(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Every day that he needs to be on campus in Fort Bend County, Texas State Technical College student Christopher Winton travels more than 50 miles from League City.
There and back again may be a long haul, but a passion for TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program, and a strong work ethic, continue to drive Winton to succeed.
How did you become interested in TSTC and the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program?
I first went to college as a welder, and I didn’t like it, so I dropped out. My dad is a lineman right now, and I saw my dad do it. It looked fun. I thought I would try it out. I kept looking at colleges. My cousin found the college, and I looked. It looked like it was a good college. As of right now, I’m loving it. Lineworking is a great job. It’s dangerous, but I can get a good career.
How has your experience in the program been so far?
I love it a lot. It’s a lot to know. It’s important. You can’t do shortcuts.
My favorite thing so far here is probably the transformers. We’re learning how to connect the transformers and how to draw them out. I’ve been telling my teacher that I want to come here every day and learn the transformers. It’s really fun.
What keeps you motivated?
I love climbing. I love heights. I love doing all this. Also, I just want a job right now. I don’t want to keep dropping out of college and not be able to get a job. This is a good school.
I’m always working because I love to work. That’s my thing. I don’t like staying at home. I have to be out. Mostly I’ll be working, trying to get overtime. If I’m not working, I’ll try to ask people if they need help with something. I’ll go and help. I like to help people.
What goals do you have for your future career?
I want to go out as an aerial lineman, which is when you’re in a helicopter. I have to be a lineman for 10 to 12 years to do that.
Would you recommend TSTC to others?
For sure. If people were looking for a trade school, I would tell them to come to TSTC.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at its campuses in Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall and Waco. The program is part of TSTCYou, which meets students where they are through flexible, performance-based education that works with busy schedules.
The Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program is also part of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee, which refunds tuition to participating graduates who are not hired in their field within six months of earning their degree.
At 14,090, Texas employs the highest number of electrical lineworkers in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area has the highest employment level of these positions out of all other metropolitan areas in the U.S.
According to onetonline.org, electrical lineworker positions are expected to grow in Texas by 16% through 2028. Electrical lineworkers can earn an average annual salary of $63,770 in the state, the website states.
Registration for the fall semester at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.
