Texas State Technical College and EMA Electromechanics officials pose for a photo with EMA’s $75,000 gift to TSTC Veteran Students.
(SWEETWATER) – TSTC celebrated a gift of $75,000 from EMA Electromechanics.
EMA was founded in 1952 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but expanded to open its Sweetwater location in 2010 where they develop and manufacture specialized electromechanical equipment for wind and solar generation.
The gift, part of a celebration for EMA’s five-year anniversary, founds an account called Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education. Funds will go towards helping veterans complete their technical training at the college’s West Texas campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater.
Veteran students completing an associate degree can apply to receive up to $2,500, and those completing a certificate can receive up to $1,250. These funds will help veteran students with tuition and books, program supplies and living, child care and transportation expenses.
“We wanted to reach veterans because we owe them the freedom we have today,” said EMA Chief Financial Officer Gabriel Acosta. “We wouldn’t be able to be doing business as freely as we are without them.”
Acosta hopes the gift will help ease the transition veterans face when returning from service.
“We hope we can help them get back into civilian life, get an education and help them in the process,” Acosta said.
TSTC in West Texas Provost Eliska Smith said the gift demonstrates gratitude.
“This past summer, TSTC served 76 veterans in our West Texas locations,” said Smith. “This gift will help bring even more veterans to TSTC for the technical education they need to be successful in the workplace. It not only helps TSTC serve our veterans better, but it shows them that the community as a whole appreciates their service.”
EMA has also pledged to match donations made to the fund, up to $37,500, through Dec. 31, 2016.
If you would like to make a donation to the Sweetwater Veteran’s Funds for College Education, please contact The TSTC Foundation at 325-660-8721.