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TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE WACO MAGA ZINE

ALSOOutreach focusOutreach focus

for Provost for Provost Page 16Page 16

Inside the Inside the Aerospace CenterAerospace Center

Page 7-10Page 7-10

Vol. 3, No. 1

IN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEPartnering with Partnering with Luminant Luminant Page 11Page 11

Magical careerMagical careerfor Culinary for Culinary alumnialumniPage 15Page 15

A look at TSTC’s Aerospace A look at TSTC’s Aerospace programsprograms Page 5Page 5

Flight into Flight into the Futurethe Future

In education, the fi rst day of the fall semester is our New Year’s Day and, like the fi rst day of the year, the fi rst class day brings renewed excitement and promise. This year there is a lot to be excited about!

The fall 2012 TSTC Waco aerospace students became the fi rst class to study in the new Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. You can read all about the aerospace division and our new state-of-the-art facilities in this edition of the TSTC Magazine starting on Page 5.

Also in this edition, fi nd out how our industry partner Luminant is securing its future workforce while helping students; check in on TSTC Waco alumni; discover how a new career services program, JobStar, is helping industry connect with our graduates; learn what our new Provost is working on in a Q&A with Dr. Becky Musil; see photos from the Hutt o construction to campus-happenings, and much more.

As always, thank you for all you do for TSTC!

Dr. Elton E. Stuckly, Jr.TSTC Waco President

PRESIDENT

Dr. Elton E. Stuckly, Jr.

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jan Osburn

EDITOR

Sarah-Jane Menefee

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mary DrennonSarah-Jane MenefeeJan OsburnApril Henley, internBarbara Aitken, intern

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mark BurdineSarah-Jane MenefeeMaria Davalos, internSarah Louis, intern

PHONE • (254) 867-3035E-MAIL • tstcmagazine@tstc.edu

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Main (254) 799-3611Recruiting (254) 867-2360Admissions (254) 867-2362Alumni Relations (254) 867-2011

TSTC MAGAZINE is published two times a year by the Marketing & Communications offi ce at Texas State Technical College Waco.

Texas State Technical College Waco is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate of Applied Sci-ence degrees and Certifi cates of Completion. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Texas State Technical College Waco.

© Copyright 2012 Texas State Technical College Waco. All rights reserved.

A PUBLICATION OF TSTC WACO VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1

FALL 2012

WRITE TO US:We welcome your letters. The editor reserves the right to determine the suitability of letters for publication and to edit them for accuracy and length. Letters should refer to material published in the magazine and include the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. If alumni, please include degree and year of degree.

E-MAIL: tstcmagazine@tstc.edu

WRITE:TSTC Waco Magazine3801 Campus Drive Waco, TX 76705 Attn: Marketing & Communications

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From the President

MAGAZINE

New school year brings excitement

President Stuckly addresses the crowd at the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center dedication. See more photos on Page 18.

Equal opportunity shall be aff orded within the Texas State Technical College System to all employees and applicants for admission or employment regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age or disability. TSTC will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

5 Flight into the FutureA look at TSTC’s aerospace programs

7 Aviation artwork captures

military history

9 Campus SnapshotCol. James T. Connally Aerospace Center Terminal

11 On the Power TrackLuminant partnership provides students with technical training for in-demand careers

15 Alumni FeatureMagical career of Culinary alumni Kaitlyn Greb

16 Campus Q&ADr. Becky Musil shares about her new role as Provost.

ON THE COVERA view from the new Air Traffi c Control tower of a Diamond 20 plane landing at the TSTC airport.

Contents & Calendar

17 Remember

When: Mystery Mosaic

18 People & Places

Campus Snapshot Page 9-10

In This Issue:

NOVEMBER

9 Last day to drop with W

12 Registration begins for returning students

19 Registration begins for new students

22-23 Student & employee holiday

DECEMBER

7 End of semester

Fall commencement, 6 p.m., Waco Convention Center

24 Campus closed for winter break

JANUARY

2 Campus reopens

3 Last day to register for spring

7 Spring classes begin

21 Student & employee holiday

FEBRUARY

15 Last day to apply for graduation

MARCH

11-15 Spring Break — student holiday

29 Last day to drop with a “W“

APRIL

1 Registration begins for returning students

4 Industry Career Day

5-6 College Preview & Open House

8 Registration begins for new students

26 End of semester

Last day to register

For more events, go towaco.tstc.edu/calendar

Calendar of Events

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Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view the calendar.

