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Requirements to enter Surgical Technology differ from those of other programs; be sure to read the program requirements before enrolling.

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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.

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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.

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

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A group of Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently engaged with one of the latest technological medical advancements, the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, in a one-day hands-on training session at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. The training was provided by American biotechnology company Intuitive Surgical Inc. It...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To commemorate National Surgical Technologists Week from Sept. 18-24, the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus will host its 15th annual meet-and-greet on Thursday, Sept. 22. Every September, Surgical Technology professionals promote the profession and educate individuals about the vital role that surgical technologists provide in operating rooms...

With complex surgeries on the rise and an increase in advancing robotic procedures and surgeries, the need for highly-skilled surgical technologists is on the rise and Texas State Technical College is working to fill that demand with its Surgical Technology program. TSTC Surgical Technology Program Director and Master Instructor Robert Sanchez said the program’s faculty...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumni Louie Munoz and Julio Hernandez recently conducted a seminar to TSTC Surgical Technology students. The purpose was to share with current students the proper procedures on how to apply an arm cast. This is the second year in a row that the graduates have offered their professional...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Recent Texas State Technical College graduate Celestial Martinez decided to study Surgical Technology after her own positive experience as a patient at DHR Health in McAllen, where she has been offered a full-time job as a surgical technician pending completion of her internship there and passing the required certifying examination. “I used...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – During an evening of celebration, a group of 18 Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology program graduates pledged to provide the best patient care possible in a recent pinning ceremony held at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. Each graduate walked across the stage and received a pin that signifies their completion of the program...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – An operating room is where miracles can happen, and Alejandra Rubio can attest to that. The Texas State Technical College alumna began her career in 2012 as a surgical technician at McAllen’s Rio Grande Regional Hospital, where she has flourished. Rubio, of Weslaco, graduated from TSTC in 2009 with an Associate of...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As the health care field introduces the latest advancements in medical technologies, Texas State Technical College implements similar resources to prepare its students for real-world careers. The Surgical Technology program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus recently introduced a new PeriopSim surgical simulator to be used by students during lab sessions. The software was...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It has been nearly 40 years since Robert Sanchez stepped foot on a Texas State Technical College campus for the first time, and now he is moving onward with a new chapter in his life: retirement. The 70-year-old and his dedication to the college and its Surgical Technology students were recently celebrated...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently engaged in a one-day hands-on training session with the da Vinci Xi surgical system provided by medical company Intuitive Surgical Inc. It is the second year that TSTC’s Surgical Technology program and Intuitive have collaborated to immerse students in cutting-edge technology to prepare...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Surgical technicians ensure a sterile and organized environment for a surgical team, and their dedication to patient care is shared by the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College — especially during National Surgical Technologists Week from Sept. 17 to 23. Every September, professionals in the surgical technology industry recognize the...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Surgical Technology students at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus experience a rewarding medical education in preparation for their work in operating rooms. Their commitment takes on added significance during National Surgical Technologists Week, which is observed annually during the third week of September and was designated as such in 1984 by...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A surgical technician has a respected role as the “backbone” of a surgical team. Prospective students who want to become one of these vital team members can develop hands-on technical skills in the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College. Students learn how to assist nurses and surgeons in preparation for...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology instructor Yolanda Ramirez maneuvers her laparoscope carefully within a virtual patient’s gallbladder. Her mission? To find four gallstones as quickly and smoothly as possible.  When she completes the exercise, Ramirez discovers that though she located all the specimens, her scope work needs some improvement. “I’m moving...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For Mark Braswell, it was like coming home when he returned to Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus to teach Surgical Technology after working as a surgical technician at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital in San Antonio. Braswell graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology from TSTC in 2009....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – After completing the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College in 2002, Yolanda Ramirez worked as a surgical technologist for seven years. Then, in 2009, she decided to bring her knowledge and refined skills back to TSTC to help educate future generations of surgical technologists. She discussed her time working in...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology alumna Rebecca Vargas recalls when she accepted a full-time job from Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen earlier this year. Since beginning her career in August, Vargas has proved herself as a surgical technologist by utilizing the hands-on technical skills she gained while studying at TSTC....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – To fathom the idea that a family member will undergo a much-needed surgery can be a disheartening reality. Elisa De La Pena, of Weslaco, remembered the day her father required surgery at an area hospital. That memory would influence her decision to enroll in the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently received hands-on training via a mock surgery performed under a retired surgeon’s supervision. The scenario, which included a lifelike manikin, involved students preparing the room for surgery, sanitizing and sterilizing their hands and tools, and even putting on scrubs and other proper attire for...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It is fascinating to consider that a video gamer’s hand-eye coordination and response time could easily translate to the realm of a LapSim ST, a laparoscopic simulator used by students for lab purposes in the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College. That is exactly the case for Celestino Salazar, who...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Edward Rivas always had his heart set on working in the medical field, and he is making that dream a reality. After going to work for Valley Baptist Medical Center as a surgical attendant in 2020, Rivas was encouraged by some of the staff there to join the Associate of Applied Science...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cars and trucks decorated with balloons and window art lined up across the Health Science and Technology Building parking lot at Texas State Technical College recently to celebrate the newest graduates of the Surgical Technology program. While maintaining social distancing guidelines, one graduate at a time exited their vehicle and walked up...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Amiel Basave, of La Feria, began her career as a surgical technologist with Rio Grande Regional Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center a few months ago. She graduated in August 2021 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology from Texas State Technical College. When Basave was doing her student clinicals at...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For six years prior to the pandemic, Primitiva Martinez, of Harlingen, was a paralegal. When the pandemic became a reality, she sought a new, more engaging career direction. After she researched multiple educational options, the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus appealed to her. “I really enjoyed what...

(RED OAK, Texas) – For many years, the Gene Haas Foundation has helped students in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program achieve their dreams of honing their skills and earning their degrees. Lyle Guinn, instructor for TSTC’s Precision Machining Technology program in North Texas, said that for the past three years the program...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – While every student at Texas State Technical College is exceptional, occasionally there are one or two students who go above and beyond what is expected of them. Ethan Brasseaux and Philip Haas are two such students. Brasseaux and Haas are both in the Electrical Power and Controls program at the Fort Bend...

Surgical technology is a rapidly growing field that is expected to rise in demand through at least 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This well-paying career entails getting front and center in an operating room to help a surgeon with necessities such as cutting sutures, transporting patients and keeping track of equipment...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The ever-growing medical field is more vital than it has ever been. Health care workers are an essential part of our well-being, and the Surgical Technology program at Texas State Technical College not only boasts a high completion rate, but it is also a very hands-on academic journey that prepares students for...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As she was wrapping up her final year of high school, Mary Guerrero knew that she wanted to spend her career helping others. A senior class trip to Texas State Technical College helped guide her right where she needed to be. Now the Santa Rosa native is ready to embark on a...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Surgical Technology students recently took part in an important effort for the Rio Grande Valley by volunteering their time and skills during a COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Ten students were divided into two separate shifts and tasked with data entry during the drive-thru clinic. Surgical Technology instructor Anna...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Representatives from Driscoll Children’s Hospital visited with some students and graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Surgical Technology program during a recent employer spotlight at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. Derek Perales and Norberto Solis talked with attendees about job opportunities and work culture at the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley that will...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Great things are happening at Texas State Technical College, and the Precision Machining Technology program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus will incorporate some of the latest equipment into its curriculum for the fall 2022 semester. A new Haas UMC-500 computer numerical control (CNC) 5-axis machine, and two new lathe mechanisms, will be utilized...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In a typical year, at a typical pinning ceremony, Texas State Technical College students in allied health programs would gather to celebrate the culmination of their studies in a solemn event steeped in tradition. But this is not a typical year. The pinning ceremonies for the Nursing and Surgical Technology allied health...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Roxanna “Roxy” Marfileno is studying Surgical Technology at Texas State Technical College and recently hit a roadblock in her studies because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The lack of personal protective equipment around the country has led facilities to recommend that students stop visiting hospitals at this time. However, despite her clinicals...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, for a tour of the Harlingen campus on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Being a former TSTC student herself, Flores said she was thrilled to return to TSTC. “It’s very impressive to see the growth of the Harlingen campus as a TSTC alumna,” she...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 600 high school students and visitors toured Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus during TechXperience Day on Thursday, Feb. 29, to learn more about the technical career pathways and state-of-the-art technologies that the college offers. The participating schools included some from Donna, Edinburg, La Joya, McAllen, Mission, Monte Alto, Palmview,...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With guidance from her sister, Taryn Crow made the decision to pursue a career in the medical field. Now she is one of 28 graduates who will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology this month from Texas State Technical College. The Los Fresnos native is grateful for how...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Navy veteran Ashley Flores knew that her career was not over after she concluded her time in the military. The Austin native received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology this summer, and she wants other veterans to know that they, too, can start a voyage in higher education. Why...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Cheers rang out at the South Padre Island Convention Center for more than 240 graduates as they walked across the stage and received certificates of completion or associate degrees at Texas State Technical College’s Fall 2023 Commencement held Tuesday, Dec. 5. David Campos, interim provost at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, welcomed the graduates...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Women’s History Month, celebrated each March, is a time to recognize the vital role of women in American history. It is also a time to honor today’s women whose contributions will have a lasting impact on current and future generations. One such woman is Anna San Pedro, associate provost at Texas State...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Few people know that multiple machines all over the world are used to create each of their cellphone’s components, along with nearly everything else that society uses. But those machines cannot do the job alone, and that is where machinists come in. “Everything you interact with every day would not exist if...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Precision Machining Technology students at Texas State Technical College are celebrating this week thanks to a generous donation from the Gene Hass Foundation. The foundation, with a mission of increasing the number of skilled computer numerical control (CNC) machinists out in the workforce, awarded the program $15,000 to use for scholarships to...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With manufacturing on the rise, the number of skilled machinists needed in the industry is also increasing. And Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College is working to produce the machinists needed to meet the demand. TSTC Precision Machining Technology lead instructor Isaac Gonzalez said he receives phone calls very often...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Through a new partnership, representatives of Texas State Technical College’s Nursing program in Harlingen and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) Health recently gathered at a luncheon to recognize seven TSTC Nursing students who are doing clinicals and preceptorships at DHR Health’s facility in Edinburg. Each of the students received a $1,500 scholarship...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Advocacy and Resource Center at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus recently provided either meal kits or restaurant gift cards for some students to help them have an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. “This is the second time our department has offered this,” said Lisa Garza, TSTC’s Advocacy and Resource coordinator. “We reached...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted state Sen.-elect Morgan LaMantia, D-Brownsville, for a tour of the Harlingen campus on Friday, Dec. 16. Members of TSTC’s Harlingen campus administrative team, including Amanda Posada, provost, and Cledia Hernandez, associate vice chancellor for External Relations and Workforce Development, told LaMantia about the various programs that are...

