(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Marcos Anzaldua, of Weslaco, grew up with a knack for tinkering in the family’s mechanic shop. Years later, observations of his father’s repair work enhanced that automotive knowledge.
That would guide Anzaldua toward a rewarding automotive career.
Anzaldua earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from TSTC’s Harlingen campus in 2021.
He accepted a job as a lube technician apprentice at the luxury automotive dealership Audi San Juan — the first dealership he has worked for.
“I worked as an apprentice for nine months until I completed Audi’s fast-track certification training,” Anzaldua said. “The program is designed to train lube technician apprentices to perform a variety of tasks such as oil changes, transmission flushes and specific diagnostics. Every apprentice is given a basic tool kit specific to Audi vehicles at the conclusion of each training.”
Anzaldua was then promoted to a certified lube technician, a position he has held for one month.
“My duties consist of basic oil changes and other maintenance services,” he said. “I was recently tasked to remove a support bracket from a radiator. The end result was a success.”
Anzaldua added that the work was his most fulfilling project to date at the dealership — especially since the customer has not returned with any concerns.
“I am very pleased with the working culture at Audi San Juan,” he said. “The management takes care of their employees.”
Ira Garcia, service director for Audi San Juan, said Anzaldua has a strong desire to thrive.
“The knowledge he gained from TSTC really helped him understand the complicated systems of European vehicles,” Garcia said. “It allowed him to shine and become a full-time technician.”
Anzaldua will reach the one-year mark of working at Audi San Juan in June.
He credits his career success to the Automotive Technology instructors at TSTC.
“Their industry experience is top notch,” he said. “They offer an understanding of how the industry works and what to expect.”
Bruce Schmitt, a TSTC Automotive Technology instructor in Harlingen, said that Anzaldua was always a self-driven student.
“I was very impressed with his ability to understand and retain the content he was taught,” Schmitt said. “Anzaldua’s determination to advance himself in his career has made him successful at Audi San Juan.”
Anzaldua offers some advice for prospective students interested in pursuing Automotive Technology at TSTC.
“Absorb all of the information that TSTC’s automotive instructors provide,” he said. “In the industry, listen to any advice your fellow technicians will offer.”
Anzaldua’s future plans include moving up the ladder in his career, hopefully as an Audi high-voltage technician and expert.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology and an Automotive Technician certificate of completion at the Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. Several other certificates, including Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair, Chrysler Specialization, Tesla START Technician, Toyota T-TEN Specialization — and a Basic Automotive occupational skills award — are also available depending on campus location.
The need for qualified automotive service technicians and mechanics is expected to grow in Texas over the next several years. According to onetonline.org, Texas employs more than 60,000 of these technicians around the state, and that number is forecast to top 65,000 by 2028. The average annual salary for a technician in the state is $46,680.
Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.