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tech notesCampus News & Briefs

Construction on the East Williamson County Higher Education Center (EW-CHEC) in Hutt o is on track for comple-tion in July 2013. Classes are scheduled to begin in the new facility in the fall of 2013. EWCHEC, a multi-institutional teaching center, is a partnership be-tween lead institutions, Temple College and TSTC, and various other educa-tional partners. When the new facility opens, TSTC students will experience a new instruc-tional delivery method that optimizes time-on task in project-based, simulated workplace experiences emphasizing technical skills, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving and interper-sonal communication.

Construction underway on new EWCHEC facility

Quality Enhancement Plan changes delivery of developmental math instruction

With the preliminary research and an interactive math lab in place, TSTC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is ready to be submitt ed to the Southern Asso-ciation of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for approval. Once approved, TSTC will be training instructors in active-based learning techniques and changing the way all developmental math classes are taught over the next three years. TSTC’s QEP focuses on improving students’ experi-ence in developmental math by using active, brain-based learning techniques and tying mathematical concepts to the real world. “We want to provide an enhanced learning environ-ment and a new kind of math instruction,” QEP Com-mitt ee Chair Carson Pearce said. For Pearce, the purpose of the QEP and changing

math instruction comes back to helping students suc-ceed both in college and the lives beyond it. “I want students to know they are at a college that cares about their ability — not just to do math — but to do well in life,” he said. “We want them to be success-ful and we’re pulling out all the stops so that they can succeed not only in math, but in life.” For more information on TSTC’s QEP, go to www.waco.tstc.edu/qep.

Center for Assessment certifi ed by FAA

The Center for Assessment was recently certifi ed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adminis-ter Airman Knowledge Testing. The notice sent to the department stated the FAA has “determined your organization is qualifi ed and capable of representing the Administrator in perform-ing Airman Knowledge Testing procedures.”

RPT students present at national conference Radiation Protection Technology students Paul Strick-

land, Dean Boyd, Vickie Hurst and Kevin Pustejovsky (not pictured) presented a poster of their original

research on radioactive material at the National Health Physics Society Conference in Sacramento, Calif. in July.

The framing is in place for the new EWCHEC facility which will be completed in the summer of 2013. The site is located in Hutto.

From left, Paul Strickland, Dean Boyd

and Vickie Hurst with their poster

Each year students who place fi rst at the Texas SkillsUSA competition have the opportunity to advance to the annual national SkillsUSA Championship, held in Kansas City, Mo. This year of the 23 students who advanced, two TSTC students received national medals. Thomas Flaherty, a Computer Maintenance Technology student, earned a silver medal in the Resi-dential Systems Installation and Maintenance competition and Jennifer Perry, a Computer Science Technology student, placed third in the Computer Programming compe-tition, winning a bronze medal. Congratulations on the high achievement!

Campus News & Briefs

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National SkillsUSA medalists

student kudos

Gone are the days of searching for jobs in the classifi ed section of newspapers. Now job search-ing happens primarily online and there are a host of tools to choose from. TSTC’s Career Services Cen-ter has launched a new site called JobStar geared specifi cally to help students on their path to fi nding a great job right out of college. Career Services Coordinator Edgar Padilla describes JobStar as a, “Monster.com for TSTC stu-dents only.” It allows students to search for jobs and co-ops, connect with employers directly, upload a resume and cover lett er and more. Its purpose is to connect TSTC tal-ent to industry. “Our focus is on gett ing stu-dents quality placement right aft er graduation and JobStar is another tool to help,” Padilla said. “It of-fers personalized job search results and even lets employers search through our database of students and contact them directly about jobs.” Fourth semester Laser Electro-Optics student Amanda Ibekwe is one of the fi rst students who has used JobStar. She set up her resume with Padilla at the Career Services Center and has her profi le fi lled out for her preferences of job type, skills and locations. “It’s very easy to use and it’s

specialized for me,” Ibekwe said. “I believe this will give me an edge when I’m ready to get my fi rst job.” Ibekwe, who grad-uates in May of 2013, said she’s very happy that Career Services has provided tools to start the job search early — a tip that Padilla encourages all students to take seriously. “The reality is your chances of gett ing a job before you graduate increase exponentially when you start early,” he said. “Tools like JobStar can help you get your re-sume and cover lett er in place and fi nd potential employers.” For businesses, JobStar off ers a way to connect directly to TSTC talent. At www.waco.tstc.edu/careerservices, prospective employers can create a company profi le, post jobs and even browse student profi les and contact po-tential hires directly through the JobStar system. “This makes it easier for industry to fi ll positions,“ Padilla said. “In-stead of spending time posting jobs all over, you can come to JobStar and get several TSTC candidates to choose from.“

JobStar connects employers to TSTC talentJ bS l TSTC l

Scan this QR code to visit the JobStar for employers page.

