(ABILENE, Texas) – Brittney Sims said she received a second chance at life for a reason.

In 2005, Sims attempted to take her own life as a teenager and at one point was not responsive to paramedics trying to save her. Sixteen years later, Sims is now a student in Texas State Technical College’s Paramedic program and is studying under the paramedic who was the first to arrive at her house that day.

Ronnie Pitts, TSTC’s Emergency Medical Services instructor, was that paramedic. Doctors said Sims would not have normal brain function, but Sims wanted to prove everyone wrong.

“Ronnie Pitts played a key factor in saving my life. Without him, I would not be here today,” Sims said.

She earned her emergency medical technician certificate from TSTC and began the paramedic program for one reason.

“I knew I could do more with my life, and I knew that I wanted to help people the way that Ronnie helped me,” she said.

Pitts said when Sims began the program, he did not remember who she was at first. It was through an email that took Sims some time to write that he learned who this student was and what he meant to her.

“Out of the blue, I received her email, and it hit me,” Pitts said. “Many times as EMTs and paramedics, we wonder what happens to our patients after we drop them off. It is only normal. I am able to see what became of her, and I know she will be a successful paramedic.”

Sims said it took her some time to decide to leave her position in an orthodontics office to attend school, but she is glad she made the choice.

“(Pitts) was thrilled I made the decision to come back to school. I was glad I could show him that the outcome of his call to my house turned out for the best,” she said.

Sims currently works as an EMT at both MetroCare in Abilene and Scurry County EMS in Snyder. She said having experience at both a rural and a larger city service will pay off in the future.

“There are some things I do in Scurry County that I do not do in Abilene. I am impressed that I am learning something new every day,” she said.

Scurry County EMS Director Jason Tyler said Sims has shown signs of becoming a good paramedic.

“She is very confident in what she does and is a quick learner,” he said. “She is getting her eyes open to what rural EMS is about and what we stand for. She is beginning to understand that it is an entirely different system and one she could be successful in.”

Sims said she wants to help pay it forward by promoting TSTC’s program as often as possible. That included recruiting her best friend to join the program earlier this year.

“I hope we will be able to work on an ambulance together one day. Right now, it is good that we are able to see each other on a daily basis,” Sims said.

Sims is also able to talk to her instructors about the calls she had to answer. She said that makes the program appealing to many students.

“There is such amazing team support with all of the instructors. We know that we will be able to talk to them about things we experience in the field,” she said. “I knew I was saved for a reason. I just needed to search for what it was — and it was to become a paramedic and help people like Ronnie helped me.”

Registration for the fall semester is underway. Scholarships are available. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – Brandon Trevino has seen his time at Texas State Technical College pay off at work.

Trevino earned an associate degree in Industrial Systems in 2020 and has been using his knowledge on a daily basis at AbiMar Foods in Abilene.

“When I first walked into the plant, I noticed all of the different machines,” he said. “To me, everything was on a much bigger scale than it was at school. But I knew I would be able to learn how to use it.”

AbiMar Foods, which was founded in Abilene in 1992, started with two ovens. Today it exports products to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. 

Trevino said he is proud to be part of a successful company.

“All of my training at TSTC has really paid off. I thought I would be going into the plant scared that I did not know everything,” Trevino said. “I hit the floor running, knowing there would be a learning curve and I would have to catch up. Day by day, I learned more and got comfortable. I have seen my confidence growing.”

He credits his success to his time at TSTC. He also learned that his supervisor had inside knowledge of the programs offered at TSTC.

“My boss graduated from the Waco program years ago. He knew that TSTC trained good employees,” Trevino said.

With the help of instructor Daniel Diaz, Trevino was able to interview for a job before he graduated in December.

“I knew other people were having a hard time, but Daniel was able to help me get my foot in the door,” he said.

Since his time at work, some people have told him to expand his knowledge. For now, Trevino is happy to be working at a job that he trained for.

“I am one of those guys that likes to get all dirty,” he said. “I really like what I do on a daily basis.”

Trevino was not always a person who liked to work on equipment. That changed after he enrolled at TSTC.

“Working in the lab made me learn what was going wrong with a machine. I used to stay away from those situations, but not anymore,” he said.  “I really like trying to figure things out.”

Trevino said TSTC’s instructors were helpful in showing him the proper way that equipment works.

“If we did not understand something, they would always be there to show us. It helps that they worked in the field,” he said. “All of their training and knowledge has been helpful to me in my career.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – Marcus Lance has done a lot in a short period of time at Texas’ largest limestone quarry.

