ethos2011 Annual Report

Our college community does not accept the status quoto merely keep pace with modern technology or placeprogress on hold to await ideal budget circumstances.Instead, Texas State Technical College (TSTC)Harlingen seeks improvements that continually benefitstudents, promote workforce development, and lead tofuture economic growth. We’re cooperating with anincreasing number of stakeholders and strengtheningarticulation agreements with universities to betterprepare graduates for rewarding careers or the pursuitof advanced degrees.

Our newest degree, the Associate of Science inEngineering Science (ASES), goes straight to the core ofthe TSTC System mission. It means TSTC will be thefirst two-year college to implement an ASES degree thatcontains curriculum to meet industry standardsestablished by the Accreditation Board for Engineeringand Technology (ABET). Students within the partnerinstitutions of TSTC, the University of Texas-Tyler(UTT), Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), theUniversity of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and South

Texas College (STC) will transfer seamlessly betweeninstitutions for the biomedical, engineering andtransportation fields of study.

With the construction and opening of the UniversityCenter in cooperation with the Harlingen EconomicDevelopment Corporation, TSTC and eight universitiesmake more higher education options a reality for manyRio Grande Valley citizens. Te South Texas EducationalPartnership (STEP) experienced an enrollment increasefrom fall semester 2011 to spring semester 2012 for theUniversity of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), UTPA, TAMUKand Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU); we areconVdent that Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi(TAMUCC), LeTourneau University (LU), Wayland BaptistUniversity (WBU) and the University of Houston (UH) willachieve similar gains soon.

A grand opening for the Renewable Energy Education Center(REEC) in Ingleside expanded the boundaries of our WindEnergyTechnology (WET) Program. TeREEC, a cooperativeeUort between TSTC and Del Mar College of Corpus Christi,

TSTC progressreflects system corevalues and mission

became the Vrst resident for economic development on thesite of a naval base that closed several years ago. Te REEC isdesigned to train the workforce for land-based and oU-shorewind energy farms, prepare displaced naval base personnelwith skills for new careers, widen training programs to solarand corrosion energy, and pioneer new ventures betweenhigher education and industry.

Besides aUordable tuition at TSTC, more students aresaving money by traveling to campus aboard Valley Metro(VM) public transit bus routes that opened in 2011. Teinexpensive bus schedules make classes easily accessiblefor riders from Santa Rosa, La Feria, Combes and SanBenito. Route 45 celebrated the New Year to transportpassengers between UTB, Los Fresnos and San Benito toTSTC. Our support personnel and the Student GovernmentAssociation (SGA) are assisting VM with the promotioneUorts, and as VM boosts ridership it would like to plantoward additional routes connecting to TSTC with morecommunities in Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo counties.

No two students are alike and each year is unique forTSTC. Te constant progress originates with the foresightof the TSTC System Board of Regents and the combinedstrengths of the System campuses in Harlingen, Marshall,Waco and West Texas (Abilene, Breckenridge,Brownwood, Sweetwater). Te core values – Innovation,Responsiveness, Leadership, Excellence, Collaboration,

Accountability and Stewardship – aUect each decision,each lesson and each activity as we anticipate the evolvingneeds of our students and stakeholders. Te Step Forwardinitiative among employees reminds us of our intrinsicmotivation and the dedication we bring to our jobs thatserve students each day. Te annual Noche de Galabanquet to celebrate accomplishments of students madepossible by a $100,000 grant from the Long Foundation andmatching funds from charitable individuals andbusinesses, including college employees, demonstrates asubstantial commitment to TSTC achieving its goals.

We are very thankful for the resources that make the bestpossible education opportunities available at TSTC, andwe invite more donors, elected representatives,government oXcials, business stakeholders, civicorganizations, colleges and universities, and alumni tobecome involved with our college community to build onour successes. We invite you to join us in applyingoptimistic, practical approaches to new challenges!

innovation | 6

responsiveness | 14

leadership | 22

excellence | 30

collaboration | 38

accountability | 44

stewardship | 54

table of contents08 | University Center opens opportunities10 | Energy partners unite at Ingleside center12 | EMT Program receives new breathing device

16 | Valley Metro buses add to college accessibility18 | Firefighter Academy centralizes training20 | Master Plan relies on versatility for progress

24 | Tree dedication symbolizes core values26 | TSTC recognizes value of student leaders28 | ECHS grads lead new phase of legacy

32 | Career placement quantifies excellence34 | Couple converted diplomas to success36 | Wind Energy grad earns management title

40 | TSTC grad visits NASA en route to job42 | Students build rover and drive tech frontier

46 | TSTC signs articulation agreement with universities48 | New Enrollment & Graduation Trends50 | Unrestricted Operating Expenses & Unrestricted Revenues52 | Step Forward initiative focuses on accountability

56 | Prospective students attend Tech Day58 | Annual banquet boosts scholarships funds

innovation

Dozens of classes are being oUered in bachelor’s, master’sand doctoral degree programs which were previouslyunavailable in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

“Te South Texas Educational Partnership (STEP) has beena uniquely eUective group,” said Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) President Dr. Steven H. Tallant. “I amreminded of the dedication ceremony for the UniversityCenter, when I was able to join President Maldonado ofTSTC and the other presidents and administrators thatmake up the partnership. Te day represented months ofhard work and combined eUorts to make a learning facility

that would beneVt all of the institutions in the partnership,the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas. TeUniversity Center is a culmination of a successful multi-institutional partnership.”

Universities in the STEP partnership include the University ofHouston, Our Lady of the Lake University, LeTourneauUniversity, Wayland Baptist University, Texas A&MUniversity-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville,University of Texas at Brownsville, and the University ofTexas-Pan American. Te partnership will expand with morecurriculum and more degree programs in 2012.

More than 500 studentsenrolled in courses offered byeight universities at the TexasState Technical College(TSTC) Harlingen UniversityCenter for fall semester.

University Centeropens opportunities

‘‘

ethos | 9

Ramiro Silva of Harlingen, a full-timekinesiology major at the University of Texasat Brownville (UTB) who plans to become anelementary school physical educationinstructor, joined some of the students in thefall semester to start kinesiology classes in theUniversity Center. The Navy veteran said theHarlingen class site will help him save timeand gas money.

“All the students I have been with in myUniversity Center classes are from Harlingen,Lyford, Mercedes, La Feria and San Benito. Itis a lot more convenient for them to drive toHarlingen instead of Brownsville,” Silva said.

Physical education captured Silva’s interestabout three years ago when he started toinstruct and coach elementary students at St.Paul Academy in Harlingen. “I wanted towork with the youth because of the obesityproblem and to teach them their motor skillsas they develop to establish and maintaingood health.”

Dr. Tallant said that the first-semester resultspleased TAMUK, especially in the EarlyChildhood Education Program. “TheUniversity Center is broadening the landscapeof higher education in the Rio Grande Valleyby providing more educational options. Morehigher education options will hopefullyencourage more citizens to continue theireducation beyond high school. It should meanthat more college graduates will enter theworkforce with more opportunities availableto them, and the Rio Grande Valley willreceive a larger, better quality workforce readyto take the region and Texas to the next levelof success.”

More than 150 guests crowded into theUniversity Center lobby for its ribbon-cuRingceremony August 31.

“Education is the foundation for opportunitiesin the Valley and this center is going to makethe future brighter for us,” said Ernesto Silva,president of the Harlingen EconomicDevelopment Corporation (HEDC). TeHEDC, which has its oXces on the Vrst Woor,funded $4.2 million of the $7.2 million for thebuilding; TSTC arranged for most of theremaining balance of construction costs.

Members of STEP opened the center with 23 bachelor’s programs, 23master’s programs and one doctoral program at the center.

Some energy conservation features at the University Center include ahigh-albedo roof that supports 442 solar panels to provide up to 106kilowatts of electricity, a sun-shaded curtain wall, reclaimed wood forwalls and ceilings taken from disassembled barracks at the formerHarlingen Air Field.

The two-story, 38,000-square-foot facility – finished on time and onbudget – is a candidate for gold certification from the U.S.Green BuildingCouncil for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. SpawGlassContractors received a regional Award of Merit in the Green Projectcategory from Engineering News-Record magazine.