From left: Thomas Flaherty, CMT, and

Jennifer Perry, CST.

Follow us at:twitter.com/tstcwaco

Ftt

Become a fan at:facebook.com/tstcwaco

Bft

uilt on the historic TSTC airport, which at one time facilitated the training of both Army and Air Force pilots and navigators, the new Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center marks the beginning of a new unifi ed

future for TSTC’s aerospace programs. For years the aerospace-centric programs TSTC off ered were scatt ered across the campus working separately on their instruction and recruitment. Now that they are all under one roof, the programs are re-ally starting to take off . “It’s much easier now to move us in one direction,” said Jim Rowland, director of the Aerospace Division and TSTC Airport. “Now I see everyone on a daily basis and it’s easier to keep the excitement and vision moving.” And his vision for the programs is broad — to pro-vide the future workforce for the entire state of Texas’ aerospace needs and keep abreast of new technology as it emerges. In the last three years, TSTC added new programs, including Aircraft Dispatch and Air Traffi c Control, to its mainstay programs of Aircraft Pilot Training, Aviation Maintenance and Avionics. As workforce needs for other areas arise, new programs can be added. Currently on the radar is unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), agriculture aviation and helicopter training. “I att ended a UAS conference and was approached about using them. Unmanned aircraft is where the future is,” Rowland said. “It’s very new in the market and we’re still exploring its true capabilities.” The future looks bright for the TSTC airport as well. There’s room for growth in business development and

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Flight into the FutureA look at TSTC’saerospace programs

BBy Sarah-Jane Menefee

two large runways big enough to land any aircraft . And over the next three years TSTC is investing $7.2 million into reconditioning the runways. “You’re not going to fi nd a bett er airport with a bett er runway environment,” Rowland said. “We keep our facility and runway in fi rst-class condition. We have the land and space for any company. We provide a sustainable workforce and will adapt to whatever a company needs, including con-tinuing education for current employees.” For businesses looking to move to the Waco area, Row-land invites them to stop by the center and check out the new facility. “Whatever service you would like to have to support general aviation, we do it here,” he said. “And the building is a central key to that. We can provide any training you’d like. The only question is, what would you like?”

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“Whatever service you would like to have to “Whatever service you would like to have to support general aviation, we do it here. And support general aviation, we do it here. And the building is a central key to that. We can the building is a central key to that. We can provide any training you’d like. The only provide any training you’d like. The only question is, what would you like?”question is, what would you like?”

James RowlandJames RowlandDirector of Aerospace Division & TSTC AirportDirector of Aerospace Division & TSTC Airport

Far left: The architectural entrance to the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. Above: The new 82,500-square-foot facility features a large hangar for Aviation Maintenance classes. Below: A view of the public terminal from the runway.

TSTC Airport

www.waco.tstc.edu/airportFor more information about the TSTC Airport, call (254) 867-3761.

Aerospace Programs & Center

www.waco.tstc.edu/aerospaceFor information on aerospace programs or a map to the center visit our website.

Get ConnectedGet Connected

Scan the QR codes to fi nd out more.

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You wouldn’t think of a technical college as a haven for fi ne art. But at Texas State Technical College it is. TSTC is the recipient of a generous donor’s fi ne art, now hanging in the new Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. About a dozen original oil paint-ings valued at approximately $50,000 from the collection of native Austinite William Caswell Ward depict military airplanes and scenes. The paintings now add an elegant and striking touch — not to mention an amazing historical perspective — to the Aero-space Board Room, a place where the college hosts special events and the Board of Regents meetings. Ward, 70, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, has been searching for just the right place to display the

paintings for some time. He discov-ered TSTC’s aviation programs online and came to the college for a visit. At the time, construction of the new Col. James T. Connally Aerospace was just gett ing underway. “That made my choice even easier,” said Ward. “I never expected to come across an institution like this. You’ve [TSTC] got it all — and in spades. How many colleges have an airport?” Ward’s affi nity for military aviation art runs deep. Not only did he serve in the Air Force as a Logistics Offi cer, but also his father was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base and taught fl ying there. Ward naturally grew into a WWII aviation historian and col-lected many pieces over the years. “I have an embarrassingly enor-mous collection of aviation art,” said Ward, who’s one of the largest collec-tors in the world. “This stuff needs to