(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...

(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....

(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,...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College will offer evening classes starting in Spring 2020 for the first time. TSTC Precision Machining Technology lead instructor Isaac Gonzalez said this change came about because of student and industry demand. “This change is going to allow for more student flexibility,” said Gonzalez. “There...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s commitment to student success starts at the beginning of each individual’s academic journey. The promise of a hands-on education comes to fruition because of faculty who are ready to make a difference. Claudia Arnold is dedicated to fulfilling that promise. As a lead instructor for TSTC’s First Year...

(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,”...

(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...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program at the East Williamson County campus will benefit from training on a new computer numerical control (CNC) machine. The program recently purchased its first Haas Automation UMC 500 5-axis mill CNC machine using Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education funding. “Manufacturing...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Adair Briones knows which career path he wants to travel. And with just over a semester left in his college education, recently he was fielding multiple offers to get there.  Briones is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. He attended...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Instrumentation Technology program is preparing students for a digital world once they graduate. “You need hands-on work to be a good technician,” said Mickle Peine, an instructor in TSTC’s Instrumentation Technology program. The program has added new equipment to its labs, including eight Emerson AMS Trex Device Communicators....

(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...

(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...

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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – It is a woman’s world in Texas State Technical College’s Office of Information Technology. Sixteen women work in a range of roles statewide to keep the college functioning, from serving as applications administrators to help-desk technicians. Gladia Escobar and April Falkner have roughly three decades of combined service to TSTC. Both are...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Mark Anthony Pinon is proud of the trajectory that his life has taken, from working in the construction industry to currently working with instructional technology at the Lyford Consolidated Independent School District. “I collaborate with each campus’s administration about the planning of instructional technology that I design,”...

Women in Technology will feature three TSTC alumnae (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Emily Bollig might be short in stature, but she stands tall when it comes to taking pride in her career as a diesel equipment technician. “I’m 4 feet, 11 inches, so sometimes customers are surprised to see me, but then they see I can...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – In celebration of National Manufacturing Week, which is observed Oct. 6-13, Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs were ranked among the best in the United States, according to the 2024 Best Schools rankings compiled by Collegefactual.com. According to the website, TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program is...

Health Information Technology students, graduates input patient data during event (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Kayla Halmon, of Harlingen, was glad to volunteer during a recent morning at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Primera that was hosted by Cameron County Public Health. Halmon, a spring 2021 graduate of Texas State Technical College’s Health Information Technology program, input...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College officials broke ground for a new Industrial Technology Center at its Abilene east campus on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The facility will enhance the campus experience, provide additional training space for new and innovative programs, and help the college adapt to the ever-changing technical training landscape. The building is...

(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...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Today’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians need to know more than basic electrical theory and refrigeration processes. As technology evolves, so does the need to be familiar with how smart technology is being used in HVAC systems. Curtis Christian, a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology instructor at Texas State Technical...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Leaders from Texas State Technical College and Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) recently gathered in Marshall to celebrate a financial pledge made through The TSTC Foundation to TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program. The American Electric Power Foundation has pledged $100,000 to the program to help ease the financial burdens of students in...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Life takes us in various directions, and for former U.S. Marine Christopher Torres, the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College caught his interest. Torres served as a CH-53E helicopter engine mechanic with the Marine Corps for two years. He said that while he is proud of his Hispanic heritage, he...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There are many life lessons that a father can teach his son. For Jesse Carrizales, some of those lessons included instruction about the use of firearms. “My father educated me about the importance of hunting to provide a meal for the family,” he said. “The other was how to ensure your family’s...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Her curious nature led Denice Acosta to the Wind Energy Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. A few years ago when she was an Agricultural Technology student at TSTC, Acosta accidently stumbled upon the back entrance of the campus’ Engineering Technology Center. “I immediately noticed high-tech equipment after I...

(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...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Environmental Technology at Texas State Technical College offers training for a diverse array of career opportunities, ranging from environmental field technician, environmental consultant and environmental specialist. The program is not only extremely hands-on, but it is also taught by instructors who are just as passionate about education as they are about the...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Before enrolling at Texas State Technical College, Melissa Wykes studied criminal justice and became a licensed esthetician. But she said she needed to make a career change for financial security.  The Round Rock resident chose to attend TSTC’s East Williamson County campus in Hutto to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations Technology program in Marshall are getting the most out of some new virtual reality software. The program’s faculty members and students began using PetroSkills Simulation Solutions’ Distillation VR software last summer. The software can be used in classes focusing on process instrumentation, troubleshooting and...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Computer Programming Technology at Texas State Technical College equips students with the essential tools they need to continually stay in demand in this rising industry. The job outlook for computer programmers has not slowed down. In fact, the remote work environment that many people have become familiar with will lead to the...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program in Waco are getting their first taste of performance-based education (PBE) this semester. “We are coaching them through their labs,” said Timothy Snyder, lead instructor in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program in Waco. “We still have to keep them safe....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program in Harlingen are getting their first taste of performance-based education (PBE) this semester. “It has been a learning experience with this new modality,” said Jorge Cabrera, lead instructor in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program. “But so far we are having...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Jayden Hummel has always been fascinated with technology. The son of a former Air Force mechanic, Hummel is hoping to honor the memory of his late father by earning Associate of Applied Science degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at Texas State Technical College. “I know that he is...

Jose Reyes, of Harlingen, grew up with a unique connection to electronics, from building basic electronic kits as a child with his father to observing the robotics club events at his former high school. Those interests in mechanical and electronic engineering led him to enroll at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, where he is...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Cody Case, of Tyler, began teaching this semester in the Electrical Lineworker Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Marshall. He grew up in Big Sandy and has an Electrical Lineworker Technology certificate of completion  from Kilgore College.   What made you decide to pursue teaching in TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Bill Goss began teaching this semester in the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County. Goss grew up in Houston and moved to Austin after graduating from high school. He completed a four-year precision machining apprenticeship sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and went on...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College unveiled the first Immersive Interactive training labs in the state of Texas at ribbon-cutting ceremonies on May 18. The new labs, located at the Abilene and Brownwood campuses, will be used by Emergency Medical Services students to train in a variety of virtual settings that can help prepare...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Aydra Vasquez, a former California resident who now lives in Harlingen, has fond memories of being in the robotics club at her middle school near San Diego. Those memories would influence her decision to enroll in the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, where she is studying for...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Students in the Building Construction Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus were recently given a tour of the Joeris General Contractors headquarters in San Antonio. Joeris, a commercial construction company with additional locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston, welcomed the 22 students, along with their instructors, to interact directly...

(WACO, Texas) – The city of Glen Rose in Somervell County has proven to be an inspirational place for Texas State Technical College student Iris De La Fuente. De La Fuente, an Instrumentation Technology major, once worked as a painting foreman at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose. Hearing the success stories of...

(WACO, Texas) – Two future Texas State Technical College students and one current TSTC student were recently awarded Building Construction Technology scholarships. Recent Belton High School graduates Jose Delgado and Isaac Collazo Garcia each received $6,000 SkillsUSA scholarships to attend TSTC. Both students plan to major in Building Construction Technology this fall. Delgado said he...

(WACO, 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. “It’s been around for quite a few years and keeps improving,” said Tim Snyder,...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has embraced remote learning, and despite studying off campus, students are still assured the same hands-on guidance that TSTC provides to students studying on campus. Department chair JJ Vavra discussed the fundamentals of TSTC’s Visual Communication Technology program, its benefits, and what students will learn during their five...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – From airplane landing gears to smartphones, precision machining is a critical component of our lives. “Everything comes from an actual machine shop making the products you are going to need for later use,” said Isaac Gonzalez, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program in Harlingen.  Gonzalez said it...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Shawn Avelar, of West, and John Sprague, of Clifton, have in common the year 2008 at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. That was the year Avelar began teaching at the campus and the year Sprague graduated. Avelar did not get an opportunity to teach Sprague in what is now the Occupational...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Avionics Technology program has started using new equipment to make testing avionics radios easier as part of students’ training. Earlier this year the program purchased three T-RX avionics testers from Canada-based CCX Technologies. “The T-RX is a leap forward in technology, designed to be intuitive and easy to...

(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...

(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...

TSTC’s Computer Networking and Systems Administration program is offered completely online (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Renee Blackshear’s first experience with computers and technology was in junior high school, writing a program that made a virtual robot do jumping jacks on the screen. By the time she was using a computer to design a yearbook in high...

Hands-on HVAC training has boosted Chalhoub’s experience (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Gus Chalhoub is no stranger to a career change. He first set his heart on becoming a nurse. But when the birth of his twins — and the stress of caring for his toddler — closed the door on that path, Chalhoub instead decided to...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Siria Jones recalled a moment during her youth when her parents purchased an airplane ticket for her to depart their native Honduras and reunite with them in New York. She was entranced by the aerial scene from her window seat as the airplane navigated toward the U.S. That childhood memory would lead...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Aaron Sorenson, of Longview, credits representatives of Longview’s Eastman Chemical Co. visiting his high school in helping him choose his career path. “I was at a point in my life where I did not know what the heck I was going to do,” said Sorenson, a Process Operations Technology student at Texas...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Ryon Korenek chose to pursue Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus because it is cutting-edge technology. “It’s more important to our economy right now because of how backed up everything is,” said the El Campo resident. “We just need to get stuff moving rather...

(WACO, Texas) – After working throughout the country in the space industry, Clara Salazar has come back to the place where it all started. Salazar graduated in 2020 from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Avionics Technology. Now she is teaching with some of her former instructors....

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Instructors in the Mechatronics Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus are looking forward to Aug. 28, the first day of the fall semester, because the college’s recruitment efforts have resulted in an enrollment increase in the program. Carlos Reyes, TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program director in Harlingen, said the number...

(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....

