintain an “A” average and a knowledge that would be impressive to employers.

His determination paid off because he recently accepted an internship position with transition to full-time employment with One Wind Renewable Energy Services in Willacy County as a Wind Turbine Technician starting in April.

“I treat school as a job and I do my very best,” said Jeffries. “And I’m excited for the opportunity I have been presented with and I look forward to beginning my career.”

He credits his success to not only his instructors, who have been a source of knowledge and experience for him, but also the TSTC Veteran Center for helping him in his transition from military to civilian life.

TSTC is a Gold-Level Military Friendly School and the TSTC Veterans Center serves veterans and their dependents as a centralized one-stop shop to 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.

“It’s been a difficult transition, but the Veterans Center helping me with all of my documents and processes, and my instructors and classmates who have become family, have made it a bit easier,” he said. “And I know that my two-year degree is going to take me far.”

Wind Energy Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Sweetwater campus.

For more information on Wind Energy Technology, visit tstc.edu/programs/WindEnergyTechnology.

news.tstc.edu

Texas State Technical College News Site

Category Archives: All TSTC

TSTC in Marshall ELT Program Adding CDL Course

TSTC Industrial Maintenance Students Needed to Fill North Texas Jobs

TSTC development officer, local leader earns prestigious award

TSTC Electrical Lineworker Students Do Morning Emergency Simulation

More Than 50 Companies Represented at TSTC Industry Job Fair

TSTC in North Texas Employees Recognized With Statewide Award

TSTC in Marshall Employees Recognized With Statewide Award

Student Success Profile – Diana Mitchell

TSTC honors excellence with Chancellor’s Award

A veteran’s success has reached new heights at TSTC