The building earned the Excellence in Construction Award from theAssociated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC)-South Texas Chapter,which represents first place among institutional projects south of SanAntonio.The University Center also was nominated for the nationwideExcellence in Construction award from the ABC and it ranked secondamong more than 200 entries as it received an Award of Merit in theinstitutional category.The ABC’s Awards of Excellence Program is thepremier competition within the construction industry.

She and her 19 classmates in the program, oUered by TexasState Technical College (TSTC) Harlingen, plan to becomeentry-level wind energy technicians to construct ormaintain land-based or oU-shore turbines that willgenerate electricity for the Coastal Bend region – the eastcoast of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.

“I knew I could do this,” said Harris, who was an auto partstechnician for Vve years before she chose wind energytraining. “Tese CertiVcate Level One courses arepreparing me for the advanced level. I enjoy the WETProgram because I like a hands-on environment where I

can touch what I am working on. Te land-based windenergy farms are expanding and plans are under way foroU-shore wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico. I know I canmove around for job opportunities.”

Harris’ father saw a TSTC advertisement on television andtold her about the new program. Te REEC is part of a jobtraining and economic development initiative in responseto the closure of the naval base at Ingleside and theindustry trend to produce electricity with technology thatreduces environmental impact.

Energy partners uniteat Ingleside centerNo fear of heights is a prerequisite for Isabel Harris ofCorpus Christi, a Wind Energy Technology (WET)student at the Renewable Energy Education Center(REEC) in Ingleside, Texas.

Copyright 2011 Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Photographer: George Gongora

ethos | 11

“This is exactly theeducation andeconomic developmentniche we needed to fillin the Coastal Bend,”said Gene Seaman, a member of the

TSTC System Board of Regents.

“We have the windenergy companies hereand they can use highlytrained employees.”

‘ ‘Te 8,600-square-foot building, located at the former navalbase about 12 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, is the newhome for state-of-the-art equipment purchased by TSTCwith a $1.9 million grant made available by the OXce of theGovernor. Te project also received a $500,000 grant fromthe Texas Workforce Commission for the purchase oflaboratory equipment.

Te WET will provide instruction for students andcompanies in cooperation with Del Mar College of CorpusChristi to award graduates a CertiVcate of CompletionLevel One diploma and specialized training. Tegraduation goal is entry-level jobs in wind energy with anaverage salary of $60,000 and possibly solar energy andgeo-thermal energy careers.

Te REEC has a Vve-year lease for the property with thePort Authority of Corpus Christi and the center’seducational role as the Vrst occupant for the former navalbase could open the door for private industry with a widerange of potential business uses.

TSTC Harlingen President Dr. Cesar Maldonado said thatIngleside is a great opportunity for TSTC and Del Mar toshare resources that will generate jobs to boost theeconomy. “I predict the partnership between Del Marand TSTC will become a model for higher education,”said Dr. Maldonado.

Del Mar College President Dr. Marcus Escamilla agreed.“We are not duplicating services and we’re doing morewith less,” he said. “Tat’s what it’s all about.”

Dr. Escamilla explained that technology equipment andspecialized instruction oUered by TSTC make strongcombinations with academic and basic technologyavailable from Del Mar College. Dr. Larry Lee, Dean of theBusiness, Professional and Technology Education Divisionat Del Mar, said that REEC courses will Vt into numerouscareer paths such as engineering technology.

Evan Smith, wind power Veld service engineer based inHouston for Siemens Energy, toured the REEC at theribbon-cuRing event. He has hired several wind energytechnicians who graduated from TSTC West Texas.

“Industry will have a chance to hire graduates from thisIngleside program who have a lot of skills required for newwind energy technicians. All of our new employees fromTSTC made a smooth transition into their jobs,” he said.

Te TSTC System also oUers wind energy diplomas andindustry training at its Harlingen and West Texascampuses. Admission for the Ingleside program is handledby TSTC Harlingen.

EMTProgram receivesnew breathing device

Te McGrath portable video laryngoscope was donated byAircraQ Medical, the company that makes this new product.

TSTC Associate Vice President of External Relations AngieGonzalez thanked the company and TSTC administrators forcooperating on the equipment donation that will allowstudents to beprepared formodern technologyonambulances.

“For me, this project was personal because my father’s deathmay have been caused by incorrect use of breathingequipment at the scene of his accident,” she said. “It was

very important for me to let students know what thatcomplication meant to surviving members of the victim’sfamily and get this new device into their hands.”

Te $2,500 intubation device comes complete with amicroscopic camera that allows emergencypersonnel towatchas the laryngoscopeopens the airwayof apatient. It is designedto insert through an injured victim’s mouth into the throat.EMT instructor Roxanne Peña said that the McGrathportable video laryngoscope reduces time to administerVrst aid, guarantees a patient is breathing and almost

Texas State Technical College(TSTC) HarlingenEmergency MedicalTechnology (EMT) studentshave become among the firstto train in the use of a state-of-the-art medical intubationdevice that could save lives.

‘ ‘

ethos | 13

“Breathing and bloodcirculation are two of themost important factorsparamedics monitor,”said Robert Delgado, an EMT cadet

from Harlingen.

“This new device will behelpful in the classroomand in the field,” he said.

‘ ‘eliminates the possibility of an emergency response error.Te EMT students will master intubation skills before theystart to ride with ambulance crews for clinical experience.

AircraQ Medical Vice President of U.S. Sales and MarketingRobert Hoxie demonstrated its use on mannequins. “It’s aliRle thing,” Hoxie said, as he raised a video laryngoscope toshow the EMT class, “But it can go a long way toward savinga life. Time is of the essence for helping a patient. Correctuse of this intubator is a maRer of simplicity. It’s a maRer oflooking at the screen and trusting the screen.”

AircraQ Medical manufactures the laryngoscopes inEdinburgh, Scotland and the U.S. Food & DrugAdministration has approved the product. AircraQ Medicalalso supplied the EMT Program with reading and studymaterials for correct use of the device.

responsiveness

Valley Metro began transportation service to campus inFebruary 2011 making stops in Santa Rosa, La Feria,Primera, Combes and San Benito. In addition, the publictransit system celebrated the New Year by establishingRoute 45, which links TSTC with the University of Texas atBrownsville (UTB) via Los Fresnos and San Benito.

VM Program Administrator Rodney Gomez says thatpassengers on the new Los Fresnos route will ride freethrough March 2012 as a promotion to draw more riders.The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, aregional organization of municipalities, paid for initialVM startup costs with federal government stimulusgrants and matching local funds.

“Te VM services, with wheelchair liQs, bicycle racks andspecial accommodations for pickups and drop-oUs, arereally important for students because many students do not

own a car, they can’t aUord a car and lack a way to reachcampus without public transit,” said Ruth Treviño, presidentof the TSTC Student Government Association (SGA).

Edward Riojas of La Feria, a GED student who plans toenroll in the University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciencesin Harlingen, said that choosing VM was an easy decision.

“It’s a lot cheaper to ride the bus, which costs $1.50 roundtrip, because with my truck I would waste $5 per day on gas,”he said recently as he sat waiting for the Route 44 bus at thestop located near the front of the University Center at TSTC.

Te bus timing closely Vts his transportation needs Mondaythrough Friday. He leaves home at 8:10 a.m., and Route 44takes him through Santa Rosa and Primera en route toarrival on campus at 9:30 a.m. Te bus leaves TSTC at 2:45p.m. to complete his round-trip time line. Riojas said thatthree or four TSTC students usually are on board.

Valley Metro buses addto college accessibilityValley Metro (VM) buses have rolled to new routesconnecting the lower Rio Grande Valley to Texas StateTechnical College (TSTC) Harlingen.

Students with college photo identificationcards ride at half the regular fare, only 75cents one way. Tickets for elderly, disabled,military veterans and Medicare passengersalso are 75 cents one way; there is no transferfee. A package of 20-ride tickets is $10 forriders in these categories. Adult regular fareis $1.50 or $20 for 20 rides. Tickets are soldat the TSTC Bookstore and there are localticket outlets along the routes. Childrenunder 7 accompanied by an adult ride free.Riders should pay drivers with the exact farebecause drivers do not carry change. Specialreservations for pickups and drop-offs withinone-half mile of routes may be made if riderscallVM at 800-574-8322 a day in advance.

