TSTC’s West Texas recruiting team plans big year

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s West Texas student recruitment team is ready for a busy year.

For the first time in recent history, TSTC will have recruiters located on the four West Texas campuses to help students continue their educational journeys.

“We have a full group of recruiters, and they are divided into different zones,” said Nick Williamson, TSTC’s coordinator of student recruitment. “It is exciting to have someone located on each campus to help our recruitment efforts.”

Rachel Lantrip and Jose Pedroza will work in Abilene, Shayla Speck will be in Breckenridge, Christina Zamarripa will be in Brownwood, and Whitney Cox and Jacey Tomlin will be in Sweetwater.

“The best thing about our new recruiters is they have such a diverse background,” said Daniel Martin, TSTC’s director of student recruitment in West Texas. “We have some that are former educators, which will help us be able to communicate with teachers better. We also have a former welder who can talk to students about what he has experienced in the field.”

Williamson divided the West Texas region into different zones, which allows recruiters more access to schools. He had one goal in mind when he set up the zone format.

“Our hope is that the recruiters can build more meaningful relationships with their schools and the educators,” he said. “I want to focus on quality over quantity. We need to build strong relationships.”

Williamson’s top priority for recruiters will be to build relationships, but he also wants on-campus events scheduled to promote different programs.

Martin said the welding competitions held on campus have become particularly popular. TSTC has hosted scholarship events, as well as FFA and Texas High School Welding Series events.

“Those are very popular for the high school students and for TSTC,” Martin said. “We get to showcase our labs, faculty and facilities to a wide range of students.”

The final goal for recruiters is to promote the major fall event — Fall Preview Days. The first Fall Preview Day is scheduled for November 3 at the Industrial Technology Center in Abilene. The second will be at the Sweetwater campus on December 2.

“We are planning to make this bigger than past years,” Martin said. “We are inviting ninth- through 12th-grade students to participate, as well as the nontraditional students.”

Williamson said the team is working to secure industry partners to be part of the event.

“Our partners will be able to showcase the career paths that TSTC can provide them as students,” he said.

In addition to industry partners, Williamson said he plans to have representatives from other TSTC campuses available to answer questions about programs not available in West Texas.

“We wanted to try something different, and this will be a great way to promote TSTC,” he said. “We can offer students a chance to see what we have available statewide.”

Martin said he is excited to watch the team work to promote TSTC throughout the region.

“This is going to be a great year for us in recruiting,” he said. “With Nick leading our efforts, the recruiters are excited to get started showing everything TSTC has to offer.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.