After earning an associate degree in Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College in 2020, Lance began working for Champion Stone Co. in Lueders. The maintenance technician has seen his education pay off daily.

“I am the main guy when it comes to all of the electrical boxes at the quarry. I have also installed three or four different plumbing systems while I have been working there,” he said.

Lance has also learned how to use heavy machinery, including a front-end loader.

“I have to do a lot of different things when it comes to work. At school, we learned to operate a forklift, but now I can drive a front-end loader with 20,000 pounds on it,” he said. “I never thought I would be able to say I could operate something that big.”

Having an aptitude for operating mechanical equipment comes naturally to Lance. In his spare time, he makes knives in his backyard shop.

“Do-it-yourself and using equipment is right up my alley,” he said. “I think having more experience will help you in life.”

When Lance started the program, he knew he had some experience, but he was surprised by how much he learned.

“I would apply what I did know when I was in class, but I was surprised that almost daily I would learn something I did not know,” he said.

Lance said being raised by a single mother led him to learn how to fix things around the house and eventually apply that knowledge toward a career.

“It was up to me to help her out. If something were wrong with the car, I would dive right in and try to fix it,” he said. “I wanted to get things done around our house that needed to be done. While I was able to do that, I was learning a new skill.”

Lance said one skill he learned at TSTC was welding.

“I was able to learn enough about welding that I bought my own welder,” he said. “I am the kind of person that likes to read instructions and put that knowledge to work. Once I read about it, I want to use it over and over again to make sure I know I am doing it correctly.”

Lance said the program offers people various options, but he does have advice for anyone considering Industrial Systems.

“It may be overwhelming at times, but remember you do not have to become a master,” he said. “Make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing so you can take the next steps.”

According to onetonline.org, electrical technician jobs are expected to increase 8% by 2028. Instructor Daniel Diaz said people like Lance and other TSTC graduates are able to learn different trades and become highly skilled when they complete the program.

“We offer a lot of different options for our students. They are able to learn different areas of the trade and can find a good job when they graduate,” Diaz said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – One of the first things students learn in Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program is that many job opportunities await them after graduation.

That was the reason why Jacob Nelson, Levi Taylor and Dalton Tiner decided to enroll in the program. What they have learned over their first two semesters is that they made a good decision for a career.

“There are so many different areas we can choose from. This truly is a jack-of-all-trades program,” said Nelson, of Abilene, who is pursuing a certificate in the program.

Industrial Systems students learn to install, operate, test and maintain equipment in various facilities. The three students, along with their classmates, are learning industry-standard safety procedures, mechanical and electrical skills, diagnostic techniques, how to read and interpret schematics, and how to work with motors, pumps, chillers, boilers, and programmable logic control systems.

Nelson said his family worked in many of the fields covered in the program. It was a perfect opportunity for him to expand his knowledge.

“I am pretty good at welding and working with my hands. I wanted to broaden my skills in that area,” he said, adding that he plans to study for an associate degree.

Taylor, of Hawley, is also pursuing an associate degree in the program and has been impressed with what he has been able to learn in a short time.

“I have learned there are a lot of opportunities available for people who study in this program,” he said.

According to onetonline.org, electrical technician positions are expected to grow by 8% in Texas over the next decade.

That trend has led to younger people enrolling in the program, something instructor Daniel Diaz likes to see.

“With many of our students starting younger, it gives them more time for growth in the industry,” Diaz said. “All of our students see success in the industry. This program helps get them off on the right foot.”

Nelson said having Diaz as an instructor helps him know that what he is learning will be used in the field.

“All of the experience he has had in the field is helpful,” Nelson said. “We know that when we read something, the instructors will tell us about that and how it applies to what we may see in the field. They have seen it, so they can explain it to us and give us their experience in that situation.”

Taylor said having state-of-the-art equipment to train with was another reason he chose to attend TSTC.

“I am a very hands-on person, and having time in the lab is the best part of the program,” he said.

Tiner’s father studied Industrial Systems at TSTC more than 10 years ago. Having the lab sessions today is something that Tiner, of Brownwood, is proud to talk to his father about.

“He had to do a lot more reading back then. He told me that having the equipment here is going to help me prepare for a career,” said Tiner, who is pursuing a certificate of completion in the program.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – Erik Duenes was asked a simple question while working in his hometown of Ozona.

“I was working in maintenance at a nursing home, and the director of the EMS (emergency medical services) asked me if I wanted to drive an ambulance,” said the Texas State Technical College student. “I knew it was a chance to make some extra money.”

What Duenes, who is studying to become a paramedic, did not expect was for a career to unfold.