Links to routeVM maps, schedules and faresfor Cameron,Willacy and Hidalgo countiesare available online at www.harlingen.tstc.eduor http://www.lrgvdc.org/transit.html.

Irma Quintanilla of Los Fresnos, who is takingAcademic Core credits toward a major in lawenforcement at UTB, says that Route 45 does morethan save gas and money.

“We have one car and my mother has two jobs, sohaving her drive to TSTC during fall semestercaused problems for her work hours. Te VM routeallows me to reach campus fast so my mom doesn’thave to take time oU work. It’s perfect,” she said.

The Los Fresnos bus route provided 500 rides in itsfirst 10 days of operation, VM Director Tom Logantold an audience of about 50 people at the Route45 kickoff ceremony held January 19 at LosFresnos Memorial Park.

“Lack of transportation should never be a barrier toreceiving a quality education,” Student Life DirectorAdele Clinton said.

All SGA oXcers are trained to provide VMinstructions and answer questions. Wall mapsdetailing bus stops and routes at TSTC are locatednext to the Student Life OXce and SGA OXce in theStudent Center and at the Housing OXce. Te busesroll from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; aSaturday schedule is available on routes when there’sdemand. Signs with schedule information are postedat route pickup and drop-oU sites.

ethos | 17

Vince Abrigo of the McAllen Fire Department, who istraining coordinator for the academy, said that cooperationamong Vre departments allows the ETAB-RGV to respondto the communities’ needs for safety and exceed TexasCommission of Fire Protection (TCFP) standards.

“We want to set a high standard for cadets who graduate.We want them to be well-rounded and well-versed.Courses or activities that other academies present aselectives are requirements for the ETAB-RGV,” said Abrigo.

Te ETAB-RGV conducts two VreVghter academies peryear through the Corporate and Community EducationDepartment at TSTC. Fire cadets must be sponsored byone of 18 Vre departments. Basic VreVghter certiVcationconsists of a six-month training session with classroom andhands-on experience to comply with TCFP requirements.Te ETAB-RGV also oversees two-month trainingacademies for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

According to Abrigo, the FireVghter Academy uniVedtraining provides beneVts such as:

Firefighter Academycentralizes training

The Emergency TrainingAlliance of the Rio GrandeValley (ETAB-RGV), based atTexas State Technical CollegeHarlingen (TSTC), is the onlyregional firefighter trainingorganization serving multiplemunicipalities in the state.

‘ ‘

• allowing departments to combine experience among itsleaders for quality instruction;

• giving Vre departments Wexibility and independence topursue specialized training unique to their seRings;

• the sharing of equipment, books, administrative costs,facilities, classroom sites and budget resources with anestimated value of more than $3 million;

• and standardized training for VreVghters, who eventuallycould work together during major emergencies.

Municipalities in the alliance vary in size from the smaller townsof La Villa and La Casita to the bigger cities of Brownsville andMcAllen. Besides education for incoming VreVghters, theETAB-RGV oUers ongoing specialized training on hazardousmaterials, Vre inspection to prevent blazes, aircraQ and waterrescues, and Vre investigations for veteran VreVghters.

“Te biggest beneVts that cadets have are the experiences ourinstructors pass onto us,” said Cadet President Roberto Chavezof Weslaco, who plans to work for the Alton Fire Department.

“Te instructors were the best part of this course because eachof them has at least eight to 10 years of professional backgroundand various specializations. Tey each had so much to give us.Tey emphasized avoiding bad habits or sloppy performancethat could cause catastrophic errors. Instead of learning thehard way from disasters, the instructors provided us withscenarios they went through and that we’ll face when we areforced to make life-or-death decisions,” he said.

Chavez held some jobs in the medical Veld and lawenforcement before he chose to become a Vrst responder tohelp people and join the brotherhood of VreVghters.

“You’ve got to depend upon your co-workers if you are insidea burning building and something unexpectedly goes wrong,”he explained. “FireVghters bring a special set of ethics withthem to work daily.”

Te ETAB-RGV has produced more than 1,000 graduatessince it began offering Rio Grande Valley firefighters trainingin 1988. The Firefighter Academy will welcome its 39th classof cadets in early spring.

True to expectations, the concept features Wexibility andpracticality designed to make it “do-able” and aUordable.

“We are continually evaluating and revising the details ofthe implementation plan in order to capitalize on oursuccesses. While remaining true to the original concept, weare altering the sequence of some planned work in order tohave a bigger early impact,” Associate Vice President ofAdministrative Services Chuck Smith said.

Tis past summer, 10,000 square feet of Service SupportCenter warehouse space was converted to administrative use.Te re-purposed area serves as headquarters for the TechPrep Program, the OXce of Institutional EUectiveness andResearch, TSTC System Internal Auditors, and the GrantsAdministration group. Tat project was originallyprogrammed for Phase II of the Master Plan, but it wascompleted far ahead of schedule.

Te enormously successful University Center project wascompleted on schedule and earned multiple green awards.

“Apart from its operational signiVcance, the UniversityCenter is important because it sets a new standard forfuture construction on our campus,” Vice President ofFinancial & Administrative Services Teri Zamora said.

Te Building B space vacated by Corporate andCommunity Education was rapidly renovated for themyriad of programs within College Readiness andAdvancement. Associate Vice President of CollegeReadiness and Advancement Javier De Leon said theachievement represents the Vrst time all 15 of thedepartment’s programs have been located in the same partof campus, much less under one roof. Te new facilitiesoUer convenience and a pleasant venue for students,employees and guests.

Flexibility key toMaster PlanThe 10-year Master Plan for Texas State Technical College(TSTC) Harlingen unveiled in 2010 outlined a phased programof development that is moving forward.

Energy eXciency gained momentum with installation ofthe 106-kilowaR solar array on the University Center roof,seven new wind turbines in the Service Support Centerparking lot, and the start of a campus-wide $2.4 millionenergy eXciency retroVt program.

Numerous other minor projects supporting the MasterPlan were completed in 2011:• the Vrst of six new monumental entrance signs was

erected;• the central mall was extended to connect the

University Center with the north campus;• roadways and parking areas at Oak Tree Village

dormitories were expanded and repaved;• the computer science programs oXce suite was

upgraded;• portions of the Senator Eddie Lucio Health Science

Technology Building were renovated to provideimproved teaching spaces for Surgical Technology,Vocational Nursing and Nurse Assistant programs;

• and the Auxiliary Services Building (Building A, theVrst building constructed by TSTI in Harlingen) wasoverhauled to become the home for the regionalEmergency Medical Technology, FireVghter andPolice academies.

As the campus moves into 2012, progress on featuredelements within the Master Plan will move forward aswell. Renovation of the former Physical Plant offices toaccommodate the needs of the Marketing Departmentand the Human and Organization DevelopmentDepartment will be complete early in the year, followedat mid-year with the construction start of theConsolidated Student Services Center.

The largest of the new projects will be the conversion ofthe former United Launch Alliance facility. That buildingwas acquired last year and given a rapid facelift andweatherization upgrade. Recently, the structure’s roofwas replaced to provide a base for 154 kilowatts of newsolar Photovoltaic panels. Physical Plant staff is workingwith various stakeholders to craft the scope of work toconvert the former warehouse into state-of-the-art,flexible laboratories. Construction of those labs willsupport engineering-related programs including theMechatronics Technology, Biomedical Technology,Telecommunications Technology, and Air Conditioning& Refrigeration Technology programs.

ethos | 21

leadership

Innovation, responsiveness, leadership, excellence,collaboration, accountability, and stewardship representthe core values of the Texas State Technical College(TSTC) System. Tis past spring the TSTC SystemWomen’s Leadership Institute (WLI) dedicated an oak treeon the east side of the University Center in Harlingen torepresent those values.

The WLI held the tree planting ceremony similar toother events held system-wide to celebrate Value Weekand promote the inaugural women’s leadershipdevelopment program.

