TSTC works to fill paramedic need in Texas

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is working to fill a need in Texas and the nation.

Ronnie Pitts, the statewide director of TSTC’s Emergency Medical Services program, said the need for paramedics is vital. TSTC will begin the next paramedic courses in Brownwood this fall.

“It has been difficult to fill the need for paramedics in Texas and nationwide,” Pitts said. “We just cannot turn them out fast enough.”

According to onetonline.org, the need for paramedics in Texas is expected to grow 11 percent by 2028.

To become a paramedic, a person must first be a certified emergency medical technician. The EMT certificate is a two-semester program at TSTC. The first semester covers the core EMT courses that allow students to sit for the National Registry certification exam. The second semester has online courses, including medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.

For those who choose to continue, the four-semester paramedic program begins.

One of the paramedic program highlights is the final semester capstone, in which students are paired with a seasoned paramedic during an internship. When that is complete, students will be eligible to test for the National Registry paramedic certification.

Pitts said average annual salaries for paramedics vary across the state, from $30,660 in the Harlingen region to $31,750 in the Abilene region, according to onetonline.org. Austin-Round Rock has the highest average salary at $47,750. The statewide average salary is $35,940.

Many TSTC graduates have praised the program and the quality of its instructors, who have worked in the field.

“You know you are going to pass and make it through,” said John Hendrix, a 2020 graduate of the paramedic program. “The instructors make sure you are prepared to pass the National Registry. That is one of the best things about the program. The instructors want you to succeed.”

TSTC offers the EMS program in Abilene, Brownwood, and Harlingen. Students can use the latest technology during lab sessions and also work online to complete assignments.

“I did not realize we would have so much one-on-one time and be able to work with each other,” said current paramedic student Erik Duenes. “I knew there would be studying, but to come here on Wednesdays and execute what we have learned is the best part of the week.”

Pitts said the program aims to prepare paramedics with skills, and behavior to succeed.

“Our graduates are successful and are helping people on a daily basis,” he said.

For more information on the program, visit https://tstc.edu/programs/EmergencyMedicalServices.

Trevino says TSTC made him confident entering workforce

(ABILENE, Texas) – Brandon Trevino has seen his time at Texas State Technical College pay off at work.

Trevino earned an associate degree in Industrial Systems in 2020 and has been using his knowledge on a daily basis at AbiMar Foods in Abilene.

“When I first walked into the plant, I noticed all of the different machines,” he said. “To me, everything was on a much bigger scale than it was at school. But I knew I would be able to learn how to use it.”

AbiMar Foods, which was founded in Abilene in 1992, started with two ovens. Today it exports products to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. 

Trevino said he is proud to be part of a successful company.

“All of my training at TSTC has really paid off. I thought I would be going into the plant scared that I did not know everything,” Trevino said. “I hit the floor running, knowing there would be a learning curve and I would have to catch up. Day by day, I learned more and got comfortable. I have seen my confidence growing.”

He credits his success to his time at TSTC. He also learned that his supervisor had inside knowledge of the programs offered at TSTC.

“My boss graduated from the Waco program years ago. He knew that TSTC trained good employees,” Trevino said.

With the help of instructor Daniel Diaz, Trevino was able to interview for a job before he graduated in December.

“I knew other people were having a hard time, but Daniel was able to help me get my foot in the door,” he said.

Since his time at work, some people have told him to expand his knowledge. For now, Trevino is happy to be working at a job that he trained for.

“I am one of those guys that likes to get all dirty,” he said. “I really like what I do on a daily basis.”

Trevino was not always a person who liked to work on equipment. That changed after he enrolled at TSTC.

“Working in the lab made me learn what was going wrong with a machine. I used to stay away from those situations, but not anymore,” he said.  “I really like trying to figure things out.”

Trevino said TSTC’s instructors were helpful in showing him the proper way that equipment works.

