(MARSHALL, Texas) – Ever since his first visit as a high school sophomore, Garrett Sweeney knew that Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus was the place for him.
“I liked it. I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to come here,” he said.
Sweeney enrolled in TSTC’s Industrial Systems program, stating he always enjoyed fixing things, and his school work clicked for him easily.
Sweeney put his knowledge to the test when he applied for a maintenance internship with Komatsu’s Longview location, where mining equipment is constructed. He was surprised when he was offered the position on the same day as his interview.
“I didn’t think it would be that fast,” he said. “I feel like having the job there, and going to school specifically for that, gives me an idea of what I’m going into.”
Wanda Praznik, a utility technician and TSTC graduate, is one of the Komatsu employees who has been training Sweeney.
“He’s pretty much top level for starting out,” Praznik said. “In fact, the other two guys that he’s worked with said he’s awesome, and he does his job.”
Sweeney said he is considering several career options after he receives his certificate of completion, whether that is staying with Komatsu or one day taking over his grandfather’s machine shop. He recommends going to college to earn a certificate or diploma because it makes a difference to employers.
“It shows that you took the initiative to better yourself, and keep going to school to get that little extra something,” he said. “I would definitely recommend TSTC to anybody that asks me.”
The need for industrial machinery mechanics will increase over the next few years. According to onetonline.org, such positions were expected to grow by 35% in Texas between 2020 and 2030. The average salary for an industrial machinery mechanic in Texas is $60,480, according to the website.
Industrial Systems is also available at TSTC’s Abilene, Fort Bend County, New Braunfels, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses. The program offers two certificates of completion and two Associate of Applied Science degrees depending on location.
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
