(HUTTO, Texas) – When Jason Wehring was part of building the section of State Highway 130 that passes by Hutto, he had no idea that he would eventually be a resident of Hutto and a full-time student at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus — and making big career changes.
Wehring is working toward a certificate of completion in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program. His first career was in highway construction, which included installing reflective lines on SH 130.
“3M had come out with, at the time, groundbreaking contrast tape for highways,” he said. “They didn’t have an applicator to cut and lay the stripes, though. So I had to manually cut and lay the stripes for white lines from Georgetown to Wells Branch.”
Wehring left highway construction when he felt that passing vehicles were too close for comfort.
“The conditions were dangerous being on the roads with the drivers,” he said. “They seemed to be driving worse, or maybe I just got older, but everyone was going faster and getting closer when they passed us.”
When Wehring first decided to go to college, he was somewhat nervous about being older than the other students. But that quickly faded.
“I was tickled pink, telling everybody I knew, ‘I’m going to college,’” he said. “I could have gone anywhere, but I talked to the instructors and liked what TSTC offered for job skills and support.”
Now Wehring is looking forward to helping others with his new skills.
“It gets hot in Texas, and the gratitude people have when you can help when that happens is rewarding,” he said.
In Texas, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn an average annual salary of $50,190, according to onetonline.org, which forecast the number of such positions to grow 21% in the state from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in HVAC Technology at its East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, North Texas and Waco campuses.
Applications for the spring semester are being accepted. Spring registration begins October 28.
For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
