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Programs Auto Collision & Management Technology

A steady hand and eye for detail make you a classic in this industry.

Programs Automotive Technology

Some prefer to be behind the wheel, but you prefer to be under the hood.

Programs Automation & Controls Technology

Moving electricity, water, oil, gas, and data; all under your control.

Programs Biomedical Equipment Technology

When it counts, medical equipment can’t fail. No sweat. You got this.

Programs Avionics Technology

You could ensure a safe-landing career in avionics.

Programs Diesel Equipment Technology

Texas employs more diesel engine specialists than any other state in the nation, from trucks that deliver goods across the state to engines that power farm and construction equipment.

Programs Robotics & Industrial Controls Technology

Your mad math and science skills are needed to program and manage the automated computer systems that power industries today.

Programs Electromechanical Technology

The automation industry relies on technicians to maintain productivity and efficiency. What a powerful opportunity for you!

Programs HVAC Technology

There's no one more popular than an A/C repair person in the Texas summers.

Programs Electrical Lineworker & Management Technology

Take your career to new heights in this high-paying industry.

Programs Electrical Power & Controls

You have the power to take control of your future with an education in the generation and management of electricity.

Programs Industrial Systems

If you don't want to focus your talents on one subject, learn it all!

Programs Instrumentation Technology

Let TSTC be an instrumental part of your career success.

Pages AutoCAD Certification Training Course

Get Autodesk AutoCAD Certified! AutoCAD is one of the most in-demand software programs in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.

Pages Scholarships

Scholarships are awards that do not have to be repaid. They are available to students who qualify based on financial need and academic standing.

We have resources to help your individual financial needs. Apply for a scholarship so you can focus on your schoolwork.

 

Pages Campus Expansion & Improvements

Growth, Upcoming Expansions and Improvements

Pages Star Stats for Texas State Technical College (TSTC)

Being different is part of who we are.

Meet Daniella. She’s a pageant winner.

She’s also a TSTC Welding Technology graduate.

Pages Meal Plans

Meal plans ensure that you get a regular meal during the week.

 

 

 

Pages Tuition and Payment

Our value-priced courses provide the perfect opportunity to continue your education or retrain in a new field without drowning in debt. We are so confident in the quality of our technical education that with some of our high-demand, Money-Back Guarantee programs we guarantee you will find a job within six months of graduation—or your money back.

Pages Quality Enhancement Plan

The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a component of the accreditation process. It reflects and affirms our commitment to enhance student learning.

Pages Dual Credit

Want to get a head start on your college education? Dual Credit may be for you! Dual Credit gives high school students a head start toward their futures. Take college courses to earn college and high school credit at the same time.

Dual Credit courses are available at some high school campuses, on-site at a TSTC campus, and through distance learning classes taught by TSTC instructors.

 

Pages Educators

Our dual enrollment pathways give your students a head start to a great technical career.

Pages The TSTC Foundation

Gifts made to The TSTC Foundation have the potential to change the direction of someone’s life. All while answering the needs of the Texas workforce.

 

 

Pages Ed2Go

In partnership with ed2go, TSTC Workforce Development offers flexible, self-paced non-credit certificate programs to help you start a new career or advance within your current occupation.

 

Pages The TSTC Foundation – Donor List

Every gift received by The TSTC Foundation introduces the possibility of transformation for TSTC students. Thank you to every person and organization that believes in our mission of placing more Texans in great-paying jobs.

Pages Bundled Pricing

Lock in your rate. Pay the same amount semester after semester. No surprises!

Pages CNC Machinist

As the manufacturing industry becomes more automated, many machinist are staying ahead of the curve by learning how to use CNC machines.

Pages Additional Testing

We provide testing services to assist you in assessing your knowledge and skills.

Pages TSTC Waco Airport

Welcome to the largest airport operated by an educational institution in the United States.

Pages Special Programs

Helping students succeed while meeting the needs of industry

Pages University Transfer

Earn your degree from TSTC, then transfer to one of our educational partners to further your education with a four-year degree. Interested in transferring? Talk to your enrollment coach to get started.

Pages Industrial Systems and Precision Machining Technology

Industrial Systems and Precision Machining Technology are two of our most sought-out programs in the engineering & manufacturing fields.  Find out why these programs are in high demand.

Pages Grants

Grants are typically need-based financial aid that typically do not have to be repaid, which makes them highly desirable.

Pages HVACR TECHNICIAN

HVACR is one of the most constant industries for new jobs, so there’s no better time to join.

News TSTC students increase auto collision repair skills with suspension overhaul

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some students in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen location are sharpening their skills by learning how to do a suspension overhaul on a 1993 Chevrolet Silverado. TSTC instructor Jesus Reyna assigned the hands-on project at the start of the summer semester as part of...

News TSTC Auto Collision students look forward to the future

(WACO, Texas) – Jacob Pevia hears about it when he visits auto collision and repair shops of all sizes in Texas: more workers are needed. Pevia, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program in Waco, is also a part-time instructor for the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. Part...

News TSTC alumnus builds rapport at local auto collision shop

Texas State Technical College alumnus Philip Saldana’s interest in automotive repair was piqued at a young age. That was the starting point that guided him toward a future career path. Saldana, of Harlingen, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology from TSTC’s Harlingen campus in December 2019. He furthered...

News TSTC alumna’s industry expertise shines in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumna Dolores Garza, of McAllen, is a new TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology instructor for the spring 2022 semester at the Harlingen campus She is one of many women who are having great success in a technical career. Garza’s passion for the industry and education is infectious....

News TSTC auto collision program growing skills for students’ futures

(WACO, Texas) – This fall at Texas State Technical College, there are four female students taking the Automotive Plastic and Sheet Molded Compound Repair class. This makes Kayla Walsh, a first-semester student in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program from Arvada, Colorado, very happy. “Females are more detail-oriented,” she said. “It’s breaking that barrier.”...

News TSTC Auto Collision students receive tool kits

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A typical day for Jose Villarreal includes hopping into his car and hoping he has enough money for gas to drive 45 minutes every day from Pharr to Texas State Technical College for class, but Tuesday was anything but normal for the 22-year-old. Villarreal and four other TSTC Auto Collision and Management...

News TSTC student gains extra experience at area collision center

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many automobile aficionados recall how they first grew an admiration for the automobile industry. For Kevin Cantu, of Pharr, the oil change he performed on his grandfather’s vehicle as a teenager would lead to an education at Texas State Technical College. After that moment, Cantu’s interest in automotive knowledge spread like a...

News TSTC student contributes family vehicles for auto collision education

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What some see as a wrecked car, Juan Medina sees as a worthwhile challenge. Medina is sharpening the skills needed to restore damaged vehicles to their former glory by earning a certificate of completion in Auto Collision and Management Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Additionally, the Brownsville resident has...

News On the road to success: TSTC Auto Collision & Management Technology

From independent body shops to high-profile dealerships – auto technicians, repairers and painters are in demand, with Texas’ projected job openings to be at more than 14,000 by 2026 according to O*Net Online. And TSTC, with its Auto Collision & Management Technology program, is ready to meet industry demand. TSTC Auto Collision & Management Technology...

News Cuevas’ passion for automotive refinishing leads him to TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Artistry. A passion for perfection. The ability to restore a damaged vehicle to showroom condition. All are sought-after attributes found in the best automotive refinishers. And Texas State Technical College student Edrick Cuevas wants to be one of the best. The Port Isabel resident possesses an impressive talent for automotive refinishing that...

News Auto body knowledge motivates Ortiz for career in family’s shop

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Trinity Ortiz, of Harlingen, gained hands-on mechanics knowledge during her teenage years when she assisted her father in his auto shop.  That passion led to her enrolling at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen and pursuing a certificate of completion in Auto Collision Refinishing.  In the past year, her father and...

News TSTC alumnus flourishes in career at area auto body shop

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Daniel Ledesma has turned his love of automobiles into a fulfilling career. Ledesma became interested in the automotive field after being introduced to it by his father, who had studied Automotive Technology at TSTC. Ledesma followed his father’s lead and graduated with a certificate of completion in...

News TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology program selected for national apprenticeship program

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has been selected as one of four colleges nationally to take part in a program aimed at producing more workers for the automotive collision repair industry. Enterprise Holdings, with funding from its philanthropic arm the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, and Missouri-based Ranken Technical College have launched the Automotive Collision...

News TSTC Auto Collision program provides women with skills for the workforce

(WACO, Texas) – For Texas State Technical College student Haley Rios of Bryan, auto collision and repair work is a family tradition. Her grandfather used to own a paint and body shop where several relatives worked. She would go to the shop as a child and watch repair work being done. “It was nice,” Rios...

News TSTC Auto Collision instructor shares how modern technology impacts future technicians

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Modern technology is reshaping the automotive body repair industry, and that impacts how future automotive body repairers are trained. Jose Vasquez is the Auto Collision and Management Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Recently he talked about how some of the industry’s new technology is enhancing students’ skills....

News First TSTC auto collision co-op students scheduled to graduate in December

(WACO, Texas) – Two students at Texas State Technical College are scheduled to be the first ever to graduate with degrees in the college’s newest Auto Collision and Management Technology specialization at the upcoming Fall 2023 Commencement in Waco. Bryam Herrera, of Rosebud, and Carlos Rincon, of Jacksonville, Texas, are on track to receive Associate...

News TSTC graduate comes back to teach in Auto Collision and Management Technology program

(WACO, Texas) – William Graham, of Teague, began teaching in October 2022 in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program at the Waco campus. Graham is a graduate of Teague High School and TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program. Recently Graham talked about his new role and what he hopes students...

News TSTC students secure jobs before graduation in auto collision field

(WACO, Texas) – Travis Hanson, of Mabank, stood alone as he slowly mixed paint during the Color Analysis and Paint Matching class at Texas State Technical College. Afterward, he put on gray overalls, placed personal protective equipment on his face and ventured inside a booth to practice painting. “If you really want to do it,...

News TSTC instructor explains importance of keeping automobile tires properly aligned

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Routine vehicle maintenance or a wheel alignment can help prevent a severe automotive collision. Jose Vasquez is the Auto Collision and Management Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. Recently he shared how preventive maintenance can help consumers avoid a visit to an auto body repair shop. How...

News TSTC student polishes automotive refinishing skills at area business

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Repairing dents, dings and scratches is almost child’s play for Stephanie Luna, a student in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program in Harlingen. She also works at Hacienda Collision Center in Brownsville.   Luna comes by her passion for auto restoration naturally. From a young age, she enjoyed...

News Website ranks TSTC’s automotive and auto collision programs best in US

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – College Factual recently placed Texas State Technical College at the top of its list of 2024 Best Mechanic and Repair Technologies Associate Degree Schools in the United States. According to its website, collegefactual.com, the company was created to help students research colleges and careers. It gathers data from public and private sources,...

News TSTC Auto Collision student enhances knowledge while preparing for SkillsUSA competition

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Daniel Pacheco strives for perfection with his hands-on assignments in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program. He applies the same level of commitment while he prepares to compete in the SkillsUSA Texas District 13 Leadership and Skills Conference that will be held February 15-17 at TSTC’s...

News TSTC student uses military discipline in studies

(WACO, Texas) – Discipline acquired from military service plays an important role in Texas State Technical College student Edward Hernandez’s day. “I know I need to wake up at 5 a.m. so I’m not late,” said Hernandez of Killeen. “I work everything around school.” Hernandez grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was a...

News TSTC Auto Collision and Management Technology student receives nationwide scholarship

(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College student has received a nationwide scholarship focused on women in the automotive industry. Kayla Walsh, of Arvada, Colorado, is in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program at the Waco campus. She recently received a $3,000 Women in Auto Care scholarship, which is awarded by the Maryland-based...

News TSTC Auto Collision students, alumnus receive recognitions

(WACO, Texas) – Two students and a recent graduate of the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College have been nationally honored for their academic work. Edward Hernandez of Killeen and Jennifer Watson of Moody are U.S. military veterans who received 3M Hire Our Heroes tool grants valued at $4,500 each....

News TSTC Auto Collision Program Receives Service King Grant

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program celebrated the end of the fall semester at its traditional barbecue on Thursday. Representatives of Service King presented program faculty with a $5,000 2019 Service King School Grant through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Clint Campbell, TSTC’s statewide Auto Collision and Management...

News TSTC Auto Collision student receives national scholarship

(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College student has received a prestigious Women’s Industry Network scholarship. Jennifer Watson, an Auto Collision and Management Technology student from Moody, was awarded the WIN College Tuition and Conference Scholarship Award. Clint Campbell, the statewide department chair of TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management department, encouraged Watson to apply...

News TSTC students at Waco campus preparing for national SkillsUSA conference

(WACO, Texas) – Five Texas State Technical College students at the Waco campus will soon put their skills up against the nation’s best. The 58th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference will be held June 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing will be Michael Lopez, of Taylor, in Facilithon; Luis Luna, of Stephenville, in Collision...

News TSTC Metallica Scholar thankful for help during time of need

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – “It was a blessing.” That is how Jackie Norman, a Texas State Technical College Metallica Scholar and Automotive Technology student, described his feelings after several people stepped up to offer financial assistance. Earlier this year, the engine on Norman’s pickup truck blew out, and he thought it would be a quick and...

News A closer look at an automotive technician career

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will expand its Fort Bend County campus offerings with the addition of the Automotive Technology and Auto Collision and Management Technology programs next fall. But what do those programs entail, and why are they needed? Becoming an automotive technician means learning skills in a variety of fields. For...

News TSTC auto collision program hosts students for end-of-semester luncheon

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program held an end-of-semester taco luncheon for its students on Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Waco campus. The lunch was held in a program lab and catered by Taqueria Los Cuates of Lacy Lakeview. Students and faculty members ate street-style tacos with pork,...

News TSTC automotive students learn about Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships during Waco campus visit

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department hosted a representative from the Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships who spoke to students on the Waco campus on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Tom Gammon, a partner in the Nyle Maxwell dealerships, talked to students in the Auto Collision and Management Technology and Automotive Technology programs....

News Military veteran’s automobile wrapping business venture leads to increasing his skills at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After serving in both the Marines and the Navy, Cristobal Gonzalez transitioned to civilian life by working in oil refineries near his hometown of Corpus Christi and later in the auto industry in McAllen. Eventually he opened his own vehicle wrap shop. Now he is a student in the Auto Collision and...

News Lometa Student Looks for Glowing Future After TSTC Graduation

(WACO, Texas) – Faustino Laessig of Lometa felt right at home in the auto collision labs at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. “I’ve always been fixing things up and making them look good,” he said. Laessig is an associate degree candidate for graduation in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at TSTC’s Fall...

News There is an art to it: TSTC auto refinishing students learn to airbrush

(WACO, Texas) – Some of the artistic skills that students learn in Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program start with small, hand-held airbrushes. “Airbrushing uses a fine, detailed version of a spray gun that allows precision in artwork,” said Jesse Hildebrandt, an instructor in the program at the Waco campus. Airbrushing...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student aims to change perceptions

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Gissela Hernandez Guzman recalled a time during her youth when her father had a successful automotive shop. His interest in repairing automobiles would be the first spark that would lead his daughter to an education at Texas State Technical College. “It made me want to learn more about the automotive field,” she...

News Classic car turns into hot rod at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Classic automobile aficionado Jesus Reyna, an instructor in the Auto Collision and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College, has educated his students about the restoration process of vehicles for two years now. His latest project is a 1927 Durant touring car that the students began working on last year. “I...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student finds synergy between school and job

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – One might say that Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Jesus Quintero comes by his love of automobiles naturally. While growing up he was intrigued by watching his father, a mechanic, resolve automotive issues. Quintero took the initiative to learn more about the automotive industry by getting hired as a retail...

News TSTC instructors share expertise with next generation of automotive service professionals

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To commemorate National Automotive Service Professional Week, which this year is June 5-11, Texas State Technical College celebrates its Automotive Technology instructors who educate and train a new generation of automotive technicians by sharing their industry knowledge. Miguel Zoleta is the Automotive Technology program director at TSTC’s Harlingen campus and a 2014...

News TSTC program immerses students in art of auto refinishing

(WACO, Texas) – The color of a vehicle can make a statement, but getting the perfect shade can be a challenge. Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program offers a refinishing component for students who have an interest in auto body work and painting. The program is taught in a hybrid format,...

News Mabank graduate honored with leadership award at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Travis Hanson, of Mabank, is leaving Texas State Technical College not only with two associate degrees, but also with a recognition highlighting his work ethic and drive to succeed. Hanson received the Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award at TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Saturday morning at The BASE at the Extraco Events...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student follows in grandfathers’ footsteps

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many automobile aficionados who have a passion for the automotive industry set out to achieve a dream of establishing their own automotive mechanic shop. That is the commitment of Jesus Manrique-Garcia, a first-semester Automotive Technology student pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree at Texas State Technical College. Manrique-Garcia developed an interest...

News TSTC Automotive Technology instructor receives nationwide recognition

(WACO, Texas) – Thomas Breshears, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program in Waco, was recently named a recipient of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) World Class Technician award. The award is presented in partnership with the Auto Care Association and ASE. The award honors automotive technicians who have...

News Media franchise, restoration hobby inspire career interest for TSTC student

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Dominick Zavala first became fascinated with automobiles when the “Fast & Furious” media franchise became popular. “I enjoyed watching the movies because the characters drove high-performing sports cars,” he said. “The movies inspired me to buy my first vehicle, which was a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck....

News TSTC’s Automation and Controls program helps students keep up with modern technology

(MARSHALL, Texas) – When making and producing a typical package of cookies like those sold at grocery stores, every step — from baking the cookies to putting them in packages and on pallets — is performed by machines. Humans do not even touch them until they are being eaten. From the food we eat to...

News TSTC’s Automotive Technology program introduces new manufacturer trainings

The Automotive Technology program at Texas State Technical College is improving its educational resources with two new online manufacturer-specific trainings: Toyota Technician Education College Support (TECS) and the Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP). The TECS program will offer students e-learning modules with an online library of repair and training information. These resources will qualify a...

News Austin company looks to TSTC to fill automation positions

(AUSTIN, Texas) – An Austin company is utilizing Texas State Technical College as a resource to fill critical positions needed to keep operations running smoothly. Flex is a multinational contract manufacturer that partners with many different companies across multiple industries. Flex pioneers within industries such as automotive, aerospace, computer hardware, medical devices, and renewable/solar. One...

News Villarreal polishes knowledge in TSTC’s Automotive Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jose Villarreal, of Pharr, became interested in automotive vehicles at the age of 7 when he assisted his grandfather in the family’s garage. That mechanical knowledge intrigued him and became a deciding factor that led him to enroll at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. He is now pursuing a certificate...

News TSTC student enjoys benefit of online learning in automotive education

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Nathan Weaver recalls the moment when his father, a military veteran, first introduced him to repairing the family’s automobiles during his junior year of high school. The clatter of tools and the revving of a restored automobile engine would inspire Weaver to pursue a certificate of completion in Automotive Maintenance and Light...

News Family background in automotive repair influences TSTC student

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It seemed to be in the works at a young age for Tanner Tankersley to work on automobiles. “I grew up around people I like to call ‘vehicle heads.’ They always were working on cars together,” said Tankersley, who is studying for his certificate of completion in Automotive Technology at Texas State...

News Scholarships rev up TSTC automotive students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students in Harlingen and Waco will receive scholarships thanks to a San Antonio-based automotive organization. The non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs CarFest in San Antonio, rewarded TSTC’s Automotive Technology students for participating in last year’s event with a $30,000 check for scholarships and equipment....

News Job market promising for TSTC Automation and Controls graduates

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The 10 letters that make up the word “automation” carry a lot of weight in how we work now and will in the future. Automation is the ability to transform raw material into a finished product with very little human interaction, said Douglas Clark, lead instructor in TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student eyes educator career path

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For U.S. Army veteran Antonio Lopez, the talent that he developed as a driving instructor in the military would lead him to an education at Texas State Technical College. “After I graduated college, I enlisted in the armed forces and taught soldiers how to drive tactical wheeled vehicles,” he said. “I loved...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student inspired by stepfather’s automotive career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jonathan Garza, an Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College, could not be happier with the choices that he made to learn more about the automotive industry and follow in his stepfather’s career pathway. “My stepdad is not only a graduate of the same program (Automotive Technology), but he’s a professional...

