M&S Engineering is a Texas-based engineering firm whose scope of services includes electrical engineering; civil engineering; mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP); and survey projects through its sister company, Sherwood Surveying & S.U.E.

Some students and faculty members from TSTC’s Automation and Controls Technology, Drafting and Design, Electrical Lineworker Technology, and Electrical Power and Controls programs attended the event.

It was one of many that TSTC’s Career Services department organizes and hosts — both in person and online — to show TSTC students some career options.

Kendall Simpson, an HR representative for M&S Engineering, and Josh Darden, the distribution manager for the company’s Georgetown and Midland offices, attended the event to describe the company’s mission and goals and answer questions.

Currently, M&S Engineering has about 300 employees. The company’s services extend throughout Texas — with some additional projects and initiatives outside the state.

“We cover almost all of Texas, with about 300 employees and growing,” Darden said.

The company staffs offices in Aledo, Georgetown, Midland, New Braunfels, Spring Branch and The Woodlands, with plans for expansion.

“We’re constantly hiring,” Simpson said. “We are definitely in the growth stage.”

Some of the current open positions include electric design trainees and technicians, electric distribution designers and trainees, and survey crew members.

Nearly all the positions are full time, Simpson said, adding that the company accepted some current students for summer internships.

During the virtual event, students asked questions about where they might relocate to, the types of benefits available to employees, and what kinds of qualifications the firm is looking for in its workers.

Darden said M&S Engineering would consider individuals with associate degrees and certificates of completion.

“Either one works mainly because you’re a good hard worker — and you’re ready to come to work and grow and expand your career path from on-the-job training,” he said.

Simpson looks forward to the opportunity to hire more TSTC graduates in the future.

“We’ll definitely be at the career fair next spring,” she said.

TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in Automation and Controls Technology and Electrical Power and Controls.

Within its Drafting and Design program, TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology, Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology, and Engineering Graphics and Design Technology, as well as occupational skills awards in Basic Architectural-Mechanical Drafting and Basic Computer Aided Drafting.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science and a certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker Technology.

Registration for the spring semester at TSTC is underway. Learn more at tstc.edu.

More than 100 fall 2021 graduates walked the stage to receive their diplomas during the first in-person TSTC commencement ceremony since fall 2019.

“Tonight means the completion of two years of hard work paying off,” said Chase Carey, who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Powerplant Technology with honors. “Earning the honors means that all of my late nights of studying were worth the time and effort.”

Edward Deanda, who earned a certificate of completion in Aircraft Powerplant Technology, also graduated with honors.

“These honors accomplishments mean so much to me,” Deanda said. “But I am not through because I am coming back to work on a backup career in Digital Media Design. I want to have something to fall back on, and TSTC is the place to do that.”

For Omar Alvarez, it was the completion of a second degree program. After earning a degree in Automotive Technology, he returned to TSTC and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology. He graduated as a TSTC Board of Regents Honor Roll member.

“It was a lot of work for me, and it was worth it because I maintained a 4.0 grade-point average during each semester,” he said. “The best part is I now have a job lined up and am ready to start my career.”

Alfred Rodriguez also added to his TSTC collection of TSTC degrees. After earning a certificate of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology, he added an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems.

“This is a great day for me, and I am so excited because it has already paid off for me at work,” he said.

Kiana Abarintos said she can now pursue her passion in aviation with her Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Powerplant Technology.

“My father was in aviation for 20 years, and it was always something I wanted to do,” she said. “When my husband was transferred to Dyess Air Force Base, I did my research and found TSTC had an aviation program. I am so proud of myself for achieving this goal in my life.”

Misty Burton, who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing, also realized a dream.

“This was 16 years in the making,” she said. “I graduated in licensed vocational nursing when my baby was a baby. That was 16 years ago, and I have completed my goal of completing the program. This has been an amazing experience.”

Ken Becker, interim executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, said students were given a key during the ceremony.

“The key is your hard work. The key is the completion of your studies,” he said. “The key is the certificate or associate degree that you will walk across the stage tonight to receive. It’s the key that can take you places you want to go.”

Registration for the spring semester at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC’s Career Services department hosted a virtual industry spotlight event Wednesday, Dec. 1, alongside Texas Instruments, which hopes to hire for a number of careers.

“We hope that you find something that interests you,” said Katie Peebles, an engineer and supervisor who has been with the company for 21 years. “It’s a great opportunity. I hope that we’re your choice.”

