Category Archives: All TSTC

Student Success Profile – Ricardo Vasquez

(HARLINGEN) – Ricardo VasquezRicardo Vasquez is pursuing an associate degree in Agricultural Technology at Texas State Technical College. The Sebastian native holds a 3.6 grade-point average and expects to graduate in Summer 2019.

The 22-year-old said that by pursuing a career in agriculture he is following in his father’s footsteps and said his favorite part of the field has always been working with cattle.

What are your plans after graduation?

When I graduate I will transfer to Texas A&M Kingsville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to work with either the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture or as a game warden.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment so far has been maintaining high grades and my GPA, but I’m looking forward to graduating, and that by far will be my greatest accomplishment.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is that I must chase my dreams because I am in charge of my future.

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

All of my Agricultural Technology instructors have had a great influence on my success. They have all guided me and supported me on this journey. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is this: Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. There is always a way to make your dreams come true.

 

TSTC is hiring statewide, positions to be filled by the New Year

(STATEWIDE) – With Texas State Technical College rapidly growing and the demand for a skilled workforce increasing, TSTC is hiring to fill more than 200 positions by 2019.

“TSTC is expanding course offerings to meet employer demands within the state,” said TSTC Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Pamela Mayfield. “To do this, we need knowledgeable and passionate faculty and staff who are committed to high quality student achievement.”

The ideal candidate is someone looking for a career change or transition and will have a passion to share their technical and industrial field experience in the classroom.

“TSTC graduates are highly valued by business and industry for their work ethic, knowledge and workplace skills,” said Mayfield. “So we would expect the same attributes in our TSTC faculty and staff along with integrity, excellence, service and accountability.”

Depending on the position, the applicant will need to have one to five years of work experience in their industry, along with an associate degree or higher.

Some teaching or training experience is preferred, but not required.TSTC Instructor

“Being on the TSTC team is more than a job; it’s the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students,” said Mayfield. “TSTC is the business of success and it takes a diverse team of dedicated, passionate and talented players working together to achieve goals.”

Faculty positions in high demand technical programs such as Welding Technology, Precision Machining Technology and HVAC Technology are needing to be filled.

There are also openings for staff in the areas of recruitment, information technology and the TSTC police department.

“Each TSTC team member possesses unique skill, perspective and style,” said Mayfield. “And when our employee and customer come together we grow stronger and change lives.”

A TSTC System employee is eligible to receive a competitive salary; benefits that include health, dental, vision, paid sick and vacation time; flexible spending accounts, retirement fund options, employee assistance programs and employee discounts, as well as a respect for employee work-life-balance.

“We have a rich diversity in our employees and customers across our 10 campuses that together gives us a unique advantage as we serve the state,” said Mayfield. “And we encourage people to explore TSTC and what it means to be on this team. TSTC prides itself on being a ‘Great Place to Work.’”

TSTC’s mission is to contribute to the educational and economic development of the state of Texas by offering technical programs and supported academic coursework.

TSTC is made up of 10 campuses across the state and has been training and placing Texans in great paying jobs for more than 50 years.

Employment applications are already being accepted with the interview process beginning immediately for many positions.

The positions are expected to be filled by January 2019.

For more information or to apply, visit tstc.jobs or call 254-867-4810.

Thrall Resident Overcomes Challenges En Route to TSTC Associate Degree

(HUTTO) – Jonathan Flores of Thrall was working in construction in 2014 when he was involved in an automobile accident in Williamson County.

Flores was thrown out of the vehicle he was in and found out soon afterward that he was paralyzed from the chest down. At the time, he said he did not think much about college. But while recovering and adjusting to his life’s changes, he said he knew he needed to further his education.

“If you want to do something, no matter what you want to do, you can do it,” Flores said.

Flores, 24, is a candidate for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County’s Fall 2018 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center at 1600 Innovation Blvd. in Hutto.

“I got interested in welding because I like to build stuff,” Flores said. “After my accident, I couldn’t do much work.”

With some minor adapting, Flores is able to weld in EWCHEC’s first-floor labs. He enjoys fabricating the most.

“It was hard at first,” Flores said. “The instructors would tell you (to do it) a certain way, and sometimes I could not do it and I had to figure out a different way.”

