![\"Patrick](\"http:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/TSTC-WindTech-PatrickZoerner-72dpi.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAfter being medically discharged, Zoerner continued to move forward and enrolled at TSTC.<\/p>\n
Zoerner worked as a corrections officer full-time while pursuing an associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology. He graduated from the program in 2012.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time this was the only program that I could schedule around work,\u201d said Zoerner. \u201cBut then I found Wind Energy. And it just clicked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of working in the biomedical equipment field, Zoerner decided to stay at TSTC and pursue a second associate degree, which he earned recently in August 2018, in Wind Energy Technology.<\/p>\n
Zoerner said it took longer to earn his degree in Wind Energy Technology because after receiving his certificate in the program, he was hired by Duke Energy in Lyford.<\/p>\n
\u201cWind Energy Technology opened doors of opportunity for me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt prepared me for the industry and what to expect and led me back to TSTC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zoerner also credits TSTC\u2019s Veterans Center and student support staff for his success.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve (TSTC Veterans Center Director) was my number one help when I returned from the military,\u201d he said. \u201cHe helped me understand all of my benefits and with completing VA paperwork. He makes things easy for all veterans. I give him high praise because he does a lot for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zoerner added that he frustrates easily when he\u2019s given the run around or when his questions can\u2019t be answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was the one thing I feared about returning to school; it almost stopped me,\u201d he said. \u201cBut when I saw how helpful and how concerned the TSTC staff was regarding my success, I knew I had made the right choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before returning to TSTC, Zoerner worked for Duke Energy as a wind turbine technician for five years, he said gaining experience and knowledge he can now share with his students.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to bring a different culture to our program,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to be a positive influence, boost morale and surpass their expectations of our program.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to create troubleshooters and critical thinkers who are an asset to any team they join in our industry,\u201d he added. \u201cOur graduates are going to be so competent and knowledgeable that we\u2019ll be able to place them in industry, no problem, and they\u2019ll be able to do good for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Wind Energy Technology, students learn to operate machinery they find in the field, plan workflow for turbine construction and maintenance and create machinery and equipment layouts which qualifies them to operate and maintain the systems that make wind turbines function.<\/p>\n
With a certificate and associate degree path to follow, students can gain employment as wind turbine service technicians, project managers, engineers and operations managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll in all, it feels great to be back. I appreciate the opportunity and hope to make everyone proud,\u201d said Zoerner. \u201cI love the field and now it\u2019s time to train a new generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zoerner will be graduating in December with an associate degree in Welding Technology, one of his first passions growing up.<\/p>\n
Wind Energy Technology is offered at TSTC\u2019s Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.<\/p>\n
For more information on Wind Energy Technology, visit tstc.edu\/programs\/WindEnergyTechnology.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(HARLINGEN) – Patrick Zoerner has returned to where it all started for him and he\u2019s ready to take Wind Energy Technology at Texas State Technical College to the next level as the program\u2019s newest lead instructor. \u201cIt feels great to be back and an honor to be working with those I looked up to for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-harlingen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3506"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3508,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3506\/revisions\/3508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}