TSTC graduate shows mettle in pursuing plumbing career

(WACO, Texas) – Jude Gonzales has learned that the positive people with whom he surrounds himself both personally and professionally can be motivational in creating a career and life to be proud of.

Where plumbing is concerned, Jude Gonzales knows that there is always more to learn — and he is not afraid to try.

“You will never truly master plumbing,” he said. “It is extremely complex when you dive into plumbing. It is a day-to-day grind while accumulating wisdom and knowledge and remaining humble at all times.”

Gonzales graduated in 2019 from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus with a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate. While at TSTC, he competed in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

After graduation, Gonzales and his father made plans to move to Idaho. But while eating at a diner on the way there, they decided to go to Albuquerque, New Mexico, because a relative lives in the state.

Gonzales said he had a challenging time finding a job.

“I had an amazing certificate, a resume, people who were well-versed and thought very highly of me, but nobody hired me,” he said.

Gonzales tried a new tactic involving an Albuquerque mall, a business suit, a sign indicating he was ready to work, and a stack of resumes. He eventually met someone who gave him a business card for a plumbing company in Albuquerque.

“The next day I did an interview and was hired,” Gonzalez said. “I was making $13.50 an hour.”

He worked for that company for two years and accumulated hundreds of apprenticeship hours to take New Mexico’s test to become a journeyman plumber. He received the certification in 2020, according to state of New Mexico licensing information.

“There are long hours, you are constantly having to train, and you are green,” Gonzales said. “Once you overcome those challenges, it is extremely beneficial. It is its own reward in going out to do something very few human beings are wanting and willing to do.”

It was Gonzales’ bout with COVID-19 while in Albuquerque that made him realize he wanted to be closer to his family in the Waco area. Once he made a full recovery, he moved back to Texas. He is now working at Central Texas Plumbing Solutions in Waco and is preparing to take the test to become a journeyman plumber in Texas.

Gonzales grew up in Robison. After graduating from Robinson High School, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked in culinary arts before receiving an honorable discharge. He later enrolled at TSTC and chose Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology because he was curious about the work.

“Jude is very punctual, respectful and focused at whatever he chooses to do,” said Jimmy Bibb, an instructor in TSTC’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program. “He entered this program with the intent of pulling everything out of it that he could. He was a star in the classroom and in the lab. Jude was always digging deeper and asking the hard questions.”

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

TSTC Wind Energy Technology student accepts a job midair

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It started like any other Wednesday for Rebecca Fortuna.

The Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology student was at the top of a wind turbine when her cellphone rang. On the other end of the call was a FieldCore representative, who offered Fortuna a job as an electrical wind technician.

“The call was one for the books,” said Fortuna, who is a candidate for graduation next month. “I was 300 feet in the air and accepted a job.”

It was her second call from FieldCore, which offers field services to maintain and upgrade power generation equipment.

“I had my first interview a week ago, and within a week, I was offered a job,” she said. “I owe this wonderful opportunity to all of my instructors.”

Fortuna’s family is excited about the opportunity.

“My husband was ecstatic, and my daughter was in disbelief,” she said. “She could not believe it happened so fast.”

Getting away from a desk job was one of Fortuna’s goals all along. After starting a career in health information, in 2016, she knew she needed a change.

“I am the type of woman who wants to do something different. I like to use my hands,” she said. “I didn’t mind the desk job. I just wanted more in my life. All of my brothers work in the wind industry, and I wanted to know what I had to do to get into the field.”

She knew that working in the wind industry would have its demands, especially since it is a male-dominated profession. But that has not stopped her.

“I am not afraid of a challenge. The wind industry is all around us, and it is growing so fast,” she said. “I wanted to be involved in that and wanted to be able to see different things.”

Fortuna, who is studying for an associate degree, was drawn to FieldCore because it gives her the chance to travel. She will begin training with the company in late April or early May.

Being a self-described busybody, Fortuna said the wind industry would provide her with different challenges.

“It is not a boring field because everything is changing daily,” she said. “This program teaches you so many different concepts. I like to get my hands dirty.”

Fortuna hopes she can influence other women to enroll in the program.

