(WACO, Texas) – A Texas State Technical College student has received a scholarship from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
Rudolph Wagner of Killeen has been awarded the AAMI Foundation Michael J. Miller Scholarship. He is studying to earn associate degrees in Biomedical Equipment Technology and Medical Imaging Systems Technology Specialization. Wagner is scheduled to graduate in December.
Wagner will use his $3,000 scholarship to help pay for tuition. This fall, he will do a program-required internship at KEI Medical Imaging Services in Hutto.
“I am very excited,” he said. “Getting an internship is kind of hard with COVID-19, but I was able to reach out to an internship coordinator at the company.”
Wagner grew up with an interest in electronics. He graduated in 1993 from Killeen High School and studied pre-med at Prairie View A&M University. He later worked as a medical billing and coding specialist and did medical missionary work before coming to TSTC.
“I wanted something more,” he said. “I decided to go back to school. As soon as I saw the medical equipment, I knew that is what I wanted to do.”
One of the first people he met on campus was Terry Whitworth, an instructor in TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program.
“Rudolph is one of those students you love to have,” Whitworth said. “His enthusiasm is infectious. He is always upbeat and acts like he is having the time of his life learning. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be an excellent addition to any organization. It has been a pleasure having him in class this semester.”
Wagner said his favorite classes were AC Circuits, DC Circuits and Shop Skills for BET Technician.
“Had I known about this years ago, I would have gone to TSTC,” he said. “I like just learning how the equipment works and the electronics. I like the small components and enjoy how things are put together.”
Wagner wants to study health care technology management in the future to progress in his career.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