News TSTC fills state’s need for automotive technicians

(WACO, Texas) – Interstates and highways are busier compared to a year ago, and that means maintenance on vehicles will increase. Texas State Technical College helps automotive shops around the state fill the need for service technicians. According to onetonline.org, 60,440 technicians were employed in Texas in 2018. The need is forecast to increase 8%...

News TSTC SkillsUSA gold medalists qualify to move on to national conference in Georgia

(WACO, Texas) – Students at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus won medals in 15 events at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held April 18-20 in Houston. “This year we competed in categories and events with many new advisors, and we did not disappoint,” said Abby Ford, TSTC’s SkillsUSA coordinator...

News Receiving Metallica scholarship boosts confidence of TSTC Automotive Technology student

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Richie Solis says the hands-on learning experience he receives at Texas State Technical College will lead him to a rewarding career. “What I am doing in class right now is something I will be able to put into practice in the real world,” said Solis, a TSTC Metallica Scholar who is studying...

News Villela family flourishes in educational programs at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Narciso Villela III and his wife, Valerie, have one directive when it applies to their children’s future: It is either college or the military. Though their daughter is currently in high school, the remainder of the family is encouraging each other while enrolled in different programs at Texas State Technical College’s campus...

News TSTC instructors discuss automation and robotics

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The demand for robotics and automation specialists is growing. As of May 2022, Texas sat as the third highest employer of robotics and automation technicians in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But what does that mean for students looking to get into the industry? Additionally, what is...

News TSTC students celebrate success at statewide SkillsUSA contests

Gold medalists will go on to compete on the national level at SkillsUSA (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students earned a total of 47 medals — 18 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze — during the recent statewide SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston. The three-day competition ended Saturday, April...

News TSTC offers Basic Automotive OSA program in Sweetwater

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – A fast-track program to teach basic automotive skills will be taught at Texas State Technical College this fall. Sweetwater Automotive Technology instructor Gerod Strother will teach the 15-week Occupational Skills Award (OSA) program. The OSA is part of TSTC’s Rapid Industry Skills and Employability (RISE) program that helps students learn skills quickly...

News Automotive Technology at TSTC drives students toward thriving career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The revving of engines is music to the ears of students and  instructors alike in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for automotive service technicians are expected to continue to rise through 2026. TSTC’s Automotive Technology program utilizes a hands-on method of...

News TSTC Automotive Technology program adapts to teaching during pandemic

(WACO, Texas) – Automotive Technology students at Texas State Technical College continue to gain insight into what their careers can look like upon graduation. “It’s a good time in the automotive industry because of how everything is advancing,” said George Williams, lead instructor in TSTC’s Automotive Technology program in Waco. The program’s students and faculty...

News TSTC automotive program transforms mechanics into technicians

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The future of the automotive world is electric, and Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology instructor Miguel Zoleta is making sure his program’s students stay plugged in to advancements in the industry. “Right now, we’re seeing that a lot out of industry is electrical vehicles, and electrical vehicles are coming out in...

News Four TSTC students look to strengthen diversity of automotive industry

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many women have changed the dynamic of the Texas workforce by the technical educations they acquired from Texas State Technical College, and Dulce Cruz, Beatriz Loa, Joselyn Ramirez and Crystal Santoyo want to join their ranks. The four women are students in the Automotive Technology program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. According to...

News TSTC student gains hands-on skills in Automotive Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Rey Rocha has always had an interest in gears, transmissions and engines. Now he is gearing up to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from Texas State Technical College this fall, and he already has a full-time job lined up. Rocha is currently working part time at Boggus...

News TSTC graduate prospers in career at area luxury dealership

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Marcos Anzaldua, of Weslaco, grew up with a knack for tinkering in the family’s mechanic shop. Years later, observations of his father’s repair work enhanced that automotive knowledge. That would guide Anzaldua toward a rewarding automotive career. Anzaldua earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students provide assistance during CarFest

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Being able to help others was the goal for five Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students at CarFest in San Antonio. Kohl Henry Clark, Juan Guerra, Richard Martin, Ryan Rogers and Alejandro Soto represented the Sweetwater campus during the annual event at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall earlier this month. San...

News Simple precautions can keep vehicles running smoothly, TSTC Automotive Technology students say

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The roadways of Texas soon will be filled with summer travelers. Two Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students recently said that preventive vehicle maintenance is the key to a successful road trip. Automotive Service Professionals Month, which is observed in June by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, is a...

News TSTC Automotive Technology program receives $30,000 from San Antonio organization

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s statewide Automotive Technology program will be revving up stronger than ever, thanks to a generous contribution from a Texas-based automotive organization.  The Community of Automotive Professionals recently gave $30,000 for TSTC’s Automotive Technology programs in Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco. The money will give a financial boost to TSTC’s...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student receives nationwide scholarship

(WACO, Texas) – Eli Alvarez, of Hutto, grew up working on cars with his father. That interest led him to Texas State Technical College with an automotive scholarship in hand. Alvarez is one of five recipients nationwide to receive a $10,000 scholarship from Pep Boys’ Find Your Drive initiative. He is in his first semester...

News Crowley student balances work, classes to study Automotive Technology at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Brayan Plascencia, of Crowley, is an Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College. He is scheduled to graduate in December with a certificate of completion in Automotive Technician and continue on toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at the Waco campus. He commutes to and from classes...

News TSTC program keeping up with automation technology

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automation and Controls Technology program is providing students with new opportunities to learn valuable job skills. “The buzzwords in the industry are smart devices, the internet of things and also Industry 4.0,” said Douglas Clark, the program’s lead instructor. “There are big things surrounding this new push in...

News TSTC Robotics program sets students up for oilfield automation success

Automation offers enhanced safety, efficiency and control (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Oil and gas drilling contractor Nabors Industries made history in October 2021 as the company announced that its PACE-R801, the first fully automated land drilling rig, reached total depth on its first well, located in Midland, Texas. While the company retained a similar number of...

News TSTC students bring home gold from state SkillsUSA competition

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College students are raising their SkillsUSA gold medals with pride because they will advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference that will be held June 19-23, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Jessica Alaniz, Jessie Contreras, Julia Farris, Melanie Limon, Alfredo Molina, Reymundo Salinas and Edna Vargas will...

News Velasquez expands knowledge in TSTC’s Automotive Technology program

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Irving Velasquez wanted to expand on the automotive knowledge that he gained from his father. After learning that Texas State Technical College offers Automotive Technology, Velasquez knew it would be the best place to grow as a mechanic. He is studying for an automotive technician certificate at TSTC, with plans to open...

News Phlebotomist makes career U-turn, gets TSTC Automotive Technology degree

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Sometimes it takes a while for someone to realize that a job is just not for them. For six years Samuel Gonzales worked as a medical phlebotomist but was not especially happy. Then one day he had an “aha!” moment and decided to pursue an automotive education at Texas State Technical College....

News Veteran’s goal is to own automotive shop after graduating from TSTC

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – After 12 years of serving in the U.S. Army, Hollis Manis has plans to open his own automotive shop in his hometown. Manis, of San Angelo, said studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at Texas State Technical College is the first step of his goal. “I have...

News TSTC students and faculty arrive in Georgia for SkillsUSA NLSC 2022

(ATLANTA) – Students and faculty members representing six of Texas State Technical College’s campuses arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, June 20, for this week’s 58th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Students from the Breckenridge, Brownwood, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses will compete against the nation’s best in events such as...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student inspired by grandfather

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Trey Beavers takes inspiration from one single saying from his grandfather. “He always told me, ‘If someone built it, you can work on it.’ That is how I fell in love with working on anything with an engine,” Beavers said. Beavers is studying for a...

News Four on the floor? No problem, say TSTC Automotive Technology students

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Years ago, many motorists used a clutch to shift gears in their automobiles. With technology growing in the automotive industry, drivers moved away from a manual transmission vehicle. But at Texas State Technical College, Automotive Technology students recently spent one day learning how to take apart a manual transmission in order to...

News Automation and controls touches everything from apples to water bottles, TSTC instructors say

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Automation and Controls Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus offers a path into numerous job sectors. Automation and controls is a field that TSTC instructors Douglas Clark and Troy Powledge said many find difficult to understand, due to its broad scope, but is an industry that has endless...

News TSTC fills need for qualified automotive technicians across Texas

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – There is a growing need for qualified automotive technicians in Texas. Many dealerships and automotive repair shops turn to Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology graduates to fill the need for mechanics. According to onetonline.org, Texas has more than 60,000 automotive service technicians and mechanics employed around the state, and that number...

News TSTC Automotive Technology candidates for graduation learn value of working together

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Spending six hours a day in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology lab helped five candidates for graduation form a bond and learn the value of teamwork. Joseph Fredericks, Brady Kennemur, David Lopez-Cortez, Patrick Rodriguez and Tanner Tankersley agreed that their time in the lab taught them more than just skills they...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student honors uncle’s memory

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Melissa Castro, of Mercedes, grew an interest in the automotive industry with motivation from her uncle, who was a mechanic. His approach for resolving automotive issues impressed her. After her uncle’s death, the hardworking mother of four desired more for her family. Now she is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree...

News TSTC Automotive Technology grad gets job at area public transportation company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Life could not be better for Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology graduate Thomas Rivera, who recently accepted a full-time job as an automotive technician with Valley Metro at the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council’s Transit Center in Weslaco. Rivera, who recently received his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC,...

News TSTC automotive student races toward career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In one year, Texas State Technical College student Christopher Machado will earn an associate degree in Automotive Technology, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. But the 19-year-old also has one other thing to be proud of: He already has a full-time job in his chosen career field....

News TSTC Automotive Technology students take part in CarFest in San Antonio

(WACO, Texas) – Thirteen students from Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program at the Waco campus recently participated in CarFest at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall in San Antonio. CarFest is hosted by the Community of Automotive Professionals and brings together the community to build awareness about the automotive industry. This year’s event was...

News TSTC Welding Technology automation lab to offer new training opportunities

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Automation is the future for many industries, and welding is no exception. Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology automation lab at TSTC’s campus in Fort Bend County recently received new equipment to help keep TSTC students on the cusp of emerging technology and practices. “We’ve got a submerged-arc machine, new orbital pipe...

News TSTC Automotive Technology using virtual reality to engage students

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is giving first-semester Automotive Technology students opportunities to learn using virtual reality. The program began using TRANSFRVR headsets and hand controllers this semester in the Introduction to Automotive Technology class at the Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. Students are prompted to take virtual lessons in how to do...

News TSTC’s Mopar Career Automotive Program to accept students for spring semester

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Mopar Career Automotive Program at the Waco campus will accept students for the first time for the spring semester. Students who apply to TSTC must apply separately to the program, which includes an interview with a faculty member in the Automotive Technology program. Matthew Mills, an instructor in...

News New TSTC instructor elevates potential of future automotive technicians

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Leo Tamez, of Harlingen, recently completed his first semester of teaching in the Automotive Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. “It’s great to see the students’ reactions when they understand my approach to fixing an item on a vehicle,” Tamez said. “My objective is to find a method for...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student lands job while at San Antonio event

(WACO, Texas) – Juan Mijarez of Georgetown, is excited about the transitions going on in his life now. “I like to see what today will bring me and what challenges I will face,” he said. Mijarez is a candidate for spring graduation with an Automotive Technology – Chrysler Specialization certificate at Texas State Technical College...

News TSTC Automotive Technology program offers ways to maintain vehicle air conditioning systems

(WACO, Texas) – Texans love their air conditioning. From the house to the automobile, people need to stay cool as the summer sun shines overhead. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s American Driving Survey 2020-2021 released in October 2022, drivers indicated that they spent an average of 61.3 minutes driving an average of...

News TSTC Automotive Technology instructor shares tire lifespan tips

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Automobile tire safety is crucial for drivers who commute on Texas roadways, and knowledge about an aging tire can help prevent an automobile accident. Miguel Zoleta is the Automotive Technology program director at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen. Recently he shared how tire efficiency can improve a driver’s safety. “An...

News TSTC graduate finds career calling at area dealership

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Jesus Resendez could not be more thankful for his automotive career that began last November at Toyota of Pharr. “I’m a level 2 express technician, which is doing an oil change, a tire rotation and other duties on high-mileage automobiles,” he said. “I was hired for a...

News TSTC in Waco earns gold medals at Texas SkillsUSA Postsecondary Conference

(WACO, Texas) – Cicilia Bunting has felt this feeling before. Bunting, a Culinary Arts student at Texas State Technical College, won first place for the second consecutive year in Commercial Baking at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference held in mid-April in Waco. “I know what to expect and what the judges...

News TSTC alumna’s passion for manufacturing leads her to Toyota

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumna Kari Alonso, of Brownsville, recalled her childhood memories of observing her father work on auto body repair projects outside their home. Little did she realize that would steer her toward a prosperous career in manufacturing. She grew a keen interest in the medical field after graduating from...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students offer vehicle winterization tips

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology students learned one thing from February’s winter storm. The students learned to have their vehicle prepared for an ice storm and a lengthy period of not driving it.  Recently several of the students shared some of the vehicle winterization tips they have gleaned from their time...

News Texas A&M students get technical with hands-on Electromechanical Automation coursework at TSTC

Electromechanical Automation one of several courses to choose from (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas A&M University student Bahaa Alhaj was eager to get back to in-person learning when he decided to enroll in Electromechanical Automation at Texas State Technical College. “It gave me experience in electrical circuits. Especially with COVID-19, we were doing all of our...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student destined to work on vehicles

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – After putting an engine in a 1984 Chevrolet pickup truck, Tate Potter knew he was destined to work on vehicles. Potter said he felt a sense of accomplishment when he completed the job and began preparing his career. He is working to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology...

News Alvarado’s automotive knowledge expands in internship at area electric company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Utility companies depend on highly skilled automotive technicians to keep their fleet vehicles ready for everything from routine service calls to emergencies. Alex Alvarado, of San Benito, is a fourth-semester Automotive Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, where he is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree. He...

News Automation technology elevates students’ skills in TSTC’s Welding Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – National Welding Month, which is observed each April, is a good time to showcase how current automation technology in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program is preparing students for careers in the manufacturing field. The orbital tube welding machine and the robotic welding arm cell are types of welding automation that...

News Female TSTC Automotive Technology students building confidence

Auto expertise opening doors for TSTC students (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Working on an automobile most of the week is building confidence in two women at Texas State Technical College. Kelsey Rice, of Abilene, and Nianica Dorado, of Wichita Falls, had different reasons for studying Automotive Technology, but they have similar goals. “I wanted to learn...

News TSTC graduates celebrate new chapter at spring commencement

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For more than 235 Texas State Technical College graduates, it was a rewarding moment as they walked across the stage at the South Padre Island Convention Center and received certificates of completion or associate degrees at TSTC’s Spring 2024 Commencement on Tuesday, April 30. Eladio Jaimez, provost at TSTC’s Harlingen location, welcomed...

News Two TSTC automotive students succeed in state-level SkillsUSA competition

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The challenges may have looked a little different due to the pandemic, but that did not keep two Texas State Technical College automotive students from excelling during a recent SkillsUSA competition. Noe Ramos and Mark Gaspar, both Automotive Technology students, took first and second place, respectively, in SkillsUSA at the state level....

News Harlandale ISD and TSTC Partner in Dual Enrollment Classes

(WACO, Texas) – Students at Dillard McCollum High School in San Antonio are starting the year learning in new dual enrollment classes through Texas State Technical College in Waco – a first for TSTC and the Alamo City. Eight juniors and seniors are taking Introduction to Automotive Technology and Automotive Suspension and Steering Systems in...

News Instructor’s love for automobiles drives him to career at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Miguel Zoleta’s passion for transmissions and engines revved his gears right into a position at Texas State Technical College, where he is now a lead instructor in the Automotive Technology program. Jobs in the automotive industry are growing rapidly. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is...

News TSTC automotive student gets to practice his skills for AEP

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student Hugo Villanueva never thought college would be in his future, much less a cooperative (co-op) education learning experience with American Electric Power (AEP). The San Benito native who expects to earn his certificate in Automotive Technology in Spring 2020 is working 20 hours per week...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students offer summer tire safety tips

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The West Texas heat wave is leading people to find ways to stay cool. The heat can also cause damage to something many people take for granted — the tires on their vehicles. Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program is teaching students ways to keep their tires properly maintained during the...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students say now is the time to prepare vehicles for cold weather

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicting an “unseasonably cold” winter for Texas, now is the best time to prepare your vehicle. Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology students have been learning proactive ways to keep vehicles operating during a cold winter. Ryan Rogers, of Mason, and Alex Soto, of Hawley, said there...

News TSTC, High Schools Prepare for SkillsUSA National Conference

(WACO, Texas) – Some high school students from Central and Southeast Texas spent Thursday and Friday at Texas State Technical College, where they worked with TSTC students to perfect their hands-on skills in preparation for a national contest. The students from Belton High School and the Pasadena Independent School District’s Dr. Kirk Lewis Career &...

News TSTC students, instructors aim high to accomplish spring semester goals

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The sun was gleaming and a cold January breeze made its presence felt across South Texas, including at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus where more than 2,220 students began the spring 2024 semester on Monday, Jan. 8. The new year brings a focused mindset not only to TSTC students who have...

News TSTC partners with 13 RGV high schools for student success in dual enrollment

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many Rio Grande Valley high schoolers are taking advantage of Texas State Technical College’s dual enrollment program this school year. TSTC has active dual enrollment partnerships for the 2021-22 school year with Brownsville ISD, Harlingen CISD, La Feria ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Lyford CISD, Mercedes ISD, Raymondville ISD, Rio Hondo ISD and...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student learning more than he expected

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Joseph Fredericks, of Ballinger, admits that he is learning more than he expected in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program. Fredericks, a second-semester automotive student, is already setting his sights on furthering his education at TSTC. He is currently studying for a basic automotive certificate and plans to earn an automotive...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student is ‘grease monkey’ among her sisters

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Rachel Wood-Rush has always been around vehicles. “I have been helping my father work on cars since I was eight,” she said. “I am the grease monkey of all my sisters. I have been my father’s go-to person when it comes to cars.” It is only natural that Wood-Rush, of Stephenville, would...

News TSTC Welding Technology student sets foundation for future automotive business

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Ricardo Flores is in pursuit of an entrepreneurial goal: to establish an automotive restoration and modification shop. The Harlingen resident is aligning that path through an education at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. “I earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from TSTC in 2021,” Flores...

News TSTC begins fall semester at Waco campus

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the fall semester on Monday with some students adapting to different ways of learning. “We have students who are so excited, both new and returning,” said Jerome Mendias, associate provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. The Automotive Technology program and the Electrical Lineworker Management and Technology...

News TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology and Automotive Technology programs adapt to current trends

(WACO, Texas) – Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming more prominent in the automotive and diesel equipment industries, and Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology programs have partnered to create a training class that will prepare students for that reality. Thomas Breshears, statewide department chair for TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program,...

News From Noise to Knowledge: TSTC student thrives in automotive program

(WACO, Texas) – Christopher Landeros, of Bryan, is living his family’s dream. His parents were born in Mexico and moved to the United States. They had three children: a son who was born with hearing, a daughter who was born without hearing, and Landeros who had hearing when he was born, but lost that ability...

News TSTC Automotive Technology student strives to learn about vehicles

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Robert Olivares wanted to know more about automobiles. Before he enrolled as a Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology student, he already knew how to fix a tire and change the oil. But it was knowing about the inner workings of vehicles that Olivares craved. “In high school, I took a class...

News TSTC Automation and Controls Technology students tour STEMCO

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automation and Controls Technology instructors Douglas Clark and Troy Powledge recently took 10 of the program’s students on a field trip to STEMCO in Longview, Texas. “Some of these students have never even been in a manufacturing facility in any way,” Clark said. “We wanted them to see...

News TSTC in Sweetwater partners with local high schools

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It’s time to start the engines and drive toward the future for many area high school students. Thanks to a partnership between their schools and Texas State Technical College, students can earn early college credit. TSTC established a dual enrollment Automotive Technology program for Brownwood and Snyder high school sophomores, juniors and...