get out where people can see it, enjoy it and learn from it, too. There’s so much history in these paintings.” Jim Roland, director of the Aero-space Division and Airport, couldn’t agree more. “These paintings have really enhanced the aviation atmosphere of new Aerospace Center,” he said. “We greatly appreciate Mr. Ward’s contribution. It captures the heritage of aviation and, in particular, mili-tary history. Anyone who hasn’t yet viewed the paintings needs to visit and take a look at this fi ne art.” These aren’t the last paintings TSTC will see, either. Ward has plans to do-nate more in the near future and off er some of his art as a permanent loan to the college. To view the current art, the center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on Airline Drive.

Aviation artwork captures military history

Above: “Eaker’s Boys” by Les Carter features the B-17 Memphis Bell. Far left: “Dallas Doll” by Philip West Left: “Victory in Defeat” by Heinz KrebsThese paintings are just a few of the works featured in the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center Board Room.

By Mary Drennon

Everyone has a story to tell, but so does an airplane. Recently, TSTC students and faculty restored a Cessna 150 and hung it in the ter-minal of the Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. Its story goes hand-in-hand with TSTC’s. The Cessna 150 and a sister plane, same make and model, resided at the airbase in the ‘60s and were rented out. In 1967, TSTC bought the two planes, along with others, for the use of students in the fi rst pilot training program. John Curtis, a former pilot train-ing student, remembers his fi rst fl ight in the Cessna 150 in 1973. It was the fi rst time he fl ew a plane in the pilot training program at what was then known as Texas State Technical Institute. “I was hooked from day one and I have been fl ying since I was 19,” he said. As time passed, the Cessna 150s fell out of date and the new Cessna 152 was released in 1977. TSTC replaced the two 150s with twelve 152s and the two planes retired to Aviation Maintenance Technology (AER). Aft er a few years of dis-assembling and reassem-bling at the hands of AER students, the two planes moved to a lot outside the hangar, and sat there, rusting away. Then, three years ago, plans for the aerospace center were set in mo-tion, and former AER Department Chair Steve McNaughton suggested one of the planes be hung inside the terminal, as the two Cessna 150s were a part of TSTC’s aviation history. Restoration of the Cessna 150 began two years ago, with AER Faculty McNaughton, Rich Hewgley and Chuck Donley overseeing major developments. The sister plane was discarded, though some of its parts were stripped for the display plane.

Students did a signifi cant amount of the work. Hewgley’s class serviced the landing gear, the cable swaging and the assembly and rigging, and Auto Collision & Management department students did the paint job.

Former AER instructor Brad Moff ett oversaw the mounting of the engine block and a crankshaft to hold the propeller in place. “This was a most unique project,” said McNaughton, “In one way, be-cause aft er reassembling the plane in the lobby I had to go back and touch up the paint, which I did with one of my tiny airbrushes and compressor from my modeling kit.” Hanging the plane did not pres-

ent a problem, since the contractors constructed the aerospace build-ing with the plane’s appearance in mind. They put cables in the ceiling, in order to lift or lower the plane. Donley built the brackets on the plane to stabilize the wing tips and the tail.

Before lift ing the plane to the ceiling, students and instructors who helped with the plane’s restoration signed their names on the right-hand side under the horizontal tail (20 signatures in all). Looking back on the past and now seeing the present location of the Cessna 150 he fl ew

in 1973, Curtis said, “I think it is ap-propriate for TSTC; a good tribute for the program.” The restored Cessna 150 kicks off the development of the aerospace terminal into a museum represent-ing the history of the James Connally Air Force Base. This one plane, that started as a small part of the base in the late ‘60s, now hangs in a place of honor still facing the blue skies above TSTC.

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Onlookers watch as a contractor raises the plane into place.

Terminal features plane from original training programBy April Henley

“This was a most unique project. In one way, “This was a most unique project. In one way, because after reassembling the plane in the because after reassembling the plane in the lobby I had to go back and touch up the paint, lobby I had to go back and touch up the paint, which I did with one of my tiny airbrushes and which I did with one of my tiny airbrushes and compressor from my modeling kit.”compressor from my modeling kit.”