“A lot of the girls that I work with at my current job are intimidated because it is male-dominated,” she said. “I tell them it is not what they would expect. It is a great program for women.”

Fortuna said TSTC instructor Billie Jones has been instrumental in helping her learn more about the industry.

“Billie has been great. She will get in there and help you with anything,” Fortuna said. “I have told girls that they need to talk to her if they are interested in the program.”

Jones said Fortuna worked hard to achieve her goal.

“She is a great student. She is one of the hardest workers in class, and I know she will be successful,” Jones said.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Veteran turns weekend hobby into second career at TSTC

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Scott Rosignol, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army, dabbled in welding on weekends while living in Harker Heights. 

But it was not until he moved to Breckenridge and toured the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College that he began to think of welding as a career option.

After talking with TSTC welding instructor Stephen Hope, Rosignol decided to enroll in the program.

“I talked to Stephen about what I wanted to do, and he told me everything that would be available. I saw how clean and organized he had the shop, and I was hooked,” he said.

Hope said working with veterans is one way he can give back.

“I always try to have a veteran in our program. They worked hard to serve our country, and it is my job to serve them in training them for a trade,” Hope said. “Many veterans learn so many trades in the military, and teaching them a trade for a second career is the least I can do. I always like to see veterans complete the program and give them a big hoorah.”

Rosignol is on track to earn his certificate of completion in August, but he plans to return to TSTC to earn an associate degree.

“This is the kind of environment I want to learn in,” he said.

After he retired from the military, Rosignol lived in Tennessee and had no real plans on what to do with his life. But he knew he wanted to do one thing.

“I wanted to further my education,” he said.

After working as an electrical and mechanical technician, Rosignol moved to Texas. It was by talking to his son that welding became an option.

“After my son graduated high school, he went to welding school and had some fantastic opportunities,” he said. “That piqued my interest in welding being a possible career.”

Rosignol’s goal is to complete his education and “just weld and make some money.” However, he may take his career a step further down the road.

“I probably will do my own thing one day and launch my own business,” he said. “But I need to get a few years under my belt.”

For now, the welding lab environment at TSTC leads to the best part of the day for Rosignol.

“I am excited that at the end of the day, I can look back on my pieces and see where I have improved,” he said. “The program does have its challenges, but that is showing me how much I am improving.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Engineering student surmounts daunting obstacles

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Twenty-four hours after he was born, Eloy Hernandez suffered a stroke. 

It was December 1, 2000,  and his parents had a new reality to deal with. The right side of their son’s body was partially paralyzed, the rest of his life shrouded in uncertainty. 

Twenty years later, there can be no doubt about his future or abilities.  

“I’ve always had curiosity about how things worked, and I was always taking things apart, inspecting every detail,” Hernandez said. “My physical disadvantage has made me learn to find multiple ways to work out situations, so learning about mechanical systems really attracted my interest in mechanical engineering.”

Now a student in the Texas State Technical College Engineering program in Harlingen, Hernandez has worked through significant mobility limitations caused by the stroke to become an acknowledged star student. It is no small accomplishment, given the rigorous and intensive curriculum that he and his classmates engage with on a daily basis.  

“Students struggle the most with learning to translate commonsense engineering and physics concepts into mathematical constructs,” TSTC Engineering Department Chair Hermes Chirino said. “Professors get to know the students that participate and engage the most. Eloy is among the few that are always carefully paying attention, always asking questions.” 

Graduates of the program, which offers an Associates of Science degree, can look forward to careers as engineers and mechanical engineering technicians or continue their studies for a bachelor’s degree. They master mechanical-electrical drafting technology and apply physics principles to developing test products or technical documents. Courses are difficult, but Hernandez feels that TSTC has prepared him to enter the workforce fully equipped.  

“Being a student at TSTC is one of the greatest things I’ve done. I’ve gained so much from the instructors and classes I have had,” Hernandez said. “I especially enjoyed taking Engineering Mechanics, Electrical Circuits, and Engineering Graphics.” 

The TSTC Access and Learning Accommodations office helps students like Hernandez navigate their studies with a minimum of difficulty and maximum support. Resources extend to course modifications and school website accessibility features. Equipping students with the support systems and accommodation services they need is just as integral to their success as academic programs. 