News Block uses skills learned at TSTC on project car at home

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Bryce Block is taking the skills he is learning in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program home with him on weekends. Block, of Wall, is working to restore a Chevrolet Camaro while studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree at TSTC. He said he enjoys learning the new skills in...

News TSTC enhances soft skills with interview practicum

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College recently hosted its Interview Practicum, an annual tradition that prepares soon-to-be graduates for job interviews. In line with TSTC’s mission of placing more Texans into great paying jobs, the two-day event brought industry partners, community members and TSTC faculty and staff together to...

News TSTC Students Return to Campus in Waco

(WACO, Texas) – Some students returned to Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus on Monday to a new way of conducting classes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The students who returned will be taking intensive labs to complete the spring semester, which is projected to end May 29. The return to on-campus instruction is...

News TSTC, Baylor join Axtell residents for wheelchair-accessible swing dedication

(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and the Baylor University School of Engineering and Computer Science joined Axtell residents on Thursday, July 21, for the dedication of a wheelchair-accessible swing at Axtell Community Park. “It’s one of those things where you see us (TSTC and Baylor) as these big brands,” said Jerome...

News TSTC students, alumni meet prospective employers at Fall 2022 Industry Job Fair

(MARSHALL, Texas) – At least 175 Texas State Technical College students and alumni attended TSTC’s Fall 2022 Industry Job Fair on Thursday at the Marshall campus. The event was held in the South Building. More than 50 employers attended the event, which is the largest number the campus has ever hosted. “This shows there is...

News TSTC Student Recruitment team makes impact on prospective students during campus tour

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – November has been a busy time for the Student Recruitment department at Texas State Technical College, and prospective students from area high schools are learning what makes TSTC an exceptional institution. One recent visit was by Porter Early College High School in Brownsville. Some 150 seniors were greeted by six TSTC recruiters...

News TSTC SkillsUSA gold medalists ready for national competition

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Seven Texas State Technical College students will compete for gold medals at the 59th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference next week. Jessica Alaniz, Julia Farris, Melanie Limon, Alfredo Molina, Christopher Paul, Reymundo Salinas and Edna Vargas will represent TSTC’s Harlingen campus. Amanda Posada, provost at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, said the...

News TSTC students return with medals from SkillsUSA state competition

  (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College students from the Harlingen location medaled at the recent 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston. Winning gold medals were Allison Agundiz, of Donna, in Welding Sculpture; Mohamed Deyab, of Harlingen, in Sheet Metal; Rene Garay Jr., of Brownsville, Matthew Muniz, of...

News TSTC instructors talk about what it takes to win at SkillsUSA

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – February is a time to celebrate technical skills. Feb. 6-10 is SkillsUSA Week, a time for high school and postsecondary advisors to promote the organization and the benefits that students can gain from it. SkillsUSA is a professional organization focused on employability, leadership and technical skills that can help high school and...

News TSTC’s Waco campus opens for the new academic year

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 28. Kent Kahler, an instructor in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, has taught at TSTC since 1977 and said he still enjoys teaching and learning about new students, particularly about their style of learning. “I tell them, ‘I was...

News Groundbreaking held for TSTC’s new Transportation Center of Excellence

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Despite the grayness of the early morning, the sun broke through the clouds as the groundbreaking for Texas State Technical College’s new Transportation Center of Excellence was held at the Fort Bend County campus on Wednesday, Nov. 29. In attendance were TSTC Chancellor and CEO Mike Reeser, other TSTC leadership, local and...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students train on newer vehicle features

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Technology in vehicles changes often. To keep up with new technology, Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students have a new vehicle to work on during lab sessions in Sweetwater. The college recently purchased a 2018 Dodge Charger through Performance-Based Education funds for students to learn the newer technology. “There is a...

News Hands-on approach leads Ramos to TSTC Automotive Technology

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Noe Ramos likes to work with his hands — especially on automobiles. After graduating from Mercedes High School in 2020, Ramos wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice but decided to change his career path. He learned about Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program and is now pursuing an Associate...

News Fort Bend ISD CTE director touts value of technical education as son trains in TSTC dual enrollment program

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – As the bell sounded around 8 a.m. on a recent morning, high school students who were dressed in chef’s jackets, medical scrubs, automotive work shirts and other uniforms filled the hallways of Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center in Sugar Land. Senior Ryan Watassek was among them, on his...

News TSTC’s Advocacy and Resource Center receives backpack donation from The TSTC Foundation and Boggus Automotive Group

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With inflation affecting the price of resources that are important to Texas State Technical College students, the Advocacy and Resource Center at TSTC’s Harlingen campus recently received a donation of 50 backpacks through a partnership between The TSTC Foundation and the Boggus Automotive Group. “This type of donation is essential for a...

News TSTC instructor’s experience to benefit future auto mechanics

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – William Parker will bring his professional experience in the automotive shop to Texas State Technical College this fall. Parker, who will be an Automotive Technology instructor at TSTC’s Sweetwater campus, is no stranger to teaching. In addition to his 30 years of working at Ford dealerships, Parker was an automotive instructor at...

News TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology students enhance knowledge with new technology

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College keeps up to date with the latest technologies, such as those commemorated on Feb. 16 of each year on Innovation Day, that will benefit students for success. TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program recently incorporated into its curriculum a Stryker Tower, which provides visualization and documentation for various medical...

News Brothers’ enhance electrical knowledge in TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Brothers Edgar and Paul Alcala, of San Benito, are enrolled in the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Now in their third semester at TSTC, they continue to persevere in their college journey toward Associate of Applied Science degrees. What drew you to this program of study...

News TSTC receives scholarship and equipment check from San Antonio organization

(WACO, Texas) – More than 20 Automotive Technology majors at Texas State Technical College will receive a financial boost this semester from a San Antonio-based automotive organization. The non-profit Community of Automotive Professionals, which runs CarFest in San Antonio, recently awarded a $30,000 check for scholarships and equipment for the participation of Waco’s Automotive Technology...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students cherish time in shop with instructors

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program provides students with something they cannot find in textbooks: first-hand knowledge. Students Tanner Tankersley and Brady Kennemur said instructors Mike Myers and Gerod Strother bring their knowledge to the lab sessions in a way that helps them prepare for the workforce. “The best aspect of...

News Instructor’s passion for cars guided him to TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A curiosity for engines and transmissions is what drove Diego Trevino to a career at Texas State Technical College three years ago. He is currently an instructor in the Automotive Technology program and brings to the classroom not only his love for all things automotive, but also his firsthand experience. What was...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students offer tips for preventing vehicle theft

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – A vehicle is stolen in the United States every 39 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At Texas State Technical College, Automotive Technology students learn not only how to repair their vehicles, but also how to keep them from being broken into or stolen. July has been designated...

News TSTC preps students for automation in Precision Machining

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Precision machining has become a process more and more automated since its inception. With many industries needing vast amounts of specific parts, manual machining simply cannot keep up with the demand. As such, Texas State Technical College prepares students to face the modern challenges of the profession, training them to be the...

News TSTC says farewell to summer graduates

(WACO, Texas) – More than 400 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Summer 2023 Commencement held Thursday, Aug. 31, at the BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. “This night is truly magical,” said Beth Wooten, provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. “A lot of...

News TSTC students learn art of interviewing

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department hosted TSTC students for a two-day interview practicum on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and Thursday, Feb. 22. “It took a lot of communication between the new program team leads and instructors to let them see the importance of the students getting mock interviews,” said Peter Collier,...

News Military veterans find place of support at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Zackery Mitchell, of Mesquite, took automotive collision classes in high school before spending four years in the U.S. Marines driving military vehicles.  After he left the service, Mitchell found his way to Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program because of the college’s work with veterans.  Mitchell said adjusting...

News Automotive students get taste of life in field

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students are getting a feel for what it will be like in the shop. With TSTC going to online classes, the students enrolled in the program are now working remotely. According to lead instructor Miguel Zoleta, this could be what students experience in the workforce. “The...

News TSTC Mopar CAP students ready for graduation and work

(WACO, Texas) – The time is coming closer for students in Texas State Technical College’s Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP) to graduate and go to work at dealerships throughout the state. “This is a really good group of students,” said Matthew Mills, a TSTC instructor in the Automotive Technology program’s Mopar CAP program. “Most of...

News TSTC Automotive Technology instructors bring experience to the program

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Students in the Automotive Technology program on the Texas State Technical College campus in Sweetwater listen when their instructors talk. Mike Myers and Gerod Strother use their different backgrounds to teach the students what to expect on the job. Myers worked in the automotive industry for more than three decades, while Strother...

News TSTC students tested for possible job opportunities with auto manufacturer

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In a recruiting effort to identify potential qualified employees for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, company representatives recently visited the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College. Students who had already completed a written assessment by the company were given a hands-on test in the areas of mechanical drives, motor controls/electrical wiring,...

News TSTC alumnus ‘made to turn wrenches’ at hometown auto dealership

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Robert Schneider said he was “made to turn wrenches.” After a career in the military and oil field, Schneider wanted to settle down and looked for a college that offered Automotive Technology. He learned of the Texas State Technical College program and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2018....

News TSTC Automotive Technology student grew up building things

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Daniel Gainer, of Mason, has been building things his entire life. He found a love of working on different vehicles in his father’s shop at a young age. He is preparing to enter the workforce after he graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology program this fall. “I have had a...

News TSTC alumni keeping people healthy in Corsicana

(WACO, Texas) – The technical well-being of patients at Navarro Regional Hospital is in Travis Recksiek’s hands. Recksiek, a biomedical technician, is responsible for about 1,500 pieces of medical equipment at the hospital and four clinics in Corsicana. He usually starts his workday at 6 a.m., almost an hour ahead of when operating room doctors...

News TSTC alumnus applies Biomedical Equipment Technology skills to successful career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Armando Galvan Jr., a biomedical technician II at Fresenius Kidney Care, credits his degree from Texas State Technical College to his current success in his position. “The Biomedical Equipment Technology program at TSTC really helped me gain the skills and knowledge that I needed to choose a great career path,” he said....

News Turrubiates accepts job opportunity with Houston based medical equipment company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Siblings often have a powerful influence on each other’s lives, and that can correlate to a professional career. Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology student Saul Turrubiates became interested in the health care field after he saw the career success that his older brother has achieved as a biomedical equipment technician....

News TSTC alums flourish with Houston-based biomedical equipment service company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When repairs are needed for biomedical equipment in the Houston area, Rene Torres and Javier Valdez are ready to answer the call. Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program, they founded iServe Biomedical in 2016. The equipment that iServe Biomedical services is used to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases...

News TSTC Automotive Technology students use knowledge at home

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With graduation looming for Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology students, two men are already putting their knowledge to work at home. “I am using what I have learned by working on my girlfriend’s car,” said Keith Guffey, of Lubbock. “I have retained so much during my time in school. I have...

News TSTC students benefit from learning about related programs

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Students at Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus benefited from watching and listening to instructors from various programs during recent lab sessions. In one session, Automotive Technology students learned how to take a transmission apart by watching Diesel Equipment Technology instructor Shannon Weir. While that was happening, Welding Technology instructor Taylor Elston...

News TSTC robotics students highly trained for in-demand careers

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College instructor Charles Sparks would like to help you reframe what you picture when you think of robotics — specifically in the context of TSTC’s Robotics Technology program. “When most people think of robotics, they envision consumer-based items such as drones, robotic vacuums, cars, trucks, boats and even ‘battle...

News High school seniors feel pride in taking dual enrollment classes at TSTC

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – For three high school seniors, a few hours in Texas State Technical College’s Automotive Technology lab give them each a sense of pride and accomplishment. Sweetwater High School seniors Ely Barrera and Jacob Rosas, along with Colorado High School senior Richard Martin, plan to continue their journey in college after completing the...

News TSTC robotics program helping to supply demand for workers

(WACO, Texas) – Justin Meckel is already getting valuable work experience even though he is in his third semester in the Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He works as a warehouse technician and robot supervisor at Sherwin-Williams Co.’s distribution service center in Waco. He said experiencing the...

News Falls accepts internship with German-based automotive supplier company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Chipman Falls, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College, recently accepted an internship at Vitesco Technologies in Seguin. His decision to apply for an internship started when he met some Vitesco representatives during a recent employer spotlight at TSTC. “Their presentation...

News TSTC Ready to Welcome Students Back This Fall in Waco

(WACO, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus will see differences in how they learn and interact as they start the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 31. “We are constantly looking at our process and how we can make the campus safer,” said Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost. “Safety is our priority....

News High school students glimpse future at TSTC open house

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – High school students spent the day seeing what the future could hold for them during Texas State Technical College’s recent open house. The Sweetwater campus opened its doors to students to discuss career options through the various programs available at TSTC in West Texas. Faculty from the Breckenridge and Abilene campuses were...

News TSTC students, faculty show competitive side at SkillsUSA state conference

(HOUSTON, Texas) – Students and faculty members from eight of Texas State Technical College’s campuses have converged on Houston for the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference began with an opening ceremony held April 7 at the Omni Houston Hotel. Competitions began after the opening ceremony and continue Friday at locations throughout...

News Area employers challenge TSTC students at Interview Practicum

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 170 Texas State Technical College students presented their resumes and cover letters and greeted area business and industry representatives who served as interviewers/coaches at a recent Interview Practicum presented by TSTC’s Career Services department. The mock-interview event focused on preparing summer 2023 candidates for graduation for real-life job interviews. The...

News TSTC student inspired to pursue Electrical Lineworker certificate

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Jazlyn Roque recalls the day when she asked a man what his career as an electrical lineworker entailed. “(He) talked about a work situation when he left for Florida to help restore power caused by damage from Hurricane Sally in 2020,” she said. “I found his story...

News TSTC’s Discovery Day highlights technical career pathways for high school students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 900 high school students and visitors, including some from as far away as San Antonio, toured Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus during Discovery Day on Thursday, Nov. 30, to learn more about the career pathways and state-of-the-art technologies that are available at the college. Stephanie Garcia, TSTC’s student recruitment...

News TSTC students arrive in Houston for SkillsUSA Texas conference

(HOUSTON, Texas) – More than 200 students and faculty members from Texas State Technical College have arrived in Houston to participate in the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference began Thursday, April 18, and will end with the awards ceremony on Saturday, April 20. The event’s contests are being held at locations...

News TSTC students prepare for upcoming 2024 SkillsUSA national conference

(WACO, Texas) – Fourteen students from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus will travel later this month to Atlanta, Georgia, to represent Texas at the 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. The students qualified by placing first in events at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference held in April in Houston....

News From pumping iron to dribbling basketballs, TSTC students have fitness options at Wellness and Sports Center

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – National Wellness Month, observed each August, is a good time to remember that getting into healthy routines such as exercise can help with staying physically, emotionally and mentally fit. The Wellness and Sports Center at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus offers a variety of wellness resources. “Our students, staff and faculty...

News TSTC Automotive Technology instructor brings military experience to program

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Gerod Strother has worked on all types of vehicles. Strother, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. military, brings that experience to Texas State Technical College as an Automotive Technology instructor. After retiring from the military, he began working at the Sweetwater campus in January. His experience in the military included service with...

News TSTC welcomes students back for the spring semester

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is welcoming students back for the first week of the spring semester.  “The provost’s office is very excited to welcome back our students taking both virtual and hybrid classes,” said Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost. “ We could not be happier to kick off another successful semester and...

News TSTC alums find success with business venture as independent contractors

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning services are requested by businesses, Javier Garcia and Carlos Ortega are ready to provide their skills. The two graduates of Texas State Technical College’s HVAC Technology program founded Apex Automation LLC in 2022. The company offers industrial and commercial automation that is used in such...

News TSTC recognized by nationwide automation certification organization

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has been recognized by the Smart Automation Certification Alliance for the number of microcredential certifications awarded to noncredit Industrial Systems students in 2022. “I think it just validates the push for industry-based certifications,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education for the Marshall,...

News Kodiak Robotics rep talks to TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology students about helping to drive industry growth

(RED OAK, Texas) – Autonomous technology manufacturer Kodiak Robotics recently sent representative Matt Cearnal, its head of service and support, to speak with Diesel Equipment Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus about the growing autonomous trucking industry and open and upcoming positions within the company. Kodiak Robotics, based in Mountain View,...

News TSTC Profile of Excellence – John Moody

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – John Moody is an Automotive Technology graduate from Texas State Technical College. He earned his associate degree in 2012 and since then has had a successful career in industry. The 37-year-old, San Benito native, said vehicle maintenance and repairs has been his life. As a child he would assist his late father...

News TSTC alumni keep biomedical equipment functioning at College Station company

(WACO, Texas) – As doctors and nurses battle the COVID-19 pandemic, biomedical equipment technicians are alongside them keeping devices and machines functioning. CardioQuip in College Station has two Texas State Technical College alumni encountering the most serious work they have done so far in their careers. David De La Hoya is a training associate and...

News TSTC Electrical Power and Controls program filling area jobs

(RED OAK, Texas) – Electricity drives not only productivity, but also job creation. Warren Ketteman, president and chief executive officer of the Waxahachie Economic Development Corp., said the availability of electricity is a key factor for prospective companies interested in the city. The Waxahachie EDC and Texas State Technical College in North Texas work together...

News From university to technical college, TSTC grad finds lifelong career

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Brian Bradley was once a Texas State University Bobcat, yet he never graduated. But now, at 29 years old, he can call himself a graduate of Texas State Technical College. The Fulshear native graduated Thursday night as a Board of Regents honors graduate, with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and an associate...

News TSTC student soon to be well-rounded graduate

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – On Friday, Texas State Technical College student David Krenek will walk across the stage at the Stafford Centre and receive his associate degree in Industrial Systems. “It feels great knowing that I’m done and about to graduate,” said the 20-year-old. “It’s time to move forward and get my life started. That’s exciting.”...

News TSTC student from West sees internship become job in Lubbock

(WACO, Texas) – Trinati Montes, of West, is in her fifth semester in the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Waco. The West High School graduate was hired last December by SPBS Inc., a clinical equipment services provider located in Lubbock, as a medical equipment technician. She is using the spring...

News US Med-Equip donates equipment to TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Innovations in medical equipment technology are leading to life-changing results for patients, and that is how Texas State Technical College is raising the bar for one of its allied health programs. Recently US Med-Equip donated more than 25 pieces of medical equipment to be used by students in the Biomedical Equipment Technology...

News Adversity no match for TSTC alumna

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – If there is one word to describe Mallory Torres, it is fierce. Not only is she conquering the male-dominated field of mechatronics, but she is also doing so after overcoming personal hardships. In 2017, she completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College, where her...

News TSTC HVAC alumnus eyes next step as independent contractor

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The bond between a father and son is a connection that can transform a child’s ability to learn life lessons. Texas State Technical College HVAC Technology alumnus Marco Silva treasures the relationship he has with his father because it led him to a valuable trade and the possibility of becoming an independent...

News TSTC Profile of Excellence – Phillip Saldana

The Dallas native, who moved to the Rio Grande Valley to attend TSTC and whose father is also a TSTC alumnus from the engineering program, said the move was worth it because shortly after graduating he received a job offer from Collision Stop in Harlingen, where he is still employed. He began as a detailer...

News TSTC students head to Kentucky for SkillsUSA national competition

(HARLINGEN) – Blueprint reading, coding and design is what Texas State Technical College students Eduardo Ortiz and Gabriel Flores have been focused on in preparation for the upcoming SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful careers....

News RGV migrant students attend TSTC MAARS summer program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – This summer more than 50 high school students from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties have participated in the Migrant Academic Achievement Residential Summer (MAARS) program at Texas State Technical College. MAARS is designed to meet the needs of high school migrant and seasonal farmworkers in pursuing higher education and to provide community...

News TSTC student finds blessing from life-changing situation

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Ronald Jones, of Hamlin, was laid off in the spring. He took the advice of his wife and enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. “At that time it was hard for people to get a job. My wife said I should take the opportunity and pursue the welding program,”...

News TSTC summer 2021 graduates celebrated for hard work

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College celebrated its summer 2021 graduates Thursday evening, lauding Harlingen campus students for their achievements during a virtual ceremony streamed on Facebook Live. “As provost for the Harlingen campus, I had the privilege to welcome you to our TSTC family when you first started this journey,” Cledia Hernandez said...