Steve McNaugtonSteve McNaugton

snapshotA view of the sunrise over the TSTC Airport from the public terminal located in the

Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center. The terminal features the layout of the

airport runways on the terrazzo fl oor and a restored Cessna 150 plane hanging from

the ceiling. Turn to Page 8 to read more about the plane.

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Most companies list job openings and wait for candidates to apply. But during a time of what some are calling a global shortage of skilled workers, this isn’t always the best approach. Perhaps that’s why Luminant, the state’s larg-est power generation company, doesn’t wait for employees to come to them. Instead, this Texas company with plant, mine, wholesale market-ing and trading and development operations actually “grows” its own workforce. The company starts as young as high school, said Roger Pruett , curriculum man-ager of the Luminant Power Track program. “We’re looking for students who can work with their hands and are electrically and me-chanically inclined,” said Pruett . “They also need good math and communication skills as well.” If so, students can test and apply for the Luminant Power Track program, a new career development program that off ers an inside track to a career in the power plant industry and a possible full-time job with the company upon graduation from high school and then college. This is the fi rst year for the Power Track program at Texas State Technical College. Cur-rently, there are 18 TSTC students in the pro-gram who study in Electrical Power & Control Technology, Industrial System & Engineering Technology or the Instrumentation area of Instrumentation, Computerized Controls & Robotics Technology. Luminant also has a training center at Tyler Junior College West Campus. Students re-cruited from high school get a choice of which school they want to att end. Although there is no contractual work agreement with Luminant, the company contributes $10,000 toward the stu-dents’ education and off ers a paid internship to give them a chance to “test drive” the company.Pruett isn’t worried about the lack of a work agreement. “We off er something that’s very rare these days. Most people have to go elsewhere to fi nd jobs,” he said. “Students who want to stay near their home, raise a family and have a great career in Central and East Texas can do that [through the Power Track program].” That’s one of the major benefi ts of the Power Track program, too. Those who complete it will gain skills for a lifetime and be considered for

full-time jobs at a variety of Texas locations, Luminant typically recruits in a 60-mile radius around its larger plants, because “we know the location is more att ractive for folks who want to work close to home,” said Pruett . The plants at which Power Track students will complete their internships and apply for full-time jobs are located in Mt. Pleasant, Tatum, Fairfi eld, Franklin and Rockdale. Another bonus working for Luminant is benefi ts and wages are very good for an associate degree, Pruett said. “Students can defi nitely earn a good salary when they join us — even during the internship,” Pruett said. Luminant is no stranger to TSTC. For some time now, the com-pany has recruited students from several TSTC campuses. But Luminant decided a more offi cial arrangement through the Power Track program would help replenish the technical leadership at its power plants. “Our company is well-established,” said Pruett . “We began our

By Mary Drennon On the Pow

Luminant Partnership with technical training

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major sites in the ‘70s and the employees hired then are reaching the end of their careers.” Aft er investigating numerous opportunities, Luminant selected TSTC because “the facilities there are just phenomenal,” Pruett said. “The degrees they off er are unsurpassed anywhere in the state of Texas. The facilities combined with the faculty are the best possible combination.” It’s a great arrangement for TSTC, too. “Luminant provides a very high level of support,” said Carliss Hyde, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “Luminant sends their staff to our campus to monitor student progress, visits with them about their challenges and encourages them in their career paths. This partnership is a winner.” If you want to fi nd out more about the Power Track Program, Lu-minant will hold a Preview Day at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Industrial Technology Center. To att end, RSVP to emily.kelley@luminant.com or call (903) 595-7368.

er Track

Luminant Oak Grove Plant

Jonathan Hollister, an Instrumenta-tion student from Dew, Texas, fi rst learned about the Luminant Power Track program while interning at the company’s Big Brown Power Plant site in Fairfi eld. A recruiter urged him to take Luminant’s required exam, and he was accepted into the program. Hollister believes the best part about the Luminant Power Track scholarship program is the opportunity to get real-world experience. “By gett ing out in the fi eld I was able to realize that this is want I to do, be-cause I like the work I was introduced to,” Hollister said. Aft er graduating TSTC, Hollister plans to build a career with Luminant at the Oak Grove Plant and Kosse Mine, in Oak Grove, Texas.

student profi les

Jonathan Hollister

Austin Witt ig fi rst learned of the Luminant Power Track program from his high-school counselor in Bremond, Texas. Witt ig was hesitant in the begin-ning, but discovered that his interest in electronics could lead him to a good career through the program. As a fi rst semester Electrical Systems student at TSTC, Witt ig looks forward to working with Luminant Power Track and plans on doing his intern-ship at the Oak Grove plant, where he will shadow a current employee and learn about specifi c duties in electrical systems. “Luminant Power Track has given me a goal to work toward,” Witt ig said. “Once I graduate, I have the op-portunity of gett ing a solid job [with Luminant] and to build my future in a positive way.”