TSTC Regent Linda McKenna participated in the treededication ceremony. She received part of her collegeeducation at TSTC Harlingen and serves as an administratorat Christus Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi.

“Our TSTC values are the basis for our words and actions.Tese values help us follow what’s important for theSystem by overcoming distractions to be resourceful withour time and energy. We use our values like a compass toset priorities and keep us on course,” said McKenna.

MarketingDirector KeriGutierrez, ProcurementManagement

Tree dedicationsymbolizes core values

An oak tree along the eastside of the new UniversityCenter symbolizes the TexasState Technical CollegeSystem core values.‘ ‘

Control Director Linda Rodriguez-Guillen, andCommunications and Humanities instructor Dr.Valerie Terry were chosen as WLI members fromtheHarlingen campus.TeWLI developed the treededication concept for the Harlingen, Marshall,Waco and West Texas campuses.

“Te WLI is a great way to network withwomen throughout the system. We chose thecore values project to educate the collegecommunity, so the community could know thecore values and live by them,” Gutierrez said.“We also beneVted from presentations by guestspeakers who helped us learn about ourselvesas professionals and as individuals.”

Provost Adam Hutchison said that the oak treerepresents a metaphor of the system valuesbecause the tree thrives largely thanks to out-of-sight processes in the roots, branches andleaves. Likewise, college buildings and facilitiesbecome hollow and useless without staU,faculty and administrators to assist students.

“Te WLI is strengthening the leadership skillsof women within our system and communities,”he said. “By promoting core values system-wide, the WLI demonstrates that the systeminternally sets a role model for students’character development.” ethos | 25

Linda McKenna, Linda Rodriguez-Guillen,Dr. Valerie Terry, & Adam Hutchison

Aline Zamudio of Brownsville, who earned an Associate ofApplied Science degree in Computer Systems ManagementTechnology and continues to take classes toward aBachelor of Applied Technology degree at the University ofTexas at Brownsville, became the second student to earnthe Learning to Lead Double Platinum Award as a CertiVedStudent Leader. She was among more than 80 students toreceive either L2L or CT honors for extra-curricular studiesand community service eUorts.

“I wanted to continue with the L2L workshops thissemester because of the new topics and the diUerentspeakers for subjects that appealed to me,” Zamudio said.“I tell my colleagues to participate in the series becausethey will learn how to grow as a leader in terms of studentand professional experiences based on how they relate toother people by improving their communication skills.”

Two of the presentations she especially benefited from

included personal communication and time managementfor achieving goals. Zamudio worked as a communityassistant in the Student Housing Department, served twoterms as a Student Government Association officer, andparticipated in Keep Harlingen Beautiful projects.

College President Dr. Cesar Maldonado said that modernwork environments often organize employees into teams,but effective teams need leaders to harness individuals’divergent thoughts and help the teams focus.“Leadership is not about you as an individual. Leadershipinvolves taking on responsibility for the team and havinga vision that allows for adapting to changes so that theteam will move forward.”

Support Services Director Edda Urrea said that studentsparticipating in the leadership and critical thinkingworkshops achieve added value with their educationalexperience. “Tese programs add to their education. Te

TSTC recognizesvalue of student leadersA record number of Texas State Technical College (TSTC )Harlingen students participated in the programs and activitiesof Learning to Lead Workshop Series (L2L) and the CriticalThinking Workshop Series (CT) during fall semester 2011.

ethos | 27

experience each student gains from the participation isincluded on their co-curricular transcripts,” she said.

Non-Traditional Ambassadors honored by the SupportServices Office included Claudia Carr, Brenda Jimenez,Karla Solis, Gabriel Perez and Maritza Salazar.

Vice President for Student Development Cathy Maplespraised the leadership role models provided by studentsin the L2L and CT programs. She said that the CTworkshops and L2L programs prepare students forsuccess in the workforce.

Students who have completed the programs include:

LEARNING TO LEADDouble Platinum – Aline Zamudio; Platinum – JoseMartinez; Gold – Claudia Linda Carr, Tony Carr Jr.,Martin Leal, Jaime Torres; Silver – Sylvia Hinojosa, LilyTarango, Narciso Zapata, Robbie Beth Zapata; Bronze –Jose M. Alaniz, Silvia K. Alonso de la Cruz, RobertoArguelles, Leslie Ayala, Jessica Amber Cain, Angelica E.Castillo, Rebecca Rae Coats, Candy Cruz, ShwaunDizayee, Natalie Echavarria, Christina YveRe Flores,

Ricardo Gallaga, Nicholaus Garza, Robert Anthony Garza,Jose Eduardo Gonzalez, Julian Gonzalez, Ruth PerezGonzalez, Fernando Guerrero, Reynaldo Hernandez III,Ana R. Lerma, CoreRa Miles, Pamela K. Peña, MarkAnthony Piñon, Michael Angel Portales, Cristel BetzabelPrado, JoseVna Sintero, Veronica Sintero, SoteroRegalado III, Clemente Rodriguez, Nayeli Salazar, JaredStanco, Veronika Tillery, Ruth Alexandra Treviño, MariaFernanda Zamudio, and Zeyla Zuniga

CRITICAL THINKINGGriselda Aimee Alanis, Silvia K. Alonso de la Cruz, IsabelArellano, Rebecca Atkinson, Claudia Carr, Tony Carr Jr.,Angelica E. Castillo, Melissa Cortez, Bertha Cruz, BrianDe La Rosa, Keila De La Rosa, Josie De La Rosa, JennyDelgado, Juan Jose Elissetche, BriRney Gasca, Beatriz N.Gonzalez, Daniel Javier Gutierrez, Edgar Hankin, OdiliaF. Lopez, Brenda Loo, Emma Martinez, Karen JulissaMartinez, Victoria Mata, Maria Perez, Courtney Siñones,Jazmin Siroz, Daisy Rodriguez, Erica Rodriguez, RandallLee Rodriguez, Benjamin Sarabia IV, Karla Solis, RubyMarie Sosa, Edson Soto, Sandra Velez, Ibbysema Villa,Cathy Weaver, and Narciso Zapata

RuthTreviñoSGA President

Lyca Incal received the Board of Regents Honors Graduatedesignation for scoring perfect A’s at TSTC to earn anAssociate of Science degree in biology. She was a NationalHonors Society representative and served three years asclass president. She plans to become a cardiologist andopen a clinic in Harlingen.

“I feel very accomplished and honored to reach this goal withguidance from the HCISD staU and faculty and the TSTCfaculty. I will always carry on what they taught me. KnowingI achieved this lets me know I can achieve more,” Incal said.

Te Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

ECHS grads leadnew phase of legacy

Seventeen Early College HighSchool (ECHS) seniors woreblack caps and black gownslike their 209 Texas StateTechnical College (TSTC)Harlingen peers at springcommencement, but theystood out because theyreceived their collegediplomas about one monthbefore their high schoolgraduation, thanks totuition-free dual enrollmentcredits from TSTC.

‘ ‘

ethos | 29

(HCISD) opened the ECHS on the TSTC campus in fall2007. HCISD alumna Leticia Abygail Reyes of Harlingenreturned to ECHS in December 2011 to speak withunderclassmen. She reWected on her transition from TSTCand ECHS to medical studies at South Texas College (STC).She recalled how as an ECHS upperclassman she and herfriends guided underclassmen adjusting to TSTC.

“College courses are more rigorous than high school andthe ECHS-TSTC experience helped me seriously focus ongoals. I decided to aRend ECHS because I always wantedto be a doctor and TSTC could get me closer to my goal.”

In an informal session April 26 with HCISD SuperintendentDr. Steve Flores, the ECHS departing seniors agreed thatECHS and TSTC instructors helped them with the transitionfrom high school to college.

“I remember that people in the college classrooms lookedat us because we sat in a group,” one student said, “butaQer a few weeks one of the real college students askedme for some assistance with study notes and I thought tomyself, ‘Wow, I can do this!’”

Dr. Flores praised the seniors for accepting the challengesto become the “legacy class” at ECHS. “You’re blazing apath for others and I want you to know this is a greathonor for the school district,” he said. “You can start here

at TSTC and graduate from any university, anywhere.Tis is a very important institution of higher education forthe 21st century.”

