(HUTTO, Texas) – Billy Tischler is a Texan who is loyal to brands he trusts and likes to stick to things that are tried and true.
Tischler is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in HVAC Technology at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. He commutes from Bastrop in a 20-year-old truck made the same year he was born.
“My truck is my baby,” Tischler said. “I’ve put a lot of money into it. It’s a 2004 Chevy Silverado, and it still has the original engine. I drive about 45 minutes to campus in it.”
Tischler said he does not mind the drive and chose TSTC because he trusts it.
“I could have gone to another school, something closer,” Tischler said. “But my dad went to TSTC in Waco. I know it’s a good school.”
Tischler’s father is an alumnus of an electrical program, something that Tischler had considered before choosing HVAC Technology.
“I was thinking about electrical, but my dad is an electrician, and I didn’t want to do what he does,” Tischler said. “HVAC is interesting to me because it’s electrical and more.”
Tischler expects to graduate from the HVAC Technology program in the spring and is already planning his HVAC career start.
“I’m going to look for an HVAC job closer to graduation next semester,” Tischler said. “I’ll have more skills then to do better. I haven’t had a chance to use my skills yet, but I’m looking forward to it as I learn more.”
In Texas, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn an average annual salary of $50,190, according to onetonline.org, which forecast the number of such positions to grow 21% in the state from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in HVAC Technology at its East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, North Texas and Waco campuses.
Registration for TSTC’s spring semester is underway. To learn more, visit tstc.edu.
