(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – Apolinar and Joshua Ruiz share more than family ties in the Texas city of Donna.
Apolinar Ruiz, now of Hutto, is the program team lead in the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus. He is a graduate of the same program at the college’s Harlingen campus.
Joshua Ruiz, of Donna, is a student at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, where he is in his third semester in the Drafting and Design program.
Recently the brothers traveled to Corpus Christi to take part in the 2025 SkillsUSA Texas Leadership and Skills Conference held April 2-5. Apolinar Ruiz was an advisor for the Williamson County delegation, while Joshua Ruiz participated in the Architectural Drafting contest.
Joshua Ruiz said he intentionally withheld his participation from his big brother.
“I was going to scare him,” Joshua Ruiz said. “I wanted to jump out at him when I eventually saw him.”
Apolinar Ruiz said social media is what stopped Joshua from getting away with his plan.
“I follow the TSTC in Harlingen Facebook page, and I saw a photo of the bus leaving campus for Corpus Christi,” he said. “I saw Josh’s face right up front on the bus and immediately texted him.”
Apolinar Ruiz competed at SkillsUSA as a student and twice qualified for the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference for CNC (computer numerical control) 3-Axis Milling Programmer contest.
“I never medaled at nationals; I was always fourth or fifth,” he said. “When I returned to TSTC, I started pushing students to compete because it’s a great networking opportunity, and it’s a great experience that goes on their resume.”
Apolinar Ruiz said being at SkillsUSA as an advisor while his younger brother is a competing student is a different experience.
“It’s interesting,” he said. “There are seven years between us. I just see him as my brother, as a kid.”
Joshua Ruiz said his instructors recruited him for SkillsUSA.
“I did not know what it was and learned it’s a competition to show your skills,” he said. “I said, ‘Yeah, sure, let’s see what the competition is.’”
Joshua Ruiz said his preparation for SkillsUSA involved working on assignments in class. For the contest, he had to design a cabin with bedrooms and provide information on elevations and materials.
“It was pretty much the same thing we do on assignments,” he said. “If you do the assignments, you know what you are doing.”
The Ruiz brothers are graduates of Donna North High School. Apolinar Ruiz is the oldest of five children. Joshua Ruiz said his brother is an influence on his life.
“He was the first one to go to college in the family,” Joshua Ruiz said. “He’s doing good for himself right now. After seeing that, I want to have that too.”
Joshua Ruiz is still thinking of life after TSTC.
“I am just hoping to find a job in my desired profession,” he said. “It does not matter where it is, I will take it.”
Joshua Ruiz did not medal this year, but his brother said there is always next year.
“He’s coming back next year, whether he knows it or not,” Apolinar Ruiz said. “It won’t be a choice.”
SkillsUSA is a professional organization focused on employability, leadership and technical skills that help college students pursue successful careers and be part of a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has more than 100 contests at the state and national events in which students can compete, including 3D Visualization and Animation, Electrical Construction Wiring, and Welding.
Students winning gold medals at the state level are qualified to participate in the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference to be held June 23-27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information on SkillsUSA Texas, go to skillsusatx.org.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