ECHS senior James Gorman, who earned an Academic Corediploma in Education & Humanities, intends to pursue acareer in aviation. He’s undecided about becoming a Navypilot or majoring in Aviation Maintenance Technology(AER) at TSTC.

“Te reason I do not have a speciVc plan set in stone isbecause I have learned to expect the unexpected and beprepared for changes,” he said. “In having backupstrategies, I have the opportunity of being able to pick upon another job.”

Gorman cited advantages to starting college at ECHS. “Igot a huge head start on my college credit hours at zeroexpense to me and my family. ECHS allowed me to makeplans and act upon them early to see what I wanted to do.”

ECHS Principal Veronica Kortan called the ECHS seniors “mykids” as she saw the families gather aQer commencement. “Igot to watch our kids evolve, but for me it has been the mostrewarding experience of my life to see their achievementsand what they’ve done collectively,” she said. “Tey havechanged my life probably more than I know.”

excellence

Te senior member of the father-son duo said he has had arewarding career as a dental technician and owner ofCentral Dental Lab. “Students understand the more theylearn, the more they’re going to get paid, and that incentiveis one of the advantages to this career,” he explained. “Morepeople would probably pursue such careers if they werefully aware of the rewards and beneVts.”

Te DLT Program familiarizes students with thefundamental skills of building artiVcial dental products.When the younger Reyes expressed an interest in oXciallyjoining his father’s business, the father immediatelyrecommended an education at TSTC.

“I knew I would need to master terminology andtechniques,” the son said. “I chose TSTC for its commitmentto excellence.”

The younger Reyes also cited the advantage of combiningcareer training with other majors or programs. Studentscould take computer courses to better prepare for the jobmarket.

“I could work in any DLT facility and not have anyproblems. Te technicians are the experts behind thedentists in this industry, but technicians need morevisibility so the industry can recruit more people to seekthese jobs,” he said.

Te DLT Program boasts a tradition of excellence and a100 percent job placement rate in part because of the workof Chair Randy Bauer and instructor Aquileo Cortes whokeep job recruiters interested in TSTC. Te duo hascompiled a total of 65 years in higher education and theindustry. Each instructor has received recognition for his

Career placementquantifies excellenceGeorge Reyes and George Luis Reyes II of Brownsvillerepresent two generations of Dental Laboratory Technology(DLT) graduates from Texas State Technical College (TSTC)Harlingen. The father graduated in 1975 and the son in 2010.

ethos | 33

achievements and both regularly make presentationsbefore industry leaders.

“Over the years, it is interesting to meet many of ourgraduates who advance to work for prominent clinicsand companies,” Bauer said. “Leo and I find thateventually we learn from our former students who arecontinually advancing at the forefront of technologyand business.”

Today the elder Reyes leads professional trainingworkshops. Since earning his diploma he has earnedmore than 50 credit hours in additional coursework.

Placement SuccessAll 22 students who completed the DLTProgram in 2011 got jobs immediately upongraduation. Another 15 graduates are expectedto join the workforce this coming May.

George Reyes II & George ReyesDental Laboratory Graduates

Regalado attended the Auto Collision Technology (AUB)program and Lucy majored in General Office Technology.Today they own Collision Center Auto Body & Glass, avery successful body shop with offices in McAllen,Weslaco and Harlingen.

Regalado’s dream began in high school. He admired asmall, immaculately kept auto-body shop he walked pastas he traveled from field work to his home. He recalledthinking to himself, “I want to work in the shade someday instead of working under the sun.”

Gradually, he realized that he had inherited some instincts

from his father, an agricultural entrepreneur. Regalado beganhis Vrst business shining shoes. He oQen asked himself,“How could I do more to improve business?” Eventually, afew boys worked as part of his private business.

“I never considered myself able to get to college, but Iknew I would need an education to gain qualificationsand credentials. After graduation from TSTC, I realizedthat I could go as far as I wanted with a business basedupon my effort,” Regalado said. “I never imagined in theearly days of Collision Center that the business wouldreach the size and volume we experience today. If wecount my wife and me, we have 50 employees.”

Couple converteddiplomas to success

Armando Regaladoachieved his goal of businessownership and now he andhis wife Lucy, both graduatesof Texas State TechnicalCollege (TSTC) Harlingen,are living the dream.

‘ ‘Armando &Lucy Regalado

ethos | 35

Before he owned a business, Regalado managed a bodyshop for a local automobile dealer for seven years; he was26 years old when he went to a bank to seek a businessloan. Lucy Regalado handled bookkeeping, insurance,receiving and payroll work at a factory until she could joinher husband’s Vrst shop located in Pharr.

Armando Regalado says some of his most valuable lifelessons came from AUB Chair Jose Vargas. “TeachingArmando was easy due to the type of person he is,”Vargas said. “He inherited a strong work ethic from hisfamily and he understood his parents’ message abouteducation. Whenever he finished a project or anassignment, he would want to do something more. Heasked a lot of questions and he could accept criticism.”

Vargas said he often uses Regalado as a success story anda role model for students.

“I always tell my students that an education will get youout of hard times. Be proud of whatever you do and seekimprovement because it leads to success. They know Iwant them to be prepared for greater challenges.”

Lucy Regalado said that she and her husband are part of

the business “team” with employees. “We’re no beRerthan any of our employees and we treat them with respect.We also are open to their ideas for improvements.”

Te couple arrives at the oXce early and stays involved indaily operations. Tey say the business has beneVted fromrecruiting the best technicians. Regalado advises entry-level employees to keep a positive aRitude and awillingness to learn on the job. He also suggests thatgraduates going into the automotive industry earnprofessional certiVcations before they expect a high salary.

“There’s a shortage of qualified entry-level personnel inthe automotive industry, but the career field and salaryrange for this type of work show there are greatopportunities. There are many ways for graduates to go.We, for example, are looking for two people to becomeinsurance adjusters,” Regalado said.

Armando and Lucy Regalado believe in giving back andhave remained involved with TSTC. He judges at studentcompetitions and serves on the AUB Advisory CommiRee.She oQen represents the business at community functionsand leadership seminars.

More than a year ago, Antonio Gonzalez was namedconstruction site manager with Vestas, an internationalleader in renewable energy. Gonzalez said he beganexploring new career options aQer a slowdown in thegeneral construction industry.

“I could see that wind energy was taking oU and it wasbooming,” Gonzalez recalled.

At the time Gonzalez was traveling extensively for hisconstruction projects. So, he began the WET Program withan online course oUered by TSTC for its Vrst cohort insummer 2010. Te San Benito native had graduated fromthe University of Texas at Austin in December 1992 witha bachelor’s degree in economics.

“I spoke with TSTC educators about making a smoothtransition into Wind Energy Technology and I couldn’thave completed registration without program ChairEnrique Carrillo. I knew the only way to get into windenergy was to show a company that I had someknowledge of the industry and I anticipated there wouldbe competition in the job market. The online coursewas a good start because it was aggressive andchallenging,” he said.

Te coursework covered the history of wind energy,government involvement to sustain early phases ofindustrial development, and all the parts of wind energyturbines.

Wind Energy gradearns management titleA Texas State Technical College (TSTC) graduate of theWind Energy Technology (WET) Program is seeing earlysuccess in his new career.

AntonioGonzalez

EnriqueCarrillo

FernandoFigueroa

ethos | 37

“Te course gave students more than theories. We got tounderstand the applications involving turbine components,schematics, drawings and operations,” said Gonzalez, duringa visit to TSTC. “Students worked with computerizedmonitors and the newest technology advancements in windenergy. Gaining experience by adding qualiVcations inhydraulics and electronics was crucial for my resume.”

AQer commencement in December 2010, he entered trainingwith Vestas, traveling to Portland, Ore., the Mojave Desertand Toronto. Te company emphasized safety and providedinstruction about wind energy site development, turbineinstallation, time-line plans, budget processes, personnelmanagement, customer service, communications and recordkeeping. He regularly consulted with experienced managers.

