(RED OAK, Texas) – More than 40 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Fall 2022 Commencement held Monday, Dec. 12, at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
“Every time we do one of these, it seems to get bigger and better,” said Marcus Balch, provost of TSTC’s North Texas campus.
Several TSTC graduates already have jobs.
Jose Palacios Puente, of Waxahachie, received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology. He said he would miss the learning, his classmates and his instructors at TSTC.
“This gave me the foundation,” he said. “It made me feel confident in getting a job.”
Palacios Puente is working as a machinist at QuickTurn Technology in Waxahachie.
Khari Haney, of Grand Prairie, received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization. Watching him walk across the stage were his parents, siblings, and his best friend from his football days while attending Howard University.
“I had a good time — a long drive — but a good time,” Haney said about his time at TSTC.
He will begin work Dec. 19 as a substation electrician at Oncor in Addison.
“The money is there as long as you put in the hustle,” Haney said. “You have to enjoy working with your hands.”
Some graduates are continuing to pursue jobs.
Alexis Hernandez, of Lancaster, received a certificate of completion in Welding Technology.
He said social media was his influence in pursuing welding, which he had never done before arriving at TSTC. He said he will miss the sound of grinders and the smell of the welding lab.
“Practice is key,” Hernandez said of mastering welding. “I stayed some extra days and stayed late and felt like that made me better.”
While Hernandez is still job hunting, he said his dream place of employment for now is Martin Sprocket & Gear Inc.
Andrew Aldaba, of Waxahachie, received a certificate of completion in Welding Technology.
“I will not miss the hours I went to work and school and had 15-hour days,” he said. “But the experience was well worth it. The instructors made it easy to learn.”
Aldaba said he will go wherever a good job opportunity is.
“As long as it makes me happy, I want to travel, if anything,” he said.
For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