“If we did not understand something, they would always be there to show us. It helps that they worked in the field,” he said. “All of their training and knowledge has been helpful to me in my career.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Welding Technology students show off skills at competition

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Eight Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students showed off their skills at the 2021 Andrew Noppe Memorial Welding Competition.

Omar De La Cruz Moreno finished fourth in the Level 1 competition in which he had to weld a single-sided vertical groove on a carbon steel plate using the shielded metal arc welding process. Moreno’s piece passed the visual and X-ray examinations to earn certification in the welding process.

Moreno was not alone in earning certification honors during the competition, which was held at R&N Manufacturing in Cypress.

Jerroll Hodge, a TSTC welding instructor, said four students earned certification on April 24 for passing both the visual and X-ray examinations. 

Jacob Picazo earned certification on the Level 2 shielded metal arc welding process for his work on a pipe.

In the Level 3 event, Jose Perez Jr., Angel Rodriguez and Mason Stanley  earned certification for their work on a pipe using the gas tungsten arc welding process for the root pass and shielded metal arc welding process for the fill and cap passes.

“The students enjoyed going to an event and competing,” Hodge said. “It also opened our students to the possibility of earning additional certifications on certain types of welds.”

Also representing TSTC was Zach Follis in Level 1 and Diego Almaraz and Nick Dunn in Level 3.

“Everyone was really into the activities being held at the competition. It was the first time we have attended an event like this, and I look forward to returning to additional contests,” Hodge said.

The Texas High School Welding Series hosted the event that featured 72 competitors from eight colleges. In addition to TSTC, competitors represented Arclabs Welding School, Elite Pipe Welding Academy, Lamar Institute of Technology, Mainliners Welding Academy, Precision Welding Academy and Wharton County Junior College.

Hodge said he learned of the event during a welding competition in Huntsville earlier this year. He discussed it with his students and completed the registration process.

“I beat the deadline by a few days, and I am glad we were there,” he said.

Hodge was also able to promote TSTC during the high school competition, which was held the same day. With more than 130 students from 12 high schools in attendance, Hodge spoke to as many students as possible.

“It was good to be able to watch the high school kids compete and talk to them about our program,” he said. “This was a great recruiting effort for us.”

Hodge hopes that attending the competition sparks more interest in his students and plans to study ways to host an event on campus in the future.

“It would be good for TSTC to showcase our facilities during a competition,” he said. “I hope we will be able to do that someday.”

TSTC Aviation Maintenance program eager to fill Rio Grande Valley jobs

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As aviation continues to grow in the Rio Grande Valley, so does the need for more mechanics and technicians.

“We have had more students applying and expressing interest in the program than I have ever seen,” said Leo Guajardo, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance program, which encompasses Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology.

Guajardo said some credit for increasing program curiosity can be given to the SpaceX Launch Facility at Boca Chica Beach. He said the company provides high-tech opportunities for Rio Grande Valley residents.

“It is an alternative to the status quo,” he said. “It definitely refreshed young people in their interest.”

Raudel Garza, manager and chief executive officer of the Harlingen Economic Development Corp., said as the population grows, there will be a bigger demand for the region’s airports to be used, along with more flight opportunities. This means more work for aviation mechanics and technicians.

“Most of the work that is being done is very technical,” Garza said. “There is a certain level of expectation from the employers for those students. TSTC has been very good at producing local workers for the workforce.”

Rolando Rodriguez is a TSTC Aviation Maintenance graduate and director of maintenance at Sun Valley Aviation in Harlingen, where three TSTC graduates are currently employed as aviation mechanics.

When it comes to filling positions for aircraft- and powerplant-certified mechanics, Rodriguez said it can take up to a couple of months to find the right job candidates. Workers do annual inspections on private planes and provide 24/7 maintenance for some of the airlines flying to and from Valley International Airport. Aviation mechanics rotate weekends to be on call as problems arise.

Rodriguez said the company currently has an opening for an aviation maintenance apprentice.