Samara Flener, lead instructor of TSTC’s Welding Technology program, said she and faculty members admire Flores’ work ethic, attitude and determination.

“My priority became making sure he had access when he was in the booth and that he was as comfortable as all of the other students,” Flener said. “We will take 20 more of him.”

When he is not studying or working, Flores likes to play wheelchair basketball in Austin. He said it is good exercise and a way to connect with others.

Flores graduated in 2012 from Taylor High School, where he played soccer and took graphic design and engineering classes.

“I would see people weld and it looked cool,” he said.

His goal after graduation is to pursue a job in a fabrication shop in the Austin area.

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

Thrall Resident Overcomes Challenges En Route to TSTC Associate Degree

TSTC Computer Programming Technology Encourages Women to Code

(WACO) – Vicky Lackey, 60, of Teague first learned about programming languages, or coding, in the late 1970s on desktop computers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“I fell in love with computers,” she said. “I started playing around with them myself.”

Lackey’s inspirations for continuing her education last year at Texas State Technical College were the excitement of technology’s evolution and her children. When she enrolled to pursue the Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Programming Technology, she learned a new set of programming languages like C# (C Sharp) and Java.

“The logic is kind of the same,” Lackey said. “You just have to use the script and terminology with each language and then learn the code.”

Lackey’s goal after graduation is to work in computer programming and then be self-employed.

There are more than 77,100 women who are computer programmers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The number of men in the field is more than 370,000.

Texas had more than 20,800 computer programmers as of May 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Texas had an annual mean wage of $86,200, which is higher than its border states, according to the labor statistics agency.

“The industry looks for competent programmers,” said Casey Jones, a TSTC Computer Science instructor. “That comes down to those students who come in and work and grow with the complexity of coding.”

TSTC’s Computer Programming Technology pathway gets a variety of students who are interested in video games and those who are new to learning about coding and technology.

Some of TSTC’s Computer Programming Technology majors choose also to study Cloud and Data Center Management to broaden their job potential.

Jones pointed to the construction field as needing competent coders in the future, especially as 3D printing is adapted for projects.

“When you look at getting the jobs, it is how good a programmer you are,” Jones said.

TSTC’s instructors try to make the process of learning coding and solving problems as interactive as possible.

“You write a lot of dead code starting out,” Jones said. “You learn to modify and fix.”

Twenty-six percent of professional computing jobs in the United States were held by women in 2017, according to the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Kaitlyn Lyons, 25, of Hillsboro had computer experience before attending TSTC, but learning the coding language was new to her. She said she gets tutoring when needed to better understand programming concepts.

After graduation next year, she wants to work for a company and return to college for a business degree.

“I think it’s encouraging to have more diversity in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields,” Lyons said. “A lot of them are male-oriented.”

Lyons’ advice to primary and secondary school girls is to pay attention to the classes they take.

“Do some more mathematics and logic-based classes,” she said. “The syntax is pretty easy, but the logic can be a little challenging. Pick up a coding book, and read it and research.”

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

TSTC Computer Programming Technology Encourages Women to Code

 

TSTC is hiring, hosts first Faculty Recruitment Fair

(FORT BEND) – Texas State Technical College is looking for faculty to join the family and, to that end, will be hosting a Faculty Recruitment Fair on Thursday, December 13.

The event, hosted at TSTC’s Brazos Center from 2 to 6:30 p.m., will offer those interested in bringing their talents to the classroom the opportunity to apply and complete an on-site interview with faculty and staff.

“We need additional faculty to support the growth the Fort Bend County campus is seeing. We’re growing rapidly,” said Toni Lerch, TSTC Human Resources manager. “We’re looking for people who are passionate about their professional field and are ready to share their technical knowledge, skills and abilities with the workforce of tomorrow.”TSTC Instructor

There are faculty openings in the high demand programs of Welding Technology, Precision Machining Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, HVAC Technology, Cyber Security Technology and Electrical Power and Controls.

Lerch said ideal candidates should have at least three to five years experience in their industry expertise and an associate degree or higher.

Some teaching or training experience is preferred, but not required.

“We want people who can take what they have learned in the technical/industrial field and share it in the classroom,” said Lerch. “Teaching a trade can be such a rewarding career and they will be joining a wonderful family.”