News TSTC student at Marshall campus preparing for national SkillsUSA conference

(MARSHALL, Texas) – James Walker still remembers making an F on a second-grade mathematics test at his elementary school in Hughes Springs. Since then, Walker has not looked back in meeting academic obstacles. Today, he is an Automation and Controls Technology student at Texas State Technical College in Marshall scheduled to graduate in spring 2023....

News Hervey trains eye for architecture in TSTC Drafting and Design program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It takes a talented individual to elevate art and design to the next level, such as in digital architecture. For one student at Texas State Technical College, he is well on his way. Charles Hervey, of San Benito, is a first-semester Drafting and Design student at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, where he is...

News Training in PLCs helps TSTC graduates stand out in job market

(WACO, Texas) – Programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, are the brains behind industrial automation. The digital computers can be found in industries such as automotive, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and water and wastewater treatment. PLCs can operate using five programming languages. “They (PLCs) sit patiently waiting for responses, which are called inputs, from integrated components to...

News TSTC Foundation announces significant gift to provide scholarships

(WACO, Texas) – The TSTC Foundation, the support arm of Texas State Technical College, has received a significant gift to help students in specific programs on the Waco campus. The $1 million cash gift to create the David and Valerie Fallas Scholarship was announced at the TSTC Board of Regents meeting and quarterly dinner on...

News Father and daughter team up for TSTC educations

(MARSHALL, Texas) – A bridge is easier to cross with a friend or loved one by your side, just as father and daughter Matt and Brooke Linthicum learned when they attended Texas State Technical College together.  The two earned their Associate of Applied Science degrees from TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology program at the Marshall...

News TSTC honors Fallas family with naming of robotics lab

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College honored longtime supporters David and Valerie Fallas with the naming of a Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology lab in their honor at a ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Dr. Roy Dugger Center at the Waco campus. “Every student who walks through these doors will see the...

News McGregor students find their passion for learning at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Christina Pace is elevating her creativity through digital art. Pace, 23, of McGregor designs fliers for Texas State Technical College in Waco’s Visual Art Society, which includes other TSTC Visual Communication Technology majors. It is practice for her future career in graphic design. As she pursues her endeavors and studies, Pace finds...

News TSTC event spotlights matching skills to jobs

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology and Wind Energy Technology students recently learned how their skills could relate to jobs at Altec Inc. during an employer spotlight at TSTC’s Harlingen location. Altec is a leading equipment and service provider for the electric utility, telecommunications, lights and signs, and contractor markets. John...

News TSTC Mechatronics Technology graduate puts curiosity to use in career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Aron Guajardo grew up in Donna, Texas, and is a graduate of the South Texas High School for Health Professions in Mercedes. He also has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. Guajardo has a maintenance position at PVC pipe manufacturer JM Eagle...

News TSTC Aviation Maintenance graduates ready to fill job openings

(WACO, Texas) – Aviation maintenance technicians are needed now more than ever. Robert Capps, statewide chair of Texas State Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance department, said aviation maintenance and repair businesses working with contracts are doing well, along with aviation manufacturers. “Our graduates have not had a hard time finding jobs,” Capps said. “Right now, the...

News DeLeon’s mechanical background expands in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Brandon DeLeon admits he has always been “mechanically inclined.” While talking to a co-worker in the oil field, DeLeon learned he could be doing more than just repairing valves. His co-worker suggested that he look at Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program in Sweetwater. “I had repaired oil field valves...

News TSTC celebrates graduates at Fall 2022 commencement

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After a challenging yet rewarding journey for Texas State Technical College graduates, their hard work concluded and a day of celebration arrived. The sounds of families cheering and applauding filled the room when more than 270 TSTC graduates from TSTC’s Harlingen campus echoed expressions such as “I can’t believe I did it”...

News TSTC instructor inspires area youth throughout 10 years of coaching and mentoring

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Auto Collision and Management Technology instructor and program director Jose Vasquez has made a profound impact not only on his students, but also as a coach and mentor outside of his job at TSTC. Vasquez has coached area youth in the nonprofit Los Fresnos Falcons Little League, where...

News Students and employers looking toward technical colleges

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – There is a shortage of skilled workers in construction and technical jobs. The Associated General Contractors of America found that around 89 percent of contractors are struggling to find workers to fill roles. Despite this shortage, there may be a brighter future on the horizon as more people look toward technical colleges...

News TSTC hosts TECHcelerate conference in Waco

(WACO, Texas) – More than 20 career and education counselors and teachers throughout Texas learned about technical careers at Texas State Technical College’s TECHcelerate conference held Tuesday, July 11, through Thursday, July 13, at the Waco campus. Attendees got hands-on experience in some of TSTC’s programs, including Building Construction Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Robotics...

News New building planned for TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus as college expands its offerings

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The need for highly skilled technicians in the workforce continues to grow. Additionally, Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties not only in Texas, but in the entire country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Texas State Technical College looks to grow alongside the population and deliver technical education and...

News Interview Practicum prepares TSTC students to advocate for themselves when job hunting

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department recently held an Interview Practicum to help prepare TSTC students to use critical thinking, soft skills and communication to land high-paying jobs after graduation. More than 135 students from programs including Auto Collision and Management Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Building Construction Technology, Cybersecurity, and Wind...

News TSTC students get ready for upcoming SkillsUSA Texas conference in Houston

(WACO, Texas) – More than 60 students from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus are preparing to put their know-how to the test. The students will compete at the 2024 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference taking place from Thursday, April 18, to Saturday, April 20, in Houston. “This year we have quite a...

News TSTC students practice for job interviews with polished resumes and firm handshakes

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus recently held an Interview Practicum to help more than 200 TSTC students prepare for real-life interviews, with several area business and industry representatives serving as interviewers/coaches. Participating were students from Auto Collision and Management Technology, Automotive Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Building...

News Foundation laid and tilt walls being raised for TSTC’s new Transportation Center of Excellence

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Over the past year, Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus has been undergoing a metamorphosis. Behind the existing buildings, construction crews have been hard at work laying the foundation for the new Transportation Center of Excellence. First announced at a groundbreaking event last November, the building is scheduled to open...

News TSTC student utilizes scholarship for Hutto residents

(HUTTO, Texas) – Matthew Barringer’s most prized possession is on four wheels and comes with history. He owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota that belonged to his grandfather, who died when Barringer was in elementary school. “That is the only physical memory I have of him,” said Barringer, a Hutto resident. When it came time to...

News Carthage resident secures job before TSTC graduation

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Micah Johnson, of Carthage, looks forward not only to graduating this semester from Texas State Technical College, but also to starting work shortly thereafter as an instrumentation technician at Phillips 66’s Sweeny Refinery in Brazoria County. “I’m excited for sure,” Johnson said. “It is something new. It is going to take me...

News Fourth cohort of Tesla START program graduates at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College recently held a recognition ceremony for its fourth cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in May to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly intern, the students developed...

News TSTC virtual event to showcase women in technical programs and nontraditional careers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, Texas State Technical College’s Advocacy and Resource Center will host a webinar titled “Women in Technology” that will showcase some of its current and former students in technical programs and nontraditional careers. The free event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to...

News TSTC student carries on father’s engineering legacy

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Tristan Matthew seemed destined to become an engineer like his father. The two frequently teamed up to fix things around their house throughout Matthew’s childhood in The Woodlands, Texas, leading him to join his high school’s robotics team.  Today Matthew is studying for an Associate of Applied...

News TSTC student and single father says, ‘Be confident in your worth’

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Gladewater resident and single father Blake Edwards had a special request for senior enrollment coach Jason Beach when applying to attend Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus. “What I asked Jason for was the hardest program with the biggest potential,” Edwards said. “I was just looking for something to get me in...

News TSTC students learn about working at North American Substation Services during employer spotlight

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Some students in Texas State Technical College’s Automation and Controls Technology program recently learned what it would be like to work at North American Substation Services (NASS) during an employer spotlight held at TSTC’s Marshall campus. NASS is currently the largest substation maintenance company in the United States. Kris Guilliams, the company’s...

News TSTC student pursues career change with robotics degree

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When Wesley Robert was laid off from his automotive job at the onset of the pandemic, he decided to reshape his prospects by returning to school. Now, Robert expects to graduate from Texas State Technical College in spring 2022 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Robotics Technology. What initially got...

News TSTC students benefit from part-time job fair

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To help students at Texas State Technical College who want to work while attending school, the TSTC Career Services department recently held a part-time job fair on the Harlingen campus to connect students with potential employers. AutoZone, Dollar Tree, Eco Renewable Solutions, Express Employment Professionals, H&R Block, TSTC Human Resources, and Wing...

News TSTC students treated to visit by Blue Bell employees

(WACO, Texas) – They came for the career lessons and stayed for the ice cream. Representatives of Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham spoke to more than 170 students in the Electrical Power and Controls and the Instrumentation Technology programs at Texas State Technical College on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The event was hosted by TSTC’s Career...

News Fifth cohort of Tesla START program graduates at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START program at Texas State Technical College held a recognition ceremony Thursday, Nov. 18, for its fifth cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in August to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly intern, the students...

News Vigil balances work, school while studying Diesel Equipment Technology at TSTC

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Jacob Vigil has always been mechanically inclined. While working full time at The Auto Clinic in Snyder, Vigil is broadening his skills by studying Diesel Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College. He hopes that his certificate of completion specialization in Heavy Truck will lead to more career opportunities. Vigil spent his...

News TSTC’s Waco campus holds Fall 2022 Commencement

(WACO, Texas) – More than 350 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Fall 2022 Commencement held Wednesday, Dec. 14, at The BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. Jerome Mendias, associate provost of TSTC’s Waco campus, said the gathering of relatives and friends during...

News TSTC students learn about job opportunities at Texas Instruments

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – While it is true that Texas Instruments is known for making calculators, some Texas State Technical College students recently learned that the Dallas-based company does much more than that. “Our calculators are the only thing that says Texas Instruments on the outside,” said Katie Peebles, a technician supervisor for the company. Students...

News TSTC graduate’s job takes him across the country

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Marshall native Kris Guilliams now enjoys traveling as part of his job. But back when he was thinking about where to go to college, the idea of a long commute did not appeal to him. A cousin suggested that he look at Texas State Technical College. “It was close to the house,”...

News New facilities at TSTC’s Harlingen campus on schedule to open in fall 2025

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Construction of Texas State Technical College’s three newest facilities at the Harlingen campus is on schedule. The building projects include a nearly 84,000-square-foot technology facility for the Automotive Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology programs, a 7,000-square-foot building for the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program, and renovation of an existing building that...

News TSTC aviation maintenance works to meet local, statewide industry demand

(HARLINGEN) – Texas has become one of the most important locations for the aviation and aerospace industry, and students from Texas State Technical College are getting in on the action as graduates from the college’s Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs. TSTC is one of about a dozen colleges in Texas certified by...

News TSTC Aircraft Airframe program takes student across the world

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – At a young age Carlos Rodriguez gained a love and passion for traveling, and now at 24-years-old, he will get to do a lot of it because of his new career. The San Benito native will graduate with a certificate from Texas State Technical College’s Aircraft Airframe Technology program in August and...

News New TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology Pole Lab Taking Shape in Harlingen

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 40 poles have been installed at Texas State Technical College’s outdoor lab for the new Electrical Lineworker Technology program to debut this fall in Harlingen. The program is benefiting from the construction of the 12-acre, 100-pole yard at the corner of Rio Hondo Road and 29th Street. Eric Carithers, TSTC’s...

News TSTC Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology Program Ready to Fill Jobs

(WACO, Texas) – The plumbing and pipefitting field carries the stereotype of dirty work and smelly situations. Not so, said Chris Porter, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program in Waco. “Plumbers regulate the safety of everyone, whether it’s water or sewage,” he said. “Someone can become a certified backflow...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology students gain experience during winter weather

(WACO, Texas) – At least 50 students in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program signed up to work as wire-down guards and drivers for damage evaluators during the state’s recent winter weather event. The students were on-call contract workers for Irving-based J&S Inspections, a utility contracting firm. Robert Mitchell, lead instructor in TSTC’s...

News Perry’s decision to attend TSTC based on helping family

TSTC diesel program helping student pursue career goals (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Growing up on a farm in Jacksboro, Kenneth Perry was constantly repairing equipment. When it was time to choose a career path, Perry said he had two career options, and both included Texas State Technical College. “My school counselor told me about TSTC’s programs....

News TSTC student ready to pursue electrical lineworker field

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Darwin Henriquez is pursuing a certificate of completion in the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus. He is scheduled to graduate in December. Henriquez, of Missouri City, is a graduate of Hightower High School. How did you become interested in TSTC and your...

News TSTC student balances classes and triathlon training

(WACO, Texas) – Nick Meyer is a Biomedical Equipment Technology student at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is scheduled to graduate in spring 2023. “I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but I could not really handle nursing tasks,” the Harker Heights resident said. “That is why I wanted to...

News Air Force veteran and TSTC graduate finds job success with state military organization

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Juan Dominguez knew he would find his niche in the Texas workforce after serving for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, but first he had to figure out what he wanted to do. Dominguez said he became interested in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning after being introduced to...

News TSTC grad finds career in booming medical industry

Vilze Gamboa didn’t think college was in the books for him, but nearly eight years later he graduated from the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen making him the first in his family to graduate from college. After graduating from Harlingen High School in 2011, the Harlingen native immediately enlisted...

News TSTC was the answer to biomedical equipment alum’s prayers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Eric Interiano graduated from high school in the top ten percent of his class, but with no college plans or career path to follow. For the now 20-year-old, who recently earned his associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology, this was concerning on many levels. As a top 10 percent, general academics dual-enrollment...

News Aguirre brings experience to TSTC’s Welding Technology program

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Daniel Aguirre, a lifelong resident of Brownwood, is ready to pass his knowledge of welding on to the next generation. Aguirre will begin his first year as Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology instructor in Brownwood this fall. This will be his first time teaching welding, and he said he is excited...

News TSTC candidate for graduation helps keep Jefferson ISD secure

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Jasmonae’ Mosby grew up in San Augustine, where she began doing external repairs to people’s smartphones while in high school. “For some reason my phone would always mess up. So I ended up repairing screens, and that is what drew me,” she said. “I started getting my own clients at home. I...

News Curiosity drives TSTC student in learning about medical equipment

(WACO, Texas) – Jay Jackson is not daunted by a little hard work. Jackson, of Bosqueville, is studying Biomedical Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College and working on his family’s dairy farm in rural McLennan County. He also has a dream of attending medical school in Texas. So far at TSTC, Jackson has learned...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology students welcome AEP safety presentation

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – “Safety first” was one of the messages that representatives from utility company American Electric Power had for students in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State Technical College during a recent visit to TSTC’s Harlingen campus. The visitors from AEP stressed that the electric power industry is physically demanding and high-risk,...

News Jimenez’s passion shines in TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Kaylee Jimenez, of Rio Hondo, hopes to have a career in the medical field with a connection to engineering in a hospital setting. Her choice to pursue the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus has been a rewarding one. The program teaches students how to inspect, calibrate,...

News Fairbanks Morse Defense hopes to form talent pipeline between TSTC diesel program, plants

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Fairbanks Morse Defense is hiring in the Houston area, and Joe Tomaskovic, the company’s general manager, hopes that Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology students in Fort Bend County will consider the opportunity. The storied military and industrial contractor has over 125 years in the business, building engines for the U.S....

News Influenced by grandfathers, TSTC students focus on future in diesel industry

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Alaijavon Johnson and Trevor Milton learned that they have at least one thing in common. The Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology students were influenced by their grandfathers to work in the diesel engine industry. Both are studying for a certificate of completion in the program with plans to open their...

News TSTC aviation students plan to restore history for future generations

(ABILENE, Texas) – For two Texas State Technical College aviation students, the past is their future. Colby Northcutt and Matthew Voss, both of Abilene, want to follow the example of Nelson Ezell, founder of Ezell Aviation in Breckenridge. Ezell had a passion for preserving and maintaining World War II-era aircraft. In honor of her late...

News Oncor supervisors say TSTC provides quality employees

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Maintenance and construction supervisors at Oncor Electric Delivery Co. know that Texas State Technical College provides the company with quality employees. During a recent employer spotlight, Jerry Murphree, a 42-year veteran of the company, told TSTC Electromechanical Technology and Wind Energy Technology students about the company’s benefits and job opportunities. Several students...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker instructor shares tips for enduring winter weather

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – During seasons of bad weather and cold temperatures, there may be no job more important than that of the electrical lineworker for keeping your house running smoothly. Ronald Jones, lead instructor for the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County, has had many job-related...

News TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology students start careers with Houston-based medical company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s mission is to place more Texans in great-paying jobs, and now three of its Biomedical Equipment Technology students are the recipients of new career opportunities. Juan Aguilar, Eber Trejo and Joseph Ybarra, each of whom is working on an Associate of Applied Science degree, recently were hired as...

News TSTC student eager to see more women enter biomedical equipment field

(WACO, Texas) = Natalie Ozment looks forward to working in her hometown of Temple after she graduates from Texas State Technical College. Ozment, a third-semester Biomedical Equipment Technology student, eventually wants to work as an on-site technician at a hospital. “The biomedical field is definitely in need of women because the field is lacking,” she...

News Father follows in son’s footsteps in TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran Adrian Yanez worked as a truck driver for more than 20 years. After a career on the open road, he pursued an education at Texas State Technical College, where he graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Security Technology in 2012. “I helped people...

News TSTC alum’s love for airplanes leads to career with area aviation company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Adrian Nacianceno’s education in Texas State Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance program has led to a promising career as an aircraft airframe and powerplant mechanic. Nacianceno, of Edinburg, developed an interest in the aviation field through a family friend. “Our friend worked as an aircraft mechanic for American Airlines in Fort Worth,” he...

News TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology: Developing the world in a hands-on program

(MARSHALL, Texas) – As a child, Damon Barker was fascinated by engines and Texas’ seemingly endless truck population. “I’ve always looked at the semis going down the road and wondered how they worked,” Barker said. “That’s what started it all for me.” Today, Barker is studying for a certificate of completion in Texas State Technical...

News Marine Corps vet expands diesel equipment skills at TSTC

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Gabby Moya is no stranger to a diesel engine. The Knox City native was a heavy-equipment mechanic for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, which included a deployment to Oman. Moya decided that being a diesel mechanic would be a good career when she left the Corps, which led her to...

News Rendon follows in family’s medical pathway, pursues TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology degree

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Texas State Technical College student Daniel Rendon was growing up in Alton, he dreamed of having a respectable job like members of his family had in the petroleum, construction and medical fields. After working at some unfulfilling jobs as an adult, Rendon knew that a change was imminent. Based on their...

News TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology graduate to begin new chapter in Beehive State

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Recent Texas State Technical College graduate Suhey Flores is taking her passion for the medical field to Utah, where she was offered a job with XOtech LLC. “I was hired as a biomedical technician in Ogden, Utah,” the Brownsville native said. “It feels nice to start my career and begin a new...

News Recent East Texas storms put Electrical Lineworker graduates to the test

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus trains an average of 100 graduates a year to help restore power after storms like the ones that swept through East Texas in May.  “It seemed like every time we’d get repaired and ready to have some normal...

News With demand for workers increasing, TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology students train for important roles in health care

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Every hour of every day, in hospitals and doctors’ offices everywhere, patients trust that the equipment being used to diagnose, prevent and treat their illnesses is working properly. More and more, however, there are not enough technicians who can calibrate, troubleshoot and repair that equipment to go around. The Biomedical Equipment Technology...

News TSTC alumnus and instructor celebrates six years of preparing biomedical equipment technicians for workforce

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology instructor Oziel Capetillo is gratified that his 25 years of industry experience in the electronics and medical fields have helped lead graduates to career success. “This is my sixth year teaching in the program,” Capetillo said. “It’s important that students grasp hands-on training. I’ve seen...

News San Angelo Student Driven by TSTC Toyota Program

(WACO, Texas) – Ricardo Echeverria of San Angelo did not go to college right after graduating from the city’s Central High School in 2017. He went to work at Mitchell Toyota in San Angelo as a lube technician, but said he knew he needed to advance his career. A dealership employee recommended that Echeverria give...

