(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College offers its programs to adults of any age and background to help them find higher-paying jobs.
Industrial Systems student Troy Campbell, of Longview, gained several years of experience in the maintenance, oil, machining and welding fields before coming to the Marshall campus to receive a formal education.
“I know a lot because I’ve been around, but (the instructors) are teaching me the intricacies that I wouldn’t have gotten with on-the-job experience,” Campbell said.
Campbell plans to graduate in December 2024. He is considering joining TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology program later on to help him pursue his goal of becoming a maintenance manager.
Drafting and Design student Angela Beach, of Gilmer, also had multiple careers before joining three of her four children in working toward a degree at TSTC. Her love of art and math made her a perfect match for the program.
“(TSTC means) getting a chance to start something different,” Beach said. “I’ve enjoyed coming and seeing my kids do well.”
Beach plans to obtain her associate degree in Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology in 2025. She is eager to find out what her future holds.
After finding his job as a warehouse manager unfulfilling, Mount Pleasant resident Daniel Price joined the Automation and Controls Technology program that is offered exclusively at the Marshall campus.
“I knew that I was capable of more than what I was doing with my career,” Price said. “Recognizing the demand for skilled labor across various industries, I decided to pursue a career in one of these industries by enrolling here at TSTC.”
Price quickly got used to attending school again, comparing his small class to a small family. While considering joining the natural gas industry like many of his friends and family, he hopes to work for himself in the future.
Semiretired truck driver and Karnack resident Larry Dotie chose to join the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program for a different reason.
“It’s kind of frustrating if your computer skills are not where they should be,” Dotie said. “I get tired of trying to pay people to help me. I need to learn this for myself. It’s going to make life a lot easier.”
Dotie hopes to combine his computer skills with his love of music to open his own recording studio one day. The technology he is learning about will help him market himself as a musician.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