“I have very little motor control, which makes it difficult to accomplish most everyday tasks,” Hernandez said. “But the most important thing I’ve learned is to always be resourceful and never give up on the obstacles in life because of my physical disadvantage.” 

Hernandez is not the only student with a disability to pursue a highly difficult degree and excel. Arizona native and Baylor University Business Fellow William Badger can relate. 

“I found out sophomore year I was autistic, and before then I didn’t know I was struggling adjusting to school because of a developmental disability,” Badger said. “But I’ve pushed through with patience and an open mind to the world’s possibilities. College is a place where you grow not only your mind, but your character.” 

Hernandez is blazing a trail once thought impossible. 

“I’ve always had a mindset to never stop trying, no matter what obstacles or hardships come your way,” he said. 

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC alumni help keep Houston company safe

(WACO, Texas) – Utex Industries Inc. in Houston has two Texas State Technical College graduates working daily to keep its employees safe.

Michael Houlihan is the company’s health, safety and environmental – maintenance manager at the company’s Weimar plant, which makes high-pressure gaskets for the oil and gas fracking industry. Dawn Swofford is the corporate senior environmental health and safety manager based in the Houston area.

“She and I just have an excellent open-door policy of communication,” Houlihan said. “I like working with her because of her knowledge. The key thing is her dedication.”

Utex Industries Inc. specializes in fluid sealing for the aerospace, industrial, water distribution, and oil and gas markets. The company specializes in bonding, fabric reinforcement, metal machining, thermoplastics and urethane molding. The company has more than 35 patents for mechanical seals, molded rubber seals, pump gaskets and other kinds of sealing devices.

Houlihan’s work involves earning the trust of employees to constantly improve plant safety. He starts his workday writing a safety report and looking at how many days there has not been a workplace injury. Houlihan visits departments to ask if they need more personal protection equipment and learn about any problems that need to be addressed. He has weekly conference calls with Swofford and other safety staff each week to discuss federal and company safety standards.

“My primary job is to make sure at the end of the day, everybody goes home,” he said.

Houlihan took advantage of on-the-job training. He learned about fire safety, decontamination work and hazardous materials through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. He also underwent fire training when he worked at Phillips 66’s Sweeny Refinery. 

Houlihan became interested in safety after he witnessed a lifelong friend die in a workplace accident in the late 1970s near the Texas coast. He realized that anyone could be killed while working. He went on to graduate in the early 1990s from TSTC with an associate degree in what is now Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.

Houlihan said his career would not have been the same without TSTC. 

“I would not have had the management roles I have had,” he said.

Swofford was hired at Utex Industries Inc. two weeks before she received an associate degree in 2014 from what is now TSTC’s Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program. 

She began as a technician and worked her way up to managing environmental health and safety for several of the company’s facilities. She is also a certified forklift inspector and 3M-certified respirator fit test administrator.

Her work involves ensuring that compliance issues are addressed, preparing and writing annual reports, onboarding, training and other tasks.

“I always learn something new every day,” she said.

Swofford said understanding chemistry and taking as many mathematics courses as possible is good academic preparation for the safety field. She said for her job, she has to approve chemicals coming onto company sites, know what solvents are and understand inhalation hazards.

Her career advice for people interested in the safety field is to reach out to others when needed.

“Always use your resources because someone out there somewhere has already done it or invented it,” Swofford said. “I think something else that would be beneficial to nontraditional students is to pay attention to project management. Environmental health and safety is an ever-evolving field.”

Swofford said there is a need for more women to pursue the safety field.

“I think it is because we are good at multitasking and we are good at the emotional side of the job,” she said. “We are naturally nurturing, and we truly put our all into making sure that someone goes home safe so they can see their family.”

TSTC’s Environmental Technology – Compliance program and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology program will merge this fall. The program’s two associate degrees will be combined to create the new Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance Technology.

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at Texas State Technical College. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Area electric cooperatives look to TSTC for employees

(MARSHALL, Texas) – East Texas electric cooperatives often look to Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program in Marshall as a source for well-trained workers. 

