(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College recently received the Women in Technology Grant from the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science (IWITTS) to help recruit and retain women in non-traditional fields.

This grant will go to train TSTC faculty in outreach efforts for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technology in Harlingen and the other four TSTC campuses throughout Texas that offer this program: Fort Bend County, North Texas, Williamson County and Waco.

“This grant will help us enhance and set forth our recruitment and retention plans and strategies to increase the number of women who enroll in our HVAC program,” said Orlando Peñuelas, coordinator with TSTC’s Office of Student Life. “This will, however, take a collective effort from a number of people.”

A committee has been formed to include TSTC instructors, advisors and other coordinators from across the state that will work hand-in-hand to roll out this initiative.

Peñuelas said the committee’s goal is to increase campus involvement when it comes to recruiting women into non-traditional technologies by creating conversations of encouragement, designing of marketing material and inviting HVAC alumni to speak to current and prospective students.

“We need to create a common language when it comes to advisement and how we encourage women to enter into technical fields,” said Peñuelas. “We need to show them the benefits of technologies like HVAC and what kind of success they can find.”

Jorge Cabrera, TSTC HVAC instructor, said the industry is beginning to diversify. As a result women have more opportunity of receiving scholarships and finding a good paying job.

“This has been a male-dominated field for so long I think there’s a fear or intimidation,” said Cabrera. “But there doesn’t have to be. Women can do this job just as well as men. It’s time to break the barrier.”

One woman looking into the future of HVAC and what it can mean for her career is Daisy Ramirez. She is currently the only woman enrolled in HVAC Technology and is looking forward to what the future of this industry has in store for her. She expects to graduate in 2018 with her associate degree.

“At first I was a little nervous about being the only woman in class, but everyone has been so nice and helpful, and has made me feel so comfortable,” said Ramirez. “I’m enjoying all aspects of the program and I’m looking forward to my future and to seeing more women in this field. I’m excited that TSTC is taking the initiative to recruit more of us.”

Ramirez said when she graduates she hopes to work with her father at their family-owned business, PI Mechanical.

Peñuelas said the committee is working hard to create best practices that will help recruit and keep women like Ramirez in HVAC Technology, which in turn will work toward TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans is good paying jobs.

“We want to set up our students to have a diverse skill set,” said Cabrera. “And this allows us to give both male and females in HVAC the potential of obtaining the marketable skills they need to get a job and for us as a college to meet the technician demand throughout the state.”

Students who pursue a certificate or associate degree track in HVAC Technology can go on to work as technicians in hospitals, schools, supermarkets, industrial plants, or with residential and commercial air conditioning and heating companies.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Texas employs the most HVAC technicians, with job opportunities increasing 29 percent nationally by 2024.

For more information on HVAC Technology call 956-364-4672. To apply or register anytime visit tstc.edu.