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many aviation enthusiasts who have a passion for different types of aircraft set out to achieve a dream of working in the aviation industry in some aspect. That dream has become a reality for three Texas State Technical College Aircraft Airframe Technology students. Fabien Granja, Hafez Omar and Mark Sanchez are gaining...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – For Marshall resident Deanna Anders, graduating from Elysian Fields High School was only the beginning of her history with the Elysian Fields Independent School District. She returned to the school district to teach, but she knew that she could push her career further. “I am a big fan of the user end...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Health Information Technology program can be seen as the cybersecurity of health care. “We’re behind the scenes in health care,” Sarah Brooks, TSTC’s interim director of alignment for Health Information Technology, said. “We take care of patients by ensuring that patient information is accessible when needed and keeping...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted a Women in Technology event on Friday, Aug. 2, at the Marshall campus.  Some 14 women attended the event, which was sponsored by electric cable manufacturer Prysmian Group’s Marshall plant.  Megan Hanson, a Perkins nontraditional program specialist at TSTC, said the annual event is designed to encourage...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Construction of the new Diesel Equipment Technology facility at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus is on track to be completed in November. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome this new addition to TSTC’s Marshall campus,” Bart Day, the campus’s provost, said. “The expanded footprint and $2.6 million investment in new equipment will...

(HARLINGEN) – Texas State Technical College and Valley Regional Medical Center have recently formed a partnership to provide workforce training and development to more than 100 employees at the hospital. And, to ensure that every employees receives the customized training needed for advancement and success, the Texas Workforce Commission and Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez,...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The state and national shortage of registered nurses is increasing, with 203,000 job openings projected nationally through 2026, according to onetonline.org. And the Dallas Observer recently reported that Texas will have the second-largest shortage in the country. TSTC’s Director of Nursing Shirley Byrd said most of the program’s grads are hired before...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Ruben Ramirez was only 17-years-old when he began his career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and since then his passion for the field and training newer generations of EMS technicians and paramedics has only grown, leading him to Texas State Technical College. The Harlingen native is a coordinator and instructor for TSTC’s...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Pursuing an associate degree in Biology from Texas State Technical College can lead to a number of career possibilities in a field that is growing rapidly. TSTC Biology program chair Paul Leonard said that with advances and more opportunities in technology moving into the Rio Grande Valley and the state, such as Space...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As students gear up to start classes this fall, Texas State Technical College has been diligently planning and preparing for a new way of learning. The coronavirus has very quickly changed the way we go about our daily lives, a change that has also had an impact on how TSTC distributes curriculum....

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Shannon Powell is now working in a field she fell in love with at the age of 19. Powell, who received an associate degree in Nursing at Texas State Technical College in 2020, passed the National Council Licensure Examination earlier this year. Today, she is a registered nurse in the medical-surgical department...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Nursing students attended a recruiting event with Doctors Hospital at Renaissance on Tuesday — and at least one Licensed Vocational Nursing student, Audrey Gonzales, walked away with a job. “I was ecstatic,” she said of the moment recruiters offered her the position. “Being in school, it’s very difficult...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Glen Cusack III, of Kyle, graduated this fall from Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology. He is working at DJO Global in Austin, where he uses machining to create surgical implants.  What factored into you choosing Precision Machining Technology...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some 300 students from nine area high schools visited Texas State Technical College during an open house held on the Harlingen campus Thursday, March 10. The participating schools included Grulla, La Feria, Lopez Early College, PSJA Sonia M. Sotomayor Early College, Raymondville, Rio Grande City, Rio Hondo, Santa Maria, and Vanguard Beethoven...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – They enrolled. They trained. They conquered! Texas State Technical College graduates echoed phrases such as “this is for you” and “it’s time to celebrate” at TSTC’s Summer 2022 Commencement held Saturday, August 27, at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. Cheers of excitement filled the arena when more than 280 graduates from...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s campus in Harlingen experienced many achievements during the busy fall 2022 semester. Here is a look back at some of the highlights: Prestigious award TSTC recognizes individuals every year who help achieve its mission of placing more Texans in great-paying jobs. Jessica Ybarra-Almaraz, Juan Lucio and Rebeca Villanueva-Hernandez...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus welcomed more than 1,900 students to begin the spring 2023 semester on Monday, Jan. 9. Returning students were reacquainted with friends, while new students met their classmates and instructors introduced their curriculums. “TSTC is thrilled to welcome back in-person labs for both TSTC’s Cybersecurity and Drafting...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The Allied Health division at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus will host a community event from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the Cultural Arts Center at the corner of North Loop 499 and Jasmine Street. Prospective TSTC students who are interested in beginning a specialized health care...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Nursing students recently heard about some job opportunities that they might pursue after they graduate. During an employer spotlight held at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, representatives from Valley Baptist Medical Center discussed their company’s job outlook at the Harlingen and Brownsville locations, a nurse residency program, tuition reimbursement,...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus recently held its sixth annual Nursing Expo, where more than 85 TSTC Nursing students presented their resumes and credentials to area medical representatives. Around 33 companies from across the Rio Grande Valley provided information on job opportunities, company benefits, and the qualifications they are looking for...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Jesus Herrera will never forget when his young daughter was being treated in the intensive care unit at Valley Baptist Medical Center for a rare medical condition. His daughter improved, and the patient care provided by the nurses inspired Herrera to pursue an education in health care at Texas State Technical College’s...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The sounds of families cheering and applauding captured a special moment for more than 250 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus at TSTC’s Summer 2023 Commencement held Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the South Padre Island Convention Center. Each proud graduate walked the stage and received either an associate degree or...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Vocational Nursing student Lacey Hampton has a progression plan for her medical career. “Since I have been doing the job of nurses for the past six years as a CMA (certified medical assistant), I decided, why not climb that professional ladder and become a vocational nurse?” she said....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Pursuing a postsecondary education is a life-changing choice for many individuals that can lead to a better life — especially when that mastery in technical skills begins at Texas State Technical College. This year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It is a celebration of the...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Many health care professionals who earned degrees from Texas State Technical College are making a difference in the medical field. TSTC students can choose from an array of health care programs, including Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Nursing, and Surgical Technology. Anna San Pedro, associate provost for TSTC’s Harlingen campus, said the...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 130 students from Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus participated in an emergency drill that was staged on a closed runway at Valley International Airport on Thursday, Oct. 12. Some of TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Nursing, and Surgical Technology students collaborated with first responders from...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College students who are close to graduation understand that preparing for a real-life interview is paramount to helping them land a dream job. Recently more than 110 TSTC students, including Ruby Castillo and Mark Lozano, participated in an Interview Practicum presented at the Harlingen campus by TSTC’s Career Services...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – More than 30 area high school students from the Edcouch-Elsa, La Feria, Lyford, Mission and San Benito school districts were immersed in a college experience this summer by participating in the Migrant Academic Achievement Residential Summer (MAARS) program held at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. The program is designed to help...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will introduce an online program this fall for students who want to pursue a career in health care but are undecided about which pathway to take, as well as for students who need to take prerequisite courses for related areas of study. TSTC’s new Pre-Allied Health certificate of...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Supervisors at the Sabine Mining Co. in Hallsville see little turnover in its mobile equipment department. The more than 40 employees, some being graduates of Texas State Technical College, work on bulldozers, forklifts, hydraulic cranes and other heavy equipment for mining operations. The company currently has one full-time diesel equipment mechanic opening....

(WACO, Texas) – Julian Rodriguez’s future in the solar industry looks to be as bright as the sun shining on the panels generating energy in Texas. Rodriguez, 18, of McCamey in Upton County, is in his second semester at Texas State Technical College, studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Solar Energy Technology...

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...

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...

(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...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – You might say that Texas State Technical College Business Management Technology instructor Duston Brooks brings some practical experience of a bovine nature into the classroom. Prior to becoming an instructor at TSTC, Brooks worked on the financial side of his family’s dairy farm. He now brings that knowledge to his students as...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Faculty members and students in Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations Technology program started working with a new virtual reality software system this summer. PetroSkills Simulation Solutions’ Distillation VR is in the early stages of use this summer in the Process Technology III – Operations and Process Troubleshooting classes. Students can  access...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor Mark Casares has a passion for welding, and he is grateful that he gets to bring his knowledge into the classroom with each passing semester. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welding occupations are expected to grow continuously through 2029. TSTC’s Welding Technology...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Coding, JavaScript, and Python may seem like foreign languages to some, but for Texas State Technical College students enrolled in Computer Programming Technology, they are as easy as the alphabet. The program, which is taught online, prepares students to become problem solvers behind the scenes while not forgetting other vital components of...

(WACO, Texas) – Dominic Abeyta, of Hewitt, is working toward a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology certificate at Texas State Technical College. He is scheduled to graduate in December. What inspired you to study Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology at TSTC? I was working as an armed security guard, but I was looking for a new challenge...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Health information technology enables people to work wherever they want to do their part to keep patients’ health care records organized. Beyda Ramirez, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Health Information Technology program in Harlingen, said graduates do more than handle billing and coding. They also maintain the accuracy of electronic...

(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,...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – The hands-on experience that Texas State Technical College’s Computer Programming Technology students have now will help them tomorrow in the job market. “For every business in Texas today, there is a need for a programmer or a team of programmers,” said Shannon Ferguson, TSTC’s statewide lead instructor in the Computer Programming Technology...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program offers students the chance to reach the very top of their potential. “The wind program takes you to new heights because you’re literally climbing 300 feet in the air,” TSTC Wind Energy Technology instructor Patrick Zoerner said. “If you’re interested in learning about electronics...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Omar Escalon, of La Feria, served as a U.S. Border Patrol agent for 11 years. Afterward, he was in search of a personal challenge that would be out of his comfort zone. He enrolled at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus to begin that educational career change and earned an Associate of...

(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...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Two representatives from Equipment Depot recently visited Texas State Technical College’s campus in Fort Bend County to meet with Diesel Equipment Technology students and share possible job opportunities with them. The representatives fielded many questions from the students and discussed training and growth opportunities, as well as benefits and the company culture,...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Jessica Krause, of Round Rock, left her job as a pet groomer to enroll at Texas State Technical College in East Williamson County to study Welding Technology. The first-semester student said she was not expecting such a fast pace of teaching. Besides adapting to new skills, Krause had not been in a...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – In college, Phyllis Hollingshead was studying to become a teacher when her own teacher opened a door to computer programming. “I realized it was this logical process you go through of telling the computer what to do,” she recalled. “It’s fascinating — you can control that machine. I would’ve thought it was...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Taylor Marze attended a four-year university for architecture, but his disappointment in the program led him to obtain a bachelor’s degree in 3D-focused art instead. The journey took him down a path of procedure, logic and creativity that eventually led to Texas State Technical College, where he is currently a Precision Machining...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – More than a month before Texas State Technical College’s Summer 2022 Commencement, TSTC HVAC Technology student Myles Davis has earned his certificate of completion. How? HVAC Technology is part of TSTCYou, which meets students where they are through a flexible, performance-based education (PBE) modality that works with busy schedules. “PBE is really...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With each cut that they make and each nail that they drive, students in the Building Construction Technology program at Texas State Technical College are reaping benefits that can have a profound impact on their future careers. Third-semester students Jesse Cisneros and Eddie Rodriguez have been learning various components involved in building...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With each graduating class, Texas State Technical College lives up to its nickname: the Get-a-Job College. Now one of its Wind Energy Technology students is on an exciting career pathway that will take her halfway around the world. Monika Bodner recently accepted a job opportunity with German printing press manufacturer Koenig &...

