(ROSENBERG) - United States Senator Ted Cruz toured Texas State Technical College recently after announcing new legislation that will benefit students who pursue a technical education.

“To keep up with the rest of the world and be competitive we need to continue growing the skilled workforce we need to keep our economy moving forward,” said Cruz. “And this bill, at the end of the day, will match people with their passion and work for the state and its industries.”

Cruz introduced the special legislation cited as the “Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act” to TSTC leadership and Fort Bend County industry leaders.

The act establishes tax credits to encourage individual and corporate taxpayers to make scholarship contributions to workforce training organizations, like TSTC.

Contributions can provide students with scholarships for secondary or postsecondary vocational education and training, including preparation and examination costs relating to certificates or credentials, or industry recognized certification or credentialing programs.

Chancellor Mike Reeser said 60 percent of the jobs in Texas require some kind of education beyond high school and half of those require only a certificate or two-year degree like the ones offered at TSTC.

“The beauty of hosting you (Cruz) today is the great impact this new bill can have for these students seeking these opportunities,” said Reeser. “A lot of families struggle to pay for college and having the opportunity to increase the amounts of scholarships for families is absolutely crucial to us expanding the availability of a skilled workforce.”  

After the announcement, Cruz toured the campus and visited technical programs - Electrical Lineworker Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology and Robotics Technology -  in the Industrial Technology Center and Brazos Center.

University.com ranks TSTC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program as best in the state.

He spoke one-on-one with program instructors and students during the tour to get an inside look into the type of skills training TSTC is providing.

TSTC, a leader in technical education statewide, offers more than 60 technical programs of study. And because of its legislative mission, the college has focused its resources and efforts on technical education and emerging technology, and filling the skills gap that exists statewide.

“TSTC is doing a great job at training students to ensure that they can support their families and stand on their own,” said Cruz. “Walking through campus and hearing that employers are knocking on their doors asking for graduates and that they’re earning high-earning careers is impressive.”

After the tour, Cruz sat down with TSTC leadership, TSTC Robotics Technology student Joshua Schott, Electrical Lineworker Technology student Isaac Hughes, and industry leaders such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Area Safety Council and the George Foundation for a roundtable.

Cruz praised TSTC for the training the college is providing industry in the region. TSTC currently serves more than 500 students, but is expected to grow enrollment to 5,000 within the next decade.  

Cruz also thanked TSTC for giving men and women the critical skills needed to achieve successful careers and expanding educational opportunities for Texas and its residents.

“I’m a fan of technical education and if this legislation is passed this could truly be transformational,” said Cruz. “And it will take time to pass, but once we build a broader coalition and support, this bill it will be a win-win for everyone.”

(FORT BEND) - Christina Vargas is the Assistant Director of Enrollment Management for Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County and has added Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipient to her title.

“I was overwhelmed and humbled when I found out about this recognition,” said Vargas. “I know so many hard workers that I look up to and I know are deserving. So this was an unexpected honor.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award has celebrated employees who exhibit TSTC’s core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service and Integrity for the last 19 years.

TSTC employees are nominated by their peers, provosts and vice chancellors and are chosen for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and their state for this award.

“The teammates who win this award model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s new direction,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the employment success of our students.”

Vargas was selected among 160 faculty and staff members who were nominated and is one of 35 recipients statewide.

It’s been two years since Vargas first arrived at TSTC, and as a Rosenberg native she said she is happy to be home.

“It feels great to be serving the community where I grew up with education,” she said. “Being back here has brought back so many great memories.”

Although Vargas has an hour to an hour-and-a-half drive every day from Victoria, where her and her family reside, she said it’s worth it because she gets to change lives for the better.

“Helping students find success is my favorite thing,” said Vargas. “Especially when they thought college was out of reach for them. And seeing them put on that cap and gown is the cherry on top.”

Vargas has been serving students in various capacities for more than 2 decades. She came to TSTC with extensive experience in teaching for both public and private school, and with student services experience from Victoria College and University of Houston-Victoria, both of which she also attended as a student.

“I look forward to growing with the campus,” said Vargas. “I have a great team that inspires, encourages and motivated each other and our students, and TSTC cares not only about their students’ success, but also about their faculty and staff growing. This is what makes TSTC a great place to work.”

