(WACO) – Three employees at Texas State Technical College were recently honored for their work and talents.
Rudy Cervantez, statewide automotive department chair; Jimmy Holecek, a supervisor for Building Maintenance and Management; and Robert Wells, a system programmer/analyst for the Office of Information Technology, have been named Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipients.
Cervantez, 55, has worked at TSTC for 12 years. Some of his duties as a statewide department chair include scheduling classes, approving leave time, budget management and working with high schools on dual credit plans.
He said he was surprised when he was notified of the award.
“Serving as a statewide department chair for the automotive department here at TSTC is the ‘salsa on the taco,’” said Cervantez. “I never imagined to be in the position I am in now, and I really appreciate the opportunity offered to me by the college.”
Cervantez said he knew in high school he wanted to do two things: operate his own automotive repair business and teach. He ran such a business for 17 years before coming to TSTC.
“I knew I wanted to teach the profession after I had completed my first goal,” said Cervantez. “Goals completed!”
Holecek, 52, has worked for TSTC for 11 years. He supervises and makes assignments to seven people, logs their work time and processes paperwork for work orders.
“I also meet with staff on campus concerning the different projects they are requesting,” he said. “This can be anything from minor repairs to a major construction project.”
Like Cervantez, Holecek said he was astonished at receiving the honor.
“TSTC is a good place to work,” Holecek said. “The benefits are great, and for the most part it is like a working family atmosphere here at TSTC.”
Wells, 56, has worked at TSTC for 22 years and maintains Colleague, the technical college’s system for student and employee data.
“I want people to know about the very kind and over-the-top support the TSTC staff gives its students,” said Wells. “Being a graduate of TSTC, it was the stepping stone I needed to advance into the business world before I returned to work for TSTC.”
The men join 13 other TSTC employees statewide who will be honored later this month at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin.
The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001 and has been given to about 300 TSTC employees statewide. Recipients are nominated by their peers for their work toward advancing the technical college’s mission.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