TSTC offers competitive salaries; a state employee benefits package that includes health, dental and vision; and paid sick and vacation leave.

Lerch said she encourages everyone interested in applying to attend the recruiting event.

“This is not your typical event,” said Lerch. “We’ll be offering a glimpse inside one of the area’s newest campuses and showcasing our classrooms and labs. Not many people get to tour a place they’re applying to during a recruitment fair, so this is a great opportunity.”

TSTC Associate Provost Bryan Bowling said instructors play a critical and rewarding role in changing lives.

“There is a huge technical skills gap in Texas today and with the incredible growth we’re seeing in the state and at TSTC in Fort Bend County we need additional instructors so we can continue to meet the increasing demand for technically skilled graduates,” said Bowling. “Our instructors are the heart of our organization and we rely heavily on the breadth of their knowledge.”

TSTC prides itself on being a “great place to work” offering great benefits, employee development opportunities and state-of-the-art teaching facilities.

With more than 200 positions available statewide, applications are being accepted. Positions are scheduled to be filled by January. For more information or to apply, visit tstc.jobs.

San Antonio Resident Electrifies His Goals at TSTC

(WACO) – After Esteban Hernandez graduated in 2012 from Louis D. Brandeis High School in San Antonio, his parents lobbied for him to attend Texas State Technical College because of family ties to Waco.

Instead Hernandez worked at a restaurant, a land-surveying business and a warehouse. He also dabbled in studying radiography.

“Wow, I wasted so many years,” he said.

Six years after his high school graduation, Hernandez is realizing his dream of being a college graduate with a transformed life.

He is a candidate for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Avionics Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2018 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Waco Convention Center.

“Esteban is an amazing student,” said Marty Segraves, chair of the Avionics Department. “He is such an adept student that he has nearly maxed the program. His only B was in an electronics course. When he takes a test, I’m almost disappointed  if he doesn’t make a 100.”

Hernandez began working part time earlier this year at JAG Aviation in McGregor. He gets to work with employees on older and newer plane radio systems. He said the work is a way to use what he learns at TSTC.

Hernandez enrolled at TSTC in 2017 and moved in with his grandparents. His inspiration for studying aviation was his cousin’s husband who is employed at Southwest Airlines and his own fondness for hands-on work.

“I like the group we have in the program,” he said. “They are really fun and awesome. Learning how electronics work is really interesting.”

Hernandez will not wait long to pursue his next goal. In January, he will start taking classes in the Aviation Maintenance program at TSTC.

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

San Antonio Resident Electrifies His Goals at TSTC

TSTC helps students fight hunger

(FORT BEND) – Hunger and homelessness is widespread among college students and to help battle this issue Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County has set up a student food pantry.

TSTC Campus Enrollment Executive Georgeann Calzada said the mission of the pantry is to provide struggling students with meals.

“The goal with all of our support resources is to fill a gap for our students until we have a permanent solution and/or they are able to get back on their feet with the support of one of the many community organizations we work with,” said Calzada. “Food insecurities are great concern across college and university campuses.”

On average, the food pantry at TSTC will assist at least five students a week.

The pantry is filled with canned goods, cereals, soups, oatmeal, and toiletries such as shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

“We realize our students enter college with outside factors that might impact their learning environment,” said Calzada. “Many of our students work paycheck-to-paycheck and try to make it with only five dollars in their pocket, so we want to help get them through this period in their life to get them on their way to a career.”  TSTC Student Food Pantry

Many of the items the pantry is stocked with are donations that come from TSTC staff and faculty and community businesses and neighbors.

The last large donation for the pantry came from Kroger’s, which donated $200 worth of food.

The pantry is primarily used for students, but when Hurricane Harvey hit, the outpouring of donations from TSTC campuses across the state and from the community allowed the pantry to be open  to faculty and staff in need as well during that period.

According to the recent study “Still Hungry and Homeless in College,” by researchers at Temple University and Wisconsin HOPE Lab, 42 percent of community college students describe themselves as food insecure, with one third saying they have skipped meals or eaten smaller portions to cut costs.

TSTC Student Government Association president Rene Escobar works at the pantry part-time assisting with restocking and organizing and said he has seen firsthand how the pantry helps alleviate student stress.

