“The provost’s office is very excited to welcome back our students taking both virtual and hybrid classes,” said Jerome Mendias, TSTC’s associate provost. “ We could not be happier to kick off another successful semester and get our students placed closer to achieving their goals and pursuing their careers.”

A large portion of the Kultgen Automotive Center, home to TSTC’s Automotive Technology program, was empty. This is because all of the equipment in the classroom-portion of the building was moved out during the holiday break to make way for a renovation project scheduled to be completed by this fall to accommodate the program’s performance-based education initiative. Automotive Technology students will temporarily take classes at the Fentress Center, the Industrial Technology Center and in the automotive garage-lab in the Kultgen Automotive Center.

“The students are going to get a lot more in-shop experience,” said George Williams, lead instructor in TSTC’s Automotive Technology program. “They will be spending a lot more time in labs.”

Rodion Cantacuzene, of Belton, is scheduled to graduate this semester from the Robotics Technology program. He said staying awake for his first morning class on Monday was a challenge.

“I really missed it (TSTC),” he said. “I had fun on my break. Coming back is nice and it is good to see my classmates.”

Resident advisors in Griffith Hall and Red River Apartments are having small activities for residents during the week. 

The Village Oaks Apartments at TSTC continued their “Friends” theme from last fall to welcome students back for the spring semester. Residents are taking part this week in events centered on board games, s’mores and tie-dye.

Ethan Williams, of Madisonville, is a Village Oaks resident advisor and an Electrical Power and Controls major scheduled to graduate this semester.

“I look forward to finding a job and a good company I can rely on,” he said about his big goal for the semester.

The Murray Watson Jr. Student Recreation Center will be open this semester  from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. A game night is planned for this week.

For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Davis, who has autism, completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology last spring but chose to walk across the stage at the ceremony.

“I don’t like big crowds, but my mother and everyone would like to see me do it,” he said.  

Kimberly Davis, Kenneth’s wife, said she was happy to see him take part in Commencement.

“I’m proud of how hard he worked to go to school at TSTC,” she said. “Despite his struggles, he didn’t give up.”

Davis beat the odds in getting his education at TSTC. 

According to Autism Speaks, a worldwide nonprofit organization, more than half of young adults with autism remain unemployed and not in college up to two years after graduating from high school. Also, almost half of 25-year-old adults with autism have never held a paid job, according to the organization.

In Davis’ case, he received a GED in the late 1990s and entered TSTC as a nontraditional student. 

Davis said one of the most important things to remember about autism is that the people who live with it daily are trying their best to connect with people.

“These people want to work and have jobs and have lives, but they have struggles,” he said.

Davis is a service technician at Capstone Mechanical in Waco. He drives a company van for service calls, diagnoses problems and makes repairs on-site.

“I pay more attention than most people,” he said. “I have been told that my attention to detail is really good.”

Davis began working four years ago at Capstone Mechanical but eventually wanted more challenges there. He learned that if he wanted to switch departments, he needed to go to college.

“I’m a lot better at using my brain than my hands sometimes,” he said. “I don’t like doing the same thing over and over every day.” 

Davis said he enjoyed learning new skills in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program labs and then applying them at work.

“I love figuring out what the problems are,” he said.

Tim Snyder, lead instructor in TSTC’s HVAC Technology program, said Davis was a dedicated student.

“His work ethic was staying busy,” Snyder said. “He was very studious.”

As Davis took classes, he also found a talent that he never knew he had: painting. He was inspired by looking at artwork at his doctor’s office and watching a video on TikTok. He began painting on March 8, 2020, and selling his works shortly thereafter.

“My art is my communication with the world,” he said.

Davis said customers pick the colors, and he designs the abstract works. He said he does not want to be famous for his art, but he dreams of his art being displayed in public places for all to see.

Davis said he could not have finished at TSTC without the help of the on-campus Access and Learning Accommodations and Counseling offices.

Shelley Hall, an ALA representative at TSTC, met Davis in fall 2018.

“I’ve watched him struggle and push through different problems with instructors and persevere,” she said.

TSTC students who have a disability of any kind can visit the Access and Learning Accommodations office for free guidance on handling their classes. The office is guided by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Hall said documentation from a medical professional is helpful. She said the curriculum is not changed for students, but assistance such as extra time to take tests can be worked out with instructors.

For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Hugh Whitted, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Solar Energy Technology and Energy Efficiency Specialist programs in Waco, said consumers should think about the kind of holiday tree being used. Real trees can dry out if not watered, which is another concern when using electric lights. Also, wrapped presents under the tree can be a fire source when lights malfunction.