(WACO, Texas) – Tony Montoya, of Axtell, is an instructor in the Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is a graduate of La Vega High School and McLennan Community College.  Recently Montoya talked about TSTC’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program and the job outlook for its graduates.  ...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – As the boundaries are pushed in manufacturing, it is critical to do so in a way that is mindful of the environment. Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program continues to look for sustainable ways to teach students. The program at the Waco campus has been working to be more sustainable...

(BELTON, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus and the Belton Independent School District’s Career and Technical Education department honored a group of Belton High School seniors on Monday, May 15. The seniors signed letters of intent to attend TSTC to study in a range of programs. Tony Montoya, an instructor in...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Training to save lives requires dedication by both students and instructors. At Texas State Technical College, the Emergency Medical Services program has taken training students to a new level with the introduction of the first complete ambulance simulator in North America. In June, Echo Healthcare delivered to TSTC’s Abilene campus a Ford...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Imagine a world where all structures are at risk of collapsing at any second. Buildings creak with every step, a slight gust of wind could knock down a bridge, and airplanes and space exploration are nothing but fantasy.  Luckily, the world is a much more secure place — thanks to welders. “We’ve...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – At Texas State Technical College, the formula to a great-paying career for some students starts by training with industry-standard equipment and materials to prepare for competition at the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference and, ultimately, the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Recently Best Block, a Quikrete company, donated three...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Manufacturing jobs are an integral part of the Texas economy, and recently the Central Texas region has experienced an increase in machinist jobs. This job outlook is a key motivator for students who are enrolled in the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College. The program is known for training...

(WACO, Texas) – Kyler Valenta is back in a familiar place. Valenta, of Waco, graduated in 2019 from Texas State Technical College’s Instrumentation Technology program and quickly went to work at Formosa Plastics Corp., Texas in Point Comfort as an instrumentation technician specializing in analyzer systems. Earlier this year, Valenta made a career change and...

(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,...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The average person clicks on a computer icon or taps a phone app every day without thinking much about it. However, without computer programmers, those icons and apps would do absolutely nothing. Texas State Technical College’s Computer Programming Technology program recently was described by Kathryn Wilganowski, its online program team lead, as...

(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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – As a child, Beau Babineau of Creedmoor enjoyed flipping cars. In high school, he worked as a mechanic and knew he wanted to work with diesel equipment after his dad bought a diesel truck. “I’ve learned more in two semesters than I had in most of high school,” said Babineau, a Diesel...

(WACO, Texas) – Randall Frett’s career in Waco is blossoming like a magnolia tree in springtime.   Frett, a graduate of Texas State Technical College, is an information technology systems administrator at Magnolia, which encompasses real estate, vacation rentals, home decor and food. “My responsibility is to be what my company needs for me to be,”...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Froilan Gaitan began his college career at Texas State Technical College with the idea of transferring to pursue a bachelor’s degree. But somewhere between dream and reality, he realized that a technical education could pay off big and chose to pursue Wind Energy Technology. “This was a huge move for me,” said...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology students are finding a need for their skills regionally and throughout the country. The demand for brazers, cutters, solderers and welders is projected to increase up to 439,100 workers by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency attributes this to replacing the...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Three graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus are helping to keep the city of Longview safe and technologically advancing. “There are a lot of positive aspects to working in the public sector,” said Amy Hertel, an instructor in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program. “Government jobs not only allow for great work experience,...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Wearing a mask and hard hat, Chelsea Wallace hoisted a long piece of wood on her shoulder to carry so her classmates could start a project framing a floor in a Building Construction Technology class at Texas State Technical College. She is grateful to be making good use of her hands during...

(WACO, Texas) -Vanessa Loredo, of Waco, is working toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Building Construction Technology at Texas State Technical College. She is scheduled to graduate in December. What inspired you to study Building Construction Technology at TSTC?  My mother surprised us with a pumpkin for Halloween when I was seven years...

Real-life experience valuable to learning for construction students (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Hands-on work with lumber is essential to Texas State Technical College’s Building Construction Technology program. And as students hammer, nail and saw to create a range of projects, program instructors are keeping an eye on the dollars and cents of lumber. “We use the...

Billie Jones hopes to continue to grow TSTC’s Wind Energy Technology program (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Billie Jones takes pride in watching her students succeed, both in college and in the workforce. The Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology instructor and statewide division chair works daily to make sure that students will be ready to...

(RED OAK, Texas) – From smartphones to the hubcaps on vehicles, precision machining is a critical component of our lives. “(Many human-made things would) not exist without a machine and its components,” said Nathan Cleveland, acting statewide lead in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program and associate provost at TSTC in Marshall. Cleveland...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s technology-related programs are getting a feel for what the real world is like as they take classes online. According to a Gallup Poll, 86 percent of the nation’s workers in the computer and mathematical fields were working remotely from October 2020 to April 2021. Twenty-one percent...

Job options in wind energy field continue to grow (HARLINGEN, Texas) – A man dangles in a harness from a platform high above, head down and limbs hanging. Slowly, his colleague leaves the platform and maneuvers toward him for a rescue. Below, Patrick Zoerner, a Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology instructor, monitors the...

(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....

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Night owls who are good at math and excited about programming and technology are needed to fill machining jobs in East Texas. “Some companies are just looking for a well-rounded individual to work for them,” said Danny Nixon, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program in Marshall. “One...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructors are ready for a new wave of students to begin classes this fall. With more construction sites showing up in the region, the need for welders is growing. TSTC will be preparing students for jobs on construction sites and in the oil field. Some graduates...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations Technology program are using a new fractional distillation column in classes this semester. The equipment separates chemicals based on boiling point. It is made of glass so that students can view the distillation process. “Products come off the column at different points and are...

(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...

(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...

(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,...

(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...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Rodger Ruiz wants to show people that they are never too old to learn a new skill. When Bangs High School students toured TSTC’s Welding Technology lab in Brownwood earlier this month, Ruiz talked to them about his military career and what he is doing today.  “I wanted to let those students...

(ABILENE, Texas) – The ability to work at his own pace is one reason Garrett Hamner enjoys Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. The U.S. Army veteran also knew welding would be a career path after his military service. Hamner credits his Jim Ned High School agriculture science teacher for his interest in welding....

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There is always a need for skilled construction workers in Texas. And the skills that will make those workers successful are offered in the Building Construction Technology program at Texas State Technical College. Rick Vargas, TSTC’s Building Construction Technology lead instructor at the Harlingen campus, has 13 years of industry expertise from...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Valerie Robin, of Austin, grew up learning from her father how to do basic work on cars.  Now she is blazing her own path in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program at the East Williamson County campus. Robin is the lone female in the program, working toward an associate degree...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – One year after participating in a high school welding contest at Texas State Technical College, Christian Chapla is proud to promote the college’s Welding Technology program to prospective students. Chapla, of Newcastle, is working toward a certificate of completion in Structural Welding at TSTC this semester and is considering returning to earn...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some 50 students from Texas State Technical College’s Mechatronics Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs at the Harlingen campus experienced a tour of aerospace manufacturer SpaceX’s launch facility in Brownsville Wednesday, March 16. They were greeted with a spectacular view from outside the facility of a Stargate base and three...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Roy Valdez, of Los Fresnos, learned of the renewable energy boom through his older brother Guadalupe, a Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology alumnus. Now Roy Valdez is pursuing a certificate of completion in Wind Energy Technician at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. The program has captivated his interest with such topics as...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Graduates of Texas State Technical College‘s Welding Technology program are well positioned to fill welding jobs that are being vacated by retiring baby boomers. Jesus Gonzalez, of Harlingen, will graduate from the program this semester with an Associate of Applied Science degree and is excited about the promising job opportunities that await...

Alfredo Martinez will put construction skills to work at Morton Buildings (HOUSTON, Texas) – Alfredo Martinez, a Texas State Technical College student training in Building Construction Technology at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, may have gone to the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston in hopes of winning a gold medal in the Carpentry...

Alumnus discussed opportunities in the diesel industry (ROSENBERG, Texas) – When John Farley, fleet supervisor of Silver Eagle Houston’s Pasadena branch, sees a resume that includes a work gap for school, it reminds him of himself. “I was at my last employer for 10 years and decided that wasn’t going to do it for me,”...

Robotics Technology instructor Charles Sparks has a wealth of industry experience (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Robotics Technology instructor Charles Sparks has been interested in electronics since he was a teenager. That interest took him through six years of active duty with the U.S. Navy where, as an electronic warfare technician, he was...

(WACO, Texas) – Representatives of Texas State Technical College and L3Harris Technologies gathered earlier this week to celebrate a new company employee at a symbolic contract-signing ceremony. Ryan Becerra, of Waco, is scheduled to begin work in mid-May as an electrical assembler in the company’s avionics manufacturing department in Waco. Becerra is a candidate for...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Tyler Scarbrough wanted a career in which he could travel. The Merkel native knows he can do that with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology from Texas State Technical College. Now in his third semester of the program, Scarbrough is excited about his career opportunities. “This program has...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – A tragic event led Korbin Elder to study Diesel Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College. In 2019, Elder’s grandfather died in an accident while driving his truck. His grandfather failed to navigate a turn late at night on a rural highway in Scurry County. That incident led the Hermleigh High School...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The serenity of nature. The beauty of mountain landscapes. And an adrenaline-filled rock climbing hobby in high altitudes. Each of those captivating elements is what Alex Walker grew up around in his home state of Wyoming. Years later, his concern for the environment — and the fact that climbing to dizzying heights...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Mason Gomez, of Belton, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He will begin in mid-December an internship at Ultimate Biomedical Solutions in Austin and is scheduled to graduate in spring 2023. Gomez grew up in Cypress and is a...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With graduation scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology students were asked to leave their mark on the Sweetwater campus. Russell Benson, an instructor in the program, wanted students who completed the core of the program to sign the wind turbine blade that is on permanent display...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Kayleb Carter needed one additional class during his sophomore year at Mineral Wells High School. “I needed a filler class in high school and decided to enroll in welding,” said the Texas State Technical College Welding Technology student. “I immediately fell in love with it.” That first impression helped Carter to enter...

