(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College Building Construction Technology students Robert Piña and Isaac Saldaña have recently been awarded scholarships by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Rio Grande Valley Chapter.

Each student was awarded $500 to use toward tuition, books and other college expenses. This scholarship is awarded yearly by the organization to students pursuing a certificate or associate degree in Building Construction Technology.

Piña, a husband and father from San Benito, said receiving this scholarship was a sigh of relief for him and his family.

“I’m so thankful for this money. I was so fortunate to have been selected,” said Piña. “It feels like a huge burden has been taken off my shoulders.”

The 41-year-old worked numerous years in the customer service industry, mainly restaurants, and changing careers for hopes of a more stable job and better benefits has taken a toll on his family’s finances.

“I’m a full-time student, trying to finish,” said Piña. “Working full-time for me is out of the equation, but I still have to support my family, so any kind of scholarship is a great big help.”

Piña is currently employed through TSTC as a part-time work study in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, the program he earned his first associate degree from in 2016.

The San Benito native said he hopes having two associate degrees will make him more marketable when searching for a job. He hopes to work as a handyman in maintenance for either a hospital, hotel or even TSTC.

As for Piña’s classmate, Saldaña, also from San Benito, enrolled at TSTC following in his children’s footsteps.

“All of my children have attended and graduated from TSTC,” said Saldaña. “I am here because of their college advisors’ perseverance to get me enrolled.”

The scholarship recipient said he moved to Texas after losing his job of 19 years in a California fencing company.

“I had nothing but a high school diploma when I lost my job,” said Saldaña. “It was a real eye opener for me on how important an education is, and scholarships, like the one I just received, make working toward my degree a whole lot easier.”

Although the 48-year-old has had to work the graveyard shift at a McAllen security company throughout his time at TSTC, he said he is sharing his story to show his children and future college students that it’s never too late to get an education and pursue your dreams.

“Education is something that can never be taken away from you,” said Saldaña. “And AGC has made it possible for me to continue on and graduate this semester.”

AGC of the Rio Grande Valley Executive Director Perry A. Vaughn spoke to the Building Construction Technology students during the scholarship presentation about the latest industry survey which says the construction business has never been better.

“The building industry is in dire need of educated, trained and qualified employees,” he said. “We anticipate a pretty big bump in the year ahead nationwide, but Texas and the Valley are doing great. The market has never looked better.”

Vaughn went on to explain that hiring is so competitive that companies are increasing salaries and offering overtime, bonuses and benefits to lure employees.

“We have firms that are turning down work because they can’t find qualified employees,” Vaughn said.

TSTC Building Construction Technology instructor Rolando Cuellar said learning what they have about the recent survey, and talking with their industry partners, scholarships like the ones received by Piña and Saldaña, make it easier to retain the students who are the future of the construction business.

“Many of these students pay for college out of pocket, putting a financial strain on them and their families,” said Cuellar. “But for students like Robert and Isaac, this scholarship is a huge financial relief, allowing them to concentrate on the training we provide and successfully fulfilling the requirements needed to earn a certificate or associate degree, and fill the industry need.”

Building Construction Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Waco campus.

For more information on the program call 956-364-4770.