Austin Wittig

provides students for in-demand careers

By Barbara Aitken

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Campus News & Briefs

tech notes Texas State Technical College ranks No. 1 in the state of Texas among two-year colleges in terms of the most associate degrees in the category of Engineering Technologies and Engineering-related Fields. Community College Week magazine has released its latest analysis of the country’s Top 100 Associate Degree Producers, arguably one of the most important indicators of success for community and technical education institutions. “We are pleased TSTC is No. 1 in producing engineering technology graduates,” said Dr. Elton E. Stuckly Jr., TSTC Waco president. “Industry leaders have consistently said skilled technicians are in high demand in today’s increasingly complex work-force. TSTC works hard to ensure our graduates meet this demand, so it’s nice to be recognized for fulfi lling that need.” TSTC also ranked No. 1 in Texas in

the Computer and Information Sci-ences and Support Services category, and then placed top in the state, one of only two such colleges, in the Preci-sion Production category. The annual report lists associate degree and certifi cate conferrals of nearly 5,000 institutions for the 2010-2011 academic year, the latest year for which data is available. Data is collected and analyzed by the Na-tional Center for Education Statistics through the Integrated Postsecond-ary Education Data Set completions survey. Since the survey’s inception, TSTC has ranked top in the state numerous times and has stayed consistently on the top 50 list in nearly every category for which it is eligible. Community College Week has close to 35,000 in its readership. The maga-zine distributes among a vast audi-ence, including college employees, students, professional associations,

business and industry executives, federal, state, and local government offi cials and others. The rankings are one way the magazine recognizes the eff orts of hundreds of thousands of faculty, staff and administrators who dedicate themselves to educating students. To read the full report, visit htt p://www.ccweek.com/ and click on the Top 100.

TSTC tops state degree conferrals rankings

Industry Career Day Area companies are invited to att end TSTC’s Industry Career Day and Job Fair, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. Industry Career Day gives prospective employers a chance to meet with TSTC students who are educated in a variety of fi elds. Att endees will have backgrounds in everything from engineering-related technologies, such as computerized controls and robot-ics, to more traditional programs such as dental assisting, website design, welding, automotive technology and more. To register, call Edgar Padilla at (254) 867-3023. Businesses also can register online at www.waco.tstc.edu/careerday in January 2013.

TSTC’s annual College Preview & Open House provides an opportu-nity for students, parents and friends to check out college options and learn about the instruc-tional programs off ered at TSTC. Visitors can get information about college fi nancing, housing options, student activities and more. The event is set for Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days.

Students can choose to att end col-lege full time and work on an associ-

ate degree, or select a faster track and complete a certifi -cate option in a va-riety of educational programs. If you have ques-tions, or want to register for College Preview, please contact Autumn Outlaw at (254) 867-

2026 or autumn.outlaw@tstc.edu. To register for the event online, go to www.waco.tstc.edu/preview.

Upcoming 2013 TSTC College Preview & Open House

@@@@Sign up for the weekly Student e-Newswww.waco.tstc.edu/enews

Radiation Protection Technology, a degree off ered by TSTC’s Environmental Health & Safety department, snagged $149,000 in grants from the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-sion, under the NRC’s Trade Schools and Community College grants, which distributed more than $2 million in support for such colleges in 2012. The grant money will be used to fund scholarships for students enrolling in training programs, which will lead to employment in the nuclear fi eld. The available scholarships will be directed to students with demonstrated academic promise and signifi cant fi nancial need who are training for careers in the nuclear industry.

Mitsubishi provides MU2 aircraft to AERThis MU2 (an early ‘B’ model) aircraft was provid-ed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the bargain price of $35,000. Valued between $165,000 and $250,000, Mitsubishi will continue to support TSTC through Turbine Aircraft Services Inc. by providing some parts at a vastly reduced cost. Perkins Funds funded the purchase.

Thanks to a $95,000 State En-ergy Conservation Offi ce (SECO)

grant, students will get more opportunities than ever

before to enter a growing and dynamic career fi eld – Residential Energy Effi -ciency Specialist (REES). Texas State Technical College, with the help of the SECO grant, will further develop its REES certifi cate program.