“Having a food pantry on campus helps make students feel at home,” said Escobar. “Students know they are welcome to come by anytime and get what they need. In turn, this allows them to focus more on school.”

Escobar, who is also a Diesel Equipment Technology student at TSTC, said he encourages students to use the pantry.

“Students should not be embarrassed about using the pantry. Sometimes there’s a negative stigma that surrounds asking for help,” said he said. “But this pantry is here for them. To help them in their journey to success. They should take full advantage of the service, it’s okay to ask for help.”

Calzada said she wants students to be aware that TSTC is there to assist them through every challenge and obstacle they face during their time at the college.

“Our pantry has made the progress needed with the continued growth of our campus and we will continue to provide the needed services for our students,” said Calzada. “Since we’re a commuter campus, fuel is also a big issue for our students, so with the support of our provost we’ve set funds aside for gas cards.  As long as the student continues to do his/her part to attend and pass classes then we’ll do everything in our power to alleviate struggles.”

For more information on the student food pantry or to donate, call 346-239-3422.

TSTC hosts first chemistry community event

(HARLINGEN) – Eight-year-old Leonard Fuller experimented with sublimation bubbles – converted from a solid to a gas – during Texas State Technical College’s first “Chemistry is Out of This World” event recently held at the Wellness and Sports Center.

“Getting to create my own bubbles using dry ice and watching them grow on their own has been my favorite,” said Fuller. “But creating my chemical base to launch my own rocket was fun too. It’s hard to choose.”

The homeschooled student said he enjoys studying science and chemistry. He hopes to become a scientist when he grows up.

The event hosted by TSTC’s Challenger Learning Center and Chemical Technology was a half-day event filled with hands-on activities for families with a goal of exposing  young children to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs and careers.

TSTC Chemistry Event

Activities such as building a battery, molecule creation, bubble sublimation, HoloChemistry mixed reality, rocket reactions and planetarium shows were only a few that the more than 100 attendees got to enjoy.

“With STEM education being a priority in all schools and grade levels, we want to plant the seed early and expose students to these amazing fields and the opportunities they can provide,” said Yvette Mendoza, TSTC college readiness coordinator. “And there’s no better way to do that than to make learning fun.”

For Lola Mejia from Girl Scout troop 1065, the rocket reactions activity launched her interest in chemistry.

“My rocket went over the bleachers, it was the best,” said Mejia. “I love baking, but now I love chemistry and science too. I have a lot to think about.”

The 11-year-old now has two possible career choices.

“Chemistry is Out of This World” was made possible by a grant the TSTC Challenger Learning Center received from the National Informal STEM Education Network, a community comprised of informal educators and scientists dedicated to supporting learning about STEM across the United States, provided all of the supplies necessary for the hands-on activities.

“This is the first time we receive this grant and we are so appreciative and grateful to be able to give our community this type of opportunity,” said Mendoza. “And the interest we have seen

from school districts, teachers and the community is immeasurable.”

Mendoza said this event and the services the Challenger Learning Center offers throughout the year are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, state curriculum standards set forth for public schools K-12.

TSTC Chemistry Event

Neri Balli, state director for pre-college programs, said the event was a success.

“We had a great turn out and it was so much fun seeing how engaged and interested these children were,” said Balli. “Our center and these programs supplement what they are learning in the classroom. This is definitely the first of many community engagement events we hope to host in the future.”

The next community engagement event “Journey to Mars,” will be held December 1 at the TSTC Cultural Arts Center, in partnership with a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) cooperative.

This event will celebrate NASA’s 60th anniversary and the TSTC’s Challenger Learning Center’s fifth anniversary.

The event is free and open to the public and will consist of toddler and school-aged children activities such as rover building, computer coding, Mars habitat drawings with three-dimensional pens and rocket assembly.

For more information on the Challenger Learning Center and to register for Journey to Mars call 956-364-4125 or visit bit.ly/JourneyToMarsHarlingen.

TSTC hosts annual food drive: Food should not be an obstacle

(HARLINGEN) – Lemarques Hicks is a Vocational Nursing student at Texas State Technical College and without Charlie’s Pantry available for TSTC housing students, Hicks could have gone hungry. .