Students and instructors from TSTC’s Computer Networking and Systems Administration, Computer Programming Technology, Cybersecurity, Diesel Equipment Technology, Drafting and Design, Electrical Power and Controls, HVAC Technology and Industrial Systems programs attended the virtual event.

During the career spotlight, Peebles and her colleague, Jimmy Carter, another engineer, detailed everything from shift schedules, benefits and growth potential within the company to the overall vision of Texas Instruments.

“Here at Texas Instruments, we want to change the world,” Carter said. “We’re a technology-driven company. We’re shaping the future of electronics.”

Texas Instruments, which is headquartered in Dallas, employs about 30,000 workers around the globe. The company makes analog and embedded processing chips for industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communication equipment and enterprise systems.

Founded in 1930, Texas Instruments earned $14.46 billion in revenue last year.

“As we look at the industry today, we know there’s a big demand,” Carter said. “There’s a shortage of computer chips. We’re doing our part — 80% of TI’s wafers are produced internally.”

A majority of the work at Texas Instruments takes place inside clean rooms, where technicians and engineers don “bunny suits” — or coveralls — gloves and other gear to protect the sensitive products they are making, the tools they are using, and themselves.

Texas Instruments looks to hire entry-level technicians in a variety of focus areas, including product, process, equipment, facilities and engineering technicians, from TSTC’s pool of highly trained talent.

“You’re going to come in with your foundational knowledge, and we’re going to build on that,” Peebles said, describing on-the-job and peer-to-peer training — as well as a tuition reimbursement program for continuing education.

There is a range of tiers for growth within the technician careers, she added. The higher the tier, the higher the pay — and the responsibilities. The highest level of technician will be expected to balance core daily duties with special projects, including maintenance, installation and other requirements.

“It’s whatever career path someone wants to go down,” Peebles said. “Really, the sky’s the limit.”

Registration for the spring semester at TSTC is underway. Learn more at tstc.edu.

What inspired you to study Visual Communication Technology at TSTC?

I have always loved art and drawing but never really knew what direction I could go career-wise with these skills. My fiance was attending TSTC, and so I decided to do some research into the programs offered. I started in the Web Design and Development program, as I believed I could apply my art skills with coding to make a lucrative career for myself. My mind changed after being in Stacie Buterbaugh’s graphic design class. I never realized I could utilize my artistic knowledge and apply it to so many different mediums in the design world.

How did TSTC prepare you for the graphic design field?

I believe the professors did an amazing job preparing me for my field. TSTC has hired instructors who genuinely care about the success of their students, which made such an impact on me. They helped prepare us to deal with critiques, handle changes to designs, and work with clients to achieve the best results. They also prepared us by teaching us how to handle multiple projects at once and how to manage our time efficiently. Working in my field now, time management is such a critical aspect of graphic design, and I believe having the practice at TSTC has helped me immensely now.

What is a typical workday like for you?

My day starts with getting to the office about 7 a.m. and checking my schedule and assignments for that day. I will usually have a meeting every Tuesday with co-workers to talk about current workflow and projects, future goals and project updates. I am one of two designers that handle all of our graphic design requests across divisions in my company. Depending on current projects and clients, I will have an extremely busy or a slow day. The scope of designs I typically work on can range from basic real estate signage to civic signs and blueprints. I get home about 4 p.m., and from there I work on my computer at home on contract work for other clients.

How does technology play a role in your work?

Technology plays a huge role, from using printers to graphic design software. Technology is the base for creating any design piece. I mainly work with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat. I have also spent some time learning how to use Adobe XD, as many companies and clients are wanting more UX/UI design. I also work a lot in the Google Workspace apps. Technology and design programs are constantly changing, so I find myself spending a lot of time researching user methods, tutorials and more to stay up to date.

What career advice would you give to those interested in pursuing your field?

My advice is to surround yourself with as much design and art as possible and find others in the field you can network with. You will always be learning, and having a community, guides, references and resources will help you learn more about what designs work in your industry and what designs do not. Networking will be your best friend in this industry, so communicate and reach out to anyone and everyone. Most, if not all, of my contract work has been through networking with clients, creators, teachers, peers and more. Word of mouth is a huge asset for a designer, so I highly suggest learning to use social media to connect and network with other creators in the industry. Another piece of advice I have would be to learn how to pace your work and make time for self-care.

Graphic designers in Texas can make a yearly median salary of more than $49,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website. The agency predicts that more than 20,000 graphic designers will be needed in Texas by 2028.