News TSTC first in Texas to join Tesla START Program

(WACO, Texas) – Starting in March, Texas State Technical College will become the first college in Texas to host the Tesla START training program.  Tesla START is an accelerated 12-week training program designed to equip students with the skills necessary to become electric vehicle technicians. Following completion of the program, Tesla will work with successful...

News Third cohort of Tesla START program graduates at TSTC

Tesla START graduates look forward to working for company (WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College recently held a recognition ceremony for its third cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in January to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at...

News TSTC Robotics Technology program hosts Texas A&M engineering students for summer classes

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is hosting a group of engineering students from Texas A&M University in College Station who are taking classes this summer in Waco. The students are taking nine weeks of courses focusing on AC and DC circuits and basic programmable logic controllers. The classes are being taught by TSTC’s...

News STEM job growth honors for Houston bring TSTC’s technical mission into focus

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Houston was recently named a city on the rise for STEM-related jobs — and Texas State Technical College plays an essential role in training students for many types of those careers. “TSTC is the primary state agency responsible for preparing Texans for high-paying technical jobs,” said Randy Wooten, provost of TSTC’s Fort...

News Gene Haas Foundation gives $80,000 statewide through The TSTC Foundation to support Precision Machining program 

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Anyone can dream up an idea, but it takes manufacturing to bring that dream to life. “Without manufacturing, nothing gets made,” said Matt Sykora, a representative for Haas Automation. Such a crucial facet of the economy requires highly trained workers, which Texas State Technical College works to provide with its Precision Machining...

News TSTC alumni demonstrate vision in Welding Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The game of chess is known to require the utmost patience, preparation and strategy. Those same principles are comparable to the welding industry. Four TSTC alumni have established the direction of their program into a cohesive Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Manuel Ahumada, Isaac Rivas, Raul Saldivar...

News New TSTC Career Services representative embraces rapport with students, alumni

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College has a mission, and that is to help TSTC students and alumni find a great-paying career. That is a commitment that Drake Everett shares as the department’s new Career Services representative in Harlingen. He recently transitioned from a job as a student worker...

News TSTC showcases programs for high school students at Fall Preview Day

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – High school students from throughout West Texas learned about the different programs that Texas State Technical College has available during its Fall Preview Day earlier this month. Around 250 students toured the labs of TSTC’s Sweetwater campus and met with instructors from programs available at campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge and Waco. The...

News Four facts to know about TSTC’s Drafting and Design program

(WACO, Texas) – Drafting and design involves creating technical drawings, plans and models used for the construction and creation of products and structures in architecture, engineering and manufacturing. Texas State Technical College offers its Drafting and Design program online and in a hybrid format at the Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses. “The online...

News TSTC hosts Operation Reclass event in Killeen

(KILLEEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus hosted the Operation Reclass recruitment event on Saturday, July 15, at the Killeen Special Events Center. Faculty members representing more than 10 of TSTC’s technical programs had information tables that attendees visited to learn more information. Some of the programs highlighted were Automotive Technology, Biomedical Equipment...

News TSTC Computer Networking and Systems Administration instructor speaks about AI’s role in the industry

(RED OAK, Texas) – An instructor from Texas State Technical College spoke on how artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration industry. Jacob Usery, lead instructor for the Computer Networking and Systems program on TSTC’s North Texas campus, spoke about AI, its role in the industry and TSTC’s role in preparing...

News TSTC graduates return to help future generations

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Though college is a place enriched with possibilities, often students are eager to graduate and ready to begin their professional lives. But sometimes the possibilities that an alma mater offers are too good to leave behind. At Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus, TSTC graduates Charla Foster and Troy Powledge have discovered...

News TSTC welcomes new schools for dual enrollment partnerships this year

(WACO, Texas) – Four new schools are partnering this year with Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus to provide high school students opportunities to take dual enrollment classes. Some students at Hubbard, Mart and Robinson high schools, along with St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Killeen, are taking online and hybrid classes in Architectural Design and...

News TSTC attracts students of all ages seeking brighter futures

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers its programs to adults of any age and background to help them find higher-paying jobs.  Industrial Systems student Troy Campbell, of Longview, gained several years of experience in the maintenance, oil, machining and welding fields before coming to the Marshall campus to receive a formal education. “I...

News TSTC students balance night classes with day jobs

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Steven Williamson, a Precision Machining Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location, recently described one of the benefits of taking college classes at night: “You work during the day and then you come to school, and you still have time with family and friends.” Several TSTC students are benefiting from...

News First-generation college students turn to TSTC for better futures

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College trains many nontraditional students, including some first-generation college students, for a wide variety of jobs in the Texas workforce.  “First-generation students often bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table,” Michelle Atkinson, enrollment lead for the Marshall campus, said. “Their strong work ethic and desire to be the...

News TSTC alum and student says his word of the year is ‘learn’

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Jacob Preston recently returned to the Marshall campus to add Automation and Controls Technology to his resume that includes a TSTC degree in Computer Aided Manufacturing. “I wanted to come back to further my knowledge in the career that I’m currently in,” Preston said. “Each year, I...

News Representatives from Eastman Chemical Co. visit TSTC to showcase expanding opportunities to students

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College invited representatives from Eastman Chemical Co.’s Longview plant, which manufactures products like those used in automobile interiors, food preservatives and personal care items, to speak to 44 students from four of its technical programs during a recent employer spotlight at the college’s Marshall campus. Eastman has collaborated with...

News Area Company Values TSTC Workforce Training

(WACO, Texas) – Javier Arroyo, the die casting process manager at Anderton Castings in Troy, is proud to show off the future to visitors. This fall, the company will finish installing new equipment to increase production of aluminum high-pressure die castings for the automotive industry. The expansion aligns with the company’s mission to embrace lean...

News New training station at TSTC brings greater opportunity for welding program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Built from the ground up by Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructors and students, the program has a new pipe fitting training station for its Advanced Layout and Fabrication course. The course, taken during a student’s third semester in the program, focuses on layout design, build and processes, blueprint reading and...

News Tesla START program sets up shop at TSTC campus in Fort Bend County

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County will host the Tesla START training program this fall.  It will be the program’s second location in Texas. The first, at TSTC’s campus in Waco, recently graduated its fourth cohort. “I think it’s indicative of the reputation that the Fort Bend County TSTC...

News TSTC alumnus and Mechatronics instructor celebrates 10 years of teaching

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When Roland Leija graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, the alumnus never imagined that his passion for technology would bring him back as an instructor to the same location. He is thrilled to celebrate 10 years as a Mechatronics Technology instructor at TSTC....

News TSTC student from Killeen ready to move into life after graduation

(WACO, Texas) – Jonathon Houston, of Killeen, takes pride in his attention to detail, which comes in handy in his field of study. Houston is a fall candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College in Waco. “I like being hands-on and mechanically inclined;...

News New TSTC diesel instructor ready to provide students with gateway to opportunity

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When he was in high school, Brandon Foster discovered he was interested in pursuing a career in diesel mechanics. Now, a decade later, he is a Diesel Equipment Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County. Foster appreciates TSTC’s mission of “placing more Texans in high-paying jobs” and being...

News TSTC instructors named AWS Educate Cloud Ambassadors

(WACO, Texas) – Three instructors in Texas State Technical College’s Cloud Computing program were recently named Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Cloud Ambassadors. Andy Kroll, Clint Pate and Rus Teston went through an application process and created a video explaining their philosophy in promoting cloud computing education. “It’s an honor to be accepted,” Teston said....

News TSTC alum finds success at multinational energy corporation

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With no intention to go to college, Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology alumnus Matt Lashbrook is now thankful that he did, because he said college took him from rags to riches. The Rio Hondo native always put effort into his schooling, even taking dual enrollment courses while in high school, yet...

News TSTC provides electrifying career opportunities

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The demand for electrical power and controls technicians is high and continuously increasing, which is why Texas State Technical College and its Electrical Power and Controls program are working diligently to produce highly skilled graduates. “The industry is growing by leaps and bounds around the industrial centers in the Gulf Coast region,”...

News TSTC grad passes education values on to his son

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Harlingen’s Juan Garcia knows the value of an education. He passed that value on to his son, who is now attending Texas State Technical College. Garcia obtained his GED through TSTC and was thankful the college staff showed him different career options. But he did not stop after earning his first associate...

News Potts passes love of racing to next generation

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Billy Potts has a passion for auto racing. The 1997 Texas State Technical College graduate is passing that passion to the next generation, but not through a lot of horsepower. Potts is president of the Bobcat Solar Racing Team composed of students at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club. Each year,...

News First Cohort of Tesla START Program Students Graduate at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College held a graduation ceremony earlier this month for its first cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in March to learn the skills necessary to become electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla paid hourly internship, the...

News Second Cohort of Tesla START Program Graduates at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Tesla START training program at Texas State Technical College held a recognition ceremony earlier this fall for its second cohort of graduates. The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in August to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly internship, the...

News TSTC works with Texas school districts to offer dual enrollment classes

(RED OAK, Texas) – Red Oak High School students do not have far to go for dual enrollment classes. All they have to do is walk across a parking lot to Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus. Dual enrollment enables high school students to take college-level courses as they work toward high school diplomas...

News IDEA San Benito students announce plans to attend TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Family and friends of 26 IDEA San Benito seniors learned that Texas State Technical College would be the students’ school of choice beginning this fall. The high school students revealed their decision to attend TSTC during the annual college signing day celebration earlier this month. “Most of the students said they wanted...

News Mechatronics Technology students enhance engineering knowledge at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What do well-known companies such as American Electric Power, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger and Toyota have in common? Each has hired a graduate from the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College. The term mechatronics combines “mecha” for mechanical and “tronics” for electronics. TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program combines basic skills in...

News TSTC students have chance to grow with M&S Engineering

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Career Services department recently organized a virtual event to connect TSTC students with a potential employer: M&S Engineering. M&S Engineering is a Texas-based engineering firm whose scope of services includes electrical engineering; civil engineering; mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP); and survey projects through its sister company, Sherwood Surveying...

News TSTC alumnus pursues childhood passion in TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus and current student Alfonso Juarez, of Weslaco, was captivated at an early age by how things work. He could not have dreamed that one day he would have a job with aerospace manufacturer SpaceX. “I was very curious how things worked mechanically,” he said. “I was that...

News TSTC alumnus flourishes after accident forces career change

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For one Texas State Technical College alumnus, the need for a career change from automotive technology to cybersecurity happened almost overnight. Mario Graciani, of Raymondville, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology from TSTC in 2002. He then was hired as a diesel mechanic for a San Benito construction...

News Businesses, students benefit from TSTC’s Industry Job Fair

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students found that the need for employees is high across the state during the college’s Industry Job Fair on Tuesday, April 5. Representatives from around 60 companies provided information on job opportunities, employment benefits and possible interviews at TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene. More than 170 TSTC...

News TSTC honors graduates at Spring 2022 commencement

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – “I made it!” and “my journey is over” were among the phrases heard by Texas State Technical College graduates at TSTC’s Spring 2022 Commencement held Tuesday, April 26, at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. More than 270 graduates from TSTC’s Harlingen campus raised their diplomas with enthusiasm and accepted certificates of...

News TSTC hosts Rep. Gary VanDeaver for Marshall campus visit

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus hosted a visit on Thursday by state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, who represents the newly redrawn District 1 at the state Capitol. VanDeaver’s visit was his first to the Marshall campus. “It is very impressive,” he said. “They (TSTC) are obviously preparing people for success...

News Rep. Jetton experiences TSTC’s innovation, training during campus tour

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Sparks sprayed and popped in the Welding Technology lab at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County.  Texas state Rep. Jacey Jetton (R-Richmond) was applying what he learned from TSTC Welding Technology instructor Alex Deibert in a hands-on lesson. Jetton grinned as he raised his welding helmet to check out...

News Desire to advance in career motivates TSTC Robotics student

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Lionel Silva is originally from Mexico, but he moved to Rosenberg in 2009 because of its proximity to a wide range of opportunities in petrochemical and other industries. When Silva decided to start an apprenticeship in the robotics maintenance department at his workplace, a global manufacturer of pipes and related services, he...

News TSTC’s Waco campus starts the spring semester

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus began the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 9. “The first day of the spring semester represents an opportunity to kick off the new year with a bang,” said Beth Wooten, acting provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. Enrollment coaches worked quickly during the morning at the Student...

News TSTC Instrumentation Technology students confident in job market

(WACO, Texas) – Michael Mims, of Big Spring, already has a job that he will start after he walks across the stage at Texas State Technical College’s graduation ceremony in May. Mims is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Instrumentation Technology. He has accepted an automation specialist position at...

News Altec manager praises quality of TSTC graduates

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – John Sherman knows that Texas State Technical College graduates will give their best in the workforce. The Altec talent pipeline development manager gave students advice on how to enter the workforce and be good employees. He spoke to students at the Sweetwater and Abilene campuses about job opportunities and what Altec provides...

News Students from TSTC’s Waco campus bring back 11 medals from state SkillsUSA conference

(WACO, Texas) – Students representing Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus brought back 11 medals from the 2023 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference held April 13-15 in Houston. “I am beyond ecstatic to see such a strong presence of TSTC medalists at this year’s state competition,” said Abby Ford, TSTC’s assistant department chair...

News High school seniors commit to TSTC during National CTE Letter of Intent Signing Day

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed 27 high school seniors who committed to a technical education during National CTE (career and technical education) Letter of Intent Signing Day on Thursday, April 20. TSTC joined colleges from across the country to honor seniors who pledged to receive a technical education. At TSTC’s Industrial Technology...

News TSTC Diesel Equipment alumnus changes gears, returns to pursue Computer Networking degree

(RED OAK, Texas) – Jorge Lopez, an alumnus of Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, returned to TSTC this fall to work on his Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration. After graduating from TSTC’s North Texas campus with his first associate degree, Lopez found a job with a...

News Texas Instruments holds employer spotlight for students at TSTC’s Marshall campus

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Three employees of Texas Instruments — equipment engineers Jimmy Carter and Danny Culver and campus recruiting manager Eric Batten — hosted three employer spotlights at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus on Thursday, Sept. 14.  An average of 17 students, most of whom were from TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology program, Process...

News TSTC interview practicum helps prepare students for job hunting

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus holds regular interview practicums for any TSTC students who are willing to participate. On Sept. 27, 32 students attended the fall practicum. “We hold an interview practicum every semester so that the students can get the experience of interviewing for the...

News TSTC, SkillsUSA Texas host U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions for campus visit

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and SkillsUSA Texas hosted U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, for a tour on Friday, Feb. 23. The visit coincided with TSTC’s hosting of the SkillsUSA Texas secondary District 6 Leadership and Skills Conference taking place from Thursday, Feb. 22, to Saturday, Feb. 24. “The development of the Texas...

News TSTC, South Padre Island police departments share spring break safety tips

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Next week many students in Texas will take time away from their studies and begin spring break, including Texas State Technical College students. While having fun in the sun at South Padre Island, visiting a lake or taking a road trip sounds exciting, TSTC reminds its students to make it fun and...

News TSTC’s Marshall location honors 46 graduates at commencement

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Marshall’s Memorial City Hall was filled with applause on Friday, May 3, as 46 students from Texas State Technical College’s Marshall location became graduates. Each one received either their certificate of completion or their Associate of Applied Science degree. “I look forward to seeing you become the best in your chosen career...

News TSTC holds ceremony for Tesla START program graduates

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Thirteen Automotive Technology students in the Tesla START program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County location were honored at their graduation ceremony held at TSTC’s Brazos Center on Friday, May 10. Each graduate received an advanced technical certificate in Automotive Tesla START Technician. The program is a collaboration between TSTC...

News Want to know about to-go boxes? Just ask these TSTC Industrial Systems grads

(MARSHALL, Texas) – When restaurant customers are handed to-go boxes for their leftovers, most do not know where the boxes come from.  But Texas State Technical College Industrial Systems graduates Hunter Burney and Matthew Ham know all about them. Both are employees at food service packaging manufacturer Genpak’s Carthage plant, which ships out an average...

News TSTC alumnus returns to TSTC, finds his ‘why’ in helping future students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As a full-time admissions advisor at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, TSTC alumnus Carlos Ortega helps prospective students find career pathways. But his own path to his current job was somewhat circuitous. “I started this job when I was a work-study student,” the Harlingen resident said. After earning his Associate of...

News TSTC Instrumentation Technology graduate says ‘the future is definitely yours’

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduate Monique Gray recalled with a laugh that she never wanted to have a “girly job.” She said she developed a mechanical aptitude while traveling across the United States with her father as she grew up. “My dad was a truck driver, and he was also a mechanic,”...

News TSTC’s HVAC Technology sees growth in female enrollment

(HUTTO, Texas) – With a surge in female students this semester, the HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus creates an environment for women to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated field. The HVAC Technology program in Hutto has seen a 400% increase in female student enrollment. Jayme Palady, an HVAC...

News TSTC students learning to draft ‘civil’ futures

(RED OAK, Texas) – Daniel Vu, of Arlington, always liked building with Legos as a kid. Now Vu, a fourth-semester student at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology. “I believe there is always room for creativity, as long as you like building,”...

News TSTC to expand diesel equipment program offerings at Fort Bend County campus

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The construction of the new Transportation Center of Excellence at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus is progressing smoothly. On track to open by the fall 2025 semester, the building will house two new automotive programs in addition to an expanded Diesel Equipment Technology program. While the diesel program is...

News TSTC students benefit from All Within My Hands grant

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College students were excited to learn that their careers were aided by a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band. TSTC’s Sweetwater campus is part of All Within My Hands’ Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). All Within My Hands is the nonprofit and philanthropic organization created by members and...

News TSTC diesel student earns spot at SkillsUSA national competition

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Rene Escobar was the only student at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County to earn a gold medal at the SkillsUSA state competition held recently at TSTC in Waco. “When I heard my name, I could not believe it,” said the 24-year-old. “I know I worked hard preparing for the...

News TSTC Debuts Updated Programs This Fall in Marshall

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College this fall have found two programs that have been updated and renamed, and a third that replaces an older program.  “This is evidence of TSTC’s ongoing efforts to tailor our programs to the precise skill sets Texas employers need,” said Barton Day, TSTC’s provost in Marshall....

News TSTC drafting and design give students their blueprint to success

Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics graduates from Texas State Technical College are finding that the demand for their skills is increasing as highway, road and subdivision developments are growing across the state. TSTC Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics statewide Department Chair Samuel Pizano said students are being recruited across the Rio Grande Valley and statewide,...

News TSTC Design Program Gets New Name, Curriculum

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology program has a new name and focus for the fall. The program will shift to an all-online format with virtual labs. Josh Stampley, a program instructor, said faculty will use TSTC’s Moodle platform and Microsoft Whiteboard for teaching and interacting with students....

News TSTC celebrates 50 years in Sweetwater

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When classes begin at Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus on Monday, Aug. 31, it will mark 50 years of service in West Texas. On Sept. 1, 1970, the first classes at the former Texas State Technical Institute Rolling Plains campus were held in Sweetwater. The college offered seven day courses and...

News Texas Mutual Insurance Co. awards grant to TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – The Texas Mutual Insurance Co.’s $150,000 grant awarded in late 2020 through The TSTC Foundation to Texas State Technical College means that students can continue to learn technical skills quickly and receive assistance to ease life’s burdens. The college’s Rapid Industry Skills and Employability (RISE) program will receive $100,000 of the grant....

News TSTC Precision Machining Technology program training students to fill area jobs

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program teaches students the skills they need to walk into any company that hires precision machinists and begin work. “If it’s man-made, we (machinists) made some or all of it in the process of its production,” said Darren Block, statewide lead instructor for TSTC’s...

News Childhood passion turns into career for TSTC student

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – From an early age, David Lopez-Cortez showed an interest in cars. The graduate of ATEMS High School knew by the age of five that he wanted to work on vehicles for a living. Lopez-Cortez said his passion started by playing with Hot Wheels toy cars at his childhood home. Lopez-Cortez wants to...

News TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology prepares students for in-demand careers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jose Rodriguez, of Brownsville, developed an interest in precision machining when he was a student at Hanna Early College High School. His former high school had offered both precision machining and welding in the same shop, and he was intrigued by the demonstrations of how things were made. Now he is pursuing...

