(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College has been granted $10,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation to award Precision Machining Technology students with scholarships.

The program will award 10 new students with $1,000 each — $500 for the fall semester and the other half for the spring.

TSTC’s Precision Machining program will begin hosting weekly Lunch and Learn sessions on the program beginning Friday, July 6, and continuing through Friday, Aug. 10. Potential students must attend one of these sessions and enroll in the program to be eligible to receive the scholarship.

The Gene Haas Foundation, which is headquartered in Oxnard, California, was established in 1999. Haas started Haas Automation Inc., a builder of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, in 1983. Aware of the “Skills Gap,” a lack of skilled workers to fill jobs in the U.S., Haas directed the board of his foundation to focus on scholarships in manufacturing education.

Daniel Nixon, head of TSTC’s Precision Machining department, hopes the scholarships will help boost enrollment in the program and said now is an opportune time to join the machining industry.

“Right now there is a shortage of good machinists not just statewide, but nationally and worldwide,” he said. “It’s a good time for a young person to get in at the ground level and build themselves into a career.”

Nixon elaborated on some positions that may be available after receiving training in the field.

“Some of the job descriptions they would be looking for after they graduate are CNC operator, CNC machinist or just machinist in general,” he said. “In the job, employees will be modifying and repairing tools, using precision instruments to measure products and organizing leadership while following safety protocols.”

O*NET OnLine predicts a healthy 15 percent increase in machining jobs, or 90 new jobs annually, in Texas through 2024.

For more information on TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program, visit tstc.edu.

(MARSHALL) – For one Longview native who enjoys getting to know people, a satisfying job was not far from home.

Clayton Brooks now brings his people skills and enthusiasm to Texas State Technical College in Marshall, where he joined the recruitment team on June 1.

He is excited to be at TSTC, and he hit the ground running on his first day with a large tour group.

“The tours were really good for me. I was learning as the students were learning,” he said. “I feel like having that tour on the first day helped me get a jump-start in the role.”

So far he is enjoying getting to connect with students.

“I love getting to meet the students and sharing information with them and sharing my background, getting personal with them,” Brooks said. “I like helping them find something that they want to do in their life.”

Brooks attended Hallsville High School in Longview and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana Tech University in 2017.

He enjoys the different perspective TSTC offers potential students.

“Everybody has this one viewpoint where you have to go to the four-year school,” Brooks said. “We’re offering something completely different. And because of that, TSTC can help so many more students.”

Coordinator of student recruitment Patty Lopez said she is happy to have filled her team.

“We’ve expanded our student recruitment team, and we are thrilled at the addition of Clayton to our TSTC family,” she said. “Growing our team has been one of the greatest things to happen this year, and I am excited for the upcoming fall recruiting season.”

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College in Marshall will host two Registration Rallies this summer – all part of an effort to make the registration process as easy as possible for students starting classes in the fall semester. The first rally will be held on Thursday, June 21, with the second following on Thursday, July 19.

Recruiting and Admissions staff will be on standby to walk students through the registration process. They will also offer tours and help with applications.

The Registration Rallies will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the campus at 2650 East End Blvd., South. Attendees will be able to meet with faculty, learn more about the different technologies offered at the Marshall campus and tour the facilities.

In addition to Recruiting and Admissions; personnel from Financial Aid, Testing, Student Success and Veteran Services will be available to answer questions and lend a helping hand. Prospective students will be able to learn all about resources available to them.

Coordinator of recruitment Patty Lopez says the rallies offer students the convenience of getting everything done at once.

“It’s going to be a great event for students to learn about the campus and explore what we have to offer in our neck of the woods,” Lopez said. “Our registration rally will be a one-stop shop for students to register for classes at TSTC.”

Students who need help finalizing their registration are encouraged to bring the following: copy of driver’s license, high school transcript or GED, any college transcripts, proof of bacterial meningitis vaccination and TSI scores.

For more information on the Registration Rally, go to tstc.edu/rally.

(MARSHALL) – Neal Shadid, a recent graduate of the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College, crossed the stage at commencement in April knowing he had more than one accomplishment under his belt.

Nearly a month before his graduation, Shadid was offered a job as a shop mechanic at Sabine Mining Co. in Hallsville after interning there for nearly 10 months.

Shadid said he wasn’t sure if he would be offered employment after his internship, but he did his best anyway.

“I just worked as hard as I could and hoped to make a good impression on them,” he said. “When I found out (about the job), it came as a bit of a surprise. But I was relieved and excited at the same time.”

TSTC Career Services coordinator Hannah Luce said a student being hired after an internship is something she does occasionally see.

“It doesn’t happen with every student that has an internship. But when it does, it means that the company was very pleased with how well the student did and wants to continue on with that relationship,” Luce said.

Shadid, who grew up in Diana, chose to become a diesel mechanic after learning from his father at a young age.

“My father has been a mechanic since he was my age, and growing up I’d spend quite a bit of time with him in the shop,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever known, really, and I’ve come to enjoy it.”

He feels that his time at TSTC and his internship prepared him for his daily duties on the job.