TSTC offers an online Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Communication Technology. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

The number of students participating this year is nearly double that of last year, said Joann Flores, a TSTC dual enrollment recruitment representative. She recently took on the role at the Fort Bend County campus.

“I was really excited to start this new process because I was able to be there in person and start making a change as to how many students enrolled — and have contact with our partners in the ISDs so we can start getting things on a roll here,” she said. “I look forward to getting as many students as we can to know about TSTC and what we have to offer.”

Current dual enrollment partnerships between TSTC’s campus in Fort Bend County and nearby school districts include Alief ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Lamar CISD and Needville ISD. Flores and Kadie Svrcek, TSTC director of Internal Operations for dual enrollment, anticipate future partnerships and additional program credentialing that will grow the number of students — and opportunities — in the dual enrollment program.

“I would say that it gets them ready for college,” Flores said of the dual enrollment program’s benefits for students. “It gets them a foot in the door. Once they graduate, that makes things so much easier. I think just getting a little taste of what it’s like to do college makes it not so scary for them to continue and want to further their education.”

There are three options for students to receive their education and training: on-site on TSTC’s campus, off-site on a high school campus with TSTC-credentialed high school instructors, or online. Many of the pathways are hybrid, meaning that students receive some instruction online and additional hands-on training in labs, shops and classrooms.

Flores recalled the feedback she received from a student who completed the dual enrollment program at TSTC.

“He felt very blessed and fortunate to be able to do the program because that made things so much easier for him to transition once he graduated high school,” she said. “It was doing something that he liked to do, which is welding. He already knew what he wanted to do, and it’s something he experienced in high school.”

TSTC offers several technical pathways for dual enrollment students at the Fort Bend County campus, including Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology, Cybersecurity, Diesel Equipment Technology, Digital Media Design, Electrical Power and Controls, HVAC, Industrial Systems, Precision Machining Technology, Structural Welding, and Visual Communication Technology.

Each technical pathway comes with four courses, representing a completed semester at TSTC. If dual enrollment students wish to continue their education at TSTC after finishing high school, their admission process is simplified.

“Even if they don’t want to come to us after they graduate high school, we’re giving them some of the tools they need to be able to enter into a high-paying career,” Svrcek said.

Flores hopes more people discover the advantages that TSTC’s dual enrollment program has to offer.

“I wish more parents knew about this program and how beneficial it is to their son or daughter,” Flores said. “There’s just so much opportunity in being a dual enrollment student. You’re doing the credits already in high school. Why not get the college credits as well?”

School districts that want to explore a dual enrollment partnership with TSTC should send a letter of interest to start the program, Flores added.

“We need other high schools to know what we’re doing and know the opportunities that are available,” Svrcek said. “Fort Bend County is growing, and it’s just going to continue to grow. The opportunities there are endless.”

Learn more about TSTC’s dual enrollment program at tstc.edu/admissions/dual-enrollment/.

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – A relentless sun and heat index in the triple digits were not enough to deter applicants, prospective students and community members from attending Texas State Technical College’s drive-thru recruitment event Thursday on the Harlingen campus. 

Vehicles began lining up 30 minutes before the event’s official start time for the opportunity to cruise around the tents, which represented more than 17 hybrid and online programs.

Charisma Rodriguez was in one of those vehicles, parked at the table for TSTC’s Dental Hygiene program. Years ago, Rodriguez figured she would give dentistry a try. When she became certified as a dental assistant, she realized she really liked it.

After the birth of her child, Rodriguez decided it was time to return to school.

“I want to come back for dental hygiene,” she said.

Vivienne Cermeno, a TSTC Dental Hygiene instructor, handed out packets containing program requirements and small tubes of toothpaste to interested attendees. By her estimation, she had already spoken with a dozen people about the program within the first hour of the drive-thru recruitment event.

Cermeno was an enthusiastic source of information for attendees

“I’ve always liked going to the dentist — I was one of those weird kids,” she said. “Every time I’d go in, the hygienists were always really nice. Everything smelled like mint, and it was very clean.”

Cermeno is also a TSTC Dental Hygiene alumna.

“Since I was here, I always told my instructors it was my dream to come back and teach,” she said. “It’s my first year teaching — I’m so excited.”

In addition to allied health, programs within the fields of engineering and manufacturing, environmental and safety, and other industries set up tables beneath large, white tents for the drive-thru recruitment event. Many of them distributed information, candy and other small items, and a cooler full of cold water helped attendees beat the heat.