Vargas said TSTC overall has won her family over because even her son is part of the TSTC family as a student in Environmental Compliance Technology.

“TSTC is changing lives every day, including ours,” said Vargas. “It’s great to be a part of something big like this and I’m honored that someone, somewhere feels that work I am doing is invaluable and worthy. The Chancellor’s Excellence Award is a validation and great honor.”

Vargas will be honored in May at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin where, she and the other Chancellor’s Award recipients, will receive their awards.

Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County invites all prospective students, community leaders and neighbors to its annual Open House.

The open house will be Friday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at TSTC’s Brazos Center located at 26706 Southwest Freeway in Rosenberg.  

“This is an opportunity for us to showcase our campus and the type of technical education TSTC is providing to the local community and the state,” said TSTC student recruitment coordinator Yulonda Durst. “Events like this are eye-openers and give people a better understanding of who we are and what we provide.”

TSTC in Fort Bend County is one of 10 campuses throughout the state. It offers certificates and associate degrees in programs such as Cyber Security, Diesel Equipment Technology, Electrical Lineworker Technology and Welding Technology.

“We offer degrees in two years or less that can lead to great-paying jobs,” said Durst. “We’re focused on providing the skills needed for successful careers and on providing the state with a quality workforce.”

According to research conducted by the National Skills Coalition, 53 percent of all jobs are at the middle-skill level, but only 43 percent of the United States workforce is trained for this type of work.

Closing this skills gap and building a stronger economy is what Texas State Technical College has set out to do.

The National Skills Coalition reports that the majority of middle-skill job opportunities require education and training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree.

Durst said that during Open House those in attendance can learn firsthand about the training opportunities TSTC has to offer.

Programs will offer hands-on activities and demonstrations to give attendees the TSTC experience.

“We offer a wide variety of programs that have an in-demand workforce,” said Durst. “And so we hope that many will find TSTC a good fit for them.”

During the open house, TSTC will also offer 30-minute sessions on financial aid, college admissions and the “411 on TSTC.”

Campus tours and lunch will also be available. And every student who applies to TSTC during the Open House will be entered to win a TSTC scholarship for tuition, books and supplies.

“We want to encourage everyone who’s interested or curious about TSTC to stop by,” said Durst. “This is going to be a one-stop shop to get everything needed for registration ready. This could be the start to someone’s successful future.”

Registration for the TSTC Open House is online at https://bit.ly/FtBendOH19. Save the QR code to save time on the day of the event.

For more information on TSTC in Fort Bend County and the programs it offers, visit tstc.edu.

Camille Martinez thought she had settled on her life-long career right out of high school, but after more than a decade and realizing she was no longer growing without a degree, she took her life in a different direction.

The 39-year-old is now a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) student at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County and the only female in the program.

“I can’t tell you why or how I became interested in HVAC, except that we live in Texas and we always need air conditioners,” she said with a laugh. “But in all seriousness, I know that HVAC is a stable industry and I will probably never be out of job or opportunities.”

For more than a decade Martinez worked with Texas Instruments in photolithography, processing images on chips that are part of fabrication for technologies used in, among other things, toys such as the Furby doll.

“Life was good, and I got comfortable. I was making really good money without a college degree,” said Martinez. “But at the same time not having that degree was weighing on me and I didn’t have growth opportunities because of it.”

So for a little over a year, she lived off her savings so she could begin the process of returning to school, but in the midst of it all her mother got ill and Martinez  became her full-time caregiver.

“My mom was my motivator. What was I was going to do without her?” said Martinez. “The one thing I know she wanted for me was to become a college graduate, so after she passed away in June I set out to do just that.”

The Richmond native holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, was recently invited to join Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for her academic achievement and expects to earn her certificate in Summer 2019.

“I’m excited for this new chapter in my life,” she said. “I now have a goal, opportunities and the chance at a long-term career.”

She said her time at TSTC has been life-changing and her hands-on training invaluable. From the instructors to her classmates, who she now considers little brothers, she said her experience at TSTC has been a positive one.

“Everyone has been so supportive, encouraging and motivating,” said Martinez. “I never expected this, especially as the only woman in the class. But they have all proved me wrong. In fact, I’ve come to learn that everyone on campus plays a part in our success.”

Now with everything in place for Martinez, she said she expects to return to TSTC for an associate degree  and looks forward to begin her career working in the field to gain experience that she hopes leads to her very own HVAC company.