“In most cases, cooperatives are relatively small in size, so they do not have the capacity to take large numbers of students semester after semester, though they are in the same situation as many other larger power providers that have an aging workforce,” said Eric Carithers, TSTC’s statewide chair of the Distribution and Industrial Electrical Systems department.

The Bowie-Cass, Cherokee County and Panola-Harrison electric cooperatives are some that  have hired recent Electrical Lineworker Technology program graduates, according to information from TSTC’s Career Services office. 

The Wood County Electric Cooperative in Quitman has also hired TSTC graduates in the past.

“I always look for someone who is interested and eager to learn,” said Ramon Steward, Wood County’s director of operations. “I want to hire hands-on type individuals who don’t mind taking instruction and are willing to try new things.”

Diana Hall, Wood County’s director of human resources, said the cooperative’s guiding principles help attract the right workers.

“Today, electricity enables everything from lifegiving sustenance to comfort to fun,” Hall said. “The workers we seek can recognize that fact, and the great responsibility of it.”

Carithers said he wants to see more partnerships with the state’s electric cooperatives so they can hire TSTC graduates from their service areas.

The need for electrical power-line installers and repairers is projected to rise to more than 116,000 workers by 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The growth is attributed to commercial and residential growth.

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

TSTC Surgical Technology students gain hands-on training via mock surgery

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently received hands-on training via a mock surgery performed under a retired surgeon’s supervision.

The scenario, which included a lifelike manikin, involved students preparing the room for surgery, sanitizing and sterilizing their hands and tools, and even putting on scrubs and other proper attire for the procedure.

This was the first time that both the students and instructors had worked with the TraumaMan simulator, which was designed to be a highly realistic portrayal of a patient. For this exercise, it simulated a patient with a lacerated kidney.

Surgical Technology instructor Yolanda Ramirez said that this is one of the most beneficial ways students can feel as though they are in an operating room before leaving the classroom.

“My goal is to help our students improve their knowledge and comfort levels,” she said. “These scenarios are helpful in identifying strengths and deficiencies, and they set learning and improvement goals.”

The instructors plan to have multiple mock scenarios based on the curriculum that students are studying at any given moment.

“My goal is to have one mock surgery for each specialty we cover throughout the semester,” Ramirez said. “It would total about five mock surgeries a semester.”

Retired area surgeon Dr. Ashraf Hilmy is volunteering his time with the Surgical Technology program by supervising and offering feedback during and after the mock scenarios. He started his surgical practice in 1994 and said that surgeons could not do their jobs without surgical technologists.

“Students absolutely have to have this hands-on training because it is what they will be doing in the real world — you can’t learn this in a book,” he said. “These scenarios give students the opportunity to learn how to prepare for surgery, learn from their work, and get feedback.”

He added that as students move forward in the program, there are a few things they should keep in mind.

“Communicate and take ownership,” he said. “No matter how good a surgeon is, he or she cannot do their job without the surgical team. Surgical technologists are appreciated more than they will ever know.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

TSTC Computer Networking and Systems Administration program blends hands-on and online learning

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Computer Networking and Systems Administration at Texas State Technical College brings the digital world to life for students enrolled in the program.

Instructor Emanuel Palacios discussed the highlights of the field, as well as what students can expect during their time in the online program and beyond.

“This program will provide students with the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to perform in a variety of technology roles,” he said. “A few of the common job titles that our alumni currently have include network or systems technician and administrator, technical consultant, cloud architect, cloud technical trainer, and security analyst, to name a few.”

While there are many reasons why this program is particularly unique, Palacios said that the curriculum’s coursework speaks for itself.

“TSTC’s program is a member of the Cisco Network Academy and Amazon Web Services Educate,” he said. “There are several industry certifications that the coursework is designed around, such as Cisco’s Certified Network Associate certification and CompTIA’s Network+, Security+ and Cloud Essentials+ certifications.”

Despite being an online program, students are still required to complete labs that will enable them to get into various operating systems.

“Many of the courses have labs that are completed by remotely connecting to real servers and networking equipment hosted in a data center on a TSTC campus,” he said. “Understanding the physical infrastructure and maintenance is fundamental, but the vast majority of being hands-on in this field means knowing how to handle software and operating system configurations and installations.”

