Tag Archives: TSTC

TSTC Breaks Ground on Campus Transformation

TSTC Vice Chancellor of External Relations in Harlingen Cledia Hernandez talks about new facilities and programs of study that are scheduled to open in spring 2026 during a recent groundbreaking ceremony at TSTC’s Harlingen campus. (Photo TSTC)

Representatives of Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 7 for two new facilities and renovation of one existing building. The new additions will provide space for two programs new to the campus: Diesel Equipment Technology, and Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology.  The Automotive Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology programs will share nearly 50,000 square feet in one building. In addition, the Electrical Lineworker and Management…

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TSTC Prepares To Fill Hygienist Shortage

Texas State Technical College’s Dental Hygiene program

Texas State Technical College’s Dental Hygiene program is training students to meet the need for workers in Texas. According to a recent American Dental Association report, the dental sector is facing a serious workforce shortage. Vacant positions in dental assisting and dental hygiene have reduced dental practice capacity by an estimated 10 percent nationally. Raquel Rico, TSTC’s Dental Hygiene program director in Harlingen, said the primary focus of the program’s education is about hands-on training.…

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TSTC Prepares Aviation Maintenance Students

TSTC aviation maintenance program

Highly skilled aircraft technicians are in short supply, and the aviation maintenance program at Texas State Technical College is training students in an effort to meet demand for them across Texas. Isaac Pena of Rio Grande City is a second-semester Aircraft Powerplant Technology student at TSTC. He said the technician shortage creates a promising outlook for upcoming aviation maintenance graduates. “It’s beneficial because there’s more demand, opportunities and potentially increased pay,” he said. “As I’m…

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TSTC Spotlights Vocational Nursing At Open House

TSTC Vocational Nursing (photo TSTC)

The Vocational Nursing certificate of completion program at Texas State Technical College will host an open house on March 31. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lucio Allied Health Technologies Building at the corner of North Loop 499 and Jasmine Street on the college’s Harlingen campus. The college encourages prospective students with an interest in beginning the Vocational Nursing program next fall to attend the event.…

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TSTC Ranks Top in Texas For Two-Year Institutions

Texas State Technical College, which has 10 campuses statewide, has been ranked first in Texas and third nationally among two-year institutions by Niche.com. TSTC received high marks in six categories: diversity, location, professors, safety, student life and value. The technical college was lauded for its 100-percent acceptance rate and its average $10,237 yearly tuition. Also receiving recognition is TSTC’s awarding of more than $6,699 in yearly average financial aid. “We’re…

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TSTC Transforms Mechanics Into Technicians

(photo TSTC)

Texas State Technical College Automotive Technology instructor Miguel Zoleta is making sure his program’s students stay plugged in to advancements in the automotive industry. “Right now, we’re seeing that a lot out of industry is electrical vehicles, and electrical vehicles are coming out in every dealership,” he said. “Every company is trying to come out with at least one line of an electrical vehicle.” The bells and whistles that come…

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TSTC Fills Cool Jobs in Rio Grande Valley

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in HVAC Technology, an HVAC Technician certificate and a Basic HVAC occupational skills award. (photo TSTC)

When air conditioning breaks down on those sizzling Rio Grande Valley days, leave it to heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians to come to the rescue. More of the technical superheroes are needed in the region and throughout Texas. “Right now, we are getting job offers from different companies,” said Jorge Cabrera, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program in Harlingen. “I don’t have…

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TSTC Meets Need for Precision Machining Jobs

Texas State Technical College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology. It also offers a certificate of completion in Machining. (photo TSTC)

From airplane landing gears to smartphones, precision machining is a critical component of our lives. “Everything comes from an actual machine shop making the products you are going to need for later use,” said Isaac Gonzalez, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Precision Machining Technology program in Harlingen.  Gonzalez said it is challenging to change misconceptions about how modern precision machining is. While students learn some techniques on older,…

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TSTC Program Ready to Fill Valley Jobs

TSTC Health information technology

Health information technology enables people to work wherever they want to do their part to keep patients’ health care records organized. Beyda Ramirez, an instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Health Information Technology program in Harlingen, said graduates do more than handle billing and coding. They also maintain the accuracy of electronic medical records and work with medical facilities’ clinical documentation improvement plans. “The medical field is always updating and…

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Path Leads to Becoming the IT It Guy

Jose Cavazos

When Jose Cavazos’s co-worker at Barcom Technology Services in Harlingen told him they had a service call at the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement office in Mercedes, he felt a sense of both nostalgia and excitement. Cavazos had considered stopping in VIDA’s former office in Weslaco several times, but it was always closed by the time he got out of work. “As soon as we walked into the building,”…

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