(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County is hosting three Texas A&M University College of Engineering students who are taking summer classes at TSTC.
Angus Blakely, of Georgetown, and Logan Davis, of Leander are taking classes in TSTC’s Welding Technology program. Seo Bae, of Austin, is taking classes in the Drafting and Design, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs.
The students are taking classes for nine weeks as part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Bachelor’s+ Program.
Charli Wright, an instructor in TSTC’s Welding Technology program, said she enjoys seeing the students’ motivation to learn new skills. She said the students did not have experience in welding before coming to TSTC.
“They had no bad welding habits,” Wright said. “They are like sponges soaking up the information.”
Bae is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering, which she is scheduled to complete in 2025 at Texas A&M. She chose her program of study, which she said is not fancy, because every part of the engineering industry needs materials science.
At TSTC, Bae is pursuing the Industrial Manufacturing Processes occupational skills achievement award. She said she wanted to experience engineering technology beyond what she studies in her major.
“It is different and intense,” Bae said. “I thought it would not be as hard as it is. It is really an opportunity to learn.”
Bae said she wished she could have learned about blueprint reading before taking her machining class to understand the plans she was looking at. But she said she is happy to keep the projects she made during her machining class that she can use in her professional portfolio.
Bae’s goal after graduation is to go to graduate school and later pursue research in space debris.
Davis is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M. He chose his program of study because of his curiosity about fixing things and seeing how they work. He also enjoys working with his hands and has always wanted to learn how to weld.
“It allows me to be more creative with my projects,” he said. “It’s a skill that looks good in the field.”
Davis is pursuing TSTC’s Basic Welding – Multiple Processes occupational skills achievement award.
“The welding skills learned can help me relate to welders I will work with in the field,” he said.
Davis said welding on stainless steel with tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding has been challenging. But he said he sees the progress he has made.
“I love that it is hands-on (at TSTC),” he said. “It’s a break from the classroom learning. I get to apply what I have learned.”
After graduating from Texas A&M, Davis said he wants to follow his passion for engine building, possibly in the automotive industry.
The Bachelor’s+ Program fulfills the students’ ENGR(x) zero-credit-hour requirement for graduation from Texas A&M. To meet the requirement, engineering students must participate in an approved engineering-centric activity that meets the criteria of a high-impact learning experience, followed by meaningful self-reflection. This is the second summer TSTC’s East Williamson County campus has hosted Texas A&M students.
For more information on the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Bachelor’s+ Program, go to tees.tamu.edu.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