“It’s super exciting that we finally have an on-campus event, this large, for the community,” Jean Lashbrook, a TSTC associate provost, said about the drive-thru recruitment event. “The biggest secret of the Valley is our college. This really opens up everybody’s eyes. They’re able to come on campus and see what we’ve got. And the students actually being able to talk with the programs one-on-one is great.”

Applicants and prospective students who attended were entered into a drawing for a $1,500 scholarship, which was set to be drawn Friday.

Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Texas State Technical College’s online Digital Media Design program teaches students about digital imaging, digital video, photography, typography and other topics. With a well-curated portfolio, students can be confident in their abilities to work in agencies and businesses of all sizes.

Devon Smittkamp, a founding partner at Glitch Creative Labs in McAllen, said he has noticed the creative talent growing during the last few years in the Rio Grande Valley.

“We live in a time of instant gratification,” he said. “Someone with a camera is an influencer. Someone with a laptop and a design program is a designer. A lot of people can do good design, but they need to have the mentality behind it and know the customer-service end.”

Smittkamp said people who are successful in the digital media design field have an eye for what looks good and the skills to do work that does not always follow traditional rules. Those entering the industry should have good critical and logical thinking skills. Fitting in with a creative agency or business can also help potential workers.

“We work hard here,” he said. “It’s important to be able to have some fun in the creative process. Culture is a really important thing.”

Jerry Vavra, statewide lead in TSTC’s Digital Media Design program, recommends that students do freelance work before they graduate in order to gain experience in dealing with customers and understand the financial value of their work.

Vavra said students seeking jobs upon graduation should pay attention to the kind of portfolio that employers want to review. He said the type of work they apply for also factors into what materials should make up the portfolio.

Smittkamp said those interviewing for jobs should not put random files into Dropbox, a hosting service using cloud technology, to present portfolios. He said personal design websites are good to point potential employers to, along with a range of images and a resume put together in a PDF format.

Vavra said people who are job hunting should consider employers’ benefits and insurance plans. They should also embrace remote work.

Smittkamp said he is excited to see young adults starting their own creative agencies in McAllen.

“It is proven (that) the world is going digital,” he said. “There is value still in traditional media, but in looking for a younger audience, everything is digital.”

Students who graduate from TSTC’s Digital Media Design program can go on to become art directors, graphic designers, film and video editors, and photographers. The yearly average salary among these professions in Texas ranges from $47,000 to $76,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website. There will be a need for more than 36,900 workers in Texas by 2028.

This fall, TSTC’s program will be taught in a performance-based format. Performance-based education allows students to have flexibility with their schedules as they master set competencies. Students can build on existing knowledge and may have the opportunity to graduate earlier than planned. Students will still have semesters, but the number of classes will vary.

Vavra said performance-based education appeals to a new kind of student that TSTC is seeing.

“They come in knowing how to self-teach, and they go at a faster pace,” he said. “They could go through a class much faster and end up with a good portfolio. We are forcing them to perfect the competencies before they move on.”

Students already enrolled in the Digital Media Design program before the start of the fall semester will be considered “traditional” because they will still take classes lasting the full 15 weeks of a semester.

Vavra said due to the online program expanding statewide, faculty members will use Google rooms starting this fall to connect students from different locations. Faculty members will also have set room hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays and be ready to answer students’ questions and spur on creative discussions.

TSTC offers an online Associate of Applied Science degree in Digital Media Design.

Registration continues for the fall, and scholarships are available. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

Shay MacMorran, of Waco, graduated in 2003 with an associate degree in Commercial Art and Advertising. She is currently a graphic designer at Winstar Marketing in Austin but works remotely from her home. The company specializes in apparel, promotional items, social media and web design.

What took place during the competition? 

A bunch of artists and businesses paired together, but businesses could pay for a certain artist. They worked together to make a design for the street or a wall.

I teamed up with LaSalle Shoppes to create a chalk design on Austin Avenue. They do antiques, so we decided to do an “I Love Lucy” crossover with “I Love LaSalle Shoppes.” There is specific street chalk we can use, and also spray paint chalk. You just get into a zone and just go. It’s big, but you have to spend several hours working on it.

Creative Waco and some other groups are working very hard to make the arts scene in Waco more visible. Artists are solitary creatures. You don’t really get out there and see other artists because you are working at home doing your thing. This is a way to bring everyone together.