News TSTC Robotics Technology moving into larger campus space

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Robotics Technology program is on the move. The program is slowly relocating from its longtime campus location in the Electronics Center into space being remodeled in the Dr. Roy G. Dugger Center, which is next door. The move is scheduled to be complete by the end of the...

News TSTC agricultural program introduces drone technology

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Drone technology is revolutionizing the field of agriculture, and to ensure that students’ skills meet industry standards, Texas State Technical College’s Agricultural Technology program recently implemented drone training into its curriculum. “Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are transforming the way work gets done out in the field,” said TSTC Agricultural Technology instructor...

News TSTC hosts students for FFA tractor competition

(WACO, Texas) –  Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program hosted on Thursday the Texas FFA Association Tractor Technician Career Development Event featuring 10 high schools from North and Central Texas. In the Texas FFA Association’s Area 5 consisting of North Texas schools, Wolfe City High School placed first while Denton High School finished...

News TSTC NCCER celebrates graduating class

(HARLINGEN, Texas) -It all started with a Home Improvement 1-2-3 book for Kristen Perales, who was among a group of 40 students who graduated Friday from TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Construction level 1 course. “My family was spending a lot of money doing simple repairs...

News TSTC alumnus overcomes obstacles to pursue teaching

(ABILENE, Texas) – Computers and water don’t mix. But water — too much of it — was what led Texas State Technical College alumnus Tony Torres to pursue his passion for computer programming. “After my wife finished school, the plan was for me to go (to college). But the day she was supposed to start...

News Up, Up and Away: TSTC alum finds career as flight mechanic

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Isaiah Arizmendi is about to reach new heights with an associate degree from Texas State Technical College and a new career at World Atlantic Airlines. The 20-year-old graduated in December 2017 and December 2018 with an associate degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology, respectively. “Aviation is in his blood,”...

News Student Success Profile – Abraham Vasquez

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Abraham Vasquez is a Computer Networking and Security Technology student at Texas State Technical College. The Raymondville native expects to earn his associate degree this semester. When the 24-year-old isn’t busy studying, he can be found working at TSTC’s Talent Management and Career Services office as a work-study program employee. What are...

News TSTC and MEDCO to Partner on New Diesel Equipment

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Marshall City Commission recently approved the Marshall Economic Development Corp. (MEDCO) request to spend more than $170,000 for two mobile diesel engine training modules for Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. “The equipment is the most modern equipment available that complies with all the emission regulatory entities,” said Donna...

News TSTC Student Reaches New Heights While Restoring the Past

(ABILENE, Texas) – As the aviation industry looks toward the future, one Texas State Technical College student is helping to preserve its history. Trenton Calsoncin, an aviation maintenance student, is earning Associate of Applied Science degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology while working with an area company to restore old warplanes. “It’s...

News TSTC HVAC Students Encourage Preventive Maintenance on Air Conditioning Units

(WACO, Texas) – Though the 2019 calendar says the first day of summer is June 21, Texas residents know that hot days and the comfort of air conditioning started much earlier. On Thursday, June 20, students in Texas State Technical College’s Air Conditioning Troubleshooting class were simulating cold and hot situations on air conditioning systems....

News TSTC gives student spark of hope during dark time

By Amanda Sotelo (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Fifteen inches of water took it all from Texas State Technical College student Nelda Chavez and her family. “The only way to describe the situation is devastating and overwhelming,” said the 52-year-old.  “The image and smell of the mess and debris still haunts me.” The family returned to their...

News TSTC HVAC Technology creates cool careers in a hot job market

By Amanda Sotelo (HARLINGEN, Texas) – The demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians is high and continues to grow as the number of residential and commercial sites increases. And Texas State Technical College is working diligently to meet industry demand and fill the jobs that are vacated as people retire. According to...

News TSTC alum electrifies his career

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Jerry Nieto sold the business he co-owned and he wanted to travel the world, but a life surprise led him to Texas State Technical College.  The Brownsville native graduated with an associate degree from TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program in Spring 2019, and since then has found success within his chosen...

News TSTC diesel program powers students’ success

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The construction and transportation industry in the Houston area and statewide is rapidly growing, meaning that a skilled workforce is very much in demand. Texas State Technical College is helping to fill that need with its technical programs like Diesel Equipment Technology. TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology instructor Brandon Foster said that program...

News TSTC Physics moves the world through knowledge

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Physics is a study of matter, motion and behavior through space and time related to energy and force. In Texas State Technical College’s Physics program, students receive the building blocks to support technical programs and educational goals. TSTC Physics campus department chair Jose Alvarez said that the mastery of physics can lead...

News TSTC hosts counselor update

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus held its annual Counselor Update on Friday to kick off the new year. “It just gives them a chance to see what is going on if they are new,” said Trey Pearson, TSTC’s North and Central Texas regional director for student recruitment. “For those...

News TSTC Hosts Students for FFA Tractor Competition

(WACO, Texas) –  Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program hosted on Thursday the Texas FFA Association Tractor Technician Career Development Event, which featured 12 high schools from North and Central Texas. In the Texas FFA Association’s Area 5, Sam Rayburn High School placed first, Wolfe City High School placed second and Campbell High...

News TSTC Avionics Graduate Motivated by Perseverance

(WACO, Texas) – Jeffrey Potts’ fascination with aviation began when he was in high school in Michigan. He later joined the military and attended Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, where he graduated in December 2019 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Avionics Technology. “I loved my time in the avionics program,” said...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker, Welding programs preparing for growth

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology and Welding Technology programs at the Fort Bend County campus are expanding. “Those have been two of the hottest trades in the region for several years,” said Jeremy Heath, executive director of the Rosenberg Economic Development Corp. “Everyone who goes through either program has a...

News Industrial Systems program offers a diversity of classes for TSTC students

(ABILENE, Texas) – The Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene offers a diverse curriculum for students. Instructor Daniel Diaz said students learn different aspects of industrial systems, from hydraulics and electronics to welding and small engine repair. “We have had students get jobs with the wind industry, prisons...

News TSTC Board of Regents honor graduate finds success in distance learning

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In recent months the world has gone digital. Learning from home has become the new normal, and that new normal means that even though students may be many miles from a Texas State Technical College campus, they can still receive quality technical instruction. El Paso resident and New Jersey native Emily Mancini...

News TSTC alumni overcome hardship to find success

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Started in 2016, iServe Biomedical is a leading provider of medical equipment repairs serving the Houston area. Founders Javier Valdez and Rene Torres discussed their time at Texas State Technical College and how their Associate of Applied Science degrees in Biomedical Equipment Technology prepared them for this venture. “TSTC provided the foundation...

News TSTC Welding Technology Program Ready to Fill Jobs

(WACO, Texas) – The health protocols undertaken in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program are not only keeping students safe, but also teaching a lesson. Program faculty have designated entrances and exits for TSTC’s Industrial Technology Center, along with enacting social distancing, sanitizing and requiring masks. These measures will continue during the fall semester,...

News TSTC Welding Technology Program in Marshall Ready to Welcome Students This Fall

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program will continue to teach in a hybrid format this fall. Students will listen to lectures online and participate in hands-on labs on campus. “Welding is by far one of our most popular programs, and it’s easy to see why,” said Barton Day, provost at TSTC’s...

News TSTC offers a hands-on approach to Mechatronics Technology

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Robotics, machining, and computing, oh my! Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College offers an exciting degree path to an even more exciting career. Lead instructor Eldwin Leija discussed some of the program’s courses, as well as the characteristics that make studying mechatronics at TSTC technically better. What courses do you teach? I...

News TSTC student shows resilience during pandemic

(WACO, Texas) – The current global climate has brought unforeseen bumps in the road for Texas State Technical College students. However, Marissa Hunsucker is one of many who have proven that despite trials and tribulations, there is nothing that can get in the way of those who are “TSTC strong.” The Waco native recently utilized...

News Building Construction Technology at TSTC offers education for rapidly growing career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Whether to be on the forefront of construction projects or supervising during the making of the next great skyscraper, Building Construction Technology at Texas State Technical College prepares students for careers in the constantly evolving field of construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field will continue...

News TSTC Industrial Systems program aims to prepare students for work in East Texas

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students graduating from Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program in Marshall leave with knowledge about commercial wiring, electrical theory, hydraulics, pneumatics and other topics. “There is actually big money locally if the students want to stay local,” said Edward Chaney, a TSTC program instructor. Texas had more than...

News TSTC Welding Technology program dedicated to filling jobs

(WACO, Texas) – Samuel Esqueda, of George West, began welding when he took his first agriculture class as a high school sophomore.  “It stuck with me more than anything else,” he said. “I wanted to turn it into a career.” Esqueda is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State...

News TSTC Industrial Systems student aims to expand knowledge, advance career

(ABILENE, Texas) – Dalton Tiner knew he needed the right education to advance his career. The Texas Healthcare Linen maintenance technician is getting that education with Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program. He sacrificed his scheduled work hours to other employees so he could pursue an associate of applied science degree. “When the COVID-19...

News Sanders intrigued by TSTC’s ‘essential man’s course’

(ABILENE, Texas) – Robert Sanders, of College Station, said Industrial Systems is the “essential man’s course” at Texas State Technical College. Sanders is always smiling when he walks into the Industrial Technology Center for classes. He is studying for an associate degree, saying his motivation is to be the best at whatever he does.  One...

News TSTC student’s love of technology guides him to cybersecurity

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Zachary Powers is about to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity and has some sound advice for those about to embark on their college journey: Never give up. The Sugar Land native said that his love of technology is what pointed him in the...

News TSTC, L3Harris Technologies celebrate hiring of TSTC machining student

(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and L3Harris Technologies recently gathered to celebrate a new company employee at a recognition ceremony. Tyler Rochelle, of Whitney, was hired by L3Harris as a computer numerical control machinist for its manufacturing department in Waco. He began in November as a part-time employee, but his work...

News TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology program adapts to teaching during pandemic

(WACO, Texas) – Erik Trujillo worked with two other students on a recent morning assembling an engine in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Engine Testing and Repair II class. Trujillo, of Elgin, is in his second semester working on a certificate in the Diesel Equipment Technology program at the Waco campus. He is optimistic about...

News East Texas industrial systems jobs are ready for TSTC graduates

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Rush Harris, executive director of the Marshall Economic Development Corp., said the need for industrial systems workers is being seen right now.  Harris said he recently has spoken with two companies that need new workers. He said more than 20 companies in Harrison County and surrounding counties are searching for industrial systems...

News Recent winter weather provides TSTC plumbing students with real-life lessons

(WACO, Texas) – February’s winter weather experienced in Texas is giving Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology students plenty to think about. “There’s a lot of money in plumbing right now,” said Austin native Jack Guerrero, who is scheduled to graduate in December with a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate. “A lot of...

News TSTC Welding Technology instructors eager to share knowledge with students

(HUTTO, Texas) – The majority of instructors in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program at the East Williamson County campus happen to be women. Kristin Burke, Samara Flener and Charli Wright bring decades of professional experience to teach their students to be the best welders they can be. “Three of the five welding instructors...

News Area electric cooperatives look to TSTC for employees

(MARSHALL, Texas) – East Texas electric cooperatives often look to Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program in Marshall as a source for well-trained workers.  “In most cases, cooperatives are relatively small in size, so they do not have the capacity to take large numbers of students semester after semester, though they are in...

News TSTC graduate keeps hospital computer system secure

(WACO, Texas) – McGarry Warden, of Cleburne, is a senior network administrator for Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. He graduated in 2012 from Texas State Technical College in Waco with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration. Warden’s job focuses on overseeing the network and server configurations for hospitals in Mississippi...

News TSTC Industrial Systems program offers opportunities to graduates

(RED OAK, Texas) – Working in the industrial systems field does not just involve manufacturing. Jarriet Durham, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program in North Texas, said graduates’ skills are also needed in the oil and gas and alternative energy fields. Workers can also go into electrical distribution...

News The sky’s the limit for TSTC electrical lineworker grads in Valley

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The need for qualified electrical lineworkers in Texas is predicted to grow at a rapid pace over the next few years, and Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program is teaching the next wave of workers at the Harlingen campus.  With an average salary of $61,400 in the Harlingen area, lineworkers...

News TSTC lineworker recruitment event offers $2,000 scholarship for enrolling

TSTC lineworker program provides Money-Back Guarantee (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Anyone interested in a degree in Electrical Lineworker Technology at Texas State Technical College has the opportunity to streamline their enrollment in the program — and earn $2,000 in the process. The only catch is they need to enroll during a special, ongoing event each Wednesday...

News Cloudburst no match for TSTC lineworker students during Brownsville PUB visit

Lineworker students learned about local opportunities in field (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Electrical lineworkers must respond to power outages in all weather and conditions — especially when the lights go out because of the elements. As if to illustrate this point, rain poured down from above during a Tuesday visit by three staff members from the...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology program eager to aid in area growth

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Rosenberg is seeing a high demand for housing as growth moves south and west in the city. As housing is built, the city attracts businesses of all sizes.  Jeremy Heath, director of economic development for the city of Rosenberg, said the city’s western side is seeing industrial growth, while commercial and retail...

News Knowledge is power as Magic Valley Electric Cooperative tours TSTC lineworker program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology students had a rare moment in the shade as they met team members visiting from Magic Valley Electric Cooperative. The students recounted how they became interested in lineworking. From fulfilling childhood dreams, to word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, to not knowing much about the industry until...

News Electromechanical Technology student says TSTC sets him up for career goal

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Julian Rodriguez found the college that would lead him to a specialized career after a few minutes. While searching for schools that offered Electromechanical Technology, Rodriguez said Texas State Technical College was at the top of his search results. After reading about what the program offers, the Lufkin native knew that TSTC...

News TSTC recognizes Southwest Aerospace Technologies with plaque unveiling

(WACO, Texas) – The TSTC Foundation unveiled a plaque on Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus on Tuesday, in recognition of contributions to TSTC from Southwest Aerospace Technologies LLC totaling $6.6 million.  On hand for the ceremony, which took place at TSTC’s Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center, were several TSTC aviation students and faculty...

News TSTC lineworker student sparks motivation in classmates

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Diego Ballesteros might be the youngest among his Electrical Lineworker Technology program classmates, but that does not stop him from taking the lead. “He takes the first step — always,” said Angel Toledo, TSTC lineworker lead instructor. “He’s always available, always able to participate. I’m giving my...

News New TSTC lineworker instructor looks forward to sharing experience with students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Javier Garcia gave up a lucrative dump truck service he owned in order to work in an entry-level position at the Brownsville Public Utilities Board — for an entry-level wage. But the new Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker Technology instructor does not have any regrets. In fact, he would gladly repeat...

News TSTC lineworker program trains students to be tough in high-risk, high-reward industry

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – What does it take to be a successful Electrical Lineworker Technology student at Texas State Technical College? According to TSTC lineworker instructor Troy Eads, a lot of common sense, drive, self-assuredness and athleticism, to name a few qualities. “I tell my students, first of all, this job isn’t for everybody — you...

News TSTC welding instructor embraces creative side of metalworking

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Austin Hargett makes roses bloom from metal — thorns and all. The Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor can also get scorpions to skitter out of aluminum, bees to buzz around a honeycomb of hex nuts, and many other feats of metalworking. A co-worker who became a friend showed Hargett the...

News TSTC Industrial Systems instructor proud of student achievements

(ABILENE, Texas) – Daniel Diaz is proud of his Industrial Systems students, both past and present. The Texas State Technical College instructor has seen nearly all of his graduates get jobs in Texas, and he has observed the skills of new students improve as they progress. Diaz is excited about the new students who began...

News New TSTC lineworker cohort gets first taste of equipment, climbing

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – The Electrical Lineworker Technology pole yard and surrounding area at Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County was abuzz with activity Thursday morning. It was equipment day: the first opportunity for first-semester students to get their hands on their gear — and try it out. Dozens of TSTC students waited...

News TSTC’s Industrial Systems program leads to diverse opportunities

(ABILENE, Texas) – Colten Butts wanted to pursue an electrical career. When he learned about the Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College, he knew that would be his best route to begin his career. “This program will give me so many different opportunities,” he said. “I was amazed when I walked into the...

News Former nurse studies aircraft technology at TSTC

(ABILENE, Texas) – Racheal Dupre has exchanged her stethoscope for a wrench. The former nurse is pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at Texas State Technical College. In her first year in the program, Dupre has been pleased with what she has been able to accomplish. “I...

News Consumers should research, ask questions regarding HVAC work

(WACO, Texas) – As Texans prepare to beat the fall chill, their heating units could use some attention from qualified technicians. Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program and the Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas in Austin have ways for consumers to save time and effort in having...

News Arlington resident flies, drives to classes at TSTC in Waco

(WACO, Texas) – Penn Nyagaka, of Arlington, has two primary ways he can commute to Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He can either drive on Interstate 35 or secure a seat on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Waco Regional Airport, then use ride-sharing to get to classes. Nyagaka is...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker student climbs in family’s footsteps

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Angelo Larkins is at home in the air. On a sunny fall morning in the Electrical Lineworker Technology pole yard on TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus, Larkins was aloft, installing a dead-end/suspension insulator at the top of a pole. When he graduates at the end of this...

News TSTC student goes from working on cars to career in industrial systems

(ABILENE, Texas) – Andrew Vann found his career opportunity at Texas State Technical College. The first-year Industrial Systems student said it was only natural for him to work on equipment because he has done it his entire life. He spends his spare time working on his 1968 Chevrolet C10, which led him to choose a...

News New TSTC Electrical Lineworker instructor gratified by students’ progress

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After serving with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board for 13 years, Javier Garcia is now enjoying his first year of passing his knowledge and experience on to students in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program. Some of the students began the program not knowing much about what being a lineworker...

News TSTC graduate finds success in lineworker career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Matias Jimenez, of San Benito, grew up working alongside his father, a master electrician. He also served as a sergeant and engineer in the U.S. Army for four years and is currently in the Army Reserve. With that electrical knowledge, Jimenez decided to pursue the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State...

News TSTC graduate finds focus in HVAC field

(WACO, Texas) – Kenneth Davis, of Robinson, wore white earbuds to cancel out as much noise as possible at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Dec. 11 in Waco. Davis, who has autism, completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology last spring but chose to walk...

News TSTC Industrial Systems student plans to continue family businesses

(ABILENE, Texas) – Colter Denson wants to take over his family’s businesses someday. To help him prepare for the future, Denson is working on a certificate of completion in Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College.  His father owns two businesses in the Abilene area, and Denson wants to be his successor. “I plan to...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker Technology students reflect on program and the future

(WACO, Texas) – Family is a big motivator for two Electrical Lineworker Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. Casey Brewer, of Belton, and James Morales, of Plano, both credit their relatives’ support for the work they are putting into earning Associate of Applied Science degrees in Electrical Lineworker Technology. Brewer is scheduled...

News Female students break barriers in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Since its inception, the electrical lineworker industry has been a male-dominated field. But that is changing. First-semester students Anastacia Parsons and Ruth Smith are the first women to enroll in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at the Texas State Technical College campus in Harlingen. Both students are pursuing Associate of Applied Science...

News MEYER leaders share information about oil field opportunities with TSTC students

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Representatives from MEYER, an oil well testing equipment and well control system manufacturer, visited Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County on Friday, Feb. 18, to tell TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology students about the opportunities available to them. Dave Key, CEO of MEYER, discussed the importance of the training that...

News TSTC Industrial Systems program wants to help fill East Texas jobs

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program in Marshall gives students the hands-on experience they need to fill many East Texas jobs.  The program’s courses include basic electrical theory, blueprints, commercial wiring, compressors and hydraulics. Edward Chaney, an instructor in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program, said instructors look at new students as blank...

News Student pursues TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program out of respect for late grandfather

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Navy veteran Lucia Zifko, of Harlingen, had an adoring relationship with her grandfather, who suffered from a heart problem. Since his death, her focus has been to honor his memory by earning an education related to health care at Texas State Technical College. Before she enrolled at TSTC, Zifko researched medical careers...

News Vega ready for new career after completion of TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There are instances in life when a heroic event occurs, such as firefighters saving people from a smoky building or a paramedic trying to keep a person alive. Brandon Vega, of Harlingen, observed such an occurrence when AEP lineworkers worked hard to restore power in his community when he was young. Years...