(WACO, Texas) – Texans adore their air conditioning and heating systems, and they will do whatever is needed to ensure that they work properly. February is National Care About Your Indoor Air Month, a time to check ducts, filters and vents to make sure that there are no hindrances in generating air. Tim Snyder, lead...

(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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Employees from Alvarado-based Magna Mechanical visited Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program Thursday, April 6, to talk to students. Magna Mechanical provides industrial and commercial services to industries including beverage and food, oil and gas, manufacturing, paints and polymers, and semiconductor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company has divisions for...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When people think of Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, often the first thing that comes to mind is an image of big trucks on a highway. But some students are looking to take the skills they learn to a different industry. During a recent employer spotlight held at TSTC’s...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – With nearly every industry needing some form of machined part, gaining a degree in precision machining can lead to many open doors and high-paying careers. That is precisely what Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program is designed to help students achieve. The program is structured to build knowledge from the...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is proud to have graduates who have gone on to start their own businesses. However, there is one key person who those graduates need in order to get their businesses off the ground, and that is someone to help them manage them. That is why TSTC offers Business...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Phishing emails offering fake jobs or attempting to con one out of money have made most people familiar with virtual scams. That is why Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program is teaching the next generation of data protectors. “It’s an extremely broad field,” Amy Hertel, lead Cybersecurity instructor at the Marshall campus,...

(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...

(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,...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – When Austin-Travis County EMS purchased an Immersive Interactive lab, its staff members wanted to learn what the lab could do from an organization that had experience with the technology. That is why department members traveled to Abilene recently to tour Texas State Technical College’s Immersive Interactive lab and its ambulance simulator after...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Hannah Aguilar was a social worker in a nursing home for more than 20 years before the pandemic changed everything. “I enjoyed helping people, and it halted my career,” she said. Aguilar turned to her hobby of sewing to pass the time and generate an income. “I...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – When he was in high school, Texas State Technical College student Sergio Godina acquired hands-on technical skills in welding, carpentry and plumbing. But with high school graduation approaching, he was unsure which career pathway he wanted to take — until he saw an HVAC technician at work. “My friend’s brother-in-law is an...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Precision Machining Technology student Adrian Munoz developed a fascination with engineering at a young age. “My dad and I worked on a project where he wanted to fuse two jeeps together and make it an eight-seater,” he said. “During that process, I loved working on the automobile’s engine.”...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Calder Woods said entering the Texas State Technical College Welding Technology lab is one of the best parts of his day. “I like the time I spend in the booth working on my projects,” the third-semester student from Throckmorton said. “I am able to concentrate on what I need to do.” Studying...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Four candidates for graduation in Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program this semester have signed with companies either to begin or continue their careers in the wind energy industry.  Sterling Hernandez will begin work at Oncor, while Joeangel Reyna will continue to work at RWE following his internship there. Casey...

(WACO, Texas) – Staff from GE HealthCare’s Houston location visited Texas State Technical College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program, which includes the Medical Imaging Systems Technology Specialization program, on Tuesday, April 16, to talk to students about the company’s work and to conduct interviews. GE HealthCare is a worldwide medical technology and pharmaceutical diagnostics company. TSTC...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – After serving in Iraq left him disabled in 2008, U.S. Army veteran Robert DeWare, of Jefferson, had a hard time adjusting to civilian life. “I had nothing; I was struggling to survive and didn’t know which way to go,” DeWare recently said. “I can remember losing my house, getting my truck repossessed....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Eric Gonzalez, a Mechatronics Technology student at Texas State Technical College, recently began an internship with HGG Profiling Equipment Inc. in Houston. According to HGG Profiling Equipment’s website, hgg-group.com, the company designs and builds 3D profiling machines for a manufacturing process that uses advanced technology to cut three-dimensional forms on metal pipes,...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Construction of Texas State Technical College’s newest facility at Abilene’s Industrial Technology Center is on schedule. Bobby Copelin, TSTC’s construction project manager for campus expansion planning and construction, said plans are for the new campus building to be ready for students when the Fall 2025 semester begins. The new facility will house...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – One thing that Wind Energy Technology students at Texas State Technical College have to conquer is any fear of heights. To help get them ready to climb inside actual wind turbines that can be several hundred feet high, the program recently introduced a 27-foot-tall portable wind turbine training simulation trailer that was...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Victoria “Tori” Lynn jumped into the workforce after earning her general education diploma. She held several jobs before enrolling at Texas State Technical College, but they all had one thing in common. “Whether it was my job at the newspaper or my job at the vet or my job working at hotels,...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – After graduating from high school, Donovan Suchan followed his father’s advice and explored the possibility of an internship with Komatsu at its Longview facility, where the company manufactures mining equipment. Now a student in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program, Suchan has a partial scholarship from Komatsu and a paid...

(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....

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in Abilene will offer a new program of study starting this fall: Computer Programming Technology. Students who successfully complete the five-semester program will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. “We brought the CPT course to Abilene because industries are moving forward to digital and electronic-based needs. This...

(WACO, Texas) – The city of Hillsboro has more than 20 computer servers spread among city-owned buildings. And, two people with the important role of keeping the city’s technology functioning are Texas State Technical College graduates. Antwon Gude is director of Hillsboro’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Department, and Nathan Stroud is anMIS technician. For Gude...

By Amanda Sotelo (HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Madison Freeman is a long way from her hometown of Sulphur Springs, Texas, and her move to the Rio Grande Valley was inspired by TSTC’s Mechatronics Technology program.  As a woman who grew up in the foster care system, being a college student is...

(HUTTO, Texas) – As the Austin area continues to grow with residential housing and high-rise buildings, so does the need for qualified heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians. “This is a really high-tech area, but just because you live in a town for high-tech, not everybody is,” said Curtis Christian, an HVAC Technology instructor...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Keeping students safe while welding is a top priority for Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology instructors. Philip Miller, an instructor in TSTC’s Welding Technology program in Marshall, said students learn about safety in the first couple of weeks each semester. Personal protection equipment is one of the most important topics covered....

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus has received an equipment gift from a Mansfield business. Century A/C Supply has donated a 25-ton York package unit valued at $15,000 to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program. “I was not going to sell it, and I figured I would donate...

(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,...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program will use a hybrid teaching model this fall. But the instructor that students will see teaching online may not be from their home campus. The program’s faculty from the East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, North Texas and Waco campuses...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – For Texas State Technical College Business Management Technology instructor Cynthia Mata, the last three decades seem to have flown by. “It does not feel like 35 years,” she said. “I was between jobs, and my parents mentioned that I should apply at TSTC. I started as an instructor in the Business Skills...

(WACO, Texas) – Edward Sanchez, of Hubbard, is proud to be a third-generation welder. “I come in and do the best I can do every day,” he said. Sanchez graduated this month with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. He is also the fall semester’s...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College is one of the more popular programs offered statewide. Students enter the program for different reasons, from seeking a career change to learning more about a craft they dabbled in during a weekend project. TSTC instructors will teach students how to hone the craft in...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s online Business Management Technology program prepares students for a wide range of career options. Graduates of the program have worked in different areas of business, from accounting to business management. Earning an associate degree or certificate has opened doors for many of the program’s graduates. Ron Howard is...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Building Construction Technology at Texas State Technical College equips future builders with the tools needed to step into a booming industry. TSTC instructor Rick Vargas discussed the program and how it benefits students. “Our TSTC instructors have first-hand industry experience that we share with our students,” he said. “This is the only...

(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...

(HUTTO, Texas) – From computer tablets to soft drink cans, precision machining is a critical component of our lives. “When the economy is down, the first place that comes back is the machining world,” said Tim Hemesath, an instructor in the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus. “Everything...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Business Management Technology program can open many doors for its graduates. Managing an office requires skills in different areas, and TSTC’s program will teach students how to handle each, according to instructor JoLynn Hightower. Graduates will be able to apply for different positions that are always in demand....

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – More welding torches are being used in the Welding Technology lab at Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus. Instructor Taylor Elston is excited to see 26 new students, including two women, beginning their journey to a career as a welder. Elston said the new group is the largest he has had in...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – William Reid, of Cisco, was looking for a good place to learn more welding techniques. After reviewing his options, Reid said he chose Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology because of the respect everyone at TSTC showed him. He said he made the correct decision to attend TSTC in Breckenridge. “Everyone I...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Isaiah Dunn said taking classes in a shop environment is helping him prepare for a career. Dunn, a first-semester Diesel Equipment Technology student at Texas State Technical College, has always been around big vehicles, so working on engines has come naturally. The Childress native is studying for an Associate of Applied Science...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – With a natural aptitude, drive and interest in machining, Ryan Stehle fits right in to the Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College. “He does not wait for the instructor to tell him to go to the next step,” said Deogratias Nizigiyimana, lead instructor for the program on TSTC’s campus...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has added four statewide programs to its Money-Back Guarantee, reflecting the needs of employers. Students in their first semester pursuing associate degrees or certificates of completion in the Industrial Systems, Precision Machining Technology, Process Operations Technology and Robotics Technology programs can now feel confident about finding employment soon...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Leaders from Texas State Technical College and the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation Inc. (RSTEF) gathered Thursday, Sept. 30, at TSTC’s Harlingen campus to celebrate a $310,250 grant to The TSTC Foundation for TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program and The TSTC Foundation’s Goal Line Assistance Scholarship. The RSTEF has pledged...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Tyler Mogen tinkered with welding while attending Comanche High School, not thinking of it as a future career. But after graduating, he realized that welding could be a good professional opportunity and enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program.  Mogen is now pursuing a certificate of completion at TSTC. “I...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Titan Suarez was looking for an exciting career. Narrowing his choices to welding and diesel mechanics, he recalled the good times he had helping friends work on their diesel engines.  “A few of my friends in Lubbock have diesels, and I always liked to work on them,” he said. “I was either...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The Diesel Equipment Technology lab at Texas State Technical College is filled with future mechanics. The new students are putting the finishing touches on the first semester of the program with thoughts of what the future holds. “I cannot wait to get started working on the engines,” said John Mendez, who is...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Luz Puente is something of a trailblazer. The San Benito resident is currently the sole female student in the Precision Machining Technology program at the Texas State Technical College campus in Harlingen. Before Puente enrolled, she had met with Precision Machining Technology instructors and toured the program. Its state-of-the-art lab equipment, especially...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Austin Barnhart has set a goal for his life. The Brownwood native is studying Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College with a purpose. He wants to help others, as well as his younger brother. Barnhart suffered from Chiari I malformation, a brain disorder, after discovering that he could not feel the...