It will put even more emphasis on the growing

area of energy auditor, a “green” fi eld with a bright

outlook that has a large num-ber of projected job openings

coming in the future, according to the Occupational Information Network.

“With rising energy costs, there will be a big demand in this fi eld from hom-eowners and businesses wanting to slash their costs and make their energy dollars stretch further,” said Kathy Moore, REES instructor. “In addition, new laws and regulations in energy effi ciency will increase this demand as people scramble to comply.” The Residential Energy Effi ciency Spe-cialist program is a two-semester certifi -cate program that helps students learn everything from preparing energy audit reports and educating others on energy effi ciency, to inspecting and evaluating buildings, calculating energy savings, identifying potential improvement mea-sures and more. The program is aligned with the Residential Energy Services Network, the national standard for home energy audits.

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Campus News & Briefs

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Radiation Protection Technology receives $149,000 for scholarships from NRC

Thanks to the generosity of TSTC’s many supporters, students get more hands-on training with industry-standard equip-ment. Kudos to the following companies and individuals for their donations:

• North Houston Pole Line ($2,500) donated for Electrical Power & Control• Toyota Motor Sales ($30,000 - 2010 Toyota Camry) for Automotive, T-TEN Program• Joe Denisi, Omega Engineering Inc. ($10,000 in books used for Instrumentation, Computerized Controls & Robotics classes) • CAT Dealer Excellence Funds Grant ($10,000 from Holt CAT & CAT Manufacturing) for Diesel Equipment• Russell Dunlap/Universal Laser Technologies ($5,000) CynoSure Photogenica V Pulsed Dye Laser System for Laser Electro-Optics• Spencer Bachus ($8,968) Cessna 177 Cardinal donated for Aircraft Pilot Training

Donors make generous gifts to programs

SECO grant provides opportunities in green building fi eld

company kudos

NAIMA partners with EWCHECThe non-profi t North American Insulation Manufac-turers Association (NAIMA) has joined in partner-ship with TSTC to provide students at the East Wil-liamson County Higher Education Center with new skills and training in fi ber glass duct board systems. In its unique partnership with TSTC, NAIMA pro-vided the college’s programs with current premium duct products and accessory items, the use of a state-of-the art Glass Master SG-220 Fiber Glass Duct Board Grooving Machine, a duct assembly/fi tt ing fabrication bench, hand-grooving tool sets, as well as miscellaneous specialized tools, accessory items and training instruction and materials.

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AlumniIm

age courtesy of Walt D

isney World® Resort

TSTC graduate Kaitlyn Greb wakes up every morning with a smile on her face. That’s because her job is helping to make dreams come true at Cinder-ella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. When Greb moved to Waco at age 16, she had no idea what her future had in store. Aft er searching online for diff erent avenues, she found the dual credit program for the Culinary Arts department at Texas State Tech-nical College. While being homeschooled, Greb started with Tech-Connect, TSTC’s dual credit program that allows high school students to take college techni-cal courses and standard academics while simultaneously completing their high school diploma. Aft er her high school graduation, Greb transitioned to TSTC full time and graduated with an associate degree in Culinary Arts when she was just 18. During her time at TSTC, Greb learned about an internship off ered at the California Grill Restaurant located

in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, an award-winning gourmet style restau-rant that off ers guests an enchanting view of Magic Kingdom. She began her internship as a line cook and, through hard work and determina-tion, eventually became a chef’s as-sistant at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Cinderella’s Royal Table, located in the middle of the park inside the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, off ers “fairytale dining” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is adorned with high archways, leaded-glass windows, grand light fi xtures, and even a coat of arms and medieval fl ags; guests are captivated by real-life princesses who act as servers and of-fer a fi ne dining experience. As a chef’s assistant, Greb’s daily duties include managing foods served in Cinderella’s Royal Table, along with comparing foods at other restaurants within the park to ensure all customers have the best culinary experience possible. Greb said her degree at TSTC changed her life because with the dual credit program, she was able to graduate almost two years before her peers, which inevitably gave her a

head start in the industry. Although Greb said she would eventually like to return to Texas, she noted she is open to all opportunities that come her way. Refl ecting on her time at TSTC, Greb said it gave her a balanced edu-cation. Instead of specializing in one area, she was able to learn a host of skills that were extremely benefi cial — especially working at Cinderella’s Royal Table, she said. Most of her peers gravitate toward specializations in either hot food or pastries. Greb recommended the TSTC Culinary Arts Department to anyone because it off ers “a rounded solid foundation.” “Even though no school teaches a student absolutely everything they need to know about the real-world workforce, TSTC comes close!” Greb said. Greb is especially grateful to TSTC and the faculty and staff of the Culi-nary Arts department. “I wouldn’t be here without you,” she said. “I would like to thank ev-eryone for putt ing in the extra hours when I had questions and for always believing in me.”