“Putting any type of incandescent bulb (on a holiday tree), especially on an aluminum tree, is a recipe for disaster, and if there is a short anywhere in those lights, you will start a house fire,” he said. “Certainly, be conscious of the types of materials you are combining and using.”

Whitted said LED lights are less of a concern because they are safer to use.

“They are certainly more cost-efficient than they used to be,” he said. “They are definitely more effective as far as the amount of energy they burn.”

LED lights use 90% less electricity than incandescent lights, are cool to the touch and are shatterproof, according to information from Houston-based Reliant Energy.

Whitted advised against stringing a lot of lights together.

“If you can break them up, you are not worried as much about the current you are pulling through the lights,” he said.

Whitted said to save money, consumers should put outdoor lights on a timer with a photocell, an electric eye that senses sunlight, which will turn lights on at night. He also said a timer can be used to control indoor lights.

Reliant Energy recommends keeping indoor and outdoor holiday lights on for six hours or less a day.

Whitted said people living in older homes may experience tripped breakers and blown fuses when too many appliances and holiday lights are being used at the same time.

Whitted said when in doubt, consult with an electrician to ensure that the holiday season stays bright and merry.

According to the nonprofit, bipartisan Alliance to Save Energy, consumers should lower the temperature on their hot water heater by 10 degrees Fahrenheit before they leave home for holiday travels. Doing this can create up to 5% savings in water heating, according to the organization.

Consumers can also utilize smart light bulbs, smart plugs, smart thermostats and robotic vacuums to save energy throughout the year, according to information from Oncor.

TSTC offers a two-semester certificate of completion in Energy Efficiency Specialist, which is under the Solar Energy Technology program. Classes focus on energy rating systems, green construction, renewable energy and safety regulations.

For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Hanson received the Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award at TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement held Saturday morning at The BASE at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. 

“It’s awesome,” Hanson said. “It makes me feel like I put in the work to get things done.”

Hanson received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Repair Specialization.

Hanson complimented the program’s faculty members for being great at explaining the techniques he can use daily in his work. Now that he has graduated, he will go from working part time to full time as a painter at Slaton Paint and Body in Athens, Texas.

“The point of college is to go out and work,” Hanson said.

Kyle Pokraka, an instructor in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program, nominated Hanson for the award. Pokraka said Hanson led by example in his classes, with other students finding themselves working at his pace to complete lab assignments.

“He (Hanson) never runs away from a challenge,” Pokraka said. “He never stops moving forward. He refuses to back down and quit.”

The Mike Torres Jr. Leadership Award is given to honor the memory of Waco native Mike Torres Jr., who taught in TSTC’s Digital Media and Design program until his death in 2005. According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, Torres graduated from Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic High School and TSTC’s Commercial Art Advertising and Integrated Digital Image program.

The award signifies qualities that Torres was known for: courage, honesty and integrity. The award is given each semester at commencement to a Waco campus candidate for graduation who is nominated by TSTC faculty and staff members. It was first given in fall 2011, according to TSTC archival information.

For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Jeff Kilgore, interim provost of TSTC’s Waco campus and statewide vice chancellor and chief academic officer, was thrilled with the first in-person ceremony being held since fall 2019.

“Today we are celebrating the living testimony of everything that is great about TSTC and its 56-year-old mission,” he said. 

Dillon Meek, mayor of Waco, was the keynote speaker. He said that Texas is dependent on TSTC graduates to fill critical jobs. He called on graduates to become leaders in their communities, churches or neighborhoods.

“A TSTC degree means your family will have access to financial security,” Meek said. 

Several graduates already have jobs, while others are making plans for the future. 

Pedro Hernandez, of Bremond, earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology.

“I enjoyed the hands-on work,” he said.

Hernandez worked during college at a used-car dealership doing detailing and maintenance work. But later this month, he will begin a new career as a technician at Allen Samuels Chevrolet Buick GMC in Hearne.

“It has not really hit me yet, but I’m ready,” he said. 

Dylan Burns, of Pleasanton, received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Pilot Training Technology.

“The whole thing has been positive regarding the program,” he said. “It’s challenging, but fun.”

After the ceremony, Burns said he and his relatives planned to go out to eat to celebrate.

Burns’ plans for the future are to work as a certified flight instructor and later fly professionally.

“I am excited and looking forward to the future,” he said. 

Elizabeth Stiles, of Garland, received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Programming Technology. She graduated with Phi Theta Kappa and TSTC Board of Regents honors.

“I’m happy I got everything done and it went well,” she said.

Stiles started the program taking in-person classes, but as TSTC adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, her program was moved online. She enjoyed taking online classes since she could focus better and do lessons without waking up early.

Stiles is doing interviews now for remote work and wants to live in Canada someday.