(MARSHALL, TEXAS) – Ralph Cottrell, of Arp in Smith County, began working at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus this month as an instructor in the Diesel Equipment Technology program. Cottrell grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho, and is a graduate of Blackfoot High School. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Safety from...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Hugo Martinez did not have a career in mind when he started researching his college options. After looking at Texas State Technical College’s Electromechanical Technology program on the internet, Martinez, of Mason, said he could have many job opportunities in the future. “I always wanted to do something with my hands, and...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Manuel Soto has seen a big difference in his welding skills over the past year. Soto, of Newcastle, Texas, is completing his certificate of completion in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. As each day goes by, he thinks about returning to school when he graduates. Now in his third semester...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – With Interstate 20 at a standstill during this month’s winter storm, instructors in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program took the opportunity to teach students about winter preparedness for big rigs. In Nolan County, portions of the interstate were closed for hours due to icy roads and accidents. Instructor Shannon...

(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....

(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...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – When it comes to welding, Matthew Bakus has just about seen and done it all. The Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor — and graduate — has worked everywhere from fabrication shops to power plants and pipelines. “You throw something at me, I can weld it, but I think my strong...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Bobby Suniga knew he wanted to do something with his life while he is still young. Suniga, of Brownwood, decided that he needed to learn a trade, which led him to Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. “I wanted to make something of myself, and I knew that welding was a...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It only took one stop during a tour of Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus for Noemy Diaz to realize that she had found her career. After seeing the Welding Technology lab and hearing what she could learn from instructor Taylor Elston, Diaz was captivated. She is now studying for a certificate...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – When Chris Llanas began the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College, he did not know what to expect. What he quickly found out is that each of his instructors wants him to be successful. Their encouragement motivates him to work hard to complete his certificate of completion in order...

(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...

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Tatum McFarland is striving to become the best welder she can by watching and learning from everyone. McFarland, of Abilene, is studying for a certificate of completion in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College with the hope of starting a career. Her venture into welding is nothing new for her, but...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Trenton Cowart has noticed a trend during his time in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology lab. Cowart said before he started the certificate of completion program last August, he had bad habits when it came to welding. He has been losing those habits while improving his skills before entering the workforce....

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Brandon DeLeon and Chris Llanas credit Texas State Technical College for preparing them for the workforce. The two Diesel Equipment Technology students are scheduled to receive their certificates of completion in Heavy Truck Specialization on Thursday, April 28, when TSTC hosts a commencement ceremony for graduates of its four West Texas campuses...

(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...

De La Cruz recommends prospective welding students pursue degree, certificate (ROSENBERG, Texas) – Omar De La Cruz Jr. is a third-generation welder — two of his uncles and his grandfather were in the industry. “I still remember the time when my grandpa was welding right in front of me,” De La Cruz said. “I enjoyed...

(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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College will debut an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology – Journeyman this fall at the Waco campus. Some of the classes that students will take include Backflow Prevention, Basic Blueprint Reading for Plumbers, Construction Estimating, OSHA Regulations – Construction Industry, and Plumbing Codes I...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Welding Technology instructor Daniel Aguirre has seen his students make remarkable strides over the past 10 months. With six students preparing to graduate later this summer, Aguirre said he hopes the next cohort will find similar success. “I have seen a lot of improvement from all of the...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Jose Ortiz sees a bright future when he completes his Associate of Applied Science degree this fall at Texas State Technical College. The Wind Energy Technology student said he will have plenty of options for a career. He credits TSTC’s instructors and staff for helping him realize his potential. “Everyone at TSTC...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Jennifer Cable likes puzzles. It is only natural that she sees a diesel engine as one big puzzle. Cable is looking to make solving puzzles a career with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Diesel Equipment Technology at Texas State Technical College. The Abilene native is scheduled to graduate from the...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There is growing demand for jobs for machinists and welders in modern engineering and manufacturing. This offers an excellent career outlook for students at Texas State Technical College who seek to fill those positions. In observance of Manufacturing Day on Friday, Oct. 7, TSTC recognizes its Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College hosted state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, for a visit to the Waco campus on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Cook, led by TSTC administrators and staff, visited the Aircraft Pilot Training Technology, Aircraft Powerplant Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology programs, along with the Texas State...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Finding the right person to work for his company is important to Mike McHugh, plant manager of the Buzzi Unicem USA plant in Maryneal. During a recent employer spotlight, he told some Texas State Technical College Diesel Equipment Technology students of the many opportunities available at the plant and how the company...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College student Crystal Ruiz thinks back to when she was introduced to welding by two Raymondville High School agriculture teachers. One of those educators, Erika Williams, noticed that Ruiz had a talent for welding and suggested that she enhance that gift at Texas State Technical College. “In that agriculture...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The thought of working as a wind turbine service technician is intriguing for Ezekiel Loe. The Austin native said he altered his career path in order to achieve that goal. Loe said Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program will provide him with the unique opportunity of having a career that...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The purpose of wind turbines is to turn wind into electricity to power homes and businesses. The process of how a wind turbine operates, who maintains the tall structure and how it is built caught the interest of U.S. Navy veteran Jessica Alaniz. It inspired her to pursue an Associate of Applied...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – The nonprofit Boys & Girls Club of Brown County knew where to ask for help to keep children safe. Katherine Palmer, the club’s chief executive officer, asked the Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students for their assistance. The students were excited to be asked to build a security gate and fence...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Instrumentation Technology program recently began using 10 new portable control valves for students to use in lab sessions. The valves, which were made by Fisher Controls International LLC, cost about $6,500 each and were purchased with Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, said Savannah Clawson,...

(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...

(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...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Over the course of three days, six students in the Welding Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus participated in the recent SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Houston. For them, it was a learning experience and a great time to show off their skills. “Other...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – There is an artistry that goes into the job of a machinist, and that caught the eye of Rene Garay Jr. Garay is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus. Two years ago he was first introduced to machining by...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – DeMarcus Kelley knew he wanted to work on big trucks when he was older like his brother does. After hearing what his brother, D.J., learned while studying at Texas State Technical College, Kelley decided to follow a similar path. Now Kelley is studying for a certificate of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – James Simonetti plans to use his knowledge and skills to mentor Texas State Technical College Electromechanical Technology students. An ordained pastor who felt that he was being called to teach, Simonetti recently was hired to be an instructor in the program. He will draw on his years of experience in a variety...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Representatives from NOV Hydra Rig, a coiled tubing, nitrogen and snubbing equipment manufacturer in Fort Worth, visited Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus Tuesday, May 16, to speak with Welding Technology students about career opportunities. The representatives discussed the company, job opportunities and benefits, and emphasized the company’s focus on...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Behind the increasingly connected and online world, there are people keeping everything running smoothly. Their job is to hunt down connection issues, manage online systems and implement security measures. They go by many names. Information technology specialist. Network administrator. Systems administrator. To Emanuel Palacios, the statewide lead instructor for Texas State Technical...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Fabian Carrillo did not expect his experience at Texas State Technical College to be like a job. Studying for a certificate of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology, Carrillo, of Coleman, said the hands-on approach of learning has helped him prepare for a career. “The lab sessions are more like a shop environment...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A loving father-son relationship is a lifelong connection that helps a son to develop independence and other traits throughout life. One memory that Paulo Garza, of Mission, treasures is being introduced to welding. This led him to an education at Texas State Technical College and a career goal of becoming an independent...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Watching his older brother piqued the interest of Rory Bustamante to explore a career in welding. The May native followed in his brother’s footsteps to Texas State Technical College to pursue a certificate of completion in Welding Technology. “My brother graduated from TSTC nine years ago,” he said. “I went to another...

(RED OAK, Texas) – U.S. Navy veteran Roger McClellan, a student in the HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus, said he originally began the program because the air conditioning in his apartment never worked. “It got to the point where I was like, ‘Fine, I’m going to learn how to...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Andrew Garza, a Wind Energy Technology student at Texas State Technical College, hopes to channel his previous managerial experience toward a management position someday in the renewable energy industry. “My friends who graduated from the program now have great-paying careers in the industry,” the Harlingen resident said. “Sometime in the future I...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A group of Welding Technology students at Texas State Technical College recently learned about job opportunities that they might pursue at the EPIC Piping fabrication facility in San Marcos. During the recruitment visit, representatives from EPIC Piping discussed the company’s history, career outlook, job benefits and work culture. “The welding industry is...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Shovels hit the ground for the first of many times on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus during a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate construction of a new Diesel Equipment Technology building. “Today’s event marks a significant milestone in TSTC’s East Texas history: from our humble beginnings as an...

(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...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Braxton Wade knew what he wanted to do after graduating from Breckenridge High School earlier this year. “I have always been interested in welding, and I lucked out that we have a (college) campus in my hometown,” he said of studying Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. Wade is no stranger...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – After touring Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus, Shayne Howard found a program especially well suited for him. “I toured each of the programs in Sweetwater, and after visiting with the instructors and seeing what was available, I knew this was the program for me,” Howard said of his decision to pursue...

(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...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Overcoming adversity is nothing new to Hunter Dickens. The Springtown native, who is studying for a certificate of completion in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College, was born to a single mother, was injured while playing high school football, and experienced the loss of his family’s home. He fought off those...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Selena Gomez knew that she wanted a better life after experiencing several unfulfilling jobs. “I was an insurance adjuster at my last job,” the Mercedes resident said. “I wanted a career that would be hands-on.” Her brother recommended looking into Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College. “I scheduled a tour...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Diesel Equipment Technology instructors at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus regularly team up with local companies to offer apprenticeships in off-road diesel equipment to their students.  “Apprenticeship programs have been out there since the industry began,” Ralph Cottrell, one of the program’s instructors, said. “It’s one of the ways that...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – April is National Welding Month, and Texas State Technical College Welding Technology student Laura Torres is honing her welding skills to meet job demands in the state. Torres is one of 10 women in the program at the Harlingen location. She was first introduced to welding at Edinburg Economedes High School (now...