“They taught me about the advanced concepts and, most importantly, gave me plenty of hands-on experience with the types of equipment and components,” Shadid said.

Shadid offered advice to those considering TSTC.

“No matter what they decide to do, make sure to give it their all and try to learn as much as possible,” he said.

TSTC is registering for the fall semester through Monday, Aug. 20. For more information on TSTC and the Diesel Equipment Technology program, visit tstc.edu.

(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College is looking to expand its Marshall campus team and is hiring for several instructor and staff positions.

Jamee Quaid, a TSTC human resources manager, said she hopes interested applicants will believe in TSTC’s role in strengthening the Texas workforce.

“What we do here, ‘Place More Texans,’ is a mission that all of us believe in,” Quaid said. “We offer a tremendous asset to our local community by providing qualified students as our community’s next generation of employees. We are always looking for dedicated teammates who share the vision of changing lives by providing our students with great career opportunities.”

Patty Lopez, coordinator of student recruitment, needs another recruiter for her team.

“The student recruiter position is one of the most fulfilling positions because you get to work with individuals who are looking to take the next step in their education,” Lopez said. “Whether it is working with nontraditional students or high school students, each day in the recruitment office is totally different. If you enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life, the student recruitment office is a great place to be.”

TSTC Provost Bart Day said he hopes those interested in joining TSTC will gain more than just a job.

“There is a universal thought I always like to express to folks when they consider joining any piece of the TSTC team: I came here for the mission and stayed for the people,” Day said. “The family atmosphere, teamwork and true sense of purpose drive every aspect of what we do.”

TSTC has 10 campuses statewide in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco and Williamson County. Each campus provides a unique atmosphere with programs chosen to suit the area’s employment needs.

Quaid said part of what makes working at TSTC so great is the relationship between co-workers.

“We encompass a family atmosphere that not only extends to our employees, but also to our students,” she said. “Our leadership is so dedicated to making TSTC a greater place to work, that it is now one of our top strategic goals.”

TSTC offers benefits such as retirement, medical, dental, vision and more.

For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

(MARSHALL) – When Scott Hodkinson joined the Texas State Technical College team earlier this month, it was like coming back home.

Hodkinson, a graduate of TSTC’s Computer Networking & Systems Administration and Cyber Security programs, began working as a field tech in the Office of Information Technology at the Marshall campus on April 16.

Hodkinson graduated from TSTC in August 2017 but worked as a restaurant manager for the last six years. He chose to go into information technology because it is something he has always been interested in.

“I’ve always wanted to do IT,” Hodkinson said. “I was doing restaurant management to get by until I found something that I really wanted to do. The hours and the stress level at a steady job are so much less than I’m used to — it’s amazing.”

The main part of Hodkinson’s job is keeping the campus’ computer network up and running.

“My main duty is to fix anything that breaks as it comes up,” he said. “I’m trying to make sure that everyone has what they need to succeed on their end of things.”

Hodkinson said he was happy to join the TSTC team.

“This campus feels like home,” he said. “Everyone knows everybody. We’re all one big family here at the Marshall campus. It just feels comfortable. It really is the people that make TSTC my favorite — my coworkers.”

Terrye Newcomb, OIT Manager III, said she is happy that Scott joined the organization.

“Scott is a great asset to the Marshall campus,” she said. “He knows the technical field, and he has jumped on board with the rest of the employees. I am glad that he was chosen to be on my team.”

TSTC Provost Bart Day also said he was proud to have Scott join the team.

“It’s especially great to add another TSTC graduate to our full-time family,” Day said. “Scott brought a terrific can-do attitude to the team and has been making a great impact since his first day with us.”

So far, Hodkinson’s favorite part of the job is the challenges he sees daily.

“I like the challenge of having to come up with something to make things work,” he said. “Sometimes I have to try to make something out of nothing, but that’s what I like.”

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and offers benefits such as retirement, medical, dental and vision. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College in Marshall will host a welding competition for area high school students from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 1.

The event, now in its third year, offers young students a way to showcase their welding talents.

“They can get some more hands-on practice,” said TSTC lead welding instructor Danny Nixon. “Other than that, they’ll have a good time and they can show off what they’ve learned throughout the year.”

Nixon said students will use oxyfuel cutting, fluxcored arc welding, and shielded metal arc welding techniques. One hundred students participated in the event last year.

Freshman and sophomores compete in the junior division and juniors and seniors in the senior division.

Students competing will build a 6-by-6-inch structure named the “Stairway to Welding.”

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on TSTC’s welding program, visit tstc.edu.

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(MARSHALL) – Texas State Technical College Precision Machining student Joshua Davidson will cross the stage Friday, April 27, with a smile, knowing that he already has a job waiting for him.

Davidson, an Air Force veteran, was offered a job as a tool and die maker at Emerson Electric and will begin working after he graduates. Davidson said it is great knowing he does not have to worry about finding employment after graduation.

“It felt awesome knowing that there’s a company out there that wants my skill set and wants me to fill the opening that they’ve got,” he said.

TSTC’s Career Services office selected Emerson to be a presenter for an Employer Spotlight day at TSTC. Davidson said that was when he first met with the company.

