(MARSHALL, Texas) – Diesel Equipment Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus have started touring and attending some classes in the new Diesel Technology Academic Building there.
The 21,720-square-foot facility’s modern design and updated resources are making a strong impression, with students excited to experience all it has to offer.
Matthew Brewer, of Gilmer, already has an internship at construction equipment supplier HOLT CAT’s Longview location, but he was encouraged by his supervisors to enroll at TSTC. He said he has observed more diesel technicians retiring than entering the field and believes that the new building will help close the gap.
“The more people interested in going through a program like TSTC has, the better off the industry will be,” Brewer said.
Cutter Gaudet, of Kilgore, also holds an internship with HOLT CAT. Now in his final semester, he admitted that he almost wished he could go back and redo his education to have more time in the new building.
“The new students will definitely benefit more than we will because they’re going to have more equipment and hands-on experience,” Gaudet said.
Robert Knox wanted to earn an Off-Highway Specialization certificate of completion from TSTC after receiving his automotive excellence certification from Marshall High School. He said he finds the new building appealing.
“Compared to the other building, I can really say there’s more opportunity here,” Knox said. “I’m not saying that it was limited at the first building, but there’s more space here and we have new equipment and new trainers.”
According to onetonline.org, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn a median salary of $56,780 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 19% between 2020 and 2030.
Diesel Equipment Technology is available at TSTC’s Fort Bend County, Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco campuses, and it will be available at the Abilene and Harlingen campuses starting this fall. The program offers several associate degrees and certificates of completion, depending on location.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