  (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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Recent Texas State Technical College graduate Jess Johnson was offered a job with Joeris General Contractors after company representatives noticed her professionalism at the TSTC Industry Job Fair last month. Johnson received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Building Construction Technology with honors at TSTC’s spring commencement. “I was hired as...

(WACO, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s aviation maintenance programs learned from industry professionals what it takes to be hired during an employer panel hosted by the college’s Career Services department on Tuesday, July 30, at the Waco campus. The panel discussion was held at the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. Panelists...

(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...

(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,”...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Mitchell Duke, of Waxahachie, can see the progress he makes as he learns new skills. Duke, an HVAC Technology student in his third semester at Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus, is already doing fourth-semester work. He is doing this through the program’s performance-based education (PBE) model that allows him...

(WACO, Texas) – Five technical programs at Texas State Technical College were recently recognized by the Office of the Governor’s Texas Workforce Investment Council at a ceremony in Austin. Associate of Applied Science degree programs for Biomedical Equipment Technology, Electrical Lineworker Technology, Process Operations, Solar Energy Technology and Wind Energy Technology were recognized for merging...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – United States Sen. Ted Cruz toured Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County recently after announcing new legislation that will benefit students who pursue a technical education.   Cruz introduced the special legislation cited as the “Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act” to TSTC leadership and Fort Bend County industry leaders....

(WACO, Texas) – Tyler Residori of Robinson is a Texas State Technical College student who has always had an interest in heavy equipment. As he said, he was “always tinkering with something” at a young age. Residori is pursuing a degree in the Diesel Equipment Technology program that is providing him with exceptional experience. The...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Rodie Woodard, president of Maximum Industries in Irving, said finding qualified machinists depends on the timing of market conditions. “There is plenty of talent in the pool, but when things are strong with Lockheed, Raytheon, Bell Helicopter, they nab every single experienced multi-access machinist there is,” he said. “They are able...

(WACO, Texas) – In Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program, the issue of safety is as hot as the sparks flying off welding torches. The program has an orientation during the first semester before classes start for students to learn how to prevent injury to the hands and eyes, along with other topics, said...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Environmental Technology program has purchased two mobile decontamination trailers for students to use in labs at the Fort Bend County and Waco campuses. The trailers will be used in the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training and Related Topics class offered in the fifth semester of...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Computer Programming Technology is one of Texas State Technical College’s programs that is offered completely online — a bonus in this era of social distancing. The Associate of Applied Science degree program can lead to a fast-growing career that shows no signs of slowing down. Despite learning from home, students are introduced...

(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...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Computer Programming Technology program can be confident about the job market for years to come. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected there will be more than 741,000 jobs for computer user support specialists and more than 1.7 million jobs for software developers by 2029....

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The future of Texas State Technical College’s Computer Programming Technology program is shining as bright as a laptop screen. Last spring, the program moved all of its classes online. Due to this, the college’s programs that were physically on five of TSTC’s campuses combined into one statewide unit. This means instructors are...

(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...

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...

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...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) – February’s historic winter weather in Texas made people realize the importance of plumbers as pipes broke, causing damage to apartments, homes and businesses. “It shined a light on the plumbing industry and made people see we are not always as prepared as we think we are,” said Clyff Curry, business manager of...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Three participants in Texas State Technical College’s recent high school welding competition liked what they saw and decided to continue their education at TSTC. Pablo Camacho, Christian Chapla  and Manuel Soto were among the 16 high school students who welded a cube for TSTC Welding Technology instructor Stephen Hope in the hopes...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Josiah Otto has overcome a fear of heights while preparing for his first climb inside a wind turbine. Otto, who moved to West Texas from Illinois, admitted he had to overcome his fear to begin studying Wind Energy Technology at Texas State Technical College. Later this month, he will be climbing TSTC’s...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is known for its Welding Technology program. Greg Nicholas, an instructor at the Abilene campus, said the program is thriving, with new students eager to learn and show off their skills. “If this group of students remain committed, which I think they will, we are going to be...

(WACO, Texas) – Alissa Foss grew up in Central Texas and is a graduate of Texas State Technical College’s Visual Communication Technology program in Waco. She is a graphic designer at National Sign Plazas in Cedar Park. What inspired you to study Visual Communication Technology at TSTC? I have always loved art and drawing but...

(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,...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Jeremy Denton found his educational niche at Texas State Technical College. Denton, of Colorado City, is in his final semester of the Electromechanical Technology program. He hopes that the Associate of Applied Science degree leads to a lifelong career. “At first I wanted to be an animator, but school did not go...

(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...

(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...

(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....

(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...

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...

Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus has produced many aircraft technicians who are skilled at diagnosing and resolving a plane’s mechanical or electrical problems. Those technicians include four TSTC alumni who have made a direct impact on the local aviation industry at Sun Valley Aviation Inc. Sun Valley Aviation is a fixed-based operator in Harlingen...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – In need of a career change, Israel Garcia thought that working on wind turbines would be his best option. Hearing about Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program from graduates, he decided it would be the perfect fit for him. After a career in the oil field, Garcia, of Abilene, will...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Jerroll Hodge is not sure where he would be today had one of his Agriculture Mechanics classmates not invited him to help build a trailer during his sophomore year of high school in Huntsville. “Those guys saw my work ethic when we were in class, and they asked if I wanted to...

(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...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Alayna Botts enjoys taking things apart and putting them back together. After researching the best place to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree, Botts, of Lufkin, said Texas State Technical College ranked high on her list. Now in her second semester of the Electromechanical Technology program at TSTC’s Sweetwater campus, Botts...

(WACO, Texas) – More than 300 graduates from Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus received associate degrees and certificates of completion at TSTC’s Spring 2022 Commencement held Saturday at The BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. “These students have worked hard,” said Kevin Kluck, lead instructor in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. “This day...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Among the life-changing decisions that Texas State Technical College alumna Dora Vasquez has been satisfied with was her choice to transition from being a call center supervisor to enrolling in the Mechatronics Technology program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. Vasquez, a former Harlingen resident who now resides in McKinney, earned an Associate of...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Electromechanical Technology instructor Arnoldo Soto has seen his students find success with a wide range of industries. The need for quality employees is high, Soto said, and he wants to continue TSTC’s tradition of placing Texans in great-paying jobs around the state. “Our graduates can go anywhere and...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology student Axel Torres likes to take a break from his studies by sitting on the banks of Lake Trammell in Nolan County. The peacefulness of the lake is calming for the Arlington, Texas, native. Because he does not have cellphone service there, he can be...

(WACO, Texas) – As hot weather settles in, be sure to give your air conditioning system a big hug. Sunday, July 3, is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day. And there is no better time to make sure that cooling systems are operating at their best. Texas State Technical College’s HVAC Technology program and the Better Business...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The COVID pandemic made Diego Morado look at other career paths. The Snyder native worked for a major oil company in Scurry County, but he noticed that a lot of his co-workers were being laid off when production slowed down. Morado looked into working in the wind industry when he remembered a...

(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...

(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...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Daniel Coers has set a goal for himself while studying Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. “I want to work to become the best welding student at TSTC,” he said. He set the goal knowing that he would be starting a program that he knew little about. In fact, Coers, of...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As Texas State Technical College student Ruben Lopez travels on U.S. Highway 77 to and from his hometown of Raymondville, he often sees a plethora of wind turbines. His curiosity about the turbines was what inspired him to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology at TSTC’s Harlingen...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers a chance for military veterans to utilize their benefits to grow their passion. Such is the case for Davis Rios. Rios is a first-semester student at TSTC. He served in the military and is now looking to expand his education through the college’s Diesel Equipment Technology program....

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Attending Texas State Technical College has helped many students achieve their goals for their careers and lives. Alyssa Valdez is hoping the same can be said for her once she graduates from TSTC with her heavy truck specialization associate degree in Diesel Equipment Technology. Valdez is a third-semester student. Originally from Granbury,...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Nate Slayton’s fascination with engines led him to Texas State Technical College. Slayton, of Coleman, is studying for a certificate of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology with a heavy truck specialization in hopes of working for a major trucking company. “I have always worked on old trucks because I was fascinated with...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s dual enrollment program in Precision Machining Technology engages high school students and gives them a head start in a growing field. The program at TSTC’s North Texas campus began in 2021. It teaches students about what Lyle Guinn, the program’s lead instructor, described as the subtractive process....

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Jose Garcia decided that he wanted to learn more about welding. He did not let his age, 47, stop him from enrolling in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. Now in his second semester studying for a certificate of completion in Structural Welding, Garcia is pleased that he made the choice...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College alumnus Matt Delong recently discussed his path to TSTC and to his current success. Before enrolling in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, Delong had been living in Pennsylvania and working in a job that he said he had come to dread. Due to an injury and to...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus is preparing to compete in SkillsUSA Texas Leadership & Skills Conference. Daniel Nixon, lead instructor for Marshall’s Precision Machining Technology program, described SkillsUSA as the “super bowl” for technical colleges where students can display the skills that they have been...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers several ways for students to progress through school. Different opportunities for learning, such as in-person day or night classes, online programs, hybrid programs that combine in-person and online classes, performance-based education and dual enrollment, provide TSTC students with the option to pick the pathway best suited...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Israel Lopez was inspired by his mother to return to school. At age 42, Lopez is completing his Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology at Texas State Technical College, all while thinking of his mother’s journey when she was 61. “My mother returned to school and earned her degree....

(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...

(ABILENE, Texas) – The welding quality displayed by Christopher Cumpton impressed one of his instructors so much that it led to a job opportunity. Cumpton, a candidate for graduation this month with a certificate of completion in Structural Welding from Texas State Technical College, has a career planned with Broadwind Heavy Fabrications in Abilene. That...

(WACO, Texas) – The Viega Roadshow made a stop on Wednesday, May 17, at Texas State Technical College’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program. The roadshow, which began in February in Washington state, has already made Texas stops in Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Lubbock, McAllen and San Antonio. The roadshow is scheduled to run through at least...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Weston Conine was surprised to see a familiar face when he walked into the Welding Technology lab at Texas State Technical College’s Brownwood campus. Conine, of Comanche, recognized instructor Salvador Marquez, who was a Comanche High School classmate. Conine said he was more relaxed knowing that Marquez would help him during class...