“Tere are many roles for new employees within windenergy because the industry is growing,” Gonzalez said.“We have just hit the beginning of it and it is going to getlarger as we replace fossil fuels with renewable, cleanerenergy sources.”

Carrillo said that several programs such as MechatronicsTechnology (MET), Chemical-Environmental Technology(CET) and courses in the Computer Information SystemsDivision (CIS) connect with careers in energy. He suggestedthat students test their aptitude before choosing a career andthen make a commitment to reach the academic goalsrequired for professional success.

Te WET Program, which built its foundation on the WETProgram at TSTC West Texas, plans to add a CertiVcate ofCompletion II and Associate of Applied Science degree toits diploma opportunities. Te Engineering Division (ED)expanded its courses in August 2011 to the RenewableEnergy Education Center (REEC) in Ingleside, Texas, the siteof a former naval base that is undergoing conversion intoan education-business incubator to spur workforce andeconomic development. Del Mar College in Corpus Christiis part of the REEC partnership.

“Safety is extremely importantfor Vestas and throughout theindustry,” Gonzalez said.‘‘

collaboration

Olmos was one of 16 Education and Training Program(ET) graduates from TSTC to complete a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade interdisciplinarystudies Bachelor of Science degree at TAMUK in May2011. This was part of an articulation agreement signedin 2009 to produce more four-year certified educatorsfrom the Rio Grande Valley. Olmos was selected fromamong thousands of applicants nationwide and traveledto the Johnson Space Center Pre-Service TeacherInstitute in Houston this past summer. The workshopadvanced her science, technology, engineering andmathematics (STEM) teaching capabilities.

“The experience I got from TSTC and TAMUK made methe teacher I am. The professors at both colleges werethere for me every step of the way,” Olmos said. “I telleveryone I know that there is nothing better thanstarting college at TSTC.”

She put her education and the NASA curriculum to workin a Rrst-grade classroom at Agape Christian School inMission, where all grade levels joined the adventure.Olmos borrowed moon rocks from NASA and built athree-dimensional, Soor-to-ceiling lunar landscape withEarth in the sky that stretched along one side of her room

TSTC grad visitsNASA en route to job

Nancy Olmos launchedher career as a teacher bytaking classes at Texas StateTechnical College (TSTC)Harlingen, Texas A&MUniversity-Kingsville(TAMUK) and even theNational Aeronautics andSpace Administration(NASA).

‘ ‘

ethos | 41

and her students studied the solar system. Pe secondgraders decorated the hallway with illustrations and factsfrom the universe, while the RNh graders built spaceexploration robots. All grade levels and many parentstoured Rve science-related workstations in her classroom.

“I hope the excitement and optimism I experiencedduring my college education stays with me all the time,”said Olmos, who plans to have students compare seedsgrown aboard the International Space Station to seedsgrown on Earth. “I get excited when the students getexcited because it tells me that I’m doing my job. I liketo have students go beyond reading to see, touch and feelwhat they learn.”

She continues to network with instructors from TSTC,TAMUK and NASA; plus, she stays in contact with studentsfrom her college days. Some of the outer space educationalmaterials she uses are available online at www.nasa.gov.

Her goal to become a teacher began as a dream whenshe worked as an attendance clerk at Porter High Schoolin Brownsville. “I woke up in bed at about 3 a.m. or 4a.m. one morning. I sat straight up because I was wideawake and I told my husband, ‘I want to go back toschool and be a teacher,’” she recalled. “He said, ‘Goahead and do it.’”

The mother of three enrolled at TSTC in 2007. She metET Lab Assistant Charline Lareau. “She told me about allthe courses I should take to complete the Academic Corecredits required to transfer. We regularly discussed myprogress and my plans; I never felt lost,” Olmos said.

In a second-grade, bilingual classroom at Sam Houston

Elementary School in Harlingen during her clinical workfor TAMUK, she created a book about children’s imagesof themselves wearing their career hats as adults so theywould think about higher education. She also becameinvolved in the school’s reading centers.

“The boys and girls always wanted me to look forwardto do something new and I wanted them to keep thatattitude,” Olmos explained. Part of her optimisticoutlook came from being a first-generation collegestudent and surviving cancer that was diagnosed whenshe was 26 years old.

ET Chairman Dr. Tony Desjardins said the faculty and staQare proud of Nancy Olmos and her peers for becomingpioneers in the Rrst TSTC-TAMUK teacher cohort.

“Although resilience is something we often see withinmany of our students, Nancy provides a true example forall students of where dedication, hard work andcommitment to excellence can take you. I am confidentthat Nancy will become a world changer through theinfluence that she will have on children,” he said.

Dr. Albert Ruiz, dean of the College of Education andHuman Performance at TAMUK, said that TSTC andTAMUK share a pride in the accomplishments of Olmos.“I am very proud of Nancy, as well as the TAMUK andTSTC communities,” he added. “This was an individualaccomplishment with the help of family, as well as bothinstitutions’ faculty and staff. It speaks volumes for thevision both institutions of higher education had to makethings a reality for everyone involved.”

Students build“Earth Rover” anddrive tech frontierTexas State Technical College (TSTC) Computer Drafting &Design Technology (CDDT) students and faculty designed andconstructed an all-terrain “Earth Rover” that will make landsurveying more efficient and more exact.

Complete with geographic information and globalpositioning systems, the durable machine will let one ortwo people take geographic measurements of the Earth’ssurface, eQectively replacing a team of Rve or six surveyorsusing hand-held equipment.

Daniel Olivarez of Weslaco, a CDDT major, said the EarthRover team wanted to make the best possible GIS / GPScart and work began with plans to re-engineer the frontend of the frame.

“We wanted something that looked modern and tough. So,

we made a three-dimensional drawing, cut Styrofoam andRt it together for visualization,” he said.

Armando Villarreal of San Benito, also a CDDT major,said that students added space to the frame for extracomputer equipment and more baOeries. Pey addedsolar panels on the top of the hood to re-energize thebaOeries that power the cart and its computers. Pe tiresare larger than those on an average all-terrain vehicle.Some nuts and bolts came oQ the storage shelves, butthere are also expensive titanium elements custom built toreduce weight and add strength.

ethos | 45

Pe project’s engineers, technicians and productionexperts are all students who voluntarily work extra hoursbeyond normal class time. Olivarez and Villarrealgraduated in December 2011 and accepted jobs with L3Communications in Waco.

CDDT Chairman Hector Yanez said that the project servesas excellent hands-on experience for students becausethey cooperate to design and assemble a complex,marketable product from start to Rnish.

“It’s very innovative to move forward with thesetechnologies because in the process we created drawings,including the computer designs, and plastic models for allthe parts. Pe vehicle has energy-saving features and it

will communicate with satellites from Russia, Europe andthe United States,” said Yanez.

Villarreal agreed. “Pis project went beyond textbooks totest the creativity of our imaginations,” he said. “It showedus the importance of communication through discussionand interaction. We really had to listen to each other. Weheard a lot of constructive criticism within the team.”

CDDT instructor David Campos said that faculty andstudents consulted with industry professionals for input.Pe Machining Technology and Auto CollisionTechnology program students also contributed their skillsets to the pioneering adventure.

accountability

TSTC signs engineeringarticulation agreementwith universitiesThe Associate of Science in Engineering Sciencedegree at Texas State Technical College (TSTC)Harlingen has received approval from the TexasHigher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

Representatives from TSTC, the University of Texas-Tyler,University of Texas-Pan American, Texas A&MUniversity-Kingsville, and South Texas College recentlysigned an articulation agreement symbolizing theengineering partnership between the institutions.

TSTC President Dr. Cesar Maldonado said that thispartnership would allow TSTC students to transition touniversities throughout the state in the biomedical,engineering, and transportation Relds.

With the curriculum approval from THECB, TSTC willbegin the process of applying for ABET (formerly theAccreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)accreditation, giving engineering students an enhancedopportunity to transfer seamlessly into the partnering

institutions. TSTC administration and faculty workedalongside other ABET accredited institutions to developthe curriculum. Faculty and staQ have already begunworking in preparation for submission of the ABETapplication.

“Pis is a special day. Something started today that willmake a diQerence in Texas. Pis is an ingenious solution toincrease the number of engineers,” said UT-Tyler PresidentDr. Rodney Mabry.