He said people with a fascination in how airplanes work should consider pursuing aviation maintenance. He said he became interested in airplanes as he watched them take off and land while growing up in Brownsville. His hands-on skills came from his father, who was an automotive technician.

Anthony Prats, director of maintenance at McCreery Aviation in McAllen, has hired TSTC graduates in the past and currently has a TSTC Aviation Maintenance student working part time as an apprentice. The maintenance shop has 10 workers, with the capability of expanding to 13. Several of the technicians have automotive backgrounds.

“For us, and for everybody in the country, it is extremely hard to find people,” he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website, aircraft mechanics and service technicians make a yearly median salary of more than $66,000. The highest concentration of workers is in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio areas. Texas is projected to need more than 19,300 workers by 2028, the highest number in the country.

TSTC’s Aviation Maintenance program in Harlingen is the only one south of Corpus Christi. TSTC offers associate degree programs in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology and certificates in Aircraft Airframe Technician and Aircraft Powerplant Technician.

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. Scholarships are also available. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC alumnus motivated to help others in medical field

(WACO, Texas) – Motivation is not a problem for Andrew Grisham.

“With life in general, every day is a new day,” he said. “Anything can happen on any given day. Just seeing what happens is a motivator for me.”

Grisham, who grew up in Robinson and is a graduate of Texas State Technical College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program in Waco, is a medical imaging engineer at Tri-Imaging Solutions in Fort Collins, Colorado. He works from home and covers four hospitals, doing preventive maintenance and emergency repairs on Toshiba Aquilion CT scanners. He recently celebrated his first anniversary with the company.

When he gets service calls, he goes to the hospital with the problem and talks to staff. He works with the equipment until the problem can be figured out. Grisham is able to call the company to work through problems, if needed. Parts can also be ordered and delivered in less than 24 hours. His work sometimes requires him to go to Phoenix, Arizona, to do equipment repairs.

“You do travel, depending on who you work for,” Grisham said. “It is not the same work every day. You always have something new coming up. You also get to work in air conditioning in a hospital setting. You get great pay and benefits.”

Grisham enjoys his job because he sees how relieved hospital staff are when machines are up and running.

“No matter what, you always have an opportunity to work,” he said.

Grisham also likes his downtime from work, which he spends eating at new restaurants and hiking.

“I live at the edge of the Rockies, which is beautiful,” he said. “I get to experience a different culture in Colorado.”

Grisham is a graduate of Robinson High School. Between graduation and when he enrolled at TSTC, he worked various jobs.

“I did bartending for nine years,” Grisham said. “I was with an agency for acting and modeling. The year before I went to TSTC, I was living in Indiana doing construction there. That is where I found I liked working with my hands.”

A friend recommended that Grisham take a look at TSTC. When he reviewed the list of programs, he decided what to study.

“I wanted to help people, but I can’t do blood,” he said. “Nursing is out of the question. I figured if I could help maintain machines, it can help a doctor or nurse save a life.”

Grisham graduated in summer 2020 from TSTC with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Imaging Systems Technology Specialization.

“Andrew was an excellent student with high energy who took his training seriously in both lecture and lab,” said Victor Fowler, an instructor in TSTC’s Medical Imaging Systems Technology Specialization program. “He quickly gained confidence working on medical imaging systems and secured a job before his last semester was over.”

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC Digital Media Design graduates eye diverse work options

(WACO, Texas) – Recent graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Digital Media Design program have an impressive array of career options.

Pleasanton native Hannah Selby works at a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary as a marketing coordinator and real estate photographer. Abilene resident Arabel Mullen aspires to be a professional illustrator and already has sold a client some illustrations for a book. 

The two women have graduated from TSTC’s Digital Media Design program and are taking opposite career paths, but both have been trained in traditional graphic design skills and industry software like Adobe Creative Suite. 