For more information, log on to tstc.edu.

Cameron Bourgeois, of Bourne, and Cameron Wheeler, of China Spring, are scheduled to receive certificates of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology – Heavy Truck at TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement on Saturday in Waco.

Bourgeois wanted to stay close to home to work after graduation so he could continue helping out at his family’s ranch. He said growing up working with hay, animals and farm equipment inspired him to pursue his field of study. He will begin work in January at Stehling & Walker Garage in Comfort.

“I feel I have a lot more accomplished,” Bourgeois said. “I’m excited.”

Bourgeois said he enjoyed learning about engines in his classes. But he learned quickly that college is a lot different than high school work.

“I had to get down and focus on what’s going on,” he said. “At TSTC, you are learning how to be successful, and the instructors are teaching you what to do to be successful when you get in the real world.”

Wheeler began work in August at Lonestar Truck Group Freightliner in Temple doing body work and preventive maintenance. Upon graduation he will convert to full-time work.

“It’s a big relief to have work already,” Wheeler said. “I feel like I am ahead of the folks who are looking.”

Wheeler grew up working with his father on diesel trucks, which factored into his decision to attend TSTC. He also likes the pay.

“I have met a lot of people,” he said. “There are a lot of smart instructors here. I grew up some. It’s been good.”

The students said their advice to high school students is to seriously consider two-year colleges to have lower debt.

“TSTC means an opportunity for growth and development,” Wheeler said.

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Texas are making a yearly median salary of more than $49,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website. Texas is projected to need more than 34,000 workers by 2028.

David Folz, lead instructor in TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, said industry representatives continue to tell him that businesses need qualified diesel workers.

“They are really looking into our program to see what we are covering more now than ever,” he said. “Most do not realize that we do more than just diesel engines. We cover the whole machine. With the different levels of the program, industry is finding students at the level they need, whether it is basic work, like maintenance, or more in-depth, like engine overhauls.”

For more information, go to tstc.edu.

“If you really want to do it, just do it and have patience,” he said.

Hanson is a fall candidate for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Refinishing Specialization and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Repair Specialization at TSTC.

Hanson said doing collision work is interesting because every vehicle has its share of different problems. He also said collision work means making good money.

“I like working on cars, but (I do) not like being a mechanic,” Hanson said.

Hanson began working part time as a painter more than a month ago at Slaton Paint and Body in Athens, Texas. He will begin working full time after graduation. He said his goal is to stay in the Mabank area to work and it feels good already having a job before he graduates.

Maxie Fowler, lead instructor in TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management Technology program, said paint and body shops continue to call seeking graduates to fill jobs. He said the job market is great for graduates.

“If they get their foot in the door, they can work into what they want to do,” Fowler said.

Angel Escamilla, of Mexia, has worked part time in the last year in the body shop at Mike Terry Chevrolet Buick GMC in Mexia. He balances his job as he works toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Auto Collision and Management Technology – Repair Specialization and a certificate of completion in Auto Collision Refinishing at TSTC. Escamilla is a candidate for graduation in December.

Escamilla will move up to full-time work after graduating this semester. He said he is glad he did not have to relocate to work.

“I’ve always been interested in cars and working on them,” he said.

Escamilla said students entering the program should have an interest in vehicles, be confident and not be afraid. He said students can be successful in the profession when they follow instructions and use the right techniques to make repairs.

Automotive body and related repairers in Texas can make a yearly median salary of more than $43,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website. More than 13,000 workers will be needed by 2028, according to the website.

TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at The BASE at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.

Registration continues for the spring semester. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

Houston is a fall candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology at Texas State Technical College in Waco.

“I like being hands-on and mechanically inclined; it came easy to me,” he said.

Houston has been a resident at the on-campus Village Oaks Apartments during his time at TSTC and became a resident advisor in early summer. He said the qualities he brings to the job are his organizational skills and drive to do tasks well.

Crystal Vela, an assistant of residence life at Village Oaks, said she had her eye on Houston early on as a potential resident advisor.

“When students come to events, I get to see how they interact,” she said. “He would go to the students that were to themselves and start a conversation. I will miss his crazy laugh and his helpfulness.”

Houston grew up in Killeen and enjoyed working with his hands, helping his parents with repairs and building an interest in machinery.

While he was a student at Central Texas Christian School in Temple, he was a member of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) club and used metal fabrication to build a life-size shield bearing the school’s logo. While attending a competition with his classmates at TSTC in Waco, Houston had an opportunity to tour the Precision Machining Technology program and liked what he saw.

“From sophomore year until I graduated from high school, I would decide to come here,” Houston said.

