(HUTTO, Texas) – Austin West sought job security through a Texas State Technical College education and landed a promising internship with medical technology company ICU Medical before graduation.
West is in the final semester of his Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems at Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus.
“ICU Medical came to campus and gave a presentation to my class,” he said. “Then we went to tour their facility, and I applied for the internship then. It took a while to get through the hiring process, but I’m finally starting.”
Lance Antilley, West’s instructor, said it is not uncommon for hiring to take a while with ICU Medical.
“Austin was waiting the longest for his background check,” he said. “ICU Medical is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It takes a while. Austin is a great, hardworking kid. I wasn’t worried.”
West will be joining several other TSTC graduates at the company as well.
“We have several alums at ICU Medical,” Antilley said. “They’re a great company for our students.”
West said he is looking forward to joining those ranks and starting his future.
“This is an internship,” he said. ”But I’m hoping it becomes a full-time job in January when I’m eligible to be hired.”
West’s long-term goals for his future include job security and early retirement.
“I didn’t want to go to school and be in debt,” he said. “Blue-collar jobs are reliable because they’re not oversaturated. I will always have a job, and I’ll get paid. My goal is to retire by 50.”
In the Industrial Systems program at its East Williamson County campus, TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Mechanical Specialization and several certificates of completion.
The program is part of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee, which refunds a participating graduate’s tuition if he or she has not found a job in their field within six months of graduation. For more information, visit tstc.edu/mbg.
Registration for TSTC’s spring semester begins Oct. 28. To learn more, visit tstc.edu.