“The day-to-day usage of digital media design has really helped me in my current job,” Selby said. “I work full time for a real estate agency, and I handle all of their graphic design and social media. But I’ll be changing careers a bit, doing real estate photography.” 

Selby described how much she enjoyed taking photography classes and learning more in-depth skills like Photoshop and lighting techniques. Even though her degree might suggest a 9-to-5 career in graphic design is in her future, Selby says she plans to keep it part-time and focus on photography.   

“I’ll be doing contract graphic design for a few small businesses, including a T-shirt design company, and offering my contract services to an advertising agency in San Antonio,” Selby said. “I really appreciate how working in this field, you have the opportunity to set your own schedule. I might even start my own agency down the line.” 

Jerry Vavra, TSTC’s chair of the Digital Media Design program, noted that students have an open and lucrative job field to look forward to. Instead of being limited strictly to digital design, students gain a tool belt of skills they can take anywhere. 

“The job outlook for this program is always strong. We’re not just thinking of local areas and campuses; we’re thinking of the entire state of Texas,” Vavra said. “With a quick search of the job title ‘graphic designer’ in Google for Texas, hundreds of jobs are showing up.” 

Vavra emphasized the breadth of specialized avenues available to students in the Digital Media Design program. 

“Graphic designer is sometimes a job title that other specific titles get lumped into. But we have specific areas that students can go into that are a bit outside that realm,” Vavra said. “They can be videographers, animators, web designers and illustrators.”  

Defining herself as more of the traditionally artistic persuasion, Mullen aspires to work as an illustrator for herself or with an agency. Formerly a cake decorator, Mullen decided to pursue her dream of being an illustrator and researched careers she could enter that would be both profitable and fulfilling. 

“I wanted to be a traditional artist when I graduated high school, but there’s the saying ‘starving artist,’” Mullen said. “I found TSTC and spoke with some instructors about the design program. They explained all the things I could do with design, including starting my own business.” 

Mullen’s personal brand and online store Novel Insights can be found on Etsy, though she dreams of working with a creative team such as those at Chris Do’s studios The Futur and Blind, and putting her graphic design training to work. 

“There’s so many avenues you can take with this program. We learn so many different aspects of design, from graphics to photography to videography, and some animation,” Mullen said. “Going forward, I think that being a digital artist will be a really successful career in our world of technology.” 

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Navy veteran expands work skills at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – U.S. Navy veteran Jake Jordan wanted to expand his work skills.

During his 17-year military career, Jordan was a welder. After retirement, he tried his hand at various jobs in the Austin area.

“It was not a good fit for me,” he said of a career in welding.

He knew Texas State Technical College offered various skilled workforce programs and decided to enroll in Diesel Equipment Technology. Now he is a candidate to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree this month.

“While I was in the Navy, I worked around a lot of diesel and big equipment,” he said. “I was never part of the mechanical end but was an operator. I decided to learn more about it.”

Jordan was also pushed toward the diesel field by a neighbor. His neighbor knew the importance of diesel mechanics in Texas. According to onetonline.org, the need for diesel engine specialists in Texas is expected to grow by 14% by 2028.

“My neighbor works for an oil company as a diesel technician and makes really good money. His company flies him everywhere to work on generators,” he said. “He said I should check the field out because you never know what will be needed in the future.”

Jordan took the advice — and his military knowledge — with him to class. What he found was a new world of learning.

“I was familiar with some of the equipment, but I was surprised with the new technology,” he said. “I consider myself to be mechanical in nature. That lifestyle suits me because I like to see how things work.”

The hands-on approach to learning was Jordan’s best experience.

“You can’t teach on a computer basis only. You need to have that mock-up like we have in the lab,” he said. “You need to be able to go in and touch, look and even smell the problem. You have to rely on your instincts and not just a computer.”

TSTC has been a tradition in Jordan’s family. His grandfather was an instructor in the building trade program in the 1970s, and his father was a Diesel Equipment Technology student.

“I always knew TSTC would be a source of knowledge for me,” he said.