“I sat down and talked with them,” he said. “Pretty much the next day, I went down there and did a tour of the Emerson plant. About a month later, I was sent a job offer, and they’ve basically been waiting on me to finish up school.”

Davidson chose to pursue a degree in machining after visiting the school for a tour.

“I saw some stuff that had been done — basically woodworking — on CNC (computer numerical controls) and it piqued my interest,” he said. “I kind of wanted to get into a job that I could learn how to do that and be able to do my hobby on the side.”

He is also working on a Computer-Aided Drafting and Design degree but said he will have to finish those classes at a later date.

Davidson, president of the Beta Beta Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, said he enjoyed his time at TSTC overall.

“I’ve had excellent support from my instructors,” he said. “It didn’t take me too long to get through the program, so that was nice. TSTC is an excellent school; I’d consider it one of the best technical colleges. They will provide you with an excellent education.”

Davidson will join 75 other students eligible to walk the stage at TSTC’s commencement ceremony in Marshall. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel at Wiley College.

TSTC is registering now for the fall semester. The last day to register is Monday, Aug. 20, and classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.

For more information on the college, visit tstc.edu.

(MARSHALL) -Texas State Technical College has announced the recipients of this year’s Chancellor’s Excellence Award, and two Marshall employees were honored.

This year’s Marshall award winners are Melissa Maloney, coordinator of instructional support, and Tonya Holloway, executive assistant to the provost.

Maloney, who has been at TSTC for nearly five years, said she was surprised to receive the award.

“I don’t know that anyone is ever thinking that is going to happen to them, so I was a little shocked,” she said. “I hope it’s because people think I do a good job and try to serve the patrons and people that I work for.”

Maloney has a passion for TSTC’s mission.

“I really do believe in what we do: putting people to work,” she said. “I think there’s something special about the drive that we have to change lives, and I think that’s what we do.”

Holloway was also excited to receive the award.

“It was an honor,” she said. “I never thought I would get chosen for anything like that. But yes, I am very excited about it.”

Holloway said she believes she was nominated because she tries to help make work easier for her colleagues.

“I think I was nominated because I’m a very hard worker, dedicated, and I have a good boss,” Holloway said. “All of the people on campus and all the activities — I try to help with everything. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back or anything, but I just help out where I can.”

Holloway believes in the college’s mission as well, and her two daughters have attended TSTC’s Process Operations program.

“Both of them have been helped tremendously as far as what they’re doing in the program and what paths they should take,” she said. “It’s also the instructors helping them to mature into responsible adults.”

Holloway takes pride in knowing she is making a difference in people’s lives.

“I just know that whatever I do in whatever capacity I serve, I’m changing someone’s life,” she said. “Whether it’s a student, a co-worker or someone that just comes in, I have something to do with changing their lives and the paths that they take.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001, and over the past 15 years nearly 300 TSTC employees have received the honor. Recipients are chosen based on outstanding contributions and achievements, commitment to excellence, and character. Honorees serve as agents of change in the advancement of TSTC initiatives.

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for over 100 positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.

(MARSHALL) – In the wake of last year’s Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was in shambles. With many residents left without electricity, some of Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker graduates working for Oncor wanted to help restore power to the storm-ravaged island.

TSTC alumni Sawyer Prestridge, a 2015 graduate, and Paul Sheppard, a 2013 graduate, are among many Oncor employees recently sent by the electric service provider to assist in the island’s recovery efforts.

Prestridge left for Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in January to help rebuild the electrical grid. He volunteered to help restore the grid because he wanted to help the residents.

“It felt really good,” he said. “It was definitely a humbling experience working there. It was hard work.”

Sheppard worked in the same city in February.

“I wanted to help out,” he said. “I wanted to use the skills I was given to help the people there get the lights on. It’s a good deed.”

Prestridge said the concrete houses he saw weren’t too badly damaged, but power lines were down and wreckage was far and wide.

“There was debris everywhere,” he said. “Downed trees were stacked up 70 feet high. We mainly picked up wire and changed out electrical poles.”

Sheppard shared the same sentiments.

“It was still pretty bad,” Sheppard said. “We were sent to one of the most mountainous areas there, so not everything is accessible by truck. Trees had to be cut, but the vegetation grows back every day because it rains every day. The humidity is 100 percent. It looked like nobody had been there.”

Sheppard said the change in environment made the work difficult.

“It was definitely the hardest work I’ve done in my life,” he said. “Here in East Texas, I’m not used to all the mountains and stuff like that. It was definitely a different type of work area. The infrastructure is totally different there than it is here. The weather — it rains every single day. It may rain for 45 minutes and stop for an hour or two and then rain again. It was a totally different experience from working here in East Texas.”

TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Statewide Department Chair Eric Carithers said he is very proud of the graduates for volunteering to work on the island.

“The dedication that it takes to not only do line work, but being young in your career and being away from home for weeks to months at a time, is challenging — especially if it’s their first time being away from their families like that,” Carithers said.

Oncor has sent 80 employees to help restore power to the territory.

TSTC will begin registering students for the summer and fall semesters on Monday, April 2. For more information on TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology, visit tstc.edu.