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – With nearly 300,000 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists at work in the U.S., jobs in the diesel equipment industry can provide long-lasting, and profitable, careers. But with such a large market come changes, and sometimes changes can forever shape the way an industry moves forward. The latest of these...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The instructors and staff at Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus are there because they believe in the school’s mission. In more personal cases, some of them want to offer students the same high-quality education that they were given at the college. Terri Dreesen, a TSTC enrollment coach and winner of a...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Guy Watts juggles life, work and attending Texas State Technical College with the goal of opening his own welding business. Watts, a U.S. Navy veteran studying Welding Technology, said that after leaving the military he had to decide the next step in his career. After touring TSTC’s Brownwood campus, the path became...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Although Texas State Technical College student Cooper Dorries is on track to receive his diploma later this month, he has already begun his career as a diesel mechanic. Dorries, a candidate for graduation in Diesel Equipment Technology, knows what he will do the morning after receiving his Associate of Applied Science degree....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The sun gleamed across the sky as representatives of Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 7. The ceremony celebrated construction of two new facilities and renovation of one existing building at the Harlingen campus, including space for two programs new to the campus: Diesel...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Some Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology students recently learned about potential careers that they might pursue after they graduate. During an employer spotlight at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, Eva Gonzalez and Kera Grigsby of the Nordex Group, a manufacturer of wind turbines, discussed the company’s job outlook, top achievements, culture, training...

(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....

(MARSHALL, Texas) – The Texas State Technical College Welding Technology program recently hosted the Texas FFA Association’s Area 6 Applied Agricultural Engineering Career Development Event at the Marshall campus. “We’re trying to showcase what TSTC is willing to do for the local schools, students, and Texans as a whole,” Russell Hutcherson, a TSTC welding instructor, said....

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – From the front entrance to the final stop, Texas State Technical College Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology students recently were provided with a better understanding of what they work on in labs as part of their degree requirements. Ten students, along with their instructors, toured the Kohler Co. plant in Brownwood earlier this...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Leonel Perez, a Mechatronics Technology student at Texas State Technical College, recently began an internship with Oncor Electric Delivery in Big Spring. Perez, who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree, said the internship supplements what he is learning at TSTC. “I’ve learned how to monitor the performance of electrical switches...

(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...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – After his family relocated from Dallas to Longview, Christian Brannon started researching local colleges. He turned to Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus to exercise his love for computers. “I started off in Cybersecurity,” he said. “But in that first semester I was introduced to programming, specifically Python, and that got me...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Xavier Gomez wants to see Texas State Technical College students succeed. Gomez, a 2016 graduate of TSTC’s Welding Technology program in Brownwood, recently returned to his former campus for an employer spotlight to talk to current students about job opportunities with Prime Metal Buildings & Components, where he is a shift supervisor....

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Anthony Mata’s journey to pursuing an education in the HVAC Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus began when he sold lunches to construction workers a year ago. “I met an electrician when I sold the food plates,” Mata said. “He suggested that I consider his line of work because...

(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...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Returning Texas State Technical College Welding Technology students noticed some different faces in the Breckenridge lab this semester. “They could not have been a better fit for us in Breckenridge,” Stephen Hope, TSTC’s program team lead for Welding Technology, said of new instructors Leroy Brigman and Jacob Gonzales. “It makes me emotional...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) -A Minnesota transplant, Jonathan Eichten is ready for his first South Texas summer at Texas State Technical College doing what he loves best – helping students start and finish college. The 53-year-old is only a couple of weeks in as TSTC’s newest campus enrollment executive, but brings with him more than two decades...

(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...

With Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education a focus in K-12 and institutions of higher education, Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology students are stepping up and doing their part to encourage middle schooler’s interest in STEM-related fields. Recently, Mechatronics Technology Club officers and students volunteered with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District STEM2...

(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...

(BRECKENRIDGE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College in Breckenridge will offer a new program of study starting this fall: Occupational Safety Compliance Technology. Students who successfully complete the five-semester program will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. Registration for the fall semester is underway. “We brought the OSC course to Breckenridge because many of...

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College held its Back-to-School Bash on Thursday at its North Texas campus in Red Oak. Students, faculty and staff were treated to hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and sodas. Those attending gathered at tables arranged in the first floor hallway of the Jim Pitts Industrial Technology Center. Marcus Balch,...

(WACO, Texas) – Though the first cold front of the fall has not rolled through Central Texas yet, now is the time for consumers to think about testing their heating units so they can stay warm this winter. “This is a good time to fire them up,” said Gary Lawson, an instructor in Texas State...

(HUTTO, Texas) – Tucked among a cluster of brick buildings on Research Boulevard in Austin is a technology company that has found a source for employees in Central Texas. Contigo Technology has looked to Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus to fill Cybersecurity jobs. And, the company wants to hire more employees. “Contigo...

(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...

(WACO, Texas) — Shannon Hudson of Riesel grew up with an interest in drawing and fashion, and she had a vision of starting a T-shirt business. She realized she did not have the technical skills to make her a plan a reality. “So, I decided to learn about something that I was really passionate about,”...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Inspired by her mother, who was a nurse case manager, Natalie Hudson-Rapp knew as a teenager that she wanted to work in health care. Texas State Technical College’s affordability and Health Information Technology program enticed the Colorado native to further her education. Along that journey, she achieved many accomplishments, including wrapping up...

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is expanding the number of programs that will offer night classes this fall.  Nathan Cleveland, TSTC’s associate provost, said the goal is to attract more nontraditional  students to the campus to study in programs that can help them update their skills or learn new ones. He said potential...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Medical office specialists are often among the first faces that patients see as soon as they enter a clinic. Compassion, care and a genuine desire to help others are a few of the traits that define those in this profession. Remote learning at Texas State Technical College has made earning a Medical...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Rebecca Fortuna was looking to do something more with her life. After starting a career in health information, in 2016, Fortuna found out she wanted more than an office job. “I am the type of woman who wants to do something different. I like to use my hands,” she said. “I didn’t...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Steven Coffman credits life-changing instructors at Texas State Technical College for his love of teaching. Currently he is lead instructor for Computer Programming Technology at TSTC. He hopes to bring that same level of inspiration to the curriculum, which is offered completely online, in the same way that his instructors did for...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Digital circuits, manufacturing robotics and electromechanical systems are only a few of the hands-on courses that students will take when they study Mechatronics Technology at Texas State Technical College. Lead mechatronics instructor Eldwin Leija, who has taught at TSTC for nine years, talked about the importance of mechatronics. “Mechatronics is the study...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Inspired by his own educators when he was a student at Texas State Technical College, Eutiquio Calderon is now paying it forward as an instructor for TSTC’s Wind Energy Technology program. He is not only a mentor for his students, but also someone who constantly encourages them to reach for the sky....

(RED OAK, Texas) – Students attending Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus will see differences in how they learn and interact as they start the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 31. “I think the exciting part of the fall to me is we have new students coming to campus to begin their educational journey,”...

(ABILENE, Texas) – Many construction companies are looking for entry-level welders. To help fill that need, Texas State Technical College will offer an Occupational Skills Award certification program in Welding Technology this fall at the college’s Industrial Technology Center in Abilene.  Three basic welding courses will be offered over 15 weeks, said instructor Anthony Lewis....

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus kicked off the new academic year on Monday. TSTC students, faculty and staff are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in wearing masks, not gathering in groups, and sanitizing hands and work areas. All of this is being done due to the COVID-19 pandemic....

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program at the North Texas campus this fall has started using a supplemental curriculum from the National Tool & Machining Association to teach students. Darren Block, TSTC’s statewide lead program instructor, said the curriculum will give students a more thorough education in machining. That,...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Richard Spicer did not have to look far to find his motivation. “I wanted to provide a better life for my daughter,” said Spicer, who just received an Associate of Applied Science degree from Texas State Technical College in Diesel Equipment Technology. Spicer said his daughter was by his side when he...

(WACO, Texas) – Dylan Durst said he was glad to be back in the cockpit as he took off for his first flight late last spring at Texas State Technical College’s airport in Waco after a two-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was about picking up where you left off,” he said. Durst,...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Comanche’s Caden Amos likes the challenges he faces in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology classes. He is working toward a certificate and looking forward to the day when he has a job. With instructor Daniel Aguirre providing his own work experience, Amos knows he will be well prepared when he graduates....

Welding student is working with TSTC staff on career placement (SWEETWATER, Texas) – James Martin, of Mason, has always liked to work with his hands. After four years of welding classes in high school, Martin is furthering his education in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program. He is planning to obtain a certificate of...

Diesel program student showing promise, instructor says (SWEETWATER, Texas) – Working on vehicles is not new to Snyder’s Kaden Vess. Vess wanted to expand his knowledge by enrolling in Texas State Technical College’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. Now nearing the end of his first semester studying for a certificate, Vess has not been disappointed. “I...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – The skills that Josh Barron learned in Texas State Technical College’s Business Management Technology program are paying off daily. Barron earned his associate degree in 2016 and is currently a training specialist for the Center for Life Resources in Brownwood. He also helps with the company’s grant writing process and credits TSTC...

(BROWNWOOD, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Emergency Medical Services program are trained to be prepared for almost anything they might encounter in the field. By using the iSimulate REALITi simulator in lab sessions, instructor Tim Scalley can program various situations for students to address. The simulator also can mimic the cardiac monitors...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – It started like any other Wednesday for Rebecca Fortuna. The Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology student was at the top of a wind turbine when her cellphone rang. On the other end of the call was a FieldCore representative, who offered Fortuna a job as an electrical wind technician. “The...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – Grant Cusenbary likes to explore nature and go on adventures. Cusenbary’s sense of adventure led him to Texas State Technical College’s Wind Energy Technology program. Nearing the completion of his second semester in pursuing an associate degree, he is ready to explore more of the program. “I am naturally curious. I like...

(ABILENE, Texas) – U.S. Military veteran Dylon Moreno enjoys the pace of his Welding Technology classes at Texas State Technical College. Moreno, who served in the Marine Corps for four years, said having welding experience before enrolling at TSTC paid off with instructors. “We can go at our own pace. If you know what you...

(RED OAK, Texas) – In the welding field, it helps to be diverse in one’s skills. Ashley Yezak, statewide lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Welding Technology program, said the need for welders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has not slowed down as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic. “With energy production,...

(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...

(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...

(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...

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Not many college students get to fulfill their dream of being rocket scientists. But for two students of Leo Guajardo, a Texas State Technical College Aircraft Airframe and Powerplant instructor in Harlingen, they can come close. Guajardo and the students are the stewards of an X-38 space prototype vehicle frame for research...

(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The lab environment of the Wind Energy Technology program was one reason that Francisco Duran enrolled at Texas State Technical College. “It does not feel like a regular college. We are more like a family,” he said. “My classmates and the instructors are great. The instructors make us feel important and want...