Jordan initially wanted to become a welding instructor to pass his knowledge on to the next generation. He earned an associate degree in welding from TSTC in East Williamson County, but he could never get a teaching position.

“I decided to return to college and enrolled in the diesel program, thinking it would put another notch on my belt,” he said. “I knew another degree would look good on my resume.”

Jordan has not given up on a teaching position. He said having TSTC Career Services helping him with his resume and interview skills will help him in the future.

“Career Services has helped me with my resume and what I have been doing wrong,” he said. “Having someone helping me with the little things like that is a great resource.”

Jordan said military veterans should look into the different opportunities at TSTC.

“(TSTC offers) so much help to veterans and all of their students. TSTC is helping me in different ways, and for that, I will be appreciative for a lifetime,” he said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Third cohort of Tesla START program graduates at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College recently held a recognition ceremony for its third cohort of graduates.

The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in January to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly internship, the students developed technical expertise and earned certifications through a blended approach of in-class theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.

All students who successfully complete the nationwide program are eligible to work at a Tesla Service Center in the United States.

The program’s classes are held at the Kultgen Automotive Center on TSTC’s Waco campus.

“We are excited and proud of the third graduating class from the Tesla START program in Waco,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s interim executive director of Workforce Training. “We look forward to the next class and continued partnership with Tesla.”

Graduates of the program’s third cohort are Jake Byrnes, of Montgomery, Texas; Malaika Marler, of Killeen, Texas; Caitlin McKamey, of Portland, Texas; Kyle Rivas, of Flower Mound, Texas; Jeremiah Sowells, of Fenton, Louisiana; Nick Tobey, of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada; Jacob Vest, of Wasilla, Alaska; and Kelton Williams, of St. George, Utah.

Mark Tosto, a Tesla START program instructor, said he was proud of the work the students did during the training period. He said a highlight for the students was working for two weeks at a Tesla Service Center in Oklahoma.

Vest said he has been interested in Tesla’s work since he was 16. When his plans fell through to study electromechanical engineering in Alaska, he searched online and came across the Tesla START program.

“I wanted to be somewhere warm for the first time,” he said.

Vest said he gained an appreciation during the program for the quality that goes into constructing every Tesla vehicle. He said he looks forward to exploring the East Coast as he moves in mid-May to Massachusetts to begin work at a Tesla Service Center.

Byrnes not only completed the Tesla program during the spring semester, but he also finished an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at TSTC. He had online classes for the semester, enabling him to devote time to learning about Tesla’s vehicles.

“Getting into the theory of the cars and the engineering was cool,” he said.

Byrnes will move in mid-May to California to work at a Tesla Service Center.

McKamey studied automotive technology while taking dual credit classes in high school and earning an associate degree at a two-year college in the Corpus Christi area. Her high school classes sparked an interest in electric vehicles.

The program expanded her knowledge of what she said is the future of transportation.

“I loved it,” McKamey said. “I went from not knowing how to unlock and lock a vehicle to tearing it apart.”

She will be relocating in mid-May to Utah to work at a Tesla Service Center.

There are currently seven other Tesla START partnerships with colleges in California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. The program launched in 2019 and has had more than 300 graduates to date.

The program’s 2021 cohorts in Waco are full, but interviews for 2022 cohorts are taking place, Tosto said.

For more information on Tesla START, go to tesla.com/careers/tesla-start.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

Quest for job stability leads Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology student to TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Dominic Abeyta, of Hewitt, is working toward a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate at Texas State Technical College. He is scheduled to graduate in December.

What inspired you to study Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology at TSTC?

I was working as an armed security guard, but I was looking for a new challenge and something better financially. I was noticing how the economy was and what different trades are needed more than others. I wanted to find a career that has more of a future, is more stable and more reliable. I don’t have to worry about being laid off because, honestly, everyone needs a plumber.