Magical career for Culinary alumniBy Barbara Aitken

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Q&A withDr. Becky Musil

TSTC Provost

What’s involved in your role as Provost?

As Provost, I meet with elected offi cials, community leaders and groups like chambers and economic devel-opment corporations. The goal is positioning TSTC to help growing communities with their technical train-ing needs. That’s how we grow, too. I think of my role as building relationships and partnerships with key infl uencers in communities and connecting them with the right people at TSTC to get their needs met. It’s a lot of networking.

How is TSTC playing a part in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math education?

Right now robotics is our biggest initiative. We host the Heart of Texas BEST Robotics competition each fall and have several schools competing, both at the high school and junior high level. We picked BEST because of the wide range of skills. You literally start with raw materials and build a robot. There’s room for lots of

creativity and room to make mistakes. A lot of times our schools teach that there

is a right answer and a wrong answer. I don’t think that encourages lifelong

learning. With BEST, students make mis-takes, which sometimes

turn out be advantages as they modify and improve their designs. If everyone did

it the “right” way, you lose the importance of the engineering design process. It’s subjective and it gives these kids a place to excel even through failures.

What makes robotics a good medium for teaching STEM skills? It’s not so much that robotics is the main focus, though that is a great career fi eld, it’s all the skills students learn through the competition. They learn soft skills like project management, working in a team and doing presentations. Also, they learn about career paths in several engineering fi elds like programming, machining and electrical engineering, and that these ca-reers are att ainable for them. The motivation and sense of belonging from activities like this is amazing. It’s similar to sports, but this is more likely to lead them to a viable career and they’re going to make good money doing it.

Why is STEM education so important? STEM is important because it’s our pathway for the next generation of TSTC students. Our goal is to get them involved as early as fi ft h grade and even younger. It’s one thing to take a tour of campus, but if students get their hands on technology, they gain confi dence in their ability to do science, technology, engineering and math. The bott om line is about fi nding students’ strengths and encouraging them.

Any success stories you would like to share? Sure! At another BEST Hub I heard a story about a team of students who were pulled from the competi-tion by their principal for disciplinary reasons aft er the third week. The lead teacher recruited a whole new team of students at the last minute to complete the ro-bot and go to the competition the next week. One of the students he had never met or even heard of — and this is in a small school. The student really came out of his shell through the competition and excelled. By the end of the year, each teacher from the school chose him as the outstanding student of the year. He just needed that opportunity to shine and BEST gave it to him.

Campus Q&A

In her new role as TSTC Provost, Dr. Becky Musil combines her involvement in STEM outreach with her focus on connecting TSTC with infl uencers in local communities. To contact Dr. Musil, email her at becky.musil@tstc.edu.

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Remember When

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remember when Mystery Mosaic: An ornate mosaic now featured in

the Col. James T. Conally Aerospace Center terminal

has its origin during the Air Force base days of the

TSTC campus. It was originally located on the exte-

rior of the offi cer’s club on the James Connally Air

Force Base. Not much is known about the mosaic’s

story or even the year it was installed. It underwent

some restoration when it was moved to the build-

ing last fall, and now stands as a tribute to TSTC’s

proud history.

If you know any details about the mosaic’s history, please contact Autumn Outlaw via email at autumn.outlaw@tstc.edu.

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Event Photos

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people & placesCol. James T. Connally Aerospace Center Dedication

Groundbreaking at EWCHEC

Summer 2012 Graduation

Recent Student Events

Jim Rowland talks about the airport’s history. Chancellor Reeser addresses the crowd. Attendees hear from speakers at thededication.

Offi cials break ground at the new site.Shovels stand at the ready.Dr. Stuckly and Temple College President Dr. Barron at the groundbreaking.

Graduates Marissa Collins and Amy Wurtele. Graduates celebrate near the end of the ceremony.

Mike Torres Leadership Award winner E’dee Stout with TSTC’s Nanette Torres.

Softball intramurals Xbox Tournament Phi Theta Kappa induction

Scan this QR code to see more event photos on TSTC’s Flickr:www.fl ickr.com/tstcwaco