He said that those who are curious about technology will benefit from the program.

“If you enjoy playing with tech gadgets or brain games, that may be a good indication that you will not only do well in the field, but also love what you do,” he said. “Women tend to perform exceptionally well in computer networking, and I would highly encourage them to pursue that passion.”

Palacios added that like technology, this career will never get boring.

“The field is very rewarding, and jobs can be found in virtually any city,” he said. “The great thing about information technology is that the more skills you gain, the more valuable you become.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

TSTC alum follows in father’s footsteps with construction career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Work zones and hard hats were a way of life for Sebastian Tovar before he entered the Building Construction Technology program at Texas State Technical College.

Growing up, the Harlingen native would scurry around construction sites, picking up trash while his dad was helping to build the next addition to a city.

“It just seemed natural for me to follow in his steps and go into construction,” he said.

Tovar, who completed an associate degree in the Building Construction Technology program in 2018, is now an assistant superintendent at SpawGlass general contractors in San Antonio.

He said his time at TSTC not only helped prepare him with essential skills, but also helped him gain confidence to set himself up for a career that promises to rise like a skyscraper.

“The instructors were invested in our success,” Tovar said. “They immediately helped us with any questions we had during the program.”

He said that although the program taught him and the other students curriculum from a textbook, it also allowed them to go outside and get their hands dirty.

“TSTC gave me the opportunity to get hands-on training on things like rough framing, blueprint reading, estimating, schedule building, project management and much more,” he said. “These are all skills that I use daily. I especially enjoyed our time doing labs, which included volunteering to build homes for our local Habitat for Humanity.”

Another aspect of the program that he appreciated was the knowledge that many of his peers brought to the classroom.

“Most of my friends at TSTC were already working full time or in the middle of a career change,” he said. “Many had been in the construction industry, which added a new perspective to our classes. I absorbed a lot of experience from my colleagues and instructors.”

Tovar is thankful that he took the leap and registered for courses at TSTC.

“My greatest accomplishment to date would have to be graduating from TSTC,” he said. “I carry a lot of pride for this college with me because of how strongly I believe in the effectiveness of the Building Construction Technology program. TSTC shaped my whole idea of what a college should be.”

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

 

TSTC helps fill need for chemical dependency counselors

(ABILENE, Texas) – The need for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is expected to grow over the next decade.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 26 percent increase in the number of counselors needed in Texas by 2028, and Texas State Technical College is helping to train counselors to fill that need through its online Chemical Dependency Counseling program.

Many of the students in the program learn more about themselves, according to Chemical Dependency Counseling instructor Patty Bundick.

“Some of our students are hungry to know more about themselves,” she said. “The one thing I always think about, even if the student does not go to work in the field, is that the program has made a difference in their life.”

Making a difference in someone’s life is what inspires Leigh Anne Folger, a counselor at Addiction Behavioral Services.

“I can’t take credit for their success or get down if they fail,” said the 2017 TSTC graduate. “All I do is provide them with the information that can help them. I hold up the road map to a successful life. They have to want to drive the car.”

Abilene’s Ashli Arispe shares that same philosophy.

“I think everyone deserves a second chance,” she said. “My nature has always been to help people. I volunteered in high school and have always liked helping others.”

Arispe, a 2020 TSTC graduate, works for ABODE Treatment in Abilene. She said the facility’s acronym, short for Adult Basic Opportunity Development and Environment, depicts how the treatment center works to help people.

“I want to help more people, and help them plant their seeds and watch them sprout,” she said.

The five-semester Associate of Applied Science degree program at TSTC covers several topics, including working with families and family intervention. Students will discuss current issues ranging from child protective services to HIV and other diseases.

Joseph Ott, a 2015 graduate of the program, said he always enjoyed helping people and that was the main reason he chose the field.

“I knew that being 22 years sober that I would try to help people. It is not about the money for me,” he said.

The median annual salary for a counselor, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $46,240 in 2019.

Graduates of TSTC’s program have found employment at different facilities in West Texas, including the Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Homeward Bound, Serenity House, the Taylor County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

For more information, visit tstc.edu.