I knew Jimmy Bibb (a TSTC Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology instructor), and he got me interested and started talking to me about the program and told me about the benefits of plumbing. He also told me the negatives and positives and let me weigh my options. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I started the application process and started the program, I fell in love with it.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wake up, and I usually make myself a cup of coffee and jump in the shower. I try to make sure to read TSTC emails before I go to school. I make sure that I have my backpack ready, my books and laptop, and everything ready to go. I have to make sure I am dressed in my TSTC plumbing shirt. I have a little bit of breakfast and drink a protein shake on the way to TSTC. When I get to TSTC, I start doing whatever I am told, whether it is to study, clean up in the shop, or set up projects for future use. Staying on top of my grades is a big thing. I really want to succeed.

What have you enjoyed learning so far in the Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program?

When I started soldering, I was really bad at it. But the more I did it, the better I got. It is basically taking two pieces of pipe that really have no purpose, fusing them together and forming a route of how the water is going to be flowing.

What are your plans after graduation, and are you optimistic about the job market?

I want the hours I work to be able to go toward my plumbing license. I recently started work at Capstone Mechanical in Waco. I like the benefits and experience they offer and the learning atmosphere they provide. I like the way people learn from each other, teach each other and are there for each other. 

Why should more people consider pursuing the plumbing and pipefitting industry?

As long as we continue to have wastewater, drinking water, and systems where water is distributed among people all over the world, you are always going to need a plumber. You are basically guaranteed a job.

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that there will be a need for more than 511,000 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters by 2029 due to the maintenance of existing plumbing systems and new construction. In Texas, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters made an annual mean wage of $50,840 as of May 2020, according to the agency.

TSTC offers a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate of completion and a Basic Plumbing occupational skills award.

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. Scholarships are available. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

 

Lance continues to learn after earning associate degree at TSTC

(ABILENE, Texas) – Marcus Lance has done a lot in a short period of time at Texas’ largest limestone quarry.

After earning an associate degree in Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College in 2020, Lance began working for Champion Stone Co. in Lueders. The maintenance technician has seen his education pay off daily.

“I am the main guy when it comes to all of the electrical boxes at the quarry. I have also installed three or four different plumbing systems while I have been working there,” he said.

Lance has also learned how to use heavy machinery, including a front-end loader.

“I have to do a lot of different things when it comes to work. At school, we learned to operate a forklift, but now I can drive a front-end loader with 20,000 pounds on it,” he said. “I never thought I would be able to say I could operate something that big.”

Having an aptitude for operating mechanical equipment comes naturally to Lance. In his spare time, he makes knives in his backyard shop.

“Do-it-yourself and using equipment is right up my alley,” he said. “I think having more experience will help you in life.”

When Lance started the program, he knew he had some experience, but he was surprised by how much he learned.

“I would apply what I did know when I was in class, but I was surprised that almost daily I would learn something I did not know,” he said.

Lance said being raised by a single mother led him to learn how to fix things around the house and eventually apply that knowledge toward a career.

“It was up to me to help her out. If something were wrong with the car, I would dive right in and try to fix it,” he said. “I wanted to get things done around our house that needed to be done. While I was able to do that, I was learning a new skill.”

Lance said one skill he learned at TSTC was welding.

“I was able to learn enough about welding that I bought my own welder,” he said. “I am the kind of person that likes to read instructions and put that knowledge to work. Once I read about it, I want to use it over and over again to make sure I know I am doing it correctly.”

Lance said the program offers people various options, but he does have advice for anyone considering Industrial Systems.

“It may be overwhelming at times, but remember you do not have to become a master,” he said. “Make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing so you can take the next steps.”

According to onetonline.org, electrical technician jobs are expected to increase 8% by 2028. Instructor Daniel Diaz said people like Lance and other TSTC graduates are able to learn different trades and become highly skilled when they complete the program.

“We offer a lot of different options for our students. They are able to learn different areas of the trade and can find a good job when they graduate,” Diaz said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.