News TSTC Welding Technology student works to expand business opportunities

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Samuel Valdez wants to expand his business opportunities. The Welding Technology student is studying for a certificate of completion in Structural Welding at Texas State Technical College in order to add to the list of work that he can perform in his construction business. “I am self-employed and wanted to expand my...

News TSTC graduate knew he would have career in wind energy

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When Josh Leath’s family moved from Alaska to Texas, Leath knew that a career in wind energy would be in his future. After seeing his father working in the wind industry, Leath enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program to learn more. He graduated last month with an Associate...

News TSTC to host financial aid night at area public library

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will host a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) event at the Harlingen Public Library Wednesday, May 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event can help current and prospective TSTC students apply for financial aid to help with tuition and other costs related to their education....

News Top three things to know about TSTC’s Industrial Systems program

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program is a powerful tool for anyone looking for a high-demand, great-paying career across countless industries. “We fix very complicated pieces of equipment when they break,” said TSTC Industrial Systems lead instructor Brian Weakley. “We’re not focused on any one industry because the skills learned here...

News TSTC graduate helps community at local hospital, clinic

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Army veteran Alfredo Casillas, of San Benito, always had a desire to people the community in health care. He served as a certified combat medic in the military. The Texas State Technical College alumnus learned about TSTC’s Surgical Technology program after a transition to civilian life. “I researched TSTC’s allied health...

News TSTC student motivated by family to flourish at area utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For some Texas State Technical College students, having a strong support system is their motivation for success. For Fabian Rodriguez, of Los Fresnos, the family he has started is his inspiration to succeed in his pursuit of a certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. He...

News TSTC alumna gives back to Biomedical Equipment Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology alumna Esmeralda Estrella developed a strong interest in helping people at a young age. Now she is helping to educate the next generation of biomedical equipment technicians as a new instructor at TSTC. The San Benito resident was introduced to the technical side of health...

News Ulterra showcases job opportunities during TSTC spotlight

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students learned what could await them when they graduate. Dustin Moore, site manager for Ulterra, told students about his company’s many job opportunities during a recent employer spotlight. It was the first time Ulterra visited the Abilene campus to discuss their work in the oil and...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker student ready to face whatever Mother Nature dishes out

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Whether being hoisted high above the ground in a cherry picker to clear tree limbs from power lines, or climbing an electrical pole to help restore power, heights are no problem for Texas State Technical College student Joe Rodriguez. Now close to finishing his certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management...

News TSTC recognizes its own on National IT Professionals Day

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In schools, offices and businesses around the world, whenever anything computer-related goes haywire, it is the IT — information technology — professional who often comes to the rescue. In observance of National IT Professionals Day on Sept. 20, Texas State Technical College recognizes two of its IT professionals, Armando Hernandez and Justin...

News Footballs help TSTC Electrical Lineworker students conquer fear of heights

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For many first-semester Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students at Texas State Technical College, trusting their safety equipment and overcoming a fear of heights are important fundamentals for success in the program. “The importance of safety is always discussed with the students,” said Angel Toledo, a TSTC Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology...

News Hands-on learning benefits TSTC Electromechanical Technology student

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Phillip Taylor grew up learning how to wire and fix things around his parents’ house. It was only natural for him to look for a career with a hands-on approach to repairs. His path to Texas State Technical College’s Electromechanical Technology program started when he suffered an injury that ended his collegiate...

News State plumbing board staff gives demonstration to TSTC plumbing students

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program hosted staff from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners for a student demonstration on Wednesday. Students learned about cross-connection and how this can result in backflow, which is a flow of liquid opposite to the usual or desired direction. Terry Parham, who...

News Sunstate Equipment donates equipment to The TSTC Foundation for TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Sunstate Equipment recently gave three pieces of equipment to The TSTC Foundation for Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program at the Marshall campus. The equipment rental agency, which has 20 locations in Texas, gave an SVL97-2 Kubota track-type skid steer, a SkyJack scissor lift, and a power shift transmission with...

News TSTC Electromechanical Technology students learn about oil field job opportunities

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Power and Controls, Electromechanical Technology, and Industrial Systems students recently learned about careers in the oil field from representatives of Alamo Pressure Pumping during employer spotlights presented on the Abilene and Sweetwater campuses. Alamo Pressure Pumping representatives Ian Brown and Landon Burton told students about jobs and...

News TSTC schedules Workforce Training classes for spring

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has scheduled several Workforce Training and Continuing Education classes for the spring semester. Cindy Brunett, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education, said the classes will offer students the opportunity to enter the workforce quickly. “We are excited to be providing these opportunities to residents of...

News TSTC grad gains valuable work experience with area utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When people make their daily commutes, they sometimes see electrical lineworkers working on power lines to help restore power. Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Dustin Sanchez finds it rewarding to provide that service as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. “My neighbor is an...

News TSTC grad gains valuable work experience with area utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When people make their daily commutes, they sometimes see electrical lineworkers working on power lines to help restore power. Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Dustin Sanchez finds it rewarding to provide that service as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. “My neighbor is an...

News TSTC uses unique approach to receiving state funding

(WACO, Texas) – When graduates walk across the stage at a Texas State Technical College graduation ceremony, they do more than receive an associate degree or certificate of completion. Once they start working and contributing to the Texas economy, TSTC gets paid.  Once they start working, they help the college get paid by the Texas...

News TSTC graduate stays close to home to work in solar industry

(WACO, Texas) – Juvencio Perez, of Waco, is glad to be working in a growing field without leaving Central Texas. Perez graduated in 2022 from Texas State Technical College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Solar Energy Technology. Within a few weeks after graduating, he began work early last fall as a solar...

News A look inside TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is unique out of the two-year colleges across the state. With greater hands-on learning opportunities and a more affordable cost of attendance, students graduate better prepared for the workforce. The Diesel Equipment Technology program at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus is designed to help students understand not only...

News TSTC Industrial Systems program supports new economic growth in Hutto and Taylor

(HUTTO, Texas) – Cranes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment are becoming common sights right now in Hutto and Taylor. These are signs of economic growth, which means job opportunities for students at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. “It provides more options for the student,” said Albert Martinez, an instructor in TSTC’s Industrial...

News TSTC grad climbs to new heights with job at area utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Restoring power caused by weather variables and other factors is a high-risk challenge, and it is a job that Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Luis Polanco is committed to. The service that he provides as a lineman apprentice with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board gives him satisfaction....

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker alum gives back as instructor

(MARSHALL, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus recently returned to the college to give back as an instructor in the program. Brandon Dickerson graduated from TSTC’s Marshall campus and in September 2022 returned to become an instructor. He said one of the main reasons he wanted to teach...

News Female lineworker student is enjoying her education at TSTC

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Kelly Gomez is a Houston native attending Texas State Technical College at the Fort Bend County campus. Her family has a history in the technical job field, a legacy that she hopes to continue. She is a second-semester student studying Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology. When Gomez was looking for a place...

News TSTC Workforce Training and Continuing Education Maritime Welding program fills need of Texas workforce

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Texas State Technical College Workforce Training and Continuing Education Maritime Welding program has helped train students since its inception in 2021. Individuals learn tough technical concepts during an eight-week period to prepare for the Texas workforce, and to alleviate concerns experienced in the welding industry. Students will learn components such as...

News TSTC Mechatronics Technology student accepts internship with Dallas-based utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jeremy Gaytan, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, recently accepted an internship opportunity at Oncor Electric Delivery in Dallas that he will start in May. He had met some Oncor company representatives during a recent employer spotlight held...

News Love for aviation enhances student’s skills at area aircraft company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Matthew Stokes, a native of Liberty who now resides in Harlingen, knew from the age of 11 that he wanted to pursue a career as an aviation maintenance technician. His decision to enroll in the Aircraft Powerplant Technology program at Texas State Technical College was a step in the right direction. Stokes...

News TSTC alumnus finds success at major engineering, planning and environmental services firm

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Ulises Perez recalls when at a young age he would observe his grandfather’s craftsmanship as a homebuilder in Mexico. “I found his homebuilding process fascinating,” he said. That fascination, combined with Perez’s interest in fixing household objects when he was growing up, informed his later interest in...

News TSTC grad blessed by dream job at area utility company

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Lineworkers have a prime responsibility to uphold by guaranteeing that customers are provided with electricity year-round, and Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology alumnus Ernesto Hernandez finds great pride in that accountability. The effort that he provides as a lineworker apprentice in his dream job with Magic Valley Electric...

News TSTC student gains education to support his family

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – For many students at Texas State Technical College, their education comes as a way to further their careers and open new doors. Such is the case for Brandon Kopecky, a student in the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus. After working for many years, Kopecky began...

News TSTC’s Industrial Systems program to combine specialties to meet industry needs

(WACO, Texas) – Beginning in fall 2024, Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program will combine mechanical and electrical specialties to meet industry and student needs. Edward Chaney, the Industrial Systems program’s statewide department chair, recently gave a brief description of what the industrial systems industry entails. “(Industrial systems) is the background in industrial manufacturing...

News Must-have facts to thrive in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The job of an electrical lineworker is not for the faint of heart. It involves the high-risk challenge of working with electricity on utility poles in all types of weather while providing a vital service to a community. That said, the courageous men and women who become lineworkers love their work and...

News TSTC provost recognizes outstanding graduate with special award

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Whenever a commencement ceremony is held, the provost of each Texas State Technical College campus is given the chance to present the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award to a deserving graduate.  During his time as provost of the Marshall campus, Barton Day had given the award only once. But as the recent summer...

News Female students aim for new heights in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The high-risk challenges that electrical lineworkers experience when working with electricity on utility poles would inspire Marisol Gonzalez and Jacqueline Mejia to pursue an education in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Gonzalez and Mejia recently recalled the moment in each of their lives when they...

News TSTC instructor: Complexity of farm and ranch equipment means safety first

(WACO, Texas) – When working with farm and ranch equipment, it is important to know the risks involved. “To be safe, you have to be smart — educate yourself, read the manual, know the capabilities and limitations of the equipment you are working with,” said Matthew Peterson, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel...

News Konner Hand: a TSTC student who never says, ‘I can’t’

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students learn quickly that their education requires a lot of hard work and determination, but the rewards are more than worth it. Henderson native and TSTC student Konner Hand has proven time and time again that he refuses to let anything hold him back.  Hand has been hard...

News TSTC’s HVAC Technology program emphasizes value of efficient heating and cooling systems

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College educates students about not only the basics of electricity and principles of refrigeration, but also how improperly installed or inefficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can be troublesome. Valentin Lopez is an HVAC Technology student at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. He became interested...

News TSTC instructor discusses a day in the life of an electrical lineworker

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – It can be easy to think of lineworkers’ jobs as being emergency-focused. When a storm rolls in and power lines are down, lineworkers roll in to restore electricity to homes and businesses. But while that is an essential role they play, the work they do every day to keep the lights on...

News TSTC students, alumni impress potential employers at Industry Job Fair

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently held its annual Industry Job Fair at the Harlingen campus, where more than 400 TSTC students and alumni utilized their networking skills and handed out resumes to representatives from some 68 companies. “The job fair helps elevate that partnership that TSTC and our business and industry partners...

News Escobar finds purpose for helping others by pursuing TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology degree

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers a broad range of programs of study that military veterans can choose from to gain the technical skills they need for a high-paying job. Javier Escobar Jr., a U.S. Army veteran and Texas Army National Guard specialist, learned about TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program from a program...

News Climbing to new heights: TSTC Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students compete in Lineworker Rodeo

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology students competed in the fall semester Lineworker Rodeo at the Waco campus on Thursday, Nov. 16. The event exhibited the skills that third-semester students have learned during their time at TSTC. Teams of four worked together to complete four different tasks. The tasks...

News TSTC HVAC graduate follows in father’s footsteps

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Josue Jimenez remembers when he first became interested in the HVAC industry. “My dad would bring home air conditioning units so he could repair them,” Jimenez said. “It was intriguing to watch him work.” That inspired Jimenez to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in...

News Flemens shows dedication in TSTC’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program

(WACO, Texas) – Leaving Sulphur Springs at 4 a.m. twice a week to attend classes at Texas State Technical College is no problem for Micah Flemens. “Knowing that I am getting an education makes the long drive worth it,” he said of studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology...

News TSTC program advises about when to call an electrician

(WACO, Texas) – Working with electricity can be a highly charged task.  “People need to understand how electricity and currents work,” said Andy Pustejovsky, an Electrical Construction instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus.  Some of the problems that people have with electricity include faulty outlets, outdated electrical setups and tripped breakers. “I would...

News Donation to TSTC promotes HVAC student success

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s HVAC Technology program in North Texas recently received a donation, through the TSTC Foundation, of an AAON rooftop unit (RTU) that will be used for teaching purposes. The unit was donated by Rusty Vaughn, a partner at Texas AirSystems and a TSTC Foundation Council of Advocates member....

News TSTC instructors use their experience with natural disasters to teach future lineworkers

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology instructors know that lineworkers will be needed as long as there are natural disasters.  Before coming to teach at the Marshall campus, several of the instructors traveled all over the United States helping to restore power after some powerful storms. In his 30...

News Cousins find career path in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The idea of a high-risk career as an electrical lineworker may not be appealing for some, but it is for cousins Arturo Solis and Eric Zamora. Zamora, of Primera, first became interested in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program when some of its recruiters visited Harlingen High School...

News Navy veteran gets multifaceted education in TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – U.S. Navy veteran Emanuel Torres developed a connection with Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus when he was a teenager. “I went on a field trip to TSTC when I was in middle school,” he said. “A program that we visited was Precision Machining Technology. I had the opportunity to input a...

News TSTI graduate leads by example in training technicians at semiconductor manufacturer

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – 1988 was a good year for Arturo Martinez. That was when he earned his associate degree in Electronics Technology at Texas State Technical Institute, now Texas State Technical College. Since then, Martinez has gone on to enjoy a 25-year career at Qorvo, a semiconductor manufacturer, at the company’s location in Richardson, Texas....

News Corsicana student continues electrical path at TSTC

(RED OAK, Texas) – Aaron Mershawn, of Corsicana, is an Electrical Power and Controls student at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas location in Red Oak. He is also an industrial electrical apprentice at Owens Corning, a worldwide construction and building materials producer, in Waxahachie. Mershawn recently talked about learning and working in the electrical...

News TSTC Electrical Lineworker student thankful for skills acquired for future job

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Former U.S. Marine Oswaldo Arriasola, an Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology student at Texas State Technical College, hopes that soon he will get the attention of potential employers in the Texas workforce. Arriasola is on track to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree from TSTC’s Harlingen location this semester. “It’s a...

News TSTC to start training next generation of electrical lineworkers at Abilene location

(ABILENE, Texas) – When the fall semester begins at Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene, people will see something new. TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program will welcome its first class in West Texas, and students will start climbing practice utility poles within weeks of the semester beginning.  The program will...

News TSTC graduate continues grandfather’s lineworker legacy

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Career Services department at Texas State Technical College recently estimated that Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) has hired about 90 of the college’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology graduates in the last 10 years. One of those graduates is Marshall native Ryan Hall, who followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and became...

News TSTC instructor says computer networking degree can lead to job security

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Nearly every business, to some extent, needs people to build, maintain and manage their computer systems. Information technology specialists are trained to work on the infrastructures, both physical and digital, of those systems to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The Computer Networking and Systems Administration (CNS) program at Texas State Technical College...

News TSTC’s Marshall campus holds summer commencement ceremonies

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Marshall’s Memorial City Hall was packed not once but twice for Texas State Technical College’s two summer commencement ceremonies on Tuesday, Aug. 13.  “I am so honored to be part of this special day,” Bart Day, TSTC’s Marshall campus provost, said to the graduates. “All of you worked hard. Congratulations on being...

News TSTC’s East Williamson County campus sends off new graduates to the workforce

(HUTTO, Texas) – As summer completes, so does the education of 38 students at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. Students graduated with associate degrees or certificates of completion during TSTC in East Williamson County’s Summer 2024 Commencement held Monday, Aug. 19, at the Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock. Tiffany Tremont,...

News Former TSTC student worker receives Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology graduate Jason Gryder received the Provost’s Outstanding Achievement Award at the recent Summer 2024 Commencement. “The award recognizes students who go above and beyond high-level academic performance,” Bart Day, TSTC’s Marshall campus provost, said. “During his tenure as a student worker, there wasn’t...

News TSTC welcomes Abilene campus’s newest program

(ABILENE, Texas) – A September rainstorm did not stop Texas State Technical College from beginning its newest program at the Abilene campus. The Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program has more than 20 students enrolled, and many of them are eager to train for their new career. The students were scheduled to make their first...

News Future promising for TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls students

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Power and Controls students see a bright future in their chosen industry. Fourth-semester students Alexander Castro, of Denver City, and Tyler Flippen, of Abilene, said earning an associate degree will have a positive impact on their careers. “I am a machine operator at Great Lakes Cheese Co.,...

News TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology graduate finds new ways to give back to students, patients

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College took Felicia Pruitt on a journey she never could have imagined. It began when she traded her patient care technician job to begin studying Biomedical Equipment Technology. “I decided I couldn’t do patient care because I got too attached to the patients. I wanted to help them in...

News TSTC Industrial Systems student sees education pay off at work

(ABILENE, Texas) – Even though he is still in school, Levi Vasquez said studying Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College is helping him at his current employer. “I know a lot of the terminology being used in the shop,” he said of his job at Ethos Pet Brands in Brownwood. “I have been able...

News Virtual reality takes TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology students’ training to new dimension

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Virtual reality can be a game-changer for some technical programs in higher education — and that is no exception for the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College. Recently the program in Harlingen introduced a virtual reality training system developed and provided by NVRT Labs. Using preconfigured Meta Quest 2...

News TSTC hosts spring counselors update

(RED OAK, Texas) – More than 40 educators on Friday learned about Texas State Technical College’s mission to help students earn certificates and associate degrees that could lead to great-paying jobs. The Spring Counselors Update focused on dual enrollment, in-demand jobs and other components of TSTC. The gathering’s goal was to arm educators with new...

News Austin company and TSTC build welding relationship

(HUTTO, Texas) – Lauren Caprio got her first welding job in 2016 shortly after graduating with a certificate from the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County. Caprio, 33, of Pflugerville is a level III ultra-high-purity welder at Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions in Austin, where she works in a humidity-controlled clean room...

News TSTC Hosts Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Information Seminar

(Sweetwater) – April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and Texas State Technical College is helping to raise awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence by partnering with representatives from Hendrick Medical Center and Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital to provide information seminars. A session was held on the TSTC campus in Sweetwater on Friday, April 12,...

News TSTC students bring home the gold

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To earn a spot at this year’s SkillsUSA national competition, Texas State Technical College Mechatronics students and teammates Ricardo Vera and Maria Lara worked diligently for six hours building, wiring and programming their programmable logic controller, or PLC, during the SkillsUSA state competition earlier this month at TSTC in Waco. “The competition...

News TSTC Profile of Excellence – Cristobal Davila

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cristobal Davila, 41, is a two-time Texas State Technical College graduate. In 2015 he earned an associate degree in Business Management Technology and a certificate in Automotive Technology in 2018. The single dad of two boys worked mostly as a security officer before attending TSTC, and said he finally found his dream...

News TSTC students set to compete in first National SkillsUSA Competition

(WACO, Texas) – Two Mechanical/Electrical Drafting Technology students at Texas State Technical College will be the first to represent the Waco campus in the Additive Manufacturing contest at the 55th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Kentucky. Brandon Lund of Millsap and Cody White of China Spring were put together...

News Graduates of TSTC’s EMS program in high demand

(HARLINGEN) – Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics are in high demand across the region and the state with a projected growth of 15 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And EMS instructor Ruben Ramirez said Texas State Technical College is working to fill...

News TSTC alum, employee celebrates 30 years of service

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It was 1991 when Ester Bodnar began her career at Texas State Technical State College as a work study employee, never imagining it would be a place she still calls home 30 years later. Bodnar was recently recognized for her three decades of service to the college during TSTC’s Employee Appreciation Day...