Pe UT-Tyler spearheaded the initiative to have a two-yearcollege’s curriculum meet the rigor of that for the Rrst twoyears of a university program in engineering.

Guest speaker Dr. James Nelson of UT-Tyler described the

ethos | 47

signiRcance of the partnership and what the certiRcationmeans for future engineers. “What an accomplishment!We’ve been working on this since 1947, and today we’vedone it. Students who maintain a 2.5 GPA with no gradelower than C will now be able to enter into the engineeringprogram at partner intuitions and transfer 65 credit hourstoward a baccalaureate degree.”

Dr. Mary Smith of the THECB commented about thedegree’s future impact. “Pis Associate of Science inEngineering Science holds promise of becoming a statewidemodel for science, technology, engineering, and math(STEM) programs,” she said. “More than half of the 30fastest growing careers require math and science.”

ABET was founded in 1932 as the Engineers’ Council forProfessional Development (ECPD), an engineeringprofessional body dedicated to the education, accreditation,regulation, and professional development of theengineering professionals and students in the United States.Currently, ABET accredits over 3,100 programs at morethan 600 colleges and universities worldwide. To learn moreabout ABET certiRcation visit its Web site at www.abet.org. ethos | 57

Total New Students

New Students by Division

New StudentEnrollment andGraduation TrendsAnnual statistics reSect new student enrollment increases for Texas StateTechnical College Harlingen. Pese increases include each of the divisionswithin the college. Pe positive new enrollment Rgures correlate with anescalation in the number of graduates.

2009 2010 2011

2009 2010 2011

Allied Health Computer Information Systems Engineering Industrial/Manufacturing Core Completers/Field of Study Education & Training

10009008007006005004003002001000

1680

18841980

ethos | 49

Graduates by Division

Total College Graduates

2009

497509

648

2010 2011

2009 2010 2011

Allied Health Computer Information Systems Engineering Industrial/Manufacturing Core Completers/Field of Study Education & Training

18017016015014013012011010090807060504030200

Unrestricted OperatingCosts & UnrestrictedOperating RevenuesPe TSTC Harlingen budget, like the TSTC System Core Values, dedicates its focus tothe needs of students. Facts prove the priority on students is more more than a policyor a statement. Pe budget expresses the college's commitment to students in dollarsand cents as the percentage of available funds spent on instruction and student servicesat TSTC Harlingen continually exceeds the state average for two year public colleges.

State Average vs. TSTC Allocations

Unrestricted Operating Costs by Type$19,447,259

$3,754,789

$3,648,783

$4,560,952

$2,664,757

$3,044,382

$37,120,922

$18,685,194

$3,772,015

$3,569,911

$4,647,581

$2,610,398

$2,903,820

$35,691,309

$17,685,194

$3,921,605

$3,353,977

$4,828,732

$1,921,900

$2,860,164

$34,571,572

$17,287,950

$3,601,111

$3,569,707

$4,409,057

$2,005,644

$2,889,259

$33,762,728

Instruction/Academic Support

Student Services

Institutional Support

Operation & Maintenance of Plant

Scholarships & Fellowships

Auxiliary Enterprises

FY09FY08 FY10 FY11

*Source - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) - State Profile for Texas Colleges offering 2 year degrees

State Average TSTC

Instruction/AcademicSupport

StudentServices

InstitutionalSupport

OtherCoreServices

Instruction/AcademicSupport

StudentServices

InstitutionalSupport

OtherCoreServices

47.4% 52.4%

8.3%10.1%

29.0% 27.7%15.3%

9.8%

ethos | 51

Unrestricted Revenues by Source

$20,225,941

$176,622

$9,153,260

$6,157,503

$3,182,795

$38,896,121

$21,354,329

$747,594

$8,868,201

$5,513,684

$3,241,030

$39,724,838

$20,905,391

$801,312

$7,461,659

$2,139,734

$4,180,081

$35,488,177

$20,671,925

$398,085

$7,314,347

$3,060,252

$2,639,868

$34,084,477

State Appropriations

HEAF Appropriations

State Tuition

Designated Income

Auxiliary Enterprises

FY09FY08 FY10 FY11

Unrestricted Revenues by Percentage

52.0%

0.5%

23.5%

15.8%

8.1%

100%

53.8%

1.9%

22.3%

13.9%

8.1%

100%

58.9%

2.3%

21.0%

6.0%

11.8%

100%

60.7%

1.2%

21.5%

9.0%

7.7%

100%

State Appropriations

HEAF Appropriations

State Tuition

Designated Income

Auxiliary Enterprises

*Net of transfers and amounts moved to Plant Funds

FY09FY08 FY10 FY11

20092008 2010 2011

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

State Appropriations HEAF Appropriations State Tuition Designated Income Auxiliary Enterprises

Pe plan is to align, advance and achieve together – wealign our activities and operation with these objectives,advance together toward the common goal of studentsuccess, and achieve our mission of providing Texas thework force it needs to step forward into the future.

Provost Adam Hutchison described the marketing conceptbehind Step Forward as “a logo with a phrase” soemployees will remember to align activities and objectiveswithin the strategic plan to help students.

“Pe Step Forward deRnition applies to everyone’s jobbecause we want employees to understand the impact onstudents that we make daily,” Hutchison said.

Motivational speaker and author John G. Miller helpedTSTC kick oQ Step Forward. He told a large crowd ofemployees that the Step Forward initiative for continualimprovement focuses on their commitment to students.He emphasized that employees should choose to believein the organization’s values and accept responsibility toguarantee success for everyone.

Step Forward initiativefocuses on accountabilityWe each have a role to play in helping our studentssucceed. That’s the principle at the heart of the StepForward initiative which kicked off this past fall atTexas State Technical College (TSTC) Harlingen.

Pe Step Forward banners and notices posted campus-wideremind employees that they Rll important roles workingtogether to help students graduate in their program ofstudy and reach their career and education goals. Pey alsoemphasize the college’s strategic plan to enhanceinstruction, nurture the college community, be the stewardsof resources and enhance image.

Mirna Garcia, Developmental English instructor andpresident of the Faculty Senate, said that employees embracedthe message. “Step Forward validates what the TSTC facultyhave done all along, which is to ‘ask not what my college cando for me, but what can I do for my college?’”

Miller told employees faced with change to ask themselvestwo questions: What can I do to learn, adapt and change?What can I do to move the team forward?

“I suggest that you be willing to do anything andeverything possible that’s ethical to help this organizationsucceed,” he said. “Pe ultimate ‘question behind thequestion’ is, how can I let go of what I can’t control?”

He cautioned employees to avoid three potential traps thatthey sometimes encounter – thinking like a victim,procrastination and blame.

“Don’t whine and complain; instead, do something positiveto make progress. Procrastination is the friend of failure.Stand up and accept responsibility. If you make a mistake;don’t make excuses.

“If the organization’s values do not align with mine, Ishould not stay,” he added. “Believe or leave is one of myfavorite themes. Some people think this is harsh, but youshould say it to yourself. If you don’t like it, change it. Lifeis not based on chance; it’s based on choice.”

Future employee development programs and workshopswill all be designed to reinforce the Step Forward initiativeto advance, align and achieve together.

ethos | 53

“Everyone has a choiceto either be with positivepeople moving forwardor to be with a negativegroup that’s goingbackward – or nowhere.”‘ ‘The author’s latest book is “Outstanding! 47Ways to

MakeYour Organization Exceptional.” He also wrote

“Question Behind the Question” and “Flipping the

Switch.” The books frequently cite experiences,

stories and principles behind learning, ownership,

creativity, service and trust that benefit individuals to

build stronger businesses, churches, non-profit

agencies or other organizations. Details are available

online at www.QBQ.com.

stewardship

Prospective studentsattend Tech DayHundreds of seniors from high schools stretching betweenBrownsville and Zapata visited Texas State Technical College(TSTC) Harlingen for a tour of the campus during Tech Day.

Pe annual event gives prospective students a chance tolearn about the diQerent programs being oQered at TSTC.