“My family has been so supportive making this an easy decision for me,” she said. “Because at TSTC I’m no longer wandering. I have a path and a sense of accomplishment. I have a future.”

Students like Martinez, who are enrolled in HVAC Technology, have access to industry-standard labs and an opportunity to learn and practice on commercial and residential heating and air conditioning equipment, refrigeration equipment and chilled water systems.

There are certificate and degree tracks provided so students can enter the field as skilled HVAC mechanics or installers.

HVAC Technology is also offered at TSTC’s Harlingen, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County Campuses.

For more information, visit tstc.edu/programs/HVACTechnology.

(FORT BEND COUNTY) - Cheyenne Kuta was only 16-years-old when she purchased her first $5,600 welding machine, she knew at the time that this would be a great investment toward her future.

Fast forward to December 2018, she is now a graduate from Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County.

“I’m so excited to finally be celebrating this milestone,” said Kuta. “I’m excited to begin working and looking forward to a successful career in welding.”  

The Plantersville native walked across the stage Monday night at the Stafford Centre in Stafford, Texas as an honors graduate with a grade-point average of 3.75 and received two certificates and an associate degree from TSTC.

She joined close to 60 other graduates from TSTC in Fort Bend County who also earned certificates and associate degrees.

“We are so proud of our daughter,” said Kuta’s mother Sandra Kuta. “She has achieved so much at the young age of 19. She’s goal-oriented, driven and determined. All of this has carried her to the top.”

Kuta was exposed to the field of welding at an early age by her grandfather and uncle. She eventually began her own welding journey in high school.

She quickly rose to the top, beating a lot of the boys in her class and earning two “Top 10 Awards” in the high school’s welding department.

“I really got into welding. I loved it and I was good at it,” said Kuta. “I had a lot of support and a great mentor.”

That mentor was Don Tullos, president of Texas Boiler Makers in Kuta’s hometown. Kuta said he took her under his wing and always encouraged her to continue in the field no matter what the men said.

“There came a point where I was going to Don’s shop every day to practice my welding,” said Kuta. “Then one day he told me, ‘You’re really great at this. You could make this a career.’ And it all changed for me.”

Tullos was also the person who introduced Kuta to TSTC. She toured both the Waco and Fort Bend County campuses, and although further from home, TSTC in Fort Bend County was the perfect fit for her.

“It was a new campus with new labs and equipment. I couldn’t wait to start,” she said. “There were also still smaller class sizes so that meant more one-on-one time with instructors.”

It was August 2017, when Kuta enrolled at TSTC, set up a trailer at a local RV park, where she stayed during the week; and sped up her program completion by testing out of Welding Technology introduction courses because of the welding experience she brought from high school.

Kuta was even inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

“TSTC was a really great experience for me. It was a great place to kick-off my welding career,” she said. “And I was fortunate enough to have instructors who believed me, supported me and pushed me to be the best welder I could be.”

TSTC Welding Instructor David Torres called Kuta a great welding student who is goal driven.

“Cheyenne is very dedicated and you can see that dedication in her welding abilities,” said Torres. She’s always lending a helping hand and coming in early and staying late to build her skills. She will go far in this industry; I know she’ll make it because she has all of the skills. Her future is bright.”

Kuta also said the best thing, for her, about graduating from TSTC, is that she is leaving debt free because of a collection of scholarships she received in high school, financial aid and non-traditional students scholarships from TSTC and other welding industry organizations.

Her advice for other students, “Always put yourself out there. Apply for scholarships, you just never know. This is a possibility for everyone,” she said.

She also wants other girls and women to know that there is no need to feel intimidated about entering into a male-dominated career.

“Don’t be scared. If you have a passion for something and you want to do it, do it,” Kuta said.

“We can do the job just as good, if not better, than the men. Let’s show them what we got.”

So what’s in Kuta’s future?

She has already begun the job application process. She has interviewed with several oil field companies such as National Oilwell, Conroe and Baker Hughes.

“The oilfield is where the jobs are at and I can’t wait to get started,” she said.

Kuta also hopes to become a Certified Welding Inspector and a Certified Welding Instructor in the coming years.

For more information on Welding Technology, visit tstc.edu/programs/WeldingTechnology.