News TSTC Graduate Finds Career Calling

(WACO, Texas) – Annie Briggs sees big-city challenges but still has her small-town grit. Briggs, a master technician at TA Truck Service near Atlanta, Georgia, got her professional start at TravelCenters of America in Hillsboro after graduating in 2014 from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. “Atlanta is crazy,” Briggs said. “It was like exponential...

News TSTC Welding Student Lands New Job Before Graduation

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Nicholas Delaurelle of Longview is relieved that he has been hired for a job before he graduates from Texas State Technical College. “It is reassuring making some money, because I have bills to pay,” he said. “I’ll be moving into an apartment the day after graduation.” Delaurelle is one of more than...

News TSTC police officer honored by Lacy Lakeview

(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College police officer was among four local law enforcement officers honored Tuesday by the Lacy Lakeview City Council. TSTC police officer Landon Rowell, along with Lacy Lakeview Police Department officer Scott Dent, received the Blackinton Commendation Bar, Life Saving for their work in helping to keep a woman...

News Machining student ahead of the curve at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With commencement only a few months away, Texas State Technical College student Gabriel Flores still can’t believe that he’ll become a college graduate at only 19-years-old. The Precision Machining Technology student said college was always the only option in his home, but when got to his senior year in high school panic...

News TSTC student veteran balances school, work and family

(ABILENE, Texas) – Being a full-time student is no easy task. Add working full time and caring for a family, and you might start to wonder how there could be enough hours in a day.  But Texas State Technical College student veteran Andrew Rowlette wouldn’t have it any other way. Rowlette is an Air Force...

News TSTC students volunteer with Houses for Healing

(ABILENE, Texas) – When someone is in need, you can count on Texas State Technical College students to answer the call.  On Friday morning, more than 25 TSTC students, faculty and staff, along with some of their family members, volunteered their time with local nonprofit organization Houses for Healing.  Houses for Healing provides free temporary...

News TSTC Student Prepares for ‘Safe’ Career Upon Graduation

(WACO, Texas) – Nathan Craig of Hamilton found his footing on Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, following the path of a few family members.  Coming from a family of first responders, Craig, 21, has a strong interest in the emergency services field. When he came to TSTC, he was unsure of what route to...

News TSTC Holds Fall 2019 Commencement

(WACO, Texas) – More than 400 graduates received certificates and associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2019 Commencement held Friday, Dec. 6, at the Waco Convention Center. Many of the graduates already have jobs. Spencer Brown of Austin came to TSTC after working in automotive and construction jobs. He received the Associate of...

News TSTC graduate clears hurdles in pursuit of degree

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The road to commencement was no easy journey for recent Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology graduate Hugo Gamboa, but he overcame the hurdles and received his associate degree on Friday night. The 20-year-old was one of nearly 300 students who received a certificate or associate degree during TSTC’s Commencement at the...

News TSTC HVAC Graduates in Harlingen to Experience Smart Technology in the Workplace

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Today’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians need to know more than basic electrical theory and refrigeration principles. As technology evolves, so does the need to be familiar with how smart technology is being used in HVAC systems. Jorge Cabrera, lead instructor in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program in Harlingen, said fifth-semester students...

News Davila helping fellow veterans at TSTC

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cristobal Davila served his country for eight years. Today, he is helping veterans transition to civilian life at Texas State Technical College. On a daily basis, Davila, who is a Department of Veterans Affairs school certifying official at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, processes college applications, as well as showing veterans how to apply...

News TSTC Program Offers Pathway to Water and Wastewater Work

(MARSHALL, Texas) – A fascination with chemistry, environmental science, health and safety can lead to jobs in Texas for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators. Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations program in Marshall can pursue these jobs, along with those at chemical, gas and petroleum plants. The program exposes students...

News TSTC Candidate for Graduation Increases Marketability for Workforce

(WACO, Texas) – With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in hand, Kory Dyer of Bellville wanted to make himself more marketable. “I went home and just wanted to weigh out what all my options were. During the internship (for the degree), I came to realize that engineers are expected, going into the field coming...

News TSTC and Midlothian Forge Relationships to Increase Educational Opportunities

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus continues to strengthen relationships with municipalities throughout Ellis County. Midlothian, in the northwest part of the county, has proven to be a supportive partner in promoting technical education to residents. “There has been a lot of collaboration with Midlothian,” said Marcus Balch, TSTC’s provost....

News Tour leads Trujillo to TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Juan Trujillo thought about becoming a doctor. But after touring Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus, he changed his mind. Trujillo said the Diesel Equipment Technology program caught his attention. After deciding not to focus on medicine as a career, he turned to his first love: vehicles. He will graduate in the...

News TSTC Electrical Power and Controls instructor’s goal is for students to join workforce

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electrical Power and Controls instructor Kevin Staton has one goal for his students. “We are training Texans to work in Texas,” he said. “When students graduate from our program, they can work in almost any state or foreign country. Anywhere there is control work, there is a job...

News Safety top priority at TSTC this fall

(ABILENE, Texas) – Safety will be the top priority at Texas State Technical College when the fall semester begins Aug. 31. The four West Texas campuses, located in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood and Sweetwater, will have a different look this year. Students who need to complete labs will be allowed on campus, but all other instruction...

News TSTC computer programs shift online this fall

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Computer Networking and Systems Administration program and Cybersecurity program at the North Texas campus will move to an all-online format this fall. For the 2020-21 academic year, TSTC’s health protocols have caused changes in how many classes are delivered. Some programs are moving to a hybrid format...

News TSTC Foundation, Hutto Education Foundation honor scholarship recipients

(HUTTO, Texas) – Representatives of The TSTC Foundation and the Hutto Education Foundation gathered virtually on Wednesday morning to honor recipients of a jointly sponsored scholarship for Hutto residents. “The most significant thing with this partnership is that we are talking about retention,” said Beth Wooten, chief executive officer of The TSTC Foundation. “There are...

News TSTC Welding Technology Program Expands for Fall Semester

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program has completed an expansion just in time for the start of the fall semester on Aug. 31. Forty spacious welding booths have been built in an area once used by the Precision Machining Technology program. The welding area will be used by classes and also...

News TSTC begins fall semester at a distance

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It was a different sight for many returning students at Texas State Technical College this week. Students were greeted with entrance and exit signs, social distancing markers, and signs detailing TSTC’s COVID-19 safety protocols. “Because of this pandemic, we have to follow these rules,” said Keith Aguirri, a Diesel Equipment Technology instructor...

News TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program in Williamson County ready to fill area jobs

(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program has started using a supplemental curriculum from the National Tool &Machining Association this fall to teach students. Darren Block, TSTC’s statewide program lead, said students will get a more thorough education in machining, combined with the professional knowledge that faculty members bring to labs...

News TSTC Welding Technology Student Acquires New Skills

(WACO, Texas) – Emily Sanford did not pick up a welding torch until she was a student at Madisonville High School in East Texas. During that time, she did a lot of gas metal arc welding. “I was raised around 4-H and FFA, but it was not welding at all,” she said. “None of my...

News TSTC, Waxahachie Partner for Economic Development

(RED OAK, Texas) – Companies looking to move to cities need an available workforce and job training options. Warren Ketteman, president and chief executive officer of the Waxahachie Economic Development Corp., said Texas State Technical College is important to the city’s economic development because of its training and technical programs. “Without TSTC and other partners,...

News TSTC ready to meet aviation job needs in Williamson County

(HUTTO, Texas) – The Texas aviation and aerospace industry is responsible for creating more than 778,000 jobs and a payroll of more than $30 billion, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2018 Texas Aviation Economic Impact Study.  “Aviation is a huge, growing field,” said Michael Smith, senior field development officer for The TSTC Foundation...

News TSTC Welding Students Create Sign for Former High School Teacher

(WACO, Texas) – Daniel Gormley and Travis Kight have known each other since they were in middle school in Boerne. Now they are in their fourth semester as Texas State Technical College students studying Welding Technology. The students are completing a special project that is sure to make Dorman Vick, their former welding instructor at...

News TSTC instructor equips students for in-demand careers in machining

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Precision Machining Technology instructor Isaac Gonzalez has been teaching at Texas State Technical College for 10 years. Precision Machining Technology is an intense, hands-on program in which students learn skills such as precision measurement, blueprint reading and the heat treatment of metals, making them highly employable and work-ready from day one. Graduates...

News TSTC Dual Enrollment prioritizes student success after high school

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently welcomed representatives from the Mercedes Independent School District to tour its Automotive Technology and Precision Machining Technology program facilities. Several Mercedes Academic Academy students are currently enrolled in TSTC’s Dual Enrollment program, which teaches them the skills needed to excel in their careers after high school. Mercedes...

News TSTC to host Welding Technology open house

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Prospective Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students can have the opportunity to learn about the program firsthand during the program’s open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. “Potential students will get a look into our new and updated welding building during their visit to campus,” said assistant...

News TSTC Welding Technology instructors share love of welding with students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College teaches students the skills needed to thrive in the fast-growing career. Instructors Manuel Ahumada and Mark Casares are on a mission to ensure that their students not only are familiar with the world of welding, but also are confident in their abilities from day one...

News TSTC graduate excited about his future in machining

(HUTTO, Texas) – Travis Miller, of Georgetown, is happy to start the next stage in his professional life. He received this month an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology from Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. “I could not be more excited to be learning and growing in the field,”...

News Mechatronics Technology at TSTC teaches skills needed for growing industry

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology program equips students with the essential skills needed to succeed in a career that is expected to grow through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mechatronics, whose name derives from combining the words mechanical and electronics, is the study and use of multiple...

News TSTC spring semester begins with winter blast

(ABILENE, Texas) – Mother Nature delayed the beginning of Texas State Technical College’s in-person spring semester classes this week. With more than seven inches of snow recorded in West Texas, the college’s administration closed the campus on Monday to keep faculty, staff and students from driving on hazardous roads. TSTC’s online and remote learning began...

News Spring semester classes begin at TSTC in Waco

(WACO, Texas) – Sunday’s snow and ice caused face-to-face classes to be canceled on Monday at Texas State Technical College, though online classes went on as scheduled. This caused some students to have their first day of classes for the spring semester on Tuesday. TSTC students, faculty and staff continue to follow Centers for Disease...

News Trejo enrolls in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology to expand mechanical knowledge

TSTC student hopes to work on diesel trucks, construction equipment (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Amarillo’s Adrian Trejo wants to work on more than just automobiles. The Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology student always liked to work on cars and knew he could turn it into a career. He is now pursuing a certificate in...

News Students adjust to new way of dorm life

TSTC encouraging safety, distancing to students in dorms (SWEETWATER, Texas) – For many students at Texas State Technical College, the adjustment to campus living has taken on an additional aspect with COVID-19 safety measures. Living in the Sweetwater dorms with the protocols in place is not what students wanted to experience, but they are making...

News TSTC Culinary Arts provides dual enrollment opportunity for Hutto High School students

(HUTTO, Texas) – Hutto High School students with an interest in culinary arts have a quicker pathway to earning an associate degree at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus through dual enrollment classes. “Dual enrollment students have the benefit of seeing the culinary world before having to pay,” said Brian Bohannon, a Culinary...

News TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology program ready to fill area employment needs

(RED OAK, Texas) – The coronavirus pandemic has not slowed down diesel equipment work in North Texas. “The main thing that comes to mind about our program is that the students who have graduated and were working during this pandemic never lost any wages,” said Matthew Dobbs, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel...

News TSTC graduate stays in East Texas to work

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Hector Ramirez is glad to continue going to college while working in East Texas.  Ramirez, a Gilmer resident, graduated from Texas State Technical College in 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization. He returned to TSTC’s Marshall campus to earn an associate degree in Automation...

News TSTC Culinary Arts graduate makes sweet treats

Adilene Camarena has applied culinary knowledge to business (WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Culinary Arts graduate Adilene Camarena launched her Waco bakery, Around the World, in April 2020, with high hopes, fierce determination and a generous helping of optimism. The bakery is at Union Hall in downtown Waco. One year later, the Hillsboro...

News TSTC Instrumentation Technology graduates play critical role in workforce

(WACO, Texas) – Instrumentation plays a critical role in the operation of oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, and power generation plants. Workers use programmable logic controllers, calibrate equipment, and maintain the control of flows, levels, temperatures, and pressures for production. Many of Texas State Technical College’s Instrumentation Technology graduates either have jobs before they graduate or...

News TSTC hosts tours for Ft. Hood Veterans groups

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted two groups from the Killeen area for campus tours on Thursday. Twenty soldiers in the Army Recovery Care Program’s Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Hood toured several TSTC programs and ate lunch on campus at the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center in Waco.  The SRU enables...

News TSTC Welding Technology ready to meet the Rio Grande Valley’s needs

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The most recent expansion project in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program involved adding 40 new welding stations and a new metal building for advanced fabrication.  The growth was needed to accommodate students in a field that is booming in the Rio Grande Valley as companies expand and other companies relocate...

News TSTC Mechatronics Technology program offers range of skills for students

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The word mechatronics comes from two words: mechanical and electronics, creating a powerful combination of skill and detail for workers. The career field of mechatronics combines computer-controlled systems, electrical systems, instrumentation and robotics. Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology program in Harlingen requires students to have an ability to do hands-on work,...

News TSTC partners with nationwide program to provide military personnel with job skills

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is partnering with the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative to provide workforce training for soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. “We are extremely happy to be able to give back in a small way to these guys for their sacrifices,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of...

News Female Texas A&M welding student at TSTC follows in grandfather’s footsteps

Welding is one of several choices for summer courses (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Vanessa Perez is getting some advice during her summer welding program at Texas State Technical College from an unusual source: her grandfather. “My grandpa was a welder in the Port of Brownsville for many years, so he would always tell me about it,”...

News Childhood memory leads Kelley to TSTC

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – As a child, D.J. Kelley liked seeing and hearing diesel trucks on the road. While in high school, he decided to make working on diesel trucks a career. He said he knew the best place to train for that career was at Texas State Technical College. Kelley, who is studying for his...

News Texas A&M student spends summer welding at TSTC

(ABILENE, Texas) – When Lucas Robirds returns to Texas A&M University this fall, he will be able to tell his friends that he learned a new skill. Robirds, an aerospace engineering student at Texas A&M, is spending his summer break studying Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. He is participating in the Bachelor’s+ Program,...

News TSTC Welding Technology program hosts Texas A&M engineering students for summer classes

(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County is hosting three Texas A&M University engineering students taking classes this summer. Jacob Algaze, Preston Hackney and Grant Stinson are taking nine weeks of classes in the TSTC Welding Technology program in Hutto. The students are part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s...

News Fort Hood soldiers complete nationwide workforce training program at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Seven U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, completed on Thursday the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program taught for the first time at Texas State Technical College. The 12-week program enabled soldiers to travel to Waco four days a week to take classes in mechatronics, with a focus on electrical systems,...

News TSTC, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Nuclear Power Institute explore partnership in Fort Bend County

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – A July 22 tour of the facilities at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus may have, at first glance, seemed simple. In reality, however, it represented a wealth of possibilities for partnerships between TSTC and some Texas A&M Engineering programs to benefit the region. “The TSTC you were working with...

News TSTC Cybersecurity graduates enjoy diverse careers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – What does a group of employees at law offices, restaurant chains, retail giants, insurance providers, school districts and banks have in common? They are all recent alumni who graduated from Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program — and that is not counting individuals who have positions at information technology and security-centric companies....

News TSTC in North Texas set to welcome dual enrollment students this fall

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in North Texas will work with four high schools, a charter school and two affiliates of the Texas Home School Coalition to offer dual enrollment classes in the upcoming academic year. Students will take classes at TSTC’s North Texas campus in Red Oak, at their home campuses...

News Belton graduate honored with campus award at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Luke Markham, of Belton, grew up with an appreciation for automobiles, but he also liked diesel equipment.  The students with whom he interacted during his time in home school thought he would pursue mechanical engineering. But Markham said the field did not interest him. “I don’t mind standing out,” he said. Markham...

News TSTC set to welcome Hutto High School dual enrollment students this fall

(HUTTO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County is offering Hutto High School students two new technical programs for dual enrollment in the new academic year. Students can take classes to work toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Robotics Technology or a certificate of completion in Structural Welding. Some students...

News TSTC ranked first in Texas among two-year institutions

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College, which has 10 campuses statewide, has been ranked first in Texas and third nationally among two-year institutions by Niche.com, an online market leader focused on education. TSTC received high marks in six categories: diversity, location, professors, safety, student life and value. The technical college was lauded for its...

News TSTC prepares graduates for available diesel technician jobs

(RED OAK, Texas) – Now is a great time to become a diesel equipment technician. “Technology in our industry is constantly changing, from hybrid trucks that use electric axles to compressed natural gas engines being used now,” said Matthew Dobbs, lead instructor in the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College in North...

News TSTC welcomes new, returning students for fall semester

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College welcomed students back to campus on Friday, Aug. 27, as the fall semester began Monday, Aug. 30. Students who live on campus were welcomed by Lupe Navarrette, housing director, and the resident assistants who will be helping them during the semester. “We wanted to allow students to come...

News TSTC Electrical Power and Controls program offers bright opportunities

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – If you can imagine yourself standing in the center of a shopping mall — say, for example, the Galleria in Houston, with its corridors full of hundreds of stores and eateries — then you are already on your way to visualizing how many career opportunities Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Power and...

News TSTC has presence at Abilene ISD’s LIFT Center

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College representatives connected with Abilene Independent School District students and their parents during the ribbon-cutting of the Leadership and Innovation in Future Technologies (LIFT) Center. TSTC dual enrollment representatives and recruiters will maintain a presence at the LIFT Center, Abilene ISD’s newest facility. During the Sept. 7 event, Abilene...

News TSTC and The Manufacturing Institute partner for virtual reality workforce training pilot program

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and The Manufacturing Institute are partnering to pilot a remote virtual reality workforce training initiative aimed at helping transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses prepare for and excel in careers in modern manufacturing. The first cohort is scheduled to start on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. The institute’s...

News TSTC, Austin company partner for apprenticeship program

(HUTTO, Texas) – ICU Medical Inc., a company in Austin specializing in pure-play infusion therapy, has partnered with Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County’s Industrial Systems program to offer apprenticeships to selected students. “It’s really huge for our program,” said Lance Antilley, lead instructor in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program at the East Williamson...

News Burnside eager to learn welding skills from TSTC instructors

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Joel Burnside set a goal when he enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. Studying for a certificate of completion, Burnside wants to spend his time at TSTC learning all he can from the instructors in order to get into the field of welding. “I know that I am only...

News TSTC Industrial Systems program looks to grow opportunities with Waxahachie company

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College and a Waxahachie insulating glass manufacturer are in the early stages of building a partnership to bolster the career possibilities for Industrial Systems students at TSTC’s North Texas campus. “They have been great about working with us,” said Lily Connolly, Cardinal IG Co.’s recruiting manager in Waxahachie....

News Fort Hood soldiers tour TSTC campus

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recently hosted 50 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, during their two-day visit to the Harlingen campus. The soldiers, who are in the Army Recovery Care Program’s Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU), toured TSTC programs and enjoyed lunch at TSTC’s Cultural Arts Center. Kenneth Buford, TSTC’s statewide...

News TSTC machining grad finds success at Schlumberger

Christopher Biello gained relevant training through TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program (ROSENBERG, Texas) – An automated machine shop in a U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan, gave Christopher Biello an idea of what he would do after his military career. “I was thoroughly impressed with what they were doing in there,” he recalled. Once...

News George West resident pursues two associate degrees at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Ethan White, of George West, is working on associate degrees in Instrumentation Technology and Electrical Power and Controls at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus and is scheduled to graduate in summer 2022. He is also an online tutor at TSTC, working with students in Instrumentation Technology classes.  White, a graduate of...

News TSTC graduate highlights apprenticeship success to current students

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College graduate Kaitlin Sullivan recently returned to TSTC to tell a group of current students about her successful internship in Germany with printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer that led to her current job at the company’s Dallas facility. During a recent industry spotlight at the college, Sullivan, who...

News Second cohort completes national workforce training program at TSTC

(WACO, Texas) – Five U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Kansas and Texas completed the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program Thursday, Nov. 18, making up the second such cohort to attend classes at Texas State Technical College. The 12-week program enabled soldiers to travel to Waco four days a week to take classes in mechatronics,...

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