I was confident, but there are about 50 other artists there. It was based on voting, so you do not know how people will vote. I chose a spot in the LuluBelle’s Market at Magnolia’s Silobration in October in Waco.

What is your job like? 

It’s a little different every day. Most of the time, it is laying out uniforms, but I also do a lot of T-shirt and logo designs.

We usually do a lot of things by Zoom, mostly because of the pandemic. We have quarterly team meetings where we have lunch and folks can come out and talk. It’s a small group, so we are all tight-knit. We talk by email. 

Because I work from home, I can home-school my son, work on personal art projects when I have extra time, and spend time with our dog. It is just a lot more freeing than working in an office. 

What factored into your decision to attend TSTC? 

I wanted to do something with art, and it just seemed like the best fit for me at the time. We didn’t have a lot of money for a huge school. TSTC gave me everything I needed to get started. I went in not knowing how to use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. I was just a traditional artist. I would always draw or paint. I use Adobe products every single day now.

What advice do you have for people interested in pursuing the design field? 

I think it would help to have a creative eye. Otherwise, it is going to be more difficult if you do not have one. Having the ability to take criticism without taking it personally is good.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website, graphic designers in Texas make a yearly median salary of more than $49,000. The state is projected to need more than 20,000 graphic designers by 2028, the third-highest number in the country.

TSTC offers an online associate degree in Visual Communication Technology. Students can gain hands-on experience in art direction, digital publishing and graphic design, and do a required commercial art and advertising internship.

Registration is underway for the fall, and scholarships are available. For more information, go to tstc.edu. 

(WACO, Texas) – Recent graduates of Texas State Technical College’s Digital Media Design program have an impressive array of career options.

Pleasanton native Hannah Selby works at a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary as a marketing coordinator and real estate photographer. Abilene resident Arabel Mullen aspires to be a professional illustrator and already has sold a client some illustrations for a book. 

The two women have graduated from TSTC’s Digital Media Design program and are taking opposite career paths, but both have been trained in traditional graphic design skills and industry software like Adobe Creative Suite. 

“The day-to-day usage of digital media design has really helped me in my current job,” Selby said. “I work full time for a real estate agency, and I handle all of their graphic design and social media. But I’ll be changing careers a bit, doing real estate photography.” 

Selby described how much she enjoyed taking photography classes and learning more in-depth skills like Photoshop and lighting techniques. Even though her degree might suggest a 9-to-5 career in graphic design is in her future, Selby says she plans to keep it part-time and focus on photography.   

“I’ll be doing contract graphic design for a few small businesses, including a T-shirt design company, and offering my contract services to an advertising agency in San Antonio,” Selby said. “I really appreciate how working in this field, you have the opportunity to set your own schedule. I might even start my own agency down the line.” 

Jerry Vavra, TSTC’s chair of the Digital Media Design program, noted that students have an open and lucrative job field to look forward to. Instead of being limited strictly to digital design, students gain a tool belt of skills they can take anywhere. 

“The job outlook for this program is always strong. We’re not just thinking of local areas and campuses; we’re thinking of the entire state of Texas,” Vavra said. “With a quick search of the job title ‘graphic designer’ in Google for Texas, hundreds of jobs are showing up.” 

Vavra emphasized the breadth of specialized avenues available to students in the Digital Media Design program. 

“Graphic designer is sometimes a job title that other specific titles get lumped into. But we have specific areas that students can go into that are a bit outside that realm,” Vavra said. “They can be videographers, animators, web designers and illustrators.”  

Defining herself as more of the traditionally artistic persuasion, Mullen aspires to work as an illustrator for herself or with an agency. Formerly a cake decorator, Mullen decided to pursue her dream of being an illustrator and researched careers she could enter that would be both profitable and fulfilling. 

“I wanted to be a traditional artist when I graduated high school, but there’s the saying ‘starving artist,’” Mullen said. “I found TSTC and spoke with some instructors about the design program. They explained all the things I could do with design, including starting my own business.” 

Mullen’s personal brand and online store Novel Insights can be found on Etsy, though she dreams of working with a creative team such as those at Chris Do’s studios The Futur and Blind, and putting her graphic design training to work. 

“There’s so many avenues you can take with this program. We learn so many different aspects of design, from graphics to photography to videography, and some animation,” Mullen said. “Going forward, I think that being a digital artist will be a really successful career in our world of technology.” 

Registration continues for the summer and fall semesters at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.