Students, mostly seniors, took tours of classrooms,laboratories and dormitories. Pey were treated to facultypresentations and got to hear the Rrsthand experiences ofstudents currently aOending TSTC.

Samantha Waite, a senior at La Feria High School, wasmost interested in the Automotive Technology(AUT) program.

“I’ve worked with cars and trucks my whole life,especially on the ranch,” she said. “AutomotiveTechnology with its diesel engine training is somethingthat interests me. I want to learn in-depth how to take

apart and put together engines. So, I am going to lookinto more specifics about the program.”

Rick Ramirez, an AUT instructor who addressed Tech Daygroups, encouraged young ladies to select the program as amajor. He said that research proves women excel intransportation careers and oNen score higher on professionaltests compared to men. He emphasized that electronicanalysis of automotive components as well as engines withgreater fuel eTciency and computerization make the autoindustry much more advanced in the 21st century.

“Not just anybody can perform reliable repairs ormaintenance on modern vehicles. Pe technicians mustgain approved certiRcation,” Ramirez said.

Touring students were also introduced to the BuildingScience Technology (BST), Chemical-EnvironmentalTechnology (CET) and Computer Systems ManagementTechnology (CSMT) programs.

Alex Reyes, a CSMT major from Mercedes, described howcomputer installation, repair, system integration and otherfacets of the program go beyond textbooks and lectures togive students “real world experience” in laboratory andprofessional seOings. “Pis education really, really preparesgraduates for the jobs that are out there. If you want to Rxcomputers, there’s a huge job market in the Rio GrandeValley,” he said.

La Feria Principal Mirella Livingston said Tech Day gaveher an opportunity to visit TSTC for the Rrst time. “TechDay is very important for the growth of TSTC,” she said.“It provides a lot of valuable information to our students.”

Tech Day has been so successful, the TSTC CollegeInformation OTce plans to expand Tech Day to two days– one for high school seniors and one for high schooljuniors – this year.

ethos | 57

“Tech Day is veryimportant for thegrowth of TSTC.”‘

‘

Pe event is the culmination of a cooperative eQortbetween TSTC, the community and the Joe R. and TeresaLozano Long Foundation. Pe goal is for TSTC and itssupporters to raise $100,000 which is then matched dollarper dollar by Pe Long Foundation to assist deservingstudents with scholarships.

Rhiannon Soto, a Health Information Technology major, isamong the scholarship recipients. Pe single mother of twoquit a retail sales associate job, leN her relatives, and movedinto a dormitory with her children when she enrolled at

TSTC in 2009. She applied for and earned Rnancial aid fortuition, living expenses and books from the Lozano-LongOpportunity Scholarship Fund. She also gained recognitionas a President’s Honor Roll student and became a mentor forstudents facing college challenges.

“Every time I received an award leOer from the scholarshipfund, it felt like someone gave me a big pat on the back andsaid, ‘Job well done, Rhiannon. Keep up the good work!’”she said. “Because of your faith in me, I am happy toannounce that I will graduate in the spring of 2012.”

Annual banquet boostsscholarship funds

The seventh annualNoche deGala fundraiser for TexasState Technical College(TSTC) Harlingen shined acelebratory spotlight onhonoree Congressman RubénHinojosa, scholarshiprecipients and donors.

‘ ‘

ethos | 59

Soto plans to re-enroll at TSTC aNer graduation to prepare for abachelor’s degree in Health Information Administration at Texas StateUniversity in San Marcos. “From the boOom of my heart, I’d like tothank you for helping students make their dreams their reality. It isbecause of your gracious generosity that you made the toughestdecision of my life become the easiest decision of my life,” she said.

Dignitaries and guests honored a longtime proponent of education,U.S. Rep. Hinojosa of the 15th Congressional District in Texas. Peeight-term congressman received a leOer of commendation for hiscommitment to education from U.S. Secretary of Education ArneDuncan. TSTC President Dr. Cesar Maldonado presented Hinojosawith the Noche de Gala Honoree Award. Pe congressman has beeninstrumental in bringing more than $4.2 million in federal grants toTSTC for renewable energy laboratory equipment, solar energypanels for two buildings, wind energy turbines at the Service SupportCenter, equipment for engineering classes and infrastructureimprovements.

“Education continues to be the key for our youngsters and adults whoseek a successful future. Pe scholarships make a college educationmuch more aQordable for many students,” Hinojosa said.

Dr. Maldonado closed the event, held at the TSTC Cultural ArtsCenter, with special thanks to scholarship donors and praise for thestudents. “Your hard eQorts keep students in college, but the students’hard eQorts get them across the Rnish line.”

Since the gala’s inception, close to $1 million in scholarships has beenawarded to more than 1,400 students.

Donors included DIAMOND – The Long Foundation, SouthTexas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS); PLATINUM – Coca-Cola Bottling Co., United Launch Alliance (ULA); GOLD –Chevron,TSTC Employees,Oxy, SpawGlass,Rotary International,Harlingen Cotton Committee; SILVER – First Community Bank,Dr. Cesar & Liz Maldonado, Capital One Bank, Boggus Ford;BRONZE – Gurecky Manufacturing Service, Daniel CavazosScholarship,Texas Gas Service, Dr. Bill & Regent Linda McKenna,Nolan E. Perez,M.D., H-E-B,HALFF Associates Inc., and STAR –Blanca Vela, Cardenas Autoplex, State Rep. Rene Oliveiria, RioGrandeValley Partnership.

TheTSTC System is governed by a nine-member Board of Regents and operated under the direction of a system widechancellor.These Regents, who provide a statewide perspective, are appointed by the governor to six-year terms.The Boardmeets quarterly to provide leadership and enact policies for the successful management and operation of the system.

Mike NorthcuttCHAIR OFTHE BOARDLongview,Texas2002-2013

Mike Northcutt, a resident of Longview,has been a Regent since 2002.Northcutt ispresident of the Longview Branch ofSouthside Bank -Tyler.

John HatchelWoodway,Texas2011-2017

JohnHatchel retired in 1999 after serving32 years in municipal management. Heremains active in municipal managementas a municipal consultant withTexas FirstGroup. He has also been an activevolunteer on community/civic boardsand committees.

JamesVirgil (JV) MartinSweetwater,Texas2004-2015

JV Martin was appointed originally tothe Board in 2004. Martin mostrecently served as the CEO of FirstFinancial Bank in Sweetwater,where heis the Chairman of the bank board.

Penny ForrestWaco,Texas2009-2015

Penny Forrest, of Waco is the librarianand museum curator of The ScottishRite Foundation of Texas. She receivedher bachelor’s degree from BaylorUniversity, and pursued graduate classesin library and information studies fromTexasWoman’s University.

Linda McKennaEXEC. COMMITTEE PLACE 1Harlingen,Texas2009-2015

Linda McKenna currently serves as anadministrator for Christus SpohnHealthSystem. She received a bachelor’sdegree from the University of Texas -Brownsville in government and amaster’s degree in public administrationfrom UT-PanAmerican.

Gene SeamanEXEC. COMMITTEE PLACE 2Corpus Christi,Texas2008-2013

Ellis M. Skinner IIVICE CHAIRSpicewood,Texas2009-2013

Joe M. GureckyRosenberg,Texas2006-2011

Joe K. HearneDallas,Texas2006-2011

Mike Reeser, MBAChancellor,TSTC System

Dr. Cesar Maldonado, P.E.President,TSTC Harlingen

Gene Seaman of Corpus Christiserved the State of Texas as a staterepresentative from 1996 to 2006 forDistrict 32. He has devoted much ofhis career to the insurance industry,first for Prudential and then for Mutualof NewYork.

Ellis M. Skinner II, of Spicewood, ispresident of Ellis M. Skinner Company,Inc., a construction services companyin Dallas.

Joe M. Gurecky, currently serves as themayor of Rosenberg, a position he hasheld since 1999. Gurecky is theowner/founder of Gurecky Manu-facturing Services.

Joe K. Hearne of Dallas is a retiredquality assurance engineering andsupply chain manager from ELCANOpticalTechnologies –Texas, a divisionof Raytheon Systems. He presently isserving as a substitute teacher for theDallas Independent School District.

Board Regents