This is why the TSTC Staff Senate is hosting its annual Food Drive for Charlie’s Pantry and the Student Life Pantry, centralized in the TSTC Student Center for all students to use.

“There are times that I have had no funds for food,” said Hicks. “Without the help from the pantry I would have had nothing to eat. I’m grateful that TSTC offers this type of service and support.”

The 22-year-old Houston native relocated to the Rio Grande Valley to attend TSTC. With only a grandmother close by, Hicks has no other family support in the area.

Hick’s grandmother will help her grandson as often as she is able to, but unfortunately she struggles financially as well.

TSTC Charlie's Pantry

“The help I have received from the college has allowed me to focus on school and has relieved some burden,” said Hicks. “They (employees) have given me the chance to stay in school and make my dream of becoming a nurse come true so that I may be able to make a better life for myself.”

Hicks has also received assistance from the TSTC Foundation’s Snyder Helping Hands fund, an emergency aid fund available to students statewide who face unexpected hardships or are at risk of dropping out of school.

Hicks said after he graduates in Spring 2019, he hopes to begin his career at a Houston hospital and take care of his aging father.

Unfortunately, Hicks is part of an alarming 42 percent of college students who describe themselves as food insecure. This number comes from a recent study “Still Hungry and Homeless in College,” by researchers at Temple University and Wisconsin HOPE Lab.

According to the same study, one-third of these students say they have skipped meals or eaten small portions to cut costs.

TSTC Project Manager for Financial Services and Staff Senate president Sharon Foster said an increase of food-insecure students makes this a pressing issue for faculty and staff.

“We’re here to assist our students and help them stay in school,” said Foster. “We need to relieve the burden of hunger so that they can focus on achieving academically and earn a degree. Food should not be an obstacle.”

Since mid-August, the Student Life Pantry has been visited 574 times with an average of 48 visits per week. Charlie’s Pantry has an average of 15 visits per week.

“Our pantries need to be replenished. They’re running low on food,” said Foster. “Representative from both pantries have already called requesting food, and this is where our annual drive comes in.”

Foster said faculty, staff and students are always responsive to helping those in need. Non-perishable foods and monetary donations for frozen meals are already pouring in.

It takes at least $150 a month to keep the pantries stocked at minimum to ensure students like Hicks have food readily available when they need it.

“Students we’ve spoken to are always so grateful for the assistance,” said Foster. “Our goal it so make their college experience a positive one. We’re here for our students.”

There are drop-off locations set up throughout campus, and TSTC Staff Senate is also hosting food drive events to collect donations. The next events are on December 4 at the TSTC Learning Resource Center and December 11 at the Student Service Center.

As for Hicks, he is now a student worker at TSTC Housing serving as a community assistant and receiving a paycheck to help with food and other expenses.

“The help I continue getting is endless. This job is helping me more than many would think,” he said. “The pantry is now a last resort for me because I know there are many others who rely on it as well.”

For more information on how to donate to TSTC’s food pantries call 956-364-4023.

Student Success Profile – Cecilia Cuellar

(HARLINGEN) – Cecilia CuellarCecilia Cuellar is studying Agricultural Technology at Texas State Technical College. The 21-year-old expects to earn her associate degree in Spring 2019, holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is an active member of the Agriculture Club.

The Santa Monica, Texas native said her passion for agriculture came from watching her grandfather and father work with cattle. Growing up around the industry, she said she wants to follow in their footsteps.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate from TSTC I plan on transferring to Texas A&M Kingsville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to work a federal job perhaps with the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducting fever tick research.

What has been your greatest accomplishment while at TSTC?

My greatest accomplishment so far at TSTC has been earning a spot on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll list.

What greatest lesson have you learned about yourself or life?

The greatest lesson I have learned is to not doubt my abilities. If you set your mind to something and work hard, then you can accomplish any goal you set for yourself.

Who at TSTC has had a great influence on your success?

It’s difficult to name just one person, so I’m going to have to say that all of my instructors have influenced my success. They ensure that we understand all of our lectures and labs and go the extra mile to help us. They share their experiences and always show genuine care about our success.

What is your advice for future TSTC students?

My advice for future TSTC students is to come into college with an open mind. There are so many career choices, but it’s important that they choose what is best for them and what they’re passionate about.