(WACO, Texas) – Jasmine Olivar, of Gatesville, learned in an email last fall the news of what would change her college trajectory.
Olivar, a second-semester Industrial Systems student at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, found out that she was one of the first recipients of a scholarship established in 2023 by a longtime Waco family.
“I immediately called one of my best friends and said that I think I got 10 grand,” Olivar said.
Olivar received the David and Valerie Fallas Scholarship, granting her $5,000 for the first semester and $5,000 for the third semester of her studies. The Fallas family established the $1 million scholarship for qualifying students in the Industrial Systems and the Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology programs at the Waco campus.
Olivar said she originally planned to earn a certificate of completion in the Industrial Systems program, but once she found out that she had received the scholarship, she decided to pursue an associate degree instead.
“My dream is now able to come true,” she said. “It is very exciting because I will be the first person in my immediate family to get a college degree.”
Olivar will start her second semester at TSTC when the spring semester begins on Monday, Jan. 13. She is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems – Mechanical Specialization.
“Jasmine possesses qualities highly sought after in industry,” said Jerry Wilkey, an instructor in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program at the Waco campus. “She demonstrates exceptional soft skills by collaborating effectively with her cohort and showcasing strong leadership abilities.”
Olivar graduated from Gatesville High School, where she participated in theater, was active in the National Honor Society and did graphic design.
“I did not know what I really wanted to do with my life after high school,” she said. “I decided during my senior year that I was going to TSTC.”
Olivar said she considered studying Digital Media Design but decided on Industrial Systems due to the program’s money-back guarantee and the classes that she would be taking.
“It was a 180,” Olivar said of pivoting from her high school interests in theater and graphic design to studying Industrial Systems at TSTC. “I enjoyed my first semester.”
Olivar has already learned to use a multimeter and a lathe, how to read blueprints, and basic welding skills. During the spring semester, she will take classes focusing on compressors, hydraulics, motor controls, piping standards, and pumps.
Olivar said she will continue attending job fair events on the Waco campus to learn more about what companies are looking for. She said instructors are encouraging in students’ job searches.
“They want to make sure we are ready to go into the workforce,” Olivar said.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