Houston will begin work in tool and die making and maintenance in early January at Emerson Automation Solutions in Stephenville. He said he looks forward to being on his own.

“It feels great,” Houston said. “I have a head start on a new life.”

Houston’s advice for future college students is to be social.

“Move in with someone,” he said. “Meet new people because, who knows, you may meet others who can help you in your classes.”

TSTC’s Fall 2021 Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at The BASE at the Extraco Events Center at 4601 Bosque Blvd. in Waco.

For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

The TSTC students began the 12-week training program in August to learn the skills necessary to become advanced electric vehicle technicians at Tesla. As a Tesla-paid hourly intern, the students developed technical experience and earned certifications through a blended approach of in-class theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.

All students who successfully complete the nationwide program are eligible to work at a Tesla Service Center in the United States.

The program’s classes are held at the Kultgen Automotive Center on TSTC’s Waco campus. Job shadowing and hands-on experience are also done at Tesla Service Centers in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.

“We are excited and proud of the fifth graduating class from the Tesla START program in Waco,” said Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training for the East Williamson County, North Texas and Waco campuses. “We look forward to the next class and continued partnership with Tesla.”

Graduates of the program’s fifth cohort are Martin Cano of Victoria, Texas; Joshua Falls of Atlanta, Georgia; Cole Hansen of Rexburg, Idaho; Jordan Heilman of Plano, Texas; Chris Lee of Salt Lake City, Utah; Anthony Oleaurre of Waco, Texas; and Mark Scheuermann of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Dylan Lane, a Tesla START program instructor, said he admired the students’ unique backgrounds and how they handled the pressure of high expectations.

“Seeing how they get to apply these new skills with the tasks at hand has been fun,” he said.

Cano became fascinated with Elon Musk, Tesla’s founder, and the direction he is taking the company. Cano did online research to learn about the Tesla START program and applied. He said the only automotive experience he had going into the program was diesel repair work he has done in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“I am extremely excited with everything I have learned here,” he said. “I am blown away by what all Tesla has to offer.”

Falls began having an interest in electric vehicles while working at a Nissan dealership in Atlanta. He said he is interested in leaving Georgia to go to work for Tesla.

“Excited is a good word to use, but I am also nervous,” he said. “We are doing labor-intensive but important work.”

The graduates are going to Tesla Service Centers in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Utah.

There are currently eight other Tesla START programs in California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. The program launched in 2019 and has had more than 300 graduates. TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus also hosts the Tesla START program. 

For more information on the Tesla START program, go to tesla.com/careers/tesla-start.

To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

The 12-week program enabled soldiers to travel to Waco four days a week to take classes in mechatronics, with a focus on electrical systems, electrical motor control systems, industrial electricity and other topics. The soldiers also had the opportunity to earn up to seven certifications from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. 

The classes were taught by Larry Griffin, a TSTC workforce trainer.

Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training for the East Williamson County, North Texas and Waco campuses, said the cohort was the best that has gone through the program.

Jordan Shrum was recently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, before receiving a medical discharge after four years of service. He was a petroleum specialist and said the electrical work he knew from what his father taught him and what he had learned in the military helped in some of his classes.

“I enjoyed everything I learned and absorbed a lot of the material I did not know,” he said.

Shrum will begin work in late November at Patterson Dental Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he will work as a technician installing and troubleshooting equipment.

“It’s great because I am moving back home,” said Shrum, who is from Lancaster, South Carolina, which is about 40 miles south of Charlotte.

Kevin Woods is stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, but his wife is stationed at Fort Hood. Woods learned about the program through a life skills program for soldiers at his home base. Woods works as a senior culinary manager in the Army and had no experience working with electronics before the program.

“At first it was daunting, but the way Larry teaches is (that) he breaks the material down to our level,” Woods said. “I came to school every day smiling because the military is paying me to come to school. I enjoy learning something new.”

Woods is applying for the Tesla START Manufacturing program, which he credits Heroes MAKE America for giving him confidence to do.

Other program participants were Fort Hood soldiers Anthony Burgos, Carmelo Nell and Justin Stevenson.

Marvin Branch, a manager at the Heroes MAKE America program, said he plans to reach out to the soldiers to speak to future cohorts about the work they are doing in the manufacturing industry.

Branch said plans are to have program cohorts start each January, May and August at TSTC. The next cohort starts on Jan. 10, 2022, at TSTC.

The initiative began in 2018, with Fort Hood being designated to house the program later that year. About 200 Fort Hood personnel have already gone through the program. Branch said program applicants can come from any military occupation. The program is also for military spouses, National Guard members, reservists and recent veterans.

For more information about the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program, go to themanufacturinginstitute.org.

For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.