“I took my first emergency medical technician class at the local service, and I was hooked. I went on to earn advanced EMT certification, and now I am studying to be a paramedic. I never thought I would fall in love with the medical field.”

Duenes said he is working to become a paramedic to support his wife and two children.

“I wanted to be able to provide for them. They are the fire that drives me to succeed,” he said.

In his first semester, Duenes has been impressed with the lab sessions and clinical work.

“Everything has been really good,” he said. “I knew becoming a paramedic would be more demanding. I understood that there would be more studying and work, and prepared myself for it.”

Duenes said his experience at TSTC has been more than he expected, especially during the Wednesday lab sessions.

“I did not realize we would have so much one-on-one time and be able to work with each other,” he said. “I knew there would be studying, but to come here on Wednesdays and execute what we have learned is the best part of the week.”

Duenes also likes learning from experienced instructors.

“They know how everything is supposed to be done. They want everyone to work together to succeed,” he said.

TSTC was the perfect choice for Duenes, and he hopes more people study Emergency Medical Services at the TSTC campuses in Abilene, Brownwood or Harlingen.

“My EMS director in Ozona graduated from TSTC. So I am kind of following in his footsteps,” he said. “I have told other EMTs I know that they need to come to TSTC and study.”

The state of Texas has more than 20,600 EMT-paramedics employed statewide, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Duenes wants to be part of that group.

“I am ready to get back out there and work with the new skills I am learning,” he said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduate Anthony Fallbeck is now giving computer advice.

Fallbeck, who received an associate degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration in 2020, recently started working in the information technology department at Hendrick Health System in Abilene.

“I have learned a lot in the few days I have been here. I learned that not everyone knows how to work a computer,” he said. “The best advice I give people is to always ask questions. You are not going to figure everything out on your own.”

Fallbeck plans to use the teaching style of TSTC instructor Leo Chavez while helping Hendrick employees.

“Leo would always push us in the right direction. He would not give us the answer but would make us search for it,” he said. “He would also give us hints to find the answers.”

Chavez said Fallbeck will be a valuable addition to the Hendrick staff.

“If he doesn’t know something or just needs a nudge in the right direction, you can be sure that he’ll work at learning whatever it is until he understands it fully,” Chavez said. “This is the trait he’s used most to get through his classes, and it’ll be the trait he uses to be even more successful in the future.”

Fallbeck said he was looking for a career change when he chose to go back to school. He decided to leave his job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system and applied to TSTC.

“Honestly, I was looking for a new career field. I had piddled on computers all of my life,” he said. “I would work to see how they worked and decided to earn a degree in the field.”

Fallbeck has been one of the program’s biggest promoters since he graduated.

“I tell people anytime I can that TSTC is the place to be,” he said. “If you want to learn to work on computers, I tell people to check out the course.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

(ABILENE, Texas) – U.S. Navy veteran James Johnson had some downtime in his life.

“I decided I wanted to go back to school. I knew I could use my GI Bill,” said Johnson, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program.

In fact, Johnson already knew some of the things he would learn in the program. While in the Navy, Johnson worked with electronics, satellite communications and information technology systems.

When he left the Navy, he entered the workforce as a calibrator for Texas Aerospace Services. But the downtime came, and he wanted to learn more.

“When you see what is in here (TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center), everything is offered in this one program,” he said. “Welding is just one aspect. This program offers you multiple opportunities.”

Another reason he chose TSTC was the help he received from Annette Collins, the Veteran Services program officer in West Texas.

“Annette is one of the reasons I started here. She knows what veterans need to do to get into school,” Johnson said. “She would sit down with me and help me with each step.”

Collins was equally impressed with Johnson.

“I was so honored to talk to him because he holds all the values of a veteran,” she said. “I saw the potential in him, and I felt that Industrial Systems would be great for him. He has all the skills to do great things in that program.”

While touring the program, Collins introduced Johnson to the instructors. The introductions strengthened her belief in Johnson.

“After he talked to the instructors, he was more enthusiastic about the program,” she said.

Johnson said instructors Daniel Diaz and Demetri Jones prepare students for the future.

“They are very thorough while we are in the lab,” he said. “I came in knowing some things, but I have learned so much more.”

Johnson said the program offers students several opportunities.

“I have been learning about pumps and boilers. That is something I have not known much about,” he said. “We are covering it all. We talk about it, and the instructors explain what we need to do.”

With different areas being covered, Johnson said students should be prepared to do one thing.

“Be prepared to devote your time to this program. What we do in the lab two days a week is easy,” he said. “The hard part, for me, is to take the time and commit myself to working online before coming here